Blog

Is it Really Winter? And What Are these Plants Doing?

December 18, 2023

It is now the 3rd week in December and for the most part the grass is still green, and some of the shrubs and the underbrush still have not lost all of their leaves. There has been only one light snow event, and the coldest overnight low so far was in the low twenties. Many perennial plants still have some green leaves, and I have seen some...

Landscaping: The Fifth Pillar

November 27, 2023

If you live in Kansas City, you live in a city within a forest. Just look up slightly beyond the horizon...oh wait, can't see the horizon? Well, all those trees do obscure views! We are a blessed gaggle of humans here in 'flyover country'. We dwell in one of the densest urban forests in the U.S. Promoting the diversity and the...

All Potting Soils Are Not Created Equal: Part 3 in the Soil Series

November 20, 2023

There are potting soils on the market in almost every store you walk into, including supermarkets and sometimes gas stations. There are many varieties of potting mixes too. How do you know which one is right for your needs? What are the ingredients in potting soils and what is their purpose? Why is it important to your success in growing your...

Landscaping: The Fourth Pillar

November 14, 2023

Color in the landscape is by far my client's most requested design element. I have been presented 1000's of Pinterest boards full of vibrant landscapes bursting with color. Hues that seem almost impossible. The expectation has been set by these examples of well-designed and tended gardens. My journey in refining my design palette...

Watering in Winter: Trees, Shrubs & Perennials

November 6, 2023

As a gardener, the winter offers us a bit of a respite from our outdoor gardening chores. We have cleaned and sharpened our tools, raked or mulched leaves and look forward to poring over the internet (or seed catalogs, which I still receive and love) looking for what we’re going to be planting in the Spring. Most don’t think about the newly...

Preparing the Garden for Winter

October 30, 2023

You may think that as the crisp autumn air starts to descend upon us there is little work to do in the garden, but now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for its long winter nap. The work you do now can have a significant impact on your garden next spring. Fall is a perfect time to take stock of which of your plants have done well...

Prepping Indoor Plants for Winter

October 17, 2023

As cooler weather approaches, it is time to start thinking about bringing so many of our friends back into the home and transplanting any that may have stayed inside all summer. We are going to look at some of the things you will need to consider in making this transition, as well as some how-to's to make you feel confident about this move. ...

Terrariums - A How To Guide

September 28, 2023

What is a Terrarium? A terrarium is a container in which you can create an environment for growing plants due to the constant supply of water, therefore preventing the plants from becoming too dry. In addition to this, light that passes through the glass allows for the plants within to photosynthesize, which is very important to plant growth.

All Potting Soils Are Not Created Equal: Part 2 in the Soil Series

September 25, 2023

There are potting soils on the market in almost every store you walk into, including supermarkets and sometimes gas stations. There are many varieties of potting mixes too. How do you know which one is right for your needs? What are the ingredients in potting soils and what is their purpose? Why is it important to your success in growing your...

Landscaping: The Third Pillar

September 19, 2023

Humanity's congregation with Creation is exemplified by the abundance of The Garden. Grandma's tomatoes. Grandpa's pickles. Uncle Ray's apples. Some of my fondest core memories are from the bounty of ancestorial gardens. Establishing this congregation with Creation and establishing those core memories is not the arduous task that...