tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142713431692618992024-02-18T21:46:01.086-06:00Urban NativesScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-19345307321326335712012-03-14T23:36:00.003-05:002012-03-14T23:57:42.168-05:00Spring ! ?Unseasonably warm here in Minneapolis this week. Today was warmer than yesterday, and yesterday was a high of 67, I think. A new record. No snow left in most places, except in the shade. Early Spring. Will this warmth remain, or will we get socked by some end of season Winter storm ? Stay tuned...<br />Pussy willows are full and grey, and the trees around town are already starting their Spring yellow-green tinge thing...that beautiful signal that all things chlorophyll are awakening, and ready to begin processing pure sunlight into beautiful structure. Exuberant, windblown, insect-assisted plant sex is about to explode for its brief annual moment. Every season has its place, but I love Spring ! And another note for the phenological record; I saw 2 different Mourning Cloak butterflies today, the earliest I've seen. They may have been the same butterfly, can't be sure, but they were hours and blocks apart. I, with the plants and certain mammals, come out of a certain slumber, and awaken to a different level in the warmth and activity of Spring.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-28189284994083103082010-12-23T00:36:00.004-06:002011-02-12T22:32:48.481-06:00Fall to Winter-The Great Sleep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLT15msbpYJ54Auiyx7r7ygBxixJurcOhKBhUQV-DNsk3jKxe5OYKVdZoqqq1bFWDzoZauH9jJjQTyUBaR9eXYno7szIjGOyVGiGwnXMlCFiaHwIV8acsqlu-LwgMcNmwgQpxFgeZNvQ2/s1600/DSCN1770.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553766312616815618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLT15msbpYJ54Auiyx7r7ygBxixJurcOhKBhUQV-DNsk3jKxe5OYKVdZoqqq1bFWDzoZauH9jJjQTyUBaR9eXYno7szIjGOyVGiGwnXMlCFiaHwIV8acsqlu-LwgMcNmwgQpxFgeZNvQ2/s320/DSCN1770.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nI-DXAVF53_xykbYofJ-sa47E_hTfGPyVePIcx66WHZBfsNYALBHniJ0nCPDPYdfuDphJFxNdvTQXjwWPpgxYuBR0YemM1J9JjNnO2UysUxhj7E_GHhFX7ivTK4mKvuoQHIpqI4TcRak/s1600/DSCN1754.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553766019483529570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nI-DXAVF53_xykbYofJ-sa47E_hTfGPyVePIcx66WHZBfsNYALBHniJ0nCPDPYdfuDphJFxNdvTQXjwWPpgxYuBR0YemM1J9JjNnO2UysUxhj7E_GHhFX7ivTK4mKvuoQHIpqI4TcRak/s320/DSCN1754.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w5jnYklr5-bz_pdoQCJvn1Tf_1jQ1Ug5f4DGx04x6eYeHrBdeT0AOSX6-WltbrTe-SBC4rRdHWv7A9dr27rM3iqSl3_vtfAMrmawQ076kuVX2EoFbzyLYLEus5Mk1U0zeJMnxNOKw2OM/s1600/DSCN1752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553765128223952882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w5jnYklr5-bz_pdoQCJvn1Tf_1jQ1Ug5f4DGx04x6eYeHrBdeT0AOSX6-WltbrTe-SBC4rRdHWv7A9dr27rM3iqSl3_vtfAMrmawQ076kuVX2EoFbzyLYLEus5Mk1U0zeJMnxNOKw2OM/s320/DSCN1752.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz9lXOgQSyXnbpoBKo1F3E1QLSQtlQgItNIHYT8tghw7ye2o-RevESFHB-gQgt_158qpBx4XRaAAqbhD4Lpk0_JOgJt40agwstG4JRP0ua90tRq6lJrpZOO0xxhETjmxlzJUCxDFx71TJ/s1600/DSCN1745.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553764319538551970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz9lXOgQSyXnbpoBKo1F3E1QLSQtlQgItNIHYT8tghw7ye2o-RevESFHB-gQgt_158qpBx4XRaAAqbhD4Lpk0_JOgJt40agwstG4JRP0ua90tRq6lJrpZOO0xxhETjmxlzJUCxDFx71TJ/s320/DSCN1745.JPG" border="0" /></a> Winter starkness overtakes the autumnal colors of Aster, Red Maple, Virginia Creeper, and Flowering Dogwood in my backyard. We are at least 20" over the average snowfall for Minneapolis for the season so far, which seems like plenty for us Mid-Continent dwellers, but I read today that Mammoth Mountain, California has endured 15 feet of snow in the past 4 days !!! Are you kidding me !!? I am having a hard time finding places to put the snow in my driveway, but now I feel embarrassed, what in the world do they do with all that snow?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-36973448520135478142010-07-02T00:37:00.004-05:002010-07-02T00:49:33.640-05:00Front Yard in May<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFyPixlMBlX1m5AHseQGgjmzn0vDiqCs7BIacJO8P48YsszGJisoKZ9Pm2WDwg0g9VPx-KHQhOJL3jEeO8LXsOQmUvFp1oIEACNB64-ogrRSnhmXSxr97yvF25e8gCPWH2FI5m_rsDSZg/s1600/DSCN1523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489179615590723634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFyPixlMBlX1m5AHseQGgjmzn0vDiqCs7BIacJO8P48YsszGJisoKZ9Pm2WDwg0g9VPx-KHQhOJL3jEeO8LXsOQmUvFp1oIEACNB64-ogrRSnhmXSxr97yvF25e8gCPWH2FI5m_rsDSZg/s320/DSCN1523.JPG" border="0" /></a> Looking across my front yard above to where the Wild Indigo below is blooming. The previous post is a closeup of this plant:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdvodcHL-qIGDcGzZ6o-TnPiuw9ka-SM61_WNKhKDv65Nus0lZegiDFxIEjEsAIukpwOSWdHZd9J-JuuPAcGb98O_kK0dOBKTCQxLCoNgswc91wXY-rSeb1iZGOVrc89R7BA-WuY5OEyY/s1600/DSCN1519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489179173637080962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdvodcHL-qIGDcGzZ6o-TnPiuw9ka-SM61_WNKhKDv65Nus0lZegiDFxIEjEsAIukpwOSWdHZd9J-JuuPAcGb98O_kK0dOBKTCQxLCoNgswc91wXY-rSeb1iZGOVrc89R7BA-WuY5OEyY/s320/DSCN1519.