Easter Lily, Lilium longiflorum
Easter lilies are hardy bulbs forced out of season to provide floral displays for the Easter holiday. Easter lilies can be used to brighten homes or bloom in outdoor gardens. Learn more in this article.
Articles
Blue False Indigo, Baptisia australis
Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is an under-used tough, but beautiful, prairie native with purple-blue flowers and attractive foliage throughout the season.
Learn more about blue false indigo in this article.
Dill, Anethum graveolens
Dill is an interesting plant to grow and there is much to this culinary herb than just pickles! Read all about growing dill in this article.
String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii
String of Hearts is a tender African succulent plant with heart-shaped leaves is easily grown as a houseplant. Read more about it in this article.
Jade Plant, Crassula ovata
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is a tender succulent south African native that is very easy to grow and propagate, making it a popular houseplant. This article provides information on caring for and propagating Jade Plants.
Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milii
Crown of thorns is a tough plant with bright or pastel-colored flowers. Many cultivars of this succulent are available. Learn more about this plant and how to care for it in this article.
Ponytail Palm, Beaucarnea recurvata
It’s called a ponytail palm, but isn’t really a palm. This succulent plant sort of resembles a palm with its long leaves on a single stem. Its enlarged base gives rise to its other common name of elephant’s foot tree. It makes a low-maintenance houseplant here in the Midwest. To find out more about this easy-to-grow species, keep reading…
Nerine bowdenii
It’s getting pretty late in the season for new flowers, but there is one plant that is in bloom now. It’s a tender bulb from South Africa, but does great in container culture. To find out what plant this is and how to grow it, read on…
Fiber Optic Grass, Isolepis cernua
Fiber optic grass (actually a sedge) is a low maintenance plant with small flower spikes at the tips of the grass-like stems reminiscent of those fiber optic lamps. Although it’s not hardy here and is frequently used as an annual and you can overwinter it in the house. Read more on fiber optic grass in this article.
‘Prairie Sun’ Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Make a splash in the garden with a brightly colored black-eyed Susan – minus the black eye. ‘Prairie Sun’ is a former All America Selections winner with a green center and rich, orange and yellow petals. Learn more about this intriguing cultivar …
Peacock Orchid, Gladiolus murielae (= Acidanthera bicolor)
Peacock orchid, actually in the Iris family, is a fragrant species of Gladiolus easily grown as a tender summer bulb in our climate. Learn more about this interesting flower in this article.
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
You’ve probably noticed elongated, orange beetles roaming about on flowers lately. These goldenrod soldier beetles are the most common species of soldier beetle in our area. They are common at this time of year, feeding on pollen and maybe the occasional small insect. Read this article to find out more about these insects…