At Plant Exchange blog, nature walks are a seasonal touchstone in these times. In late fall, we see tree bark instead of leaves, evergreens are more prominent, and areas look different as undergrowth disappears. We shuffle through the spice of fallen leaves and think about what is dear to us. A few weeks back, we … Continue reading
Add a Little Spice
At Plant Exchange blog, the asters of fall are now memory, and houseplants are a source of winter green. The remainder of plant activity indoors, occurs under fluorescent light on a table. Herbs pots are here, as they grew outdoors from starter plants this summer. They include sage, front and center, and clockwise, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, … Continue reading
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day November 15th
Welcome to a crisp, sunny 46 degrees F. on the Northern Plains. We’re USDA Zone 4-5a in this region, and flowers outdoors are behind us. These leaves lie beneath a Japanese maple tree. These leaf colors are paint-able but show that the tree didn’t reach its full color before the beginning of fall cold snaps. Some … Continue reading
Regional Plant-Related Event
2021 Siouxland Garden Show The two-day Siouxland Garden Show draws more than 2,500 attendees from the tri-state area each year for lawn and garden education sessions and vendor shopping. Many youth, families, and older adults attend our annual event. Following the recommendations of our state universities, we are choosing to be proactive by not hosting … Continue reading
Miss Seeing Other Gardens this Season?
With limited opportunities to view others’ gardens last growing season, it’s a treat to look at a public display garden in our Northern Plains growing region. The results of the 2020 top-performing flowering annuals at the Morris, Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center display gardens have been announced. They grow 40% from seed and 60% … Continue reading
Landscape with Grasses and Companions
On the Northern Plains, grasses move with the wind and blend naturally in an authentic landscape. Miscanthus is an ornamental grass that is dramatic as a specimen plant and as a field of feathery heads. Some kinds of miscanthus have voluminous roots and are less compatible with other plants. You might not consider this characteristic … Continue reading
Another Look at Late Bloomers
By late September here on the Northern Plains, most plants have had the big flower or fall color reveal. If not, like many maples this year, red leaf color started and halted with hard frosts; crunchy brown leaves remain. Most locust trees had their golden color. Sunflowers had a fine season of showy blooms. Goldenrod … Continue reading
Fall Retreats
As the end of growing season, golden cottonwood leaves define our path as plants get ready for winter. Some of the giant Siouxland cottonwoods, prairie aspen, haven’t lost leaves yet. Ash tree leaves are already matted beneath trees and maples are just beginning to lose their fall green. Little bluestem and other native grasses burn … Continue reading
Celebrating Fall
At Plant Exchange blog, let’s celebrate a relaxing weekend together in early fall with nature’s paintbrush of yellow and red on October 12th, Native American Day in South Dakota. Fall Moment On our rare Monday morning walk, deep blue asters salute orange flames of Indian grass along the Missouri River breaks deer path. Parting big … Continue reading
Nasturtium Late Bloomers
We love showy flowers that grow from seed within the season. Nasturtiums are easy to grow and maintain under the wide range of conditions on the Northern Plains. At Plant Exchange, nasturtiums grow beautifully into fall, when long season plants look weary. It’s also the right timing for them. Tiny white butterfly caterpillars associated with … Continue reading
