When the days grow shorter and summer blooms fade, mums and asters step into the spotlight. These hardy fall favorites bring vibrant color and charm to gardens, porches, and patios across the Midwest. Whether you’re looking to freshen up your fall containers or add long-lasting color to your landscape, mums and asters are the perfect choice. Color Varieties Mums (Chrysanthemums):Mums are available in nearly every autumn shade imaginable—sunny yellows, fiery oranges, deep burgundies, bright purples, and classic whites. Some varieties even blend two tones for extra depth. They come in cushion, daisy, and decorative flower forms, making them versatile for any display. Asters:Asters add a softer, daisy-like look with blooms in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white. Their cheerful...
Midwest Winter Prep Checklist: ✔️ Clear dead plants and weeds✔️ Cut back and mulch perennials✔️ Wrap young trees and shrubs✔️ Plant spring bulbs✔️ Water deeply✔️ Bring houseplants inside✔️ Add bird feeders and shelters✔️ Decorate with winter planters 1. Clean Up Spent Annuals and Weeds Remove any annual flowers, vegetables, and weeds that are past their prime. This helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your beds. Cut back perennials, but leave some seed heads (like coneflowers and ornamental grasses) to provide winter interest and food for birds. 2. Add a Layer of Mulch A 2–4 inch layer of mulch around your perennials, shrubs, and trees helps insulate the soil, lock in moisture, and protect roots from temperature swings. Use...
June is National Perennial Gardening Month—a time to celebrate the beauty, resilience, and long-term benefits of perennials in our gardens. For Midwest gardeners, perennials aren’t just a smart choice—they’re the backbone of a thriving, low-maintenance landscape. If you’re looking to create a garden that comes back stronger year after year, attracts pollinators, and weathers Midwest seasons with grace, perennials are your go-to. What Are Perennials? Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, returning each growing season from their root systems. Unlike annuals, which complete their lifecycle in one season, or biennials, which bloom in the second year, perennials keep showing up—often bigger and better each time. Popular Midwest perennials include: Coneflower (Echinacea) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) Daylilies Hostas Peonies...
June is National Pollinators Month, and it’s the perfect time to recognize the essential role pollinators play in our gardens and in ecosystems around the world. From buzzing bees to fluttering butterflies and darting hummingbirds, pollinators are the unsung heroes of plant life—and it’s up to us to create spaces where they can thrive. Why Pollinators Matter Pollinators are responsible for helping plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another. That simple process fuels the growth of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In fact, about 1 in 3 bites of food we eat depends on pollinators! Without healthy pollinator populations, food systems, ecosystems, and even our backyard gardens would suffer. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, and even some...
June is National Rose Month—a time to celebrate one of the most iconic, beloved flowers in the world. From romantic red blooms to cheerful yellows and soft pinks, roses have long been a symbol of love, honor, and beauty. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this month is the perfect time to stop and smell the roses… and maybe plant a few, too. A Flower with a Story Roses have captivated hearts for centuries. They’ve appeared in poetry, art, and even politics (think: the War of the Roses). Today, roses are grown in a stunning range of varieties—climbing, shrub, hybrid tea, floribunda—each offering unique color, fragrance, and form. There’s truly a rose for every garden style. Growing...