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-20559643733672670422010-07-02T00:28:00.003-05:002010-07-02T00:37:04.515-05:00May Baptisia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PcQ8TWFuApG6hd0yCPnLkYaMeBD6THYtSxUAm7iIk3Q0RBATGhhcxljF2jcH4f4Z1wZWP3JqW92zOUgveLUIBh97lx1gfygZsa0mjLsKQhVS3dxpZ832QYMUrj0XJ-4mCg39apVEv9Lx/s1600/DSCN1520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489176914992952978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PcQ8TWFuApG6hd0yCPnLkYaMeBD6THYtSxUAm7iIk3Q0RBATGhhcxljF2jcH4f4Z1wZWP3JqW92zOUgveLUIBh97lx1gfygZsa0mjLsKQhVS3dxpZ832QYMUrj0XJ-4mCg39apVEv9Lx/s320/DSCN1520.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's a beautiful Baptisia australis, Wild Blue Indigo, blooming the end of May in my front yard. This is a great showy plant with beautiful flower display and an almost equally beautiful rest of season display of foliage. This plant will fill up a 5 foot circle and grow up to 4 feet high before flopping under the weight of its seed pods. It isn't native to Minnesota, but a bit further south in the Tallgrass Prairie.<br /><br /><div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-18786900113093223622010-05-20T23:49:00.004-05:002010-05-21T00:22:54.575-05:00Spring Means Cottonwoods and Wood DucksSpring means alot of things, but in this city block I live in, one of the meanings is Cottonwood seeds, fluffy and over-abundant. They started blowing about 2 days ago, earlier than last year, like many things this Spring in Minneapolis. They spew so abundantly that they produce actual drifts of fluff. And they make it tough to be outside after mid-morning, since they have an almost willful drive to lodge in an eye.<br /><br />On a more fun note, yesterday I saw a hen Wood Duck cross busy Penn Ave. with possibly 9 ducklings following her into my neighbor's yard, which, like mine is surrounded by a chain link fence. After alerting the neighbors to the wildlife event, we went over and watched the cadre of hatchlings waddle around after their mother for a few minutes. But we had them corralled into the side yard of the house with escape only back into the busy street or through (over) the fence into the backyard. We didn't want to see carnage with them attempting their way back across the busy street, so I pushed Mama forward into the fence. The chicks easily plopped their way through the chain links into the backyard, but the hen looked as though she would strangle herself as she first tried to also go THROUGH the chainlink fence ! I yelled "No!" to her numerous times as I also continued to pressure her in the direction of her chicks. She must have understood me, because she fluttered her wings and lifted herself up over the fence to the happy reunion with the chicks. Then they kind of disappeared as we ignored them for a few minutes and walked around the other side of the house. When we got into the backyard they had disappeared, and we can only hope they made their way to Theodore Wirth Park, about 8 blocks to the west of our yards. It was fun to see waterfowl that wasn't either Canada Geese or Mallard Ducks.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-17408943498840912552010-05-18T23:57:00.002-05:002010-05-19T00:16:08.788-05:00Quick ConfessionalWow ! And I was raised Protestant, we don't do confessionals, do we? I don't know, I am now a protestant to a Protestant in my religious behaviors.<br /> I am embarrassed by my lack of posting these past few (or many) months. I had greater intentions when I started this. I so often get entranced reading other people's blogs, most of whom seem so much more educated and experienced than I about gardening matters, nature, or just life. Or they maybe just have better cameras with which to capture their latest life list entry, beetle, bird or bee. I often think I have little to contribute or add to the big picture.<br /> Whatever my original intentions were for this blog, I am now revising it to become an online nature/garden/life journal. There are a few of you out there who have at least checked in here occasionally, and I appreciate each of you. But I will mostly now pretend to ignore that you're watching, and write as though I'm just thinking to myself, writing out loud. But, obviously knowing someone may be out there, otherwise why not get offline and use a pencil, and just really keep it to myself. Because, ironically, this may become slightly more interesting if I quit writing to some supposed audience, and just write what's going on in my head. So stay tuned if you like, when you please.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-33443721413769262062010-02-13T00:34:00.002-06:002010-02-13T00:45:29.876-06:00Butterflies Need UsAs we humans continue to monopolize the geography for our own shopping needs, we keep plundering the shopping needs of other species. Monarch and other butterly species need native plants to sustain them in both their migratory journeys and their reproductive activities. We can help support them by growing plants in our gardens which provide them with nectar for adult food and leaves for caterpillar munching. Monarch Watch has a website that shows how to be a help to butterflies which happen past your own yard. Plant some native species this year and help keep the butterflies fluttering by !