Summer Garden Delights When daylilies are mentioned, many people picture the orange daylilies from their childhood. These “ditch lilies” as they were called, could be seen in the ditches of rural areas, along streams and around many rural and city homes. Even today, ditch lilies still thrive in these locations. Today, daylilies offer a rainbow of color combinations and a
Read moreAmbrosia for butterflies, blooming shrub for the garden Can you guess which plant tops the list of “Best Plants for a Butterfly Garden”? Its name is a huge hint. Of course, Butterfly Bush Buddleia (also Buddleja) reigns Number One. This sun-loving shrub produces nectar-filled blooms that always seem to be the most popular among butterflies. If by chance there might
Read moreSummer Emeralds By Tom Schroeder Photos courtesy of Tom Schroeder. Visiting your flowers this summer are the green gems of the native bee world, the Metallic Green Sweat Bees. These harmless, quarter to half inch, bees live out their entire lives in your yard and need your help to survive. They will provide not only pollinating services but beauty and
Read moreHosta–still king of shade plants and easy for every gardener to grow Why Hostas Hostas continue to reign as the king of shade plants. In fact, they remain the top selling perennial in the country, surpassing the ever-popular daylily by a factor of two in sales volume. Hostas tolerate shade where many plants do not. But why are hostas so
Read moreKentucky Wisteria merits space in midwest gardens Wisteria is a genus that can be divisive in the plant world. Their unmistakable blooms can transport you to another land, filled with afternoon tea and romantic whimsy. In the wrong location, wisteria’s long, rambling vines will transport you to the Little Shop of Horrors. Wisteria is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae).
Read moreAnnuals to covet and grow Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Compact Tropical Rose’ Can you believe ‘SunPatiens’ are celebrating their 10 year anniversary? Ten years of rollicking good fun, phenomenal new introductions, and, in effect, turning the impatiens world on its ear from Day 1. New for 2017 is ‘SunPatiens Compact Tropical Rose’, the first of the compact ‘SunPatiens’ to offer variegated yellow/green
Read morePlains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is the Kansas Native Plant Society 2017 Wildflower of the Year (WOY). Plains coreopsis is 2 to 4 feet tall with many yellow and reddish brown terminal flowers blooming June through September. Leaves are divided, narrowly linear and oppositely arranged on the stem. This species is found in damp disturbed areas, roadside ditches and low, sandy
Read moreJudy Penner, local expert rosarian, provides list of roses that perform well in our area and are available locally. Tahitian Sunset, an apricot blend Hybrid Tea Memorial Day, a medium pink Hybrid Tea Livin’ Easy, an orange blend Floribunda Day Breaker, an apricot blend Floribunda Elina, a light yellow Hybrid Tea Gold Medal, a medium yellow Hybrid Tea Strike It Rich, a yellow blend Grandiflora Double Delight,
Read morePansies are such a friendly-faced flower! But until the 19th century most people considered them a weed. Today, pansies are a hybrid plant cultivated from those wildflowers in Europe and western Asia. Much of the collection and cultivation of pansies can be attributed to plantsmen and women in the UK and Europe more than 200 years ago. For example, Lady
Read moreHummingbirds will like new list of recommended flowers as much as humans Prairie Star Flower list reveals latest recommended flowers for Kansas By Mary Lou Peter After years of sometimes-harsh tests, the winners have emerged: Kansas State University has unveiled its latest list of recommended annual flowers, including a sweet treat for hummingbirds and a vine that sports purple foliage with
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