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
Tagged with gardening …
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
Season Favorites
About four inches of snow fell overnight; a reminder that Fall wanes as the holidays approach. Just thinking about a few moments of the past season. The half on/half off leaves of our Japanese maple was a marker for yesterday. A year ago, an early Fall cold event caused the leaves to turn from green … Continue reading
Look in the Greenhouse at Change of Season
Here at Plant Exchange it’s the end of September and this year the first frost could be within a couple of weeks. Outdoors in this USDA Zone 4-5a region, monarchs and other pollinators are busy gathering nectar in native Agastache, butterfly bush, some zennias, and asters in bloom around the yard. Soon we need to … Continue reading
Another Basket for Eggs
Welcome to Plant Exchange where we highlight plants of the Northern Plains and people who grow them. A commonly grown perennial is the native cone flower, studied for its medicinal qualities as well as grown for its ornamental beauty. An old saying “Don’t put all the eggs in one basket.” may have some truth for … Continue reading
Garden Time
May is the month to begin again. Diane Dickes of Diane’s Greenhouse, summarizes pointers that will carry you through the season. One of her ideas is to plant a butterfly garden. Butterflies choose flowers with the nectar and pollen they want. Painted lady butterflies, so especially plentiful last season, chose milkweed as one of their … Continue reading
Cool Spring in the Greenhouse Video
Starter plants need adjustments to be ready to set out for spring planting. Continue reading
Gardening Can Be Unpredictable
Welcome to Plant Exchange where we try to garden but it doesn’t always work out! It’s the middle of April, and the spring weather is unsettled. Below is an idea which the writer implemented in mid-March. She planted three pots and waited. Crunchy pod snow peas are a favorite, but getting the garden ready soon … Continue reading
Want to Start Seeds Indoors?
It’s early spring in our USDA Zone 4 – 5a region in the Northern Plains. Temperatures have fluctuated and slowed spring transition so far. The local nurseryman says spring is about two weeks behind normal at this time. Luckily, indoors, we can start seeds and have them ready to plant in the garden when the … Continue reading
What’s Happening At Des Moines Botanical Garden?
A reason to visit the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, is that its outdoor gardens grow many of the same trees, shrubs and perennials that are found in this region. Des Moines is rated USDA Zone 5a and 5b and has an average of 9 more inches of rain each year and a somewhat less … Continue reading