<br /><br /><a href="http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/index.html">Monarch Watch</a>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-44129555885517433262010-01-27T00:37:00.003-06:002010-01-27T00:52:43.295-06:00Winter DoldrumsA week of rain and fog, the Vikings lose a chance at the Super Bowl, and another week of subzero wind-chills...welcome to Minnesota in January ! With all the melting the past week, we still have snow covering the ground, due to the heavy snows we had in December. I'll be ordering a few seeds soon, and then some stratifying. Enjoying other people's blog posts, and dreaming of germination temperatures. And watching Lily the Black Bear, as she continues to hibernate with the one cub she gave birth to in the past few days. Check out her live cam here at the North American Bear Center...<a href="http://www.bear.org/website/">http://www.bear.org/website/</a> And take a look at some of the videos on the site also, there is some amazing footage of the researcher interacting with bears at close range !Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-1353517923440608442009-12-19T12:35:00.003-06:002009-12-19T12:45:30.269-06:00Introducing Nature Art<span style="color:#006600;">My nephew, Jim Rataczak, is a fantastic Nature Artist, outdoor lover, wildlife biologist, family man, and all-around great guy ! It's cool to know that he is able to paint birds and scenes from nature professionally. I still have to hold down a "9 to 5" (sort of) to keep me able to garden the native plants I enjoy. Take a look at his work on his <a href="http://jimrataczak.com/">website here</a>. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-35567067511119440302009-12-07T23:53:00.003-06:002009-12-08T00:31:02.979-06:00North American Pollinators in Decline<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4eovfH3Mqf_wWKm0ksNjtlH2HicecpKNtpu6e4Tyl-vPAsCY6Q3PumZ8iIHM10wrWrvzugrFkYRUXZGKHwewhYFSJBXQ2liggbXJ0hy5DpmIcQEM_0bb5uEh5kZkGfAsFh1-efDTP5Bg/s1600-h/DSCN0902.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748437783997506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4eovfH3Mqf_wWKm0ksNjtlH2HicecpKNtpu6e4Tyl-vPAsCY6Q3PumZ8iIHM10wrWrvzugrFkYRUXZGKHwewhYFSJBXQ2liggbXJ0hy5DpmIcQEM_0bb5uEh5kZkGfAsFh1-efDTP5Bg/s320/DSCN0902.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A study by the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, released in 2006, shows populations of pollinators in North America declining for various reasons. A link to the brief of the report is <a href="http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/pollinators_brief_final.pdf">here</a>. Another reason to plant gardens with native plants is to provide native pollinators with more of the food and habitat that only native plants can provide. Here's a shot of a local bee enjoying a little sustenance on a Missouri Evening Primrose bloom in my front yard.</div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-23619279405857660952009-11-12T23:25:00.004-06:002009-12-04T12:11:45.972-06:00Assisted Living for Plants<span style="color:#663300;">Your Grandma or your parents may be in an assisted living residence, now scientists are working to assist plants in finding new homes as the planet continues to heat. Global warming will continue to dislocate whole communities of plants as higher temperatures make their present environment inhospitable to their gene pools which evolved in a cooler time. Scientists at The Chicago Botanic Garden are making a valiant effort collecting seeds from different populations of prairie species with the intent to preserve the species and possibly even assist the movement of communities of species to more suitable environments. Historically, plant species were able to make pilgrimages even across large distances in the event of climate changes, but only because those changes happened at a very slow rate. The current human-induced forcing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is happening at an unprecedented rate, the effects of which many plant species may be unable to outrun. The effort to help plant species migrate in the face of climate change is not without debate; some scientists fear the unintended release of invasive plant species, which take over new habitats, reducing native biodiversity in their wake. Read the whole article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/earth/10plant.html?pagewanted=1&ref=earth">here</a>.</span>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-4180893676171733562009-11-11T00:23:00.002-06:002009-11-11T00:52:56.461-06:00Don't Kill the Messenger<span style="color:#006600;">From "Grist", an article about how human psychology affects the reception of the message about climate change...and how to best deliver the message, without being put away.