There are many places to find comprehensive lists of both native and invasive Wisconsin plants. Ideally, plants would stay put on their own lists and not cross over. However, every gardener knows that plants don’t always behave the way we hope and expect they will. Given the right conditions, once in a while some [Continue]
It’s not necessary that every flowering plant in your garden screams, “Look at me!” Sometimes your eyes and brain need a place to rest. Here are two plants native to Wisconsin that offer beauty but don’t flaunt it quite as boldly as others. These are also good choices if you are in the process [Continue]
This fall I fell in love with red twig dogwood. It is one of the few native shrubs among an overwhelming multitude of invasive plants and shrubs that edge the trail where I walk every morning. The dogwoods have been particularly beautiful this fall, or perhaps they’ve always been there, just waiting for me to [Continue]
It’s no secret that the world is suffering from a lack of pollinators. One out of every three bites of food we eat is provided through the work of animal and insect pollinators and our food supply is at risk if pollinators continue to disappear at the rate they have been. Here are some [Continue]
On these hot days of summer, it’s nice to have some cooler colors in the flowerbed instead of bright reds, oranges and yellows. Here are three native plants that bloom in cool, restful purple and are at their peak right now. As a reminder, native plants are those found in a particular area prior [Continue]
Perennial plants, those that live for more than one growing season, typically have short bloom periods. They may last a week or two, perhaps up to a month. The trick is to have a variety of plants in the perennial flower bed so that something is blooming all season long. Here are three plants native [Continue]
A few weeks ago my husband and I were taking our usual morning walk alongside Lake Butte des Morts. While his gaze turns upward toward waterfowl and songbirds, my eyes are drawn to the sides of the trail and the plants that grow there. This particular morning I was stopped in my tracks by the [Continue]
Sagittaria latifolia is a native aquatic species found in Wisconsin, and in fact, throughout the United States except for Nevada and Alaska. Throughout its range, it is called by many names including the following: Arrowleaf, Broadleaf Arrowhead, Duck Potato, Indian Potato, Katniss, Swan Potato, Swamp Potato, Tule-Potato, Wapato, Wapatoo, Wappato and Wapati. I will refer [Continue]
Bee balm is a pretty perennial lavender-colored flower native to Wisconsin prairies. It goes by a few other names including monarda, wild bergamot and Oswego tea. The Latin name is Monarda fistulosa. Another native bee balm, Monarda didyma boasts bright scarlet flowers. Lavender bee balm flowers are about three inches across while the scarlet ones [Continue]
Woodlands are magnificent places in early spring as ephemeral wildflowers blanket the forest floor. Here are just a few of the beauties you might see on your trek through the woods. Skunk Cabbage Skunk cabbage grows along streams and wetlands and is the first wildflower up in spring, sometimes even pushing through ice and snow. [Continue]