Nov 15, 2013 | blog, fall, native plants
Timing is everything. Collect most seeds when they are ripe and dry, but before they disperse, fall to the ground or become a meal for wildlife. Some earlier flowering species such as Wild Columbine are typically collected early in the summer instead of the fall.
Oct 29, 2013 | blog, fall, home, maintenance, native plants
Colors, interesting seed heads, and the last visits of the year of some birds and insects make me appreciate the change of seasons. Here are some fall and early winter maintenance tips/reminders:
Sep 30, 2013 | biodiversity, blog, native plants, wildlife
Are mayapples, bloodroot, and wild geraniums ephermals if they go dormant during the summer? – Technically no. Some native plants are ephemeral such as Virginia Blue Bells, Shooting Stars and Dutchman’s Breeches. This means they will eventually go dormant...
Aug 7, 2013 | blog, interesting and amusing facts I want to share with you, native plants
I’ve received a few garden gifts and plants from friends that inspired me to create this unique garden. The name of this garden is “Oboikoval Prairie State Park”, a miniature state park where Mr. Gnome lives, managing a tallgrass prairie for bison,...
Jul 19, 2013 | biodiversity, blog, insects, native plants, summer
Join the US and 37 other countries celebrating National Moth Week in July! Here are some interesting facts about moths and some links about Moths in Illinois:
Jun 29, 2013 | blog, maintenance, native plants, summer, wildlife
There are a few minor differences between maintaining native plants and non-native plants. In a non-native (traditional) garden, we are growing plants that naturally don’t grow together, aren’t part of natural processes or adapted over thousands of years to the local environment. Here are some nature inspired maintenance tips for native plants.