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2009-11-05-climate-psychology-in-cartoons-clues-for-solving-the-messaging/">Climate Psychology</a></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">And for possibly the best one volume book on the science of climate change, see "The Weather Makers", by Tim Flannery. Also, Flannery discussing his latest book, <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/11/03/midmorning1/">"Now Or Never", </a>on MN Public Radio on Nov. 3, 2009. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Finally, possibly one of the most effective things a person can do to reduce their carbon footprint; stop <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/eating-animals-jonathan-s_n_345558.html">eating animals </a>! See Jonathan Safron Foer's interview with Ellen Degeneres about his new book. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Don't think that Climate Change is really happening? Or that it's not human induced? It's time for you to present your science on why not...what facts are you basing your decision on? Are they tested facts? Have they been peer-reviewed? Are they demonstrable and repeatable? Because this is how real science works. Facts. Data. Repetiton. Peer-Review. If your story doesn't have these, it's probably not science. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Finally, why am I blabbing about climate change on this quaint little blog about native plants? Because it is one of the most important (yes, in my opinion) issues affecting our families in the human history of the planet. I wish that people would try to educate themselves on this topic from a scientific, not political point of view. Find out what the vast majority of scientists think about the issue. Take off the blinders of cultural and political denial. It's happening, and we're doing it, and it will bite us all hard if we don't do something different.</span>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-15147652100743041362009-10-14T23:59:00.004-05:002009-12-04T12:12:50.627-06:00The Carbon CycleCarbon flows through the environments of Earth, always has, always will. But how much? The amounts that humans continue to add with all our combustion for energy use are not only intensifying the heat increasing "Greenhouse Effect", but are also causing ocean waters to become more acidic, to the harm of all oceanic creatures, great and small. Watch the new short film, "Acid Test", by the Natural Resources Defense Council, to see what's happening and how we might choose to be kinder to ourselves in the near and longer term future.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onearth.org/node/1495">Acid Test</a><br /><br />And pass it along !Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-20937866254805784052009-08-28T00:11:00.003-05:002009-11-12T23:55:58.706-06:00Another Little Plant SaleBoth the sale and the plants are little ! I still have some native plants available that need to find their way out into the greater world. Come and help them venture forth! Stop by my house on Saturday, August 29, between 10:30 am and 1 pm. E-mail me for my address: <a href="mailto:srczak@hotmail.com">srczak@hotmail.com</a><br />The plants are mostly in 2" pots and are native to MN or the Midwest. They will be $2.00 ea. with some kind of discounts for volume, though there aren't many left.<br /><br />Here are what remain:<br /><br />Showy Tick Trefoil about 28<br />Sweet Joe Pye Weed a couple<br />Jacob's Ladder 8<br />Culver's Root 12<br />New England Aster 8<br />Ninebark (shrub) 13 green and 5 red (offspring of 'Diablo')<br />Ground Plum 4<br />Prairie Blazing Star 8<br />Purple Prairie Clover a couple<br />Bottle Gentian 10<br />Butterfly Weed 6<br />Prairie Coreopsis 8<br /><br />sorry, no botanical names this post, it's late and I'm tired ! I'll give 'em to you if you show up.<br /><br />plus a few other species you could get me to dig out of my yard for $5.00 ea. as these are at least in their second year, and a clump, not a single plant.<br />also, about 3 surprise species of native shrub I would dig up for $10. ea as these are about 4 or 5 yrs old that were planted bare root about 3 yrs ago.<br /><br />Hope to see you.....................Thanks !Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-26570494854080601082009-08-21T01:30:00.004-05:002009-12-04T12:13:22.342-06:00Lots of Yellow and Some Blue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KkOttHywfsFYS3f5kH-EJoGwF0Jvf2kYCHfiAiE_pi8bS3wFBWKNBK-d-A82GjFkH7dabHM3U8ER1u4zu5jBtEDdgQ2vzLZXhpRZk01zpNxBOUNWBVT1Fu0QI0jJM1WPRCnTBlCzZMrw/s1600-h/DSCN1149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372302063718979090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KkOttHywfsFYS3f5kH-EJoGwF0Jvf2kYCHfiAiE_pi8bS3wFBWKNBK-d-A82GjFkH7dabHM3U8ER1u4zu5jBtEDdgQ2vzLZXhpRZk01zpNxBOUNWBVT1Fu0QI0jJM1WPRCnTBlCzZMrw/s320/DSCN1149.JPG" border="0" /></a> Agastache foeniculum, Anise hyssop; yummy smell, if you like black licorice !