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
Filed under Container Gardens …
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
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–August 15th
Welcome to Plant Exchange on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day—August 15th. Today we’re celebrating life as good as it is on the Northern Plains! Probably planters of flowers here are a bit busty and saggy from the weight of summer growth, but they still have the flash of color that highlights areas of the yard. This … Continue reading
‘Fresh from the Garden’ with Herbs
Welcome to Plant Exchange. Today we’re featuring how to cook with herbs that can grow in this region, right in your garden, flowerbed or planter such as this cilantro. Chef Staci Pederson of Yankton Hy-Vee Food Store shares her own entrée, appetizer and side dish recipes and preparation tips for herbs from your garden or … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–July 15th
Welcome to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day where we share what is blooming in our location the 15thof July. In our Plant Exchange region, we are USDA Zone 4b – 5a. We’ve had extra rain the past month, especially beneficial to trees, shrubs and perennials. One example of returning perennial is the Butterfly Weed. They were … Continue reading
What About Compost?
Even in our busy lives, when we plant, we try to improve the soil as we go. Amending soil can be as simple as mulching with chemical-free grass clippings and turning under the clippings in garden clean up at the end of the season. When we plant, perhaps we add a scoop of compost to … Continue reading
Annual Flowers for Yankton City Spaces
Lisa Kortan, urban forester for the City of Yankton, is responsible for choosing annuals that decorate downtown Yankton all summer. She also chooses kinds and colors of annuals for parks and boulevards around town. Just like we have environmental considerations for the annuals we choose to highlight our green spaces, Kortan puts a lot of … Continue reading
Celebrate June with a Walk in the Garden
Welcome to Plant Exchange! Lots of people who like plants share their experiences growing plants on the Northern Plains here. Of course, the current posts are in the right column. We hope you will find several subjects of your interest in the topics below the postsfrom many who have shared here. Today’s walk in the … Continue reading
Farmers’ Wisdom About Soil Temperature
As gardeners, we can plant successfully season after season without a soil thermometer…as long as we wait to plant until farmers are in the field. Farmers have learned that if you want to start planting as soon as possible, you must consider the soil temperature. This relatively cool, wet spring in this region, highlights the … Continue reading
Garden Diaries
“Garden Diaries” is a new addition to Plant Exchange. Readers are invited to share short, timely plant-related ideas they are doing or planning and give helpful details in case someone might want to try it. Thanks to the following readers who share their garden diary entries about cannas and hummingbirds, moving perennial ornamental grasses, saving … Continue reading
