We often watch for stop-over Monarch butterflies as they migrate south in August – October in this region. They show us that animals (and plants) need a suitable place to live. In our Northern Plains location of the middle-United States Monarch flyway to Mexico, September is a good month for Monarch sightings. Native Agastache is … Continue reading
Filed under Flowers …
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–November 15th
Welcome to Plant Exchange Blog on the Northern Plains (USDA Hardiness Zone 4-5a). Colorful leaves have fallen along with temperatures, and some trees begin to adjust to temperate dormancy, from which they awaken as spring approaches about April or May. Time for good books. This morning, the weather app that usually forecasts many possible events … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–October 15th
Welcome to Plant Exchange in our region on the Northern Plains, USDA Zone 4-5a. We remain in drought, but the mild temperatures and Autumn-colored trees draw us outdoors. One of the easy walking trails is along the Missouri River at Lewis & Clark Recreation Area. Maples are turning red, and cottonwoods are golden yellow. This … Continue reading
Deciduous Tree Days
Deciduous trees and woody shrubs are dressing for their party, and we’re all invited. Mild October days in the seventy degrees and nights in the fifties and over a half inch of rain on dusty soil encouraged this Ohio buckeye to be the first to show Autumn color in our yard. Nestled among taller trees, … Continue reading
McCrory Gardens Welcomes Fall
McCrory Gardens in Brookings, South Dakota, has been in bloom for visitors this season since the tulips of spring. But in October, the native prairie flowers and maturing grasses define the 25 acres of botanical gardens in the vision of Harvey Dunn’s painting (1950), “The Prairie is My Garden.” Dunn’s painting of the South Dakota … Continue reading
Time for a Change in Vegetable and Flower Gardening Methods?
Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village archeological remains from a thousand years ago in this Northern Plains region show evidence of Three Sisters vegetable gardening methods, saved seeds, and corn cob fossils about three or four inches in length. Immigrants to the Northern Plains in the late 1800s saw that some Native Americans who grew produce used … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day-September 15th
Plant Exchange Blog is in South Dakota on the Northern Plains, USDA Zone 4-5a. While the region continues with drought and high summer temperatures, today is mild with rain. We aimed to plant more native flowers or their cultivars this growing season for a more sustainable and low-input garden. Transplants from seed are fun to … Continue reading
More Happy Days of Summer with Sunflowers
Some of the best parts of summer are when there are few days left. Lots of sunflowers, symbols of happy days, grow here. In our region of the United States, archeologists have found evidence of corn, bean, squash, sunflower and amaranth cultivation about 1000 A.D. Sunflowers can be found planted in a field in this … Continue reading
Gardening in Our Changeable Weather
Gardening with some flowers and produce return and an eye on sustainable practices keeps most of us ready to try next season, even in challenging weather conditions. Rudbeckia was last year’s blooming standout perennial. Drought bested some returning rudbeckia, and deer widened their taste palate for them this season, but some survived to bloom again. … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day–August 15th
Welcome to Plant Exchange Blog on the Northern Plains (USDA Zone 4-5a). After a summer of drought, today we received 3.9 inches of rain that fell steadily in the morning and afternoon, and we are grateful. The Joe Pye Weed that can tolerate much more moisture than it’s received is in full bloom, along with Echinacea. In … Continue reading
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