Create a Butterfly Garden
Colorful butterflies can add beauty, color, life, and interest to your backyard. Besides the well-known monarch, there are over 150 different butterfly species that may be seen in the Midwestern United States. With a little extra planning and proper plant selection you can increase the number and variety of butterflies that visit your yard this summer!

Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma)
“Elephant ears” is the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their large, heart-shaped leaves. Elephant ears can be grown as annuals, starting with new plants each year, or may be kept over the winter (most are hardy only to zone 8). Plants that have formed bulbs can be dug, dried and stored like cannas or dahlias after frost has killed the foliage.

Japanese Beetle
The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, is a significant pest of landscape trees and shrubs, vegetable and fruit crops, and turfgrass in the eastern United States.

Jumping Worms
Native to East Asia, jumping worms were found in Wisconsin in 2013 and can negatively impact soil composition and plant health.

Landscaping Alternatives for Terrestrial Invasive Flowers and Grasses
This publication suggests alternative plants that share desired ornamental and environmental features, grow in the Upper Midwest successfully, are available from nurseries and garden centers, and will unlikely escape from cultivation.

Pollinator Gardens: Plant Selection and Garden Care
In this video, learn how to select and care for plants to attract and support diverse pollinators in your garden all season long. This presentation emphasizes native plants and pollinators and includes sustainable gardening practices.

Photo left: Yarrow