Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

OVER-THE-COUNTER NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21

Hi, all -- It is the third week and I am doing fine. They had to remove the partial knee and replace with the total knee. So it is taking longer. WOFVA's 22nd Native Plant, Tree and Shrub Sale As we promised, we invite you to join us for the over-the-counter native plants sale. The Wild Ones Fox … [Read more...]

Native Landscaping Design

Make a Survey Although it is best to  have photos of your house and landscape throughout the seasons, start now by photographing your house and yard from several angles. Then print the photos in as large a scale as you can. The next step is the fun part. Start looking through native-plant … [Read more...]

American Witchhazel

One of the last flowering shrubs of the year, American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a hiker's delight when spotted late in the fall. Native to both the northeastern and southeastern parts of the U.S., their fragrant bright yellow blossoms appear late in the autumn after all the leaves have … [Read more...]

Cogs and Wheels & the Nature of Oaks

I attended the tour of Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter member Jim LaLuzerne's yard. He concluded by making this observation. Have You Lost Your Cogs and Wheels? “To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.”  –  Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac. But when all the … [Read more...]

Why Do Leaves Change Colors?

I love the fall season. I love to watch the change in color of the warm-season native plants -- forbs, grasses, trees, and shrubs. I've always known the change in color had something to do with the chlorophyll in the plants, but I thought it was about time I learned what happens to create the … [Read more...]

When Dead Doesn’t Mean Dead

by Lawanda Jungwirth A dead tree is never entirely dead even though it may seem that way at first glance. Observe a dead tree for a while, and you will see that it is teeming with life. The healthiest, most biologically diverse forests have a good share of dead trees, broken tops, and downed logs … [Read more...]