The merry month of May is upon us. With it come bleeding hearts, irises, lilacs—and… moles.

Hollyhocks (Alcea) are old-fashioned flowers often found around the foundations of abandoned farmhouses and older homes. In times past, children used the blooms as adornments for their dolls or fashioned dolls from the parts of the flowers themselves. Hollyhocks are a staple of cottage gardens and have experienced a resurgence in recent years.

Spring is just around the corner and gardeners are beginning to plan for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, we lack a crystal ball to tell what the weather will be, but one thing is certain: Wisconsin weather can be very unpredictable. It can swing from a wet, soggy spring to a dry, almost drought-like mid-summer with extreme heat in a blink. Is there a way to plan for these extremes?

Oregano (Origanum) is native to Europe, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. The genus name comes from the Greek words oros, meaning “mountain” and gamos, meaning” beauty,” indicating its native habitat. It was introduced to the United States after World War II when soldiers returned reporting how much they enjoyed the flavor of Italian pizza. Demand has grown significantly since that time.

Salvia is a very large genus of both perennial and annual plants in the mint family. They hail from worldwide regions, including the United States. Most are ornamental, some are medicinal, and some are culinary plants. They are easy to grow, very low maintenance, and have endearing qualities.

Invasive species are those that are nonnative and adversely affect the habitat they invade, environmentally, economically, and ecologically. They impact plants, animals, and humans and require significant attention. A 2021 study cited by the USDA estimated that invasive species have cost North America $2 billion per year in the early 1960s to over $26 billion per year since 2010.

It is difficult to grow many nuts in the state of Wisconsin in an urban landscape.  Most nut trees are too large to squeeze into urban lots.  To further complicate the problem, many nut trees are not hardy to the Wisconsin cold.  Delicacies such as pecans, almonds, cashews, and pistachios just cannot cut it.  However, research being done on hazelnuts is making it more feasible and they might be one of the few to grace a larger urban landscape.

When sedum is mentioned to Wisconsin gardeners, the mind immediately goes to ‘Autumn Joy,’ that northern favorite in many gardens. However, there are over 400 species of sedum, some upright and some low-growing. While a no-maintenance plant does not exist, sedum are some of the best low maintenance plants available.

While outdoor plants are tucked in under mulch, resting until spring it is time to turn some attention to indoor plants. Houseplants need a little different care during the winter. Conditions inside a Wisconsin home are significantly different during the winter than during other seasons and this leads to some challenges for houseplants.

In my life, garden styles have been an eclectic mix of whatever friends have given me, what I found on the cheap, or what I divided and spread around. There wasn’t a lot of “design” that went into it, other than the concept of “right plant, right place” and an emphasis on native plants.  However, there are several garden designs and styles that one might consider when planning a landscape.

If house plants have not been your forte, but you want to give them a try, seriously consider the spider plant, (Chlorophytum comosum). These plants are great for beginners as they are forgiving, easy to grow, easy to propagate, and lovely to look at.

As winter approaches and the landscape is full of deciduous trees, it might be nice to have a spot of green here or there. Now is a great time to evaluate and decide where a nice conifer might fit in next year. The tendency is to lump all conifers into one category: pine trees. However, that is not the case.

The importance of preserving pollinators has become a well-established fact in today’s world.  With one out of every three bites of food consumed dependent on pollinators, their impact cannot be overstated.  Honeybees aside, worldwide insect pollinators face daunting prospects.  With habitat loss and increased use of pesticides, pollinator decline has become a major concern.  However, increased attention on the situation has begun to turn the tide.

There are three species of knotweed that have invaded Wisconsin and spread across the state at lightning speed. Once thought to be an attractive landscaping plant, they are all regulated plants by the Wisconsin DNR due to their rapid growth and destructive ecological impact.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is a native North American woody perennial that can be grown as either a large shrub or a small multi-stem tree. There are about 30 species of Amelanchier, some with very interesting histories.

Sometimes when an unrecognized insect wanders into the landscape, it is difficult to know if it is a friend or foe. Therefore, it is hard to know how to react. Soldier beetles in general, and the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) specifically, are one of the good guys and should be encouraged to stick around.

Now that fall is on the horizon, it is time for gardeners to kick back, relax and enjoy a well-earned rest. Maybe not just yet. Fall is the best time to evaluate what was the good, bad, and ugly about the current landscape and plan for the spring. Plan a new bed, revitalize an old bed, or prepare the landscape for next spring.