Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Highly Invasive Spring Scilla

Last week during the Larry Meiller Garden Talk (Wisconsin Public Radio) program, a woman called in to ask what she could do to get rid of Scilla aka Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica). This invasive non-native plant was taking over her lawn and was now moving into her woods. My ears perked up immediately since I, too, have a problem with this nasty non-native.

Scilla (Scilla verna) spreads rapidly from seed. When you see the blue blossoms, you'll also seed slim lime-green spires all around indicating new plants growing from last year's seed.
Scilla (Scilla siberica) spreads rapidly from seed. When you see the blue blossoms, you’ll also see slim lime-green spires all around indicating new plants growing from last year’s seed. Don’t be deceived into thinking it’s just grass. Scilla will occasionally bloom in white, pink and purple.

I don’t know where it came from — probably the birds — but it’s been a “growing” problem for me for several years. It started with one tiny plant in one of my native plant woodlands and has since moved out to the lawn and a second woodland and into the prairie. I’ve tried digging out the bulbs, but they go so deep into the ground, they’re impossible to remove. [Read more…]

Jens Jensen: The Living Green to be on WPT

The award-winning documentary Jens Jensen:  The Living Green produced by Viva Lundin Productions will be shown for the first time on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) on Channel 38-1 on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 9PM.

Jensen, known for his “prairie style” design work, has often been referred to as the “dean of American landscape architecture.” He is considered one of the nation’s most important designers today for bringing nature into landscape architecture. [Read more…]

Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter Annual Native Plant Sale – Wisconsin

Shoppers looking for native plants to take home for spring planting.
Shoppers looking for native plants to take home for spring planting.

Pre-Orders are due Friday, April 29, 2016.

A project very near and dear to my heart is the Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter’s annual spring native plant sale which is held at the WILD Center in Neenah, Wisconsin on May 14, 2016. When the chapter started this annual plant sale, the goal was to get native plants into the hands of residents of the Fox Valley at a reasonable price. That is still the goal today. Although there will be extra plants available for purchase the day of pick-up, it is preferred that buyers pre-order their plants because species variety and quantity will be limited.

Chapter volunteers sorting pre-orders of native plants.
Chapter volunteers sorting pre-orders of native plants.

The plant sale order form identifies all plants being offered as to ecotype (shade, sun, mesic, etc). There are also some pre-designed collections available from which to choose, and a listing specifically for monarchs and pollinators. Plants are in 4″ pots and are more than reasonably priced. There is also special pricing available for non-profits purchasing plants for their outdoor learning centers and habitats.

Don’t forget to place your order!

Pre-Orders are due Friday, April 29, 2016.

Pick up is May 14th from 9 to 11AM.

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