Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

A Small Native Plant Garden

Ken Sikora wrote this in an e-mail the other day: "Thanks for the Winter Seeding of a Prairie, Donna! Just last Thursday I did broadcast seeds in an existing prairie, trying to improve the wildflower diversity and fill in some thin spots. I did it knowing it was going to rain Friday, which would … [Read more...]

Flight of the Fall Monarch

Ever wonder why a monarch butterfly typically lives its entire life in only two to six weeks, while the fourth or fifth generation typically lives for up to eight or nine months? Perhaps this timely discussion with Orley "Chip" R. Taylor Jr., in part, will provide the answer. Sun Angle at Solar … [Read more...]

It’s the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

  Today is April 22, which marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. "Before 1970, pollution was rampant. Air pollution was widespread, toxic fumes billowed from factories and automobiles, and enormous fish die-offs occurred in the Great Lakes." (Nature Scoop) After returning from World … [Read more...]

Plants & Pollinators

Reference my blog Things We can do for Pollinators. This is a reference in a nutshell for pollinators — bats, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and moths. Supply your garden with a buffet for pollinators. Choose the plants that are best for your site, and keep your garden buzzing and humming by … [Read more...]

Webinars for You

Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) Here is a note from the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) along with information about some interesting webinars: "As people across the country and around the world adapt by the day to ongoing limitations on gathering with family and friends and to new … [Read more...]

Monarch Numbers Dropped to 2016-2017 Levels

Monarch Status Something unbelievable has happened to the Monarch population. Due to the cold spring in the upper Midwest and the dry fall in the southwestern states, the Monarchs' status dropped to below the 2016-2017 levels. The monarch migration is comprised of three or four generations. … [Read more...]