To most gardeners, yarrow (Achillea) is just a timeless, beautiful perennial ornamental flower. To others, is it a bountiful beneficial herb with multiple uses. In fact, the International Herb Society has chosen yarrow as the 2024 “Herb of the Year”. In order to achieve this distinction, it had to excel in at least two of the three categories of medicinal, culinary, or decorative.

As the weather turns cooler and the season winds down, take the time to evaluate the landscape with a critical eye and do some planning for next year. Was there a location where you naturally walked from place to place and a path formed unintentionally, called a “path of destination?” Perhaps there is space between or around gardens that a path would add dimension and beauty.

Gardeners’ lives are heavily influenced by insects. Mosquitoes invade their space, Japanese beetles ravage their plants, borers bore, caterpillars chomp, stink bugs stink, and the list goes on. There are a wealth of beneficial and fascinating insects that enrich the garden world.

As a native plant that can withstand a wide variety of planting situations, red twig dogwood, with colorful winter bark, is also a feeding station for vireos, waxwings, thrushes, and other birds. It has few pests and diseases. It makes a stunning specimen plant, can serve as a privacy border, or simply a grouping in a bed.

This summer drought has been tough on many plants, trees included. Some trees have shown significant decline and die back (bare branches at the top or one side). However, there are multiple reasons for decline of trees beyond drought. Exploring those reasons can help diagnose the problem, hence develop a potential solution.

Whether it is known as bachelor button, cornflower, blue bottle, or mountain bluet as an annual or as a perennial, the beautiful, bountiful garden flowers in the species Centaurea have a spot in every landscape.

July— that summer month with Independence Day, lots of heat, little rain (even less in this drought year), plenty of pests, harvest, and time to think of planting for fall crops. Where to start?

One of the newest trends in gardening is foodscaping or edible landscaping. Or is it? The reality is that incorporating edibles into the landscape design has been around since the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. Separating ornamental and vegetable gardens did not occur until Europeans began the practice during the Renaissance. Foodscaping is enjoying a resurgence with individuals who want to eat locally, home-grown grown food but do not have sufficient space for traditional vegetable gardens.

Spring has arrived and attention quicky turns to turf care. For some it is a never-ending exercise in frustration to try and get grass to grow in shaded areas. Perhaps it is time to make some adjustments and even think outside the box.

Even when space is at a premium in a landscape, on occasion the gardener still has a desire to add more beauty. Alternatively, something is just needed to add depth to the space. Perhaps a space needs shielded for privacy, or there is a need to disguise an unsightly view or shade a nook for relaxing. Look no further than the fine array of spectacular vines.

While perennials, annuals, and biennials all have a place in the home landscape, nothing beats annuals for season-long bursts of color in a bare space. With careful consideration, matching the plant to the space, these plants can thrive in a multitude of light and soil conditions.

Butternut squash is considered by some to be the premier winter squash to grow and eat. The sweet, moist, almost nutty flavor is akin to sweet potatoes, but better. It can be roasted, baked, grilled, stuffed, or eaten raw in salads. It can be mashed, used in stews, baked goods, soups, casseroles, and as a side dish.

With winter winds whipping and temperatures dipping, Wisconsin gardeners are not going to be doing much outside. Indoor gardening is still going strong and will satisfy that urge to work with plants and soil. If space allows and you want to bring a bit of a tropical feel to your environment, consider growing a dramatic, stunning, exotic-looking Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae).

Native plants are great for many reasons. While time and space do not allow a complete explanation, suffice to say they are the preferred choice in the plant world for ecological reasons. However, just because a plant is native does not mean it is well behaved and interacts nicely with companions. Unless it is a well-chosen site and properly maintained, some natives can be downright bullies.

One positive consequence of the recent pandemic induced lockdown was a spike in bird watching. Businesses that cater to bird aficionados reported a 50% uptick in sales of supplies. There is no question that our feathered friends bring joy with their antics and lilting songs, but gardeners reap benefits as well and should make an effort to attract beneficial birds to their landscape.

Although the weather is blustery now, it is not too early to begin planning for spring gardening. In fact, it might be just the ticket to rid you of the winter blues. If your landscape has a slope in need of carpeting, a rock garden in need of some color, or a border or path in need of edging, consider growing dianthus as a charming and fragrant addition.

Does it seem like the garden season has flown by this year? There are several structures that extend the season, both by allowing plants to be grown earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Although primarily used for vegetables, flowers and other ornamental have been known to make an appearance as well.

There is a tendency, when fall approaches, to be tired of mowing the lawn and just neglect any further turf care. However, according to Doug Soldat, UW Turf Specialist, fall is actually the perfect time to give some extra attention to the area and, as a consequence, be in great shape for next season.

Fall is steadily creeping up. Pumpkins ripen, harvest preservation begins, geese arrive in steady numbers, and trees start to show peeks of color. Cool fall mornings radiate with beauty and peacefulness. But as one looks ahead to spring and anticipates those fresh, vibrant bits of green growth poking through the soil, the planning must begin now. Spring blooming flower bulbs must be planted in the fall.

If you are looking for a stately, eye-catching, late-summer to fall blooming plant for the back of your flower gardens, look no further than Joe Pye Weed. Do not be deterred by the name, for this pollinator-magnet is no weed.