Blog Keywords

Native Plants Blogs

pink blooming shooting start with foliage in background

Shooting stars on a remnant prairie

Good Growing
The other day I was traveling for work and found myself near a remnant prairie with a few minutes to spare, so I had no choice but to stop for a walk. These parcels of land are incredible examples of what the landscape was before sod busting and settlement. Visiting these historic ecosystems can be...
Finish this story
plastic zip top bags labeled with various species of native Illinois prairie seeds

Start a native prairie garden using seeds

Good Growing
Many homeowners are beginning to incorporate more native plantings into their home landscapes. There can be a variety of reasons people choose to have native plant gardens—perhaps less mowing, a desire for more wildflowers, or providing benefits to wildlife and local ecosystems. However, buying...
Finish this story
a naturalized landscape bed

Nature by design: Naturalistic landscapes

Good Growing
In recent years, landscape design trends have migrated toward naturalistic aesthetics- a style that equally prioritizes ecological function, native plant selection, and beauty. For some, this may seem like an abrupt turn from the more familiar formal landscape design often employed in home...
Finish this story
white flowers of elderberry cluster in an umbel spent flower head is in the background

The wild and wonderful elderberry

Good Growing
Most of the time, I work hard to achieve a desirable outcome in my landscape but, from time to time, a plant comes along that is easy to establish and care for without being too aggressive, is beautiful, and produces food for wildlife and my family…black elderberry is one of those plants....
Finish this story