Rant of the Month

Sep 1

Rough Leaf & Gray Dogwood

Rough leaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) is a relatively fast-growing native deciduous shrub that makes a wonderful wildlife corridor and...

Aug 1

Taking Food Plants for Granted

We commonly fail to appreciate the wonders that are part of everyday existence. I am not referring to electronic gadgets, but rather to...

Jul 1

Long-term Relationships

Life and gardening have a lot in common. One of the similarities I often reflect on is long-term relationships -- both what long-term...

Jun 1

Mulberry Trees, No Thanks

Setting aside the associated nursery rhyme and its several contradictions, one of the first trees most children learn is mulberry. But...

May 1

Callery Pear - A Crap Tree

I had a writeup on another topic ready and scheduled to post, then I got a text message from my sister-in-law. A large Callery pear in...

Apr 1

They're Back!

There are lots of natural wonders in the Midwest. Most of them are annual events, or semiannual like the sandhill crane migration. A few...

Mar 1

Gullible & Being Mislead

Let me say it again, and for the umpteenth time -- Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula') IS NOT hardy in central...

Feb 1

WINTERCREEPER

What comes to mind when I think of or see wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)? -- appealing, evergreen, groundcover, horrible, invasive,...

Jan 1

Silhouetting

One of my favorite winter botanical activities both at home and when out and about is silhouetting (i.e., studying and enjoying the naked...

Dec 1, 2020

Getting Rid of Unwanted Woodies

I often address unwanted woodies in my talks and assessments. While the topic brings a lot of snickers, it is an especially important...

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Unfortunately, most people know very little about plants and gardening, including many "professionals" employed to choose, install, maintain and design landscapes. This page spotlights specific issues with commentary on remedy or recommendation for course of action. Examples are numerous and easy to find -- rarely requiring me to travel far from home. Hopefully, these postings will make the task more difficult. I also feature seasonally appropriate and useful topics to help educate.