Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Hedgerow

American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum tirlobum) -- I've had this shrub growing at the back edge of my prairie for as long as I can remember, and I've never really noticed it much. It's in the hedgerow we've created to camouflage the industrial park that lies beyond our property. But this year … [Read more...]

Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)

The first time I saw Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) was during a tour of Wild Ones member's home in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin back in the late 1980s. She had used it as a privacy border between her driveway and her neighbors. I remember thinking what a unique way to provide privacy, yet a sense of … [Read more...]

Monarch and Goldfinch

While sitting on our deck with a Coca Cola and a magazine, I noticed a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) land on Tall Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)). As I was filming the monarch, an American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) landed on the Cupplant (Silphium perfoliatum) in the background. … [Read more...]

Vanilla – Native to Mexico

Vanilla, a simple ingredient we use frequently in our baking (It helps make my rhubarb coffeecake extra special!) is unfortunately not native to North America. Instead it is native to Mesoamerica which includes parts of Mexico and Guatemala and can grow only in the tropics and subtropics or 10 to 20 … [Read more...]

Elderberry

Elderberry is blossoming in my yard right now. I love its lacy-looking blossoms. I was surprised to learn in researching this lovely shrub that there are several native species that grow in the Midwest: Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and American Black … [Read more...]