Welcome to South Dakota! Plant Exchange Blog is in USDA Zone 4-5a. We have begun Fall with cool down nights below frost and days warming up to the 60’s here on the Northern Plains. Recent rain adds color to muted hues of Autumn prairie grasses. We had an early snow yesterday. Norway maples are still … Continue reading
More Garden Diaries
These are some “Garden Diaries” or plant ideas being tried and shared by these gardeners of the region: Kathy Jorgensen, Janette Marker, Marlys Hauck-Fenner, Gary Idt, Gary and Cynthia Jensen, and Marilyn Kratz. Topics include tips for raising sweet potatoes in our region, wonders of easy-to-grow ornamental catmint, propagating and growing prized grapes, living ground … Continue reading
Rocks, Plants and a Dream Yard in Progress
In this week’s Plant Exchange, homeowner Tom Christensen shares how he includes his passion for timeless beauty and variety of rocks he has collected into his plant landscape. Tom and Loretta Christensen live in Yankton’s Historic District in an 1870’s home. Tom continues to renovate their yard, in keeping with the character and craftsmanship of … Continue reading
Regional Plant-Related Event
We’ll learn to grow native plants from seed at the next Loess Hills Wild Onesprogram at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 14, at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City. Park in Lot #3 and meet at the greenhouse in the Gaylord Smith Building. Rod Tondreau, retired WITCC professor and native plant expert, will teach us how to … Continue reading
Look in the Greenhouse at Change of Season
Here at Plant Exchange it’s the end of September and this year the first frost could be within a couple of weeks. Outdoors in this USDA Zone 4-5a region, monarchs and other pollinators are busy gathering nectar in native Agastache, butterfly bush, some zennias, and asters in bloom around the yard. Soon we need to … Continue reading
Regional Plant-Related Event
Brookings, S.D. – Growers, processors, chefs and consumers passionate about local foods are invited to register for the 2018 South Dakota Local Foods Conference (SDLFC). This regional event will provide networking opportunities, roundtables, speaker panels and educational sessions on marketing, production, business, and food sovereignty. The 2018 SDLFC is scheduled for Nov. 2-3 at the Swiftel … Continue reading
September ‘Fresh from the Garden’
Welcome to Plant Exchange, where we feature plants of the Northern Plains and people who grow them. Gardens in the area have been in harvest for some time. Here at Plant Exchange, the garden was finally planted in June. Tomatoes are ripe! This is the last of this season’s Chef Staci Pederson ‘Fresh from the … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day-September 15th
Welcome to Plant Exchange in South Dakota, USDA Zone 4-5a. We feature mostly plants of the region and people who grow them and tell us about them. We’re glad you joined us on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, to see what we share that’s blooming here. We have had mild dry days for the last few … Continue reading
Methuselah Monarchs
As Fall approaches, so many changes are around us. Days are shortening and humans transition into different kinds of activities. Trees display their colors. Pollinators flock to late summer blooming plants such as New England asters, many kinds of milkweed, goldenrod, sedum, and sunflowers, to name a few. We’re glad we have grown some of … Continue reading
Korn’s Daylily Comments
Gail Korn of Garden Perennials, south of Wayne, Nebraska, is a regional authority and collector of daylilies. She is completing her 36thand last year of business. She grows a wide array of perennials and a large daylily collection on the hillside by her business. “Daylilies grow in any soil, in fifty states,” Korn said. “Fertility … Continue reading
