Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Free Milkweeds for Restoration Projects

  Monarch Watch's Bring Back the Monarchs program recently announced they are now accepting 2018 applications for Free Milkweeds for Restoration Projects. Applicants must be located in the Monarch Milkweed Corridor which includes most of the eastern half of the USA (See website for … [Read more...]

Branched Coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba)

Branched Coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba) -- the native prairie plant we love to hate. This pretty diminutive species of Rudbeckia is one of the final bursts of color we find in our prairies during the late fall. It's a delight to see, but it can be the bane of a prairie's existence. This aggressive … [Read more...]

Crown Vetch

One of my nemeses in our prairie is Crown Vetch (Securigera varia). It's one of those beautiful/horrible weeds. I'm not sure how it got introduced -- could be courtesy of some passing bird or the overflow of Northland Creek. For the past few years, there have been only a few invaders which I've … [Read more...]

Late Fall Blooming Plants

I have many favorite wildflowers -- actually maybe all native plants are my favorite when it comes right down to it. But Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) and Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima) are definitely two of my favorite late fall blooming plants. And then, of course, there are all the … [Read more...]

Lorrie Otto’s Birthday September 9th

September 9th would have been Lorrie Otto's 98th birthday. Lorrie Otto -- Queen of the Prairie. Lorrie Otto -- the inspiration for Wild Ones. LORRIE OTTO SEEDS FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM In 1996, Wild Ones Natural Landscapers Ltd honored Lorrie with a celebration and a program in her name - The Lorrie … [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...]