<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULTTPw_bCBdb3_QdqWGIS3oO9jilN5O3DIbx3n_93g3BZ9qCvNzIFEVCATfeyOmDu_hVVxqM483n-eJnP2GmxObDoPOPVTBEhJRCGRudpTelNYJ0bo4m8DgBzlOaT6zjZBW6aQlv6W2BI/s1600-h/DSCN1148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372302051187587266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULTTPw_bCBdb3_QdqWGIS3oO9jilN5O3DIbx3n_93g3BZ9qCvNzIFEVCATfeyOmDu_hVVxqM483n-eJnP2GmxObDoPOPVTBEhJRCGRudpTelNYJ0bo4m8DgBzlOaT6zjZBW6aQlv6W2BI/s320/DSCN1148.JPG" border="0" /></a> Liatris aspera, Button Blazing Star; blooming from the top down, just like a Blazing Star<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tkjDxCd6DKF2oTDHCkHBEkMaBWM4bVhGERb7RHuvMBe9FRLGx4qQpZgjZ85hXHG8hNvDSXQWNRNqm6tkOuC6Nz3Iz46TuqsV7r451xd_l1-vb4nf_EHJPx6DqyyJYFaW3epP9aWy0uRe/s1600-h/DSCN1142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372302039057498114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tkjDxCd6DKF2oTDHCkHBEkMaBWM4bVhGERb7RHuvMBe9FRLGx4qQpZgjZ85hXHG8hNvDSXQWNRNqm6tkOuC6Nz3Iz46TuqsV7r451xd_l1-vb4nf_EHJPx6DqyyJYFaW3epP9aWy0uRe/s320/DSCN1142.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rudbeckia laciniata, Wild Golden Glow<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg079doBLcAq5xrX8x9ToUtLj2JeiBgZxRGifY_EQ3vo7zvxf8P3-aRjhw_3yxwohnftoIOZAd5gxcQXb9gtj2uo4_39lTlBvAtXKL5qT_iTtJ9dGnMZxkddy3Dq4M8KKiL25vyr6CExtov/s1600-h/DSCN1133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372302019921410786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg079doBLcAq5xrX8x9ToUtLj2JeiBgZxRGifY_EQ3vo7zvxf8P3-aRjhw_3yxwohnftoIOZAd5gxcQXb9gtj2uo4_39lTlBvAtXKL5qT_iTtJ9dGnMZxkddy3Dq4M8KKiL25vyr6CExtov/s320/DSCN1133.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rudbeckia fulgida, Orange Coneflower, but not 'Goldsturm'........striking !<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzbqdNSI1n4TWCWQalANp7paXakxnHbAGZIpeGJoxSUx1gy_hO5EYv4ZFYEpfNHi9sVlSlfB50Pni85ETo-Jvwt9kxpRG5WC695HGC54Y79Bh58q_9c6ycZ4bAb3EzznKCHfpK8CNU-yJ/s1600-h/DSCN1130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372302006403629906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzbqdNSI1n4TWCWQalANp7paXakxnHbAGZIpeGJoxSUx1gy_hO5EYv4ZFYEpfNHi9sVlSlfB50Pni85ETo-Jvwt9kxpRG5WC695HGC54Y79Bh58q_9c6ycZ4bAb3EzznKCHfpK8CNU-yJ/s320/DSCN1130.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ratibida pinnata, Yellow, or Gray-Headed Coneflower, Hula skirts !<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-32324674923086490182009-08-17T23:08:00.009-05:002009-12-04T12:13:47.854-06:00Native Plant Sale 8.22 & 23<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD1w9DxTGVPC1u9xbiI6NpG8NbGM47T-jqx-tZYMedQPmePzqlgZ955WF-DrTZcz9YtYjh4gS2lXsbU4_tU2SxOdw3JjsujlBPUSlM4HqOmj4azYZmVbh9fKTWj2TjG9qU3DWNbN2uldV/s1600-h/DSCN0930.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371166942419315266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD1w9DxTGVPC1u9xbiI6NpG8NbGM47T-jqx-tZYMedQPmePzqlgZ955WF-DrTZcz9YtYjh4gS2lXsbU4_tU2SxOdw3JjsujlBPUSlM4HqOmj4azYZmVbh9fKTWj2TjG9qU3DWNbN2uldV/s320/DSCN0930.JPG" border="0" /></a> Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa<br /><div><br /><br /><div>I will have a plant sale of Native Minnesota/Midwestern plants this coming weekend, Saturday & Sunday August 22 & 23 from 10 am to 1 pm in my yard in Minneapolis. E-mail me for my address if you want to take a look.</div><br /><div>The plants are growing in 2" or 4" pots. The 2" pots will be $2.00 each and the 4" will be $3.00 each. If you buy a whole flat of plants (18 x 4" or 36 x 2" in a flat) you can take them away for just $50.00.</div><br /><div>Here's a list of all the plants available: (note both the common and botanical names for each plant; if you search the web for details about any of them, be sure to use the botanical name as it will get you more precise results) </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Here are the plants followed by the number of each (in no particular order): </div><br /><div>Showy Tick Trefoil Desmodium canadense-- 32</div><div>Sweet Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum --10</div><div>Jacob's Ladder Polemonium reptans-- 20</div><div>Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum-- 12</div><div>New England Aster Aster novae angliae-- 16</div><div>Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius (shrub)-- 24</div><div>Ground Plum Astragalus crassicarpus-- 12</div><div>Missouri Evening Primrose Oenothera macrocarpa-- 8</div><div>Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pychnostachya-- 12</div><div>Purple Prairie Clover Petalostemum purpureum</div><div>aka Dalea purpurea-- 9</div><div>Bottle Gentian Gentiana andrewsii-- 20</div><div>Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens-- 20</div><div>Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa-- 28</div><div>Asclepias ??? Unknown spp milkweed from Hudson, WI-- 24</div><div>Blue Wild Indigo Baptisia australis-- 5</div><div>Lead Plant Amorpha canescans-- 6</div><div>Prairie Coreopsis Coreopsis palmata-- 10</div><br /><div>If you want to dig up pictures and info about these and other species, I'll recommend 2 places here that have a wealth of information:</div><br /><div>First is <a href="http://www.prairiemoon.com/">Prairie Moon Nursery </a>in Winona, MN;</div><br /><div>and the other is the <a href="http://www.wildflower.org/explore/">Native Plant Information Network </a>at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>I'll be happy to see you this weekend ! Stop by just to take a look at my yard if you like...