Don’t let this furry creature fool you.
Holidays will be here soon and that means house guests might be coming. Take a few steps now to make sure your ‘guests’ are the ones you want at your house, not the furry, unwelcome kind. Continue reading
Autumn is officially here; cue the falling leaves, cool nights, and yellowing pine trees. Knowing the cause of the discolored needles will help to know if it is nature taking its course or if it is a disease infecting your trees. Continue reading
Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed again in the state of Nebraska. Find out what that means for your beloved ash trees, what you should be doing now, and what you can hold off for a little while longer. Continue reading
Tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous and were avoided at all cost. Today tomatoes are grown in over 86 percent of home gardens in the United States. This popular plant has many common diseases and problems that can plague it. With a little help, you can keep your tomatoes in tip top shape. Continue reading
Timely rains this year may have kept many from running their irrigation systems, but they could have also done much more than that. Moisture has kept many lawns from going dormant and heavy rains are most likely the reason for many weeds in the turf and in some cases, its yellow appearance. Continue reading
Pear rust on the leaf
Pears with polka dots? Apples with chicken pox? What’s going on? There is fungus among us. Find out what you can do now that infection has happened and if there is anything you can do to prevent it in the future. Continue reading
Monarch feeding on joe-pye weed
A week devoted to wildflowers is just about as good as a holiday devoted to trees. While Arbor Day is a well-known holiday celebrated across the state, Nebraska Wildflower Week should be celebrated just as much.
Nebraska Wildflower weeks’ focus is on embracing wildflowers and native plants. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) coordinates Wildflower Week activities bringing together a list of entities that know the true value of wildflowers. Wildflower Week events are planned across the state June 1-11. View the 2018 Nebraska Wildflower Week events statewide and resources here: https://plantnebraska.org/connect/events/wildflowers.html
Wildflowers and native plants can be unique and interesting additions to the landscape. What is the difference between native plants and wildflowers? The terms “native” and “wildflower” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Native plants in the Great Plains are generally described as those found growing in a defined area prior to European settlers. Wildflowers are described as flowering plants that grow with little or no human help. They can either be native or introduced, or brought in from other areas. Both wildflowers and native plants work well in low maintenance areas and in sites that need hardy, drought tolerant plants.
“Wildflowers endure through hard times, lending beauty and brightness even to landscapes rarely seen by human eyes. Their flowers and seeds feed birds, butterflies and other wildlife; their roots loosen and improve soil; and they lend fragrance and beauty to wild places, making us want to take a closer look at places we might otherwise ignore.” Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
Elizabeth’s Top 5 Wildflower Picks of 2018:
Purple Prairie Clover, Dalea purpureum– There are several species of Dalea, but this is a very common one. In June the flower spikes are covered with tiny rose-purple colored flowers that work well as cut flowers. The plants can get between 1-3 feet tall, prefer full sun, and well-drained soil. The cultivar ‘Stephanie’ was bred right here in Nebraska.
Joe-pye Weed, Eupatorium purpureum– does very well in wet areas. The straight species can get up to 6 feet tall, but the cultivar ‘Little Joe’ gets only 3-4 foot tall. The red-violet blooms are held above the foliage in July to September and are a butterfly magnet.
Evening Primrose, Oenothera species- These low growing plants work great near the edge of a bed or used to help to soften the end of a sidewalk. Bright yellow flower show up June through September and are followed by a unique winged seed pod.
Mexican Hat, Ratibida columnifera- This coneflower looks very similar to another native plant we have, upright prairie coneflower, except the petals are bright yellow and deep red. It is a ‘short lived’ perennial that prefers full sun and well drained soils.
Pussytoes, Antennaria species- The name describe the plant very well, the flowers look like little white or pink cat toes at the end of the flower stalk. While the flowers aren’t very showy, this is a tough-as-nails groundcover plant that works well in hot, dry locations.
This is just a sample of my favorites, but there are many more interesting wildflowers to learn about. More information about wildflowers can be found in a Nebraska Extension NebGuide, a University publication, ‘Wildflowers for the Home Landscape’. Go to http://extensionpubs.unl.edu/ and search for the keyword ‘wildflowers’.
Elizabeth Killinger is the Horticulture Extension Educator with Nebraska Extension in Hall County. For more information contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.killinger@unl.edu, her blog at https://huskerhort.com/, or HuskerHort on Facebook and Twitter.
