How people make their yards one-of-a-kind, is amazing. At a regional Garden Writers Association tour held in western Michigan last summer, Cami Geschwendt, a professional landscape designer, showed her private suburban yard. Trees, perennials, flowers and sculptures are dominant elements in her design. Let’s take a peek: Among the pansies, a sculpture container wears a … Continue reading
Filed under Perennials and Grasses …
Days of Solitude
One of the features of the Northern Plains is days of solitude. I started a stroll around the yard, feeling the burden of a snowy day. There lay the outline of yarrow in snow I had hadn’t noticed all winter. Silent birdhouse by one of the deer trails. Snow is heavy on the spruce, but … Continue reading
Plant Bits
It’s a cold day in the Dakotas, but a great day to do catch up reading here at Plant Exchange Blog. These are some garden-related topics on attracting more butterflies in the yard, like this monarch on Agastache. Also there’s an item on free leaf mulch, attracting more kinds of birds and a possible perennial … Continue reading
Elements of a Welcoming Home Entrance
How do we create more inviting front entrances for our homes? Let’s tour the front entrance of Andy and Jen Holst to see how they applied their creativity to making their front entrance welcoming. Their yard was a part of the Master Gardener garden tour last summer. Their yard in Yankton has an intimate front … Continue reading
Lewis & Clark Recreation Area Pollinator Plots and Tree Update
Now is a fine time to plan flowers for pollinators. Maybe the hobby wildflower grower will find some tips here. At Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, two 3-acre pollinator plots are at the entrance to the state park. This past early July, the plots were filled with native wildflowers and native grasses. In this mid-summer … Continue reading
Origami in the Garden
We at Plant Exchange Blog send you wishes for peace in 2019. “Rising Cranes” by Kevin Box is displayed in nature in a garden at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Spring, 2018. The origami is made of powder-coated cast stainless steel on steel. Cranes are associated with peace around the world.
A Change at the Nurseries
We celebrate this year at Plant Exchange Blog with a story about a grown son, Mike Gurney, who chooses to come back to his home town to try the family horticulture business. His family name is associated with his grandfather five generations ago, who brought knowledge about how to grow apple and other fruit trees to … Continue reading
What do You do with Your Dream Place?
“I told Jen one time, if the house ever came for sale and if we were able to do it financially, that this house would be a dream,” Andy Holst said. Andy and his wife Jen Holst of Embroidery & Screen Works, Inc. in Yankton, South Dakota, got the chance. Their home is on the … 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