</div><br /><div>Again, e-mail me for my address......Thanks, Scott.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-54085821664307857582009-07-07T01:16:00.005-05:002009-12-04T12:15:10.751-06:00Leadplant and Milkweed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanlKxtNXiJBgSb1LsyNVdCdVo-XawJy2NAtg_htMjzKYEpCr1m5hyphenhyphen5a9-jkKHLFToT3fwa5WaKrZOnic9RlmfeNWd5K0XA_HD2bd_CyWqX1jpbLmAWgFhr3F2gMAryQDGJr4LX5Lc8xaI/s1600-h/DSCN0934.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355599519236051826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanlKxtNXiJBgSb1LsyNVdCdVo-XawJy2NAtg_htMjzKYEpCr1m5hyphenhyphen5a9-jkKHLFToT3fwa5WaKrZOnic9RlmfeNWd5K0XA_HD2bd_CyWqX1jpbLmAWgFhr3F2gMAryQDGJr4LX5Lc8xaI/s320/DSCN0934.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a running milkweed, either Asclepias Syriaca, Common Milkweed, or Asclepias speciosa, Showy Milkweed, I've forgotten which.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB8HRjSTUPhDmSuP6O1NDyKtjVdYK70VpKkIwPFoMIoOR53xH3DctdRP7IeuVYmhxb74NEbdpVwuEMWMhvu7rvoyfr5ICDgBMT45Sxi_mQodyb1_RpUhZTl3FLQuiuyu_bd7uscPv82NF/s1600-h/DSCN0936.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355598382794128898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB8HRjSTUPhDmSuP6O1NDyKtjVdYK70VpKkIwPFoMIoOR53xH3DctdRP7IeuVYmhxb74NEbdpVwuEMWMhvu7rvoyfr5ICDgBMT45Sxi_mQodyb1_RpUhZTl3FLQuiuyu_bd7uscPv82NF/s320/DSCN0936.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Leadplant, Amorpha canescens develops a very deep taproot and can become over 4 feet tall with woody stems.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-32983211929309148672009-07-07T01:07:00.005-05:002009-07-07T01:12:58.669-05:00Grasses<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWRgkn5rc3IYlHrl0NUFj14jK1UtDAV2M8R8LDPcfoEEUvpATNt9WogqRQ-gDe5V5IXmDq20lPMItxrZRegoVHBvo1M686gZQBMAfWS8HkXt53gy4-2B6s-GpxSBU9uENO0U97XPVJSRP/s1600-h/DSCN0942.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355596427625431250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWRgkn5rc3IYlHrl0NUFj14jK1UtDAV2M8R8LDPcfoEEUvpATNt9WogqRQ-gDe5V5IXmDq20lPMItxrZRegoVHBvo1M686gZQBMAfWS8HkXt53gy4-2B6s-GpxSBU9uENO0U97XPVJSRP/s320/DSCN0942.JPG" border="0" /></a> On the top is Elymus canadensis, Canada Wild Rye, and the bottom picture is Bottle Brush Grass, Hystrix patula. Both can handle full or part sun and are easy to grow from seed.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8VSMcdMIOY5KFHH8kc4-0r6gM-OwOcDvqayUR_13zOAsqAawF9r5ppx-ZP9C4nqQPiuKSMTZM7b-cHYHsEjN9wZDw_kMCPQsc-Pj2Hlfhg-GKm_SYCgZluoeNmH8qUE0ZHP-8w2-yQDE/s1600-h/DSCN0941.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355596137126135826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8VSMcdMIOY5KFHH8kc4-0r6gM-OwOcDvqayUR_13zOAsqAawF9r5ppx-ZP9C4nqQPiuKSMTZM7b-cHYHsEjN9wZDw_kMCPQsc-Pj2Hlfhg-GKm_SYCgZluoeNmH8qUE0ZHP-8w2-yQDE/s320/DSCN0941.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-22330470360443596822009-07-07T00:56:00.003-05:002009-12-04T12:16:57.552-06:00More Blooms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93x4xUjeZrtbSv8r5z-9Kxi6Iz_K2hib0vO_KfqN0vlTK63Tg_PMt6AlFH_00JwKk9LtlSqghPtP2kK3owrsJPA_X8tXtS8JOY__lpHQgMDCeU8qTtyXWZA7hH7890Vq-krqEaxQUt75A/s1600-h/DSCN0932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355593448245408546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93x4xUjeZrtbSv8r5z-9Kxi6Iz_K2hib0vO_KfqN0vlTK63Tg_PMt6AlFH_00JwKk9LtlSqghPtP2kK3owrsJPA_X8tXtS8JOY__lpHQgMDCeU8qTtyXWZA7hH7890Vq-krqEaxQUt75A/s320/DSCN0932.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />This is the Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida, whose reflexed ray flowers I can't resist, though it's native to places south of Minnesota. In the foreground are leaves of Astragalus canadensis, Canada Milk Vetch, just preparing to bloom now on July 7th. In the background is the lively Prairie Sage, Artemisia ludoviciana. This one runs heartily, so plant a little and watch it cavort ! I find that any native plant that runs like this is easy enough controlled by pulling the runners, but of course if you mistakenly planted alot of it, well, you might be busy for awhile each season. Many milkweeds run like this also, but the Butterfly Weed is very well behaved, just expanding into a nice clump.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-54824978979964258622009-07-07T00:43:00.005-05:002009-12-04T12:17:34.117-06:00Recent Blooms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6AZ38Hx7w03DnFmd6-v4GYh-VYqHihmjn83cxlmgvzKypKe5w1HDPTKaiQNu92s4i1HiBF9tMlrB-7wfIr-UBsagJ9h-9LcbILPsFuVyzaircUFt-kJsUU2SX-qCQW7HvCqrYEkMwKJ/s1600-h/DSCN0935.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355592185081571938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6AZ38Hx7w03DnFmd6-v4GYh-VYqHihmjn83cxlmgvzKypKe5w1HDPTKaiQNu92s4i1HiBF9tMlrB-7wfIr-UBsagJ9h-9LcbILPsFuVyzaircUFt-kJsUU2SX-qCQW7HvCqrYEkMwKJ/s320/DSCN0935.JPG" border="0" /></a> on the left is Purple Prairie Clover, Petalostemum purpureum, aka Dalea purpurea. Easy to grow from seed, pollinators love it, and it's really pretty.