One of this season’s best performing plants is Nicotiana or flowering tobacco. Once planted in spring, a little supplemental water is all that is required. Here it grows pest-free. It is an ornamental relative of N. tabacum that is grown for tobacco production. The lightly fragrant flowers bloom the second half of summer after seedlings are planted outdoors … Continue reading
Filed under Flowers …
Sunflowers Grow Here
Sunflowers grow naturally on this whole continent. These are sunflowers planted by nature along the Missouri River west of Yankton, South Dakota. Historically, Native Americans in Central and North America grew sunflowers for flour, oil, and other food. Today in Canada and the Northern Plains of the United States, farmers grow them to be processed … Continue reading
A Little Something Different with Containers
When I awoke this morning, I realized a container of sunflowers had come into bloom. While I enjoy seeing them out the window in their staging area on the deck, I began to think about how to include them with the other flower containers that we see every day for a new look. Here’s a … Continue reading
Grow Sunflowers in Containers
Sunflowers and the sunny outdoors in summer go together. Sunflowers are easy to grow when direct seeded into flowerbeds. Seed catalogs advertise some sunflowers as having features for growing in containers. Plant them after the danger of frost is past. With 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, even the tallest sunflowers will mature, bloom, and … Continue reading
On the Way to “After”
Unlike yard renovation on reality TV, some projects at home take a long time. Garden bloggers see many others’ beautiful results. As of mid-summer at Plant Exchange blog, we have a little progress here! The vision for this area of the yard came from a previous owner who installed cement steps and a wall of … Continue reading
Front Entrance–Aim for attractive and functional
By mid-July, the annual and perennial plantings are established and provide texture and color to the front entrance area. The north-facing entrance and small patio area have late afternoon shade complemented by a nearby Japanese maple tree. A bit of green space under the tree, foundation plantings, especially near the entrance, and movable planters add … Continue reading
Gardener Benefits of Staying Home
Staying home allows us the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of yardwork. It’s a pleasant morning to enjoy nature here at Plant Exchange blog and a second cup of coffee on the deck. The feel and result of the prairie breeze is a feature that second nature in this region. Grasses move in harmony with … Continue reading
Wildflower Garden Thoughts
Lots to consider when growing wildflower seeds so that the plants are suitable for your setting. After thinking about seed mixtures of the region or USDA Zone, what are some other options? Monarch City U.S.A. sign marks a Yankton butterfly plot on a walking trail east of the community gardens and dog park in the … Continue reading
June Garden Party
For a late June garden party, we’d be sure to invite some of these easy-to-grow annuals and perennials of this region. Planters overflowing with Supertunias draw our party guests with color to the front entrance. Annabelle hydrangeas radiate excitement after rain overnight. The Catalpa tree in bloom is abuzz with pollinators. Fragrant lanky milkweed stand … Continue reading
Window Box Container Gardening
Romans gardened with window boxes when urban habitation afforded them little growing space. Some Europeans decorate windows with containers of flowers beneath. Gardeners in the United States later adopted the window box as an outdoor decor option. As in other methods for container gardening, consider choosing the window box transplant with function in mind. At … Continue reading