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn37J-hSQ1Udiv3aTKj2Qjx6h1GoA64aa15-rjthXyKjFdKshGbwQ4ICcn7iBFCvQDybDkEmG18uNO5GrAHg59FNmp_yUXl9pMlc7pyMCdX7wpolmxo9TTdlMg8w-rwqSrj7JhDC2k4WS/s1600-h/DSCN0933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355590501893805186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn37J-hSQ1Udiv3aTKj2Qjx6h1GoA64aa15-rjthXyKjFdKshGbwQ4ICcn7iBFCvQDybDkEmG18uNO5GrAHg59FNmp_yUXl9pMlc7pyMCdX7wpolmxo9TTdlMg8w-rwqSrj7JhDC2k4WS/s320/DSCN0933.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa and Narrow-Leaved Coneflower, Echinacea angustifolia, the only Purple Coneflower that is native to Minnesota. Neither Echinacea Purpurea or Echinacea pallida; Purple Coneflower, or Pale Purple Coneflower are native to the state, just the diminutive Narrow-Leaved, which hardly reaches 18" in height, and whose ray petals tend to to remain much more horizontal to the disc. </div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-64572100071116746292009-06-05T23:57:00.004-05:002009-12-04T12:19:14.365-06:00Cottonwoods belong by the RiverI have been planting flats of 2" plug pots with native seeds since May 25, and some of them are sprouting. However, I have a couple decent sized (maybe 40 plus feet) Cottonwood trees within 2 houses of mine, and they started blowing their seeds around in the past week or so. They drop so much seed with its attendant fluff that it piles up in drifts like snow ! It also settles in my plug pots, and because I am diligently watering them in this droughty Spring that we're enduring here in central Minnesota, the seeds are sprouting within 4 or 5 days of settling. And this is before some of my natives sprout. So, in some cases it becomes confusing as to what might be a Cottonwood seedling and what might be a Shooting Star or an Aster seedling. In one little pot there are as many as 15 or 20 Cottonwood seedlings. Nature is abundant in this seeding thing, for certain. Now Cottonwood trees are native Minnesota plants, I will admit. But a tree this large and messy, like the fast growing but ungainly native Silver Maple, might better be left in something more near it's native habitat, which would be a river bottom, not an urban back yard. I spent 20 minutes today picking the seedlings out of just one flat of pots, and am hoping I didn't also eradicate the unsprouted desirables I planted. I will employ some kind of protective barrier for my flats next planting season, possibly window screening stretched over them to keep the Cottonwood seeds impotent. I have been using frames of 1 x 6 or 8 inch boards covered with chicken wire to foil the disruptive digging of the grey squirrels for a couple years and may augment this with the window screening. I'll post a few pictures soon to illustrate some of my struggles and solutions with these issues.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-70701651653474224352009-05-30T00:33:00.005-05:002009-12-04T12:20:05.587-06:00Natives Now Blooming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBx6HRq16G4asjYCclXvYJuQ5O4rvNWVtH3JzZQlzbEDtw0sth6wtkFmP18ORPysz5oawO7LKgKksD0BdCLjLjdMrAW34DBJ3OFdmb3gZmWMiGU1Oe7dCd8r2glI7K5KYflfm9RFwFGgy/s1600-h/DSCN0890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341487116634346722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBx6HRq16G4asjYCclXvYJuQ5O4rvNWVtH3JzZQlzbEDtw0sth6wtkFmP18ORPysz5oawO7LKgKksD0BdCLjLjdMrAW34DBJ3OFdmb3gZmWMiGU1Oe7dCd8r2glI7K5KYflfm9RFwFGgy/s320/DSCN0890.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4go3rhBFCFnwMtGZXUg60q6qugnKJDaUGLtzgWLrJerMHtS8Z41gNCgGyQiNatzijXdWMPX-V4kFrWlWoDsITDcvmMY1jIpvGfnNu2AZPeNt4sXqD6RFj8jBO1G8kEQqMfoq_rT2HDYy9/s1600-h/DSCN0889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341487113964651634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4go3rhBFCFnwMtGZXUg60q6qugnKJDaUGLtzgWLrJerMHtS8Z41gNCgGyQiNatzijXdWMPX-V4kFrWlWoDsITDcvmMY1jIpvGfnNu2AZPeNt4sXqD6RFj8jBO1G8kEQqMfoq_rT2HDYy9/s320/DSCN0889.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS6OWaJUuKAfjqsq8i_r_X7N50MK6yUYsjfK66y8oE4EYiNJKGUB8gJ9ABm-MJJ7D0fX8KzTVKVHVTGLZ0-SQcyaYYCth6ZP1Tep64o6zOBT7hR-PP9cbgfc9Nh3nmwv3dEsCFwKGGey8/s1600-h/DSCN0871.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341487102386947954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS6OWaJUuKAfjqsq8i_r_X7N50MK6yUYsjfK66y8oE4EYiNJKGUB8gJ9ABm-MJJ7D0fX8KzTVKVHVTGLZ0-SQcyaYYCth6ZP1Tep64o6zOBT7hR-PP9cbgfc9Nh3nmwv3dEsCFwKGGey8/s320/DSCN0871.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The legume flowers of Lupinus perennis, Wild Lupine, top, and Cream Wild Indigo, Baptisia leucophaea, bottom, are blooming now along with the white lacecaps of Viburnum trilobum, American Cranberrybush, middle picture. The Cream Wild Indigo's own leaves are immediately below the flowers, while above it are young leaves of Pale Purple Coneflower and to the left are Canada Milk Vetch.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-76093642150457696172009-05-08T00:36:00.003-05:002009-12-04T12:22:12.583-06:00Beneficial insectsHere's a link on plants that attract beneficial insects:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_attract_benefi.html">Beneficial Insects</a><br /><br />At least one of the recommended plants is highly invasive however, and exotic, so I ask you to not go there. The plant is Daucus carota, Queen Anne's Lace. Also, note that Maximilian's, or Prairie Sunflower, is native to Minnesota, so plant away ! Some references show this species as needing cold moist stratification to break dormancy on the seeds. However, I found the seeds sprouting in the bag in my refrigerator after just over a week or so of this treatment, so it doesn't need as long as may be recommended. And it may not need any stratification at all, though I haven't tried that. It could also be considered invasive, though native.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-28873421516567602012009-05-05T23:24:00.005-05:002009-12-04T12:25:41.067-06:00Where to Purchase Native PlantsMay is prime gardening season ! Who has time to blog ??? And it's so much easier to just cruise around, gawking at the other wittier and more sophisticated blogs, admiring their amazing close up photos of rare butterflies or birds which pass through their yard for only 2 hours a year. But I want to mention a few places where you can get your hands on plants or seeds to grow plants that are native to Minnesota. ( no, I haven't forgotten my unfinished post on what is a native plant, but it's GARDENING SEASON, so the whole issue will be on hold for awhile, maybe 'til the snow flies again.) First I will mention <a href="http://prairiemoon.com/">Prairie Moon Nursery</a>, in Winona, MN. This is the place where I have obtained most of the seed from which I have grown most of the native plants that are in my yard at this point. Their online catalog boasts nearly 600 species and they have tons of cultural information on their website and in their paper catalog. They show alot of pictures and they also explain the steps to establishing a native plant community using seed. They offer 2 open houses a year, both Saturdays, this year in June and August. I highly recommend these as a fantastic day trip from the Twin Cities. You can take a guided tour of their gardens and restorations with one of their knowledgable staff, and you can also walk through their seed storage building. It's still not too late to order bare root or potted plants for immediate delivery, or even seeds for forbs or grasses which don't need stratification. (you could probably even order seed that needs to be stratified for 30 days or less and still have some growing season left for it.) Prairie Moon, highly recommended!<br />I have also ordered seed from <a href="http://www.prairiefrontier.com/">Prairie Frontier </a>in Waukesha, WI a few years back with fine results, but I don't know if you can order anything other than packets of seeds from them; I didn't see any other amount available.<br />I have visited <a href="http://www.dragonflygardens.net/">Dragonfly Gardens </a>in Amery, WI and Louie has helped me find the few things I was too impatient to grow from seed. My 2 American Hazelnuts and Chokecherry are coming along fine this Spring, along with the Fragrant Sumac. They also have a wide range of other garden plants for those non-natives you can't live without.<br />I have a couple plants I bought from <a href="http://www.landscapealternatives.com/index.php">Landscape Alternatives </a>when they were in St. Paul, but haven't visited their newer location in the St. Croix Valley.<br />Other options as yet untried by me are <a href="http://www.oakprairiefarm.com/aboutus.htm#Green">Oak Prairie Farm</a>, Pardeeville, WI, <a href="http://www.kinninatives.com/kinni_natives.aspx">Kinnickinnic Native Plants</a>, River Falls, WI, <a href="http://www.morningskygreenery.com/index.html">Morning Sky Greenery</a>, Morris, MN, <a href="http://www.outbacknursery.com/index.htm">Outback Nursery</a>, Afton, MN, <a href="http://www.prairiemeadowsnativeseed.com/">Prairie Meadows</a>, Lonsdale, MN, and finally, <a href="http://www.prairieresto.com/">Prairie Restorations</a>, 6 locations around Minnesota. Alot of info here to begin or continue your pursuit of a connection with the beautiful plants that graced the woods and prairies of Minnesota before the Europeans arrived. Visit, read up, and then order yourself a few species to enjoy in your own yard. Finally, I usually have my own plant sales a couple weekends in mid to late summer. Watch here for announcements.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114271343169261899.post-65211507039893713872009-04-28T23:20:00.003-05:002009-04-28T23:31:32.855-05:00Obama at National Academy of SciencesJust a quick post to mention President Obama's address to the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting on Monday April 27. Without becoming overtly political here, I will just say that it is refreshing and indeed hopeful, that this young President is proposing to base national policy decisions on science, rather than seeking out only the supposed science that will support the policy decisions that have already been made. You can see a transcript of his address here:<br /><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-the-National-Academy-of-Sciences-Annual-Meeting/">Nat'l Academy of Sciences</a>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05668953843259894555noreply@blogger.com0