Wisconsin Native Plants Blog
01/31/2008
Spring is almost here, and as cabin fever is really starting to set in, the mind wanders to the day we can get back into the garden and start digging around getting our hands dirty. Since it is still way too early to do anything outside in the garden, this is a perfect time to start thinking about and planning a native landscape, especially one with continual color throughout the growing season. Creating a native perennial bed or border with continual bursts of color throughout the year can be challenging, yet with a little planning beforehand it can be quite easy. As with any garden, several things need to be considered before choosing the correct plants. The first thing to do is to evaluate the garden area; determine the amount of sunlight that occurs throughout the day, the soil type and watering needs. Next, measure the area; this will help calculate how many plants will actually fit in the area as they grow to maturity in a few years. A simple method that is useful for...more
12/15/2006
One of the greatest natural resources we have in Wisconsin is our wonderful forests and woodlands. By taking a hike or camping within these communities you experience the surreal beauty of nature at its best. In the spring, new life begins and the woods are alive with brilliant colors: flowers and fresh new foliage sprouting on the forest floor, soft greens of emerging leaves pushing toward the light, wildlife scurrying and fluttering around looking for their spring love. During the hot summer months, large canopies of majestic trees cool the air and the quiet breeze brings solace to one’s soul. Everywhere you turn there is endless beauty. Fall brings new colors and smells, leaves turn brilliant colors as the forest readies for a long winters nap. Snow cover during the winter hides many of the shorter plants yet nicely adorns the picturesque branching of the regal giants as they cast their shadows along the forest floor. Fruit displays are brilliantly decorated as the snow gracefully...more
08/02/2006
I am by no means an expert on butterflies. I do know that there are many different kinds flying around the nursery and in the many yards I visit. Wisconsin actually has 149 species of butterflies. They are so graceful and bring delight while they flutter around the many beautiful plantings. Designing a native landscape for butterflies can bring years of incredible enjoyment. Some things to take into consideration are the types of native plants that butterflies are attracted to, where to plant, and maintaining a water source for the fluttering beauties. Because native plants have a natural high nectar content, they are ideal for attracting many varieties of butterflies. When butterflies come to these plants to drink they are also pollinating the flowers, which is an added bonus. Many of these native plants are host plants, which are where eggs masses are laid, then become an excellent food source for the caterpillars. It is best to plant several of these natives, for they may be...more
08/02/2006
As with most trees, shrubs and perennials, be it native or exotic, the flowers usually last for only a few weeks. Because of this, color usually has to come from other characteristics of the plant such as fruit or foliage. Many native plants offer a great array of color in the landscape either with their wonderful flower color, fabulous fall foliage or bright fruit display. A really wonderful native shrub or small tree is Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium). In the spring the new growth is tinged reddish as it emerges. Soon after, the lacy white, flat-topped flowers appear in great abundance. During the summer, the leaves are a clean glossy green and the fruit becomes bluish black. The fall foliage turns a wonderful bronzy-burgundy. This viburnum has a unique branching structure that enhances the winter landscape. Many other native shrubs add wonderful color to the landscape. For example, the entire Rhus or Sumac family has vibrant red foliage and large red fruit clusters...more
01/19/2006
You may ask yourself, what is a native plant? Well, simply said (or not so simply) a native plant is one that has occurred naturally, without human help, in a particular place since the early European settlements. These plants have existed and evolved over thousands of years in a specific ecosystem, which are communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms found within a particular area, interacting with the environment. In Wisconsin, our ecosystems are typically forest, grassland, and wetlands and each break down to various, diverse communities within each. For example, grasslands also include prairies, savannas, fens, and meadows. Many of these different ecosystems within the state can be observed just by just driving down the freeway, or on winding side roads, or taking a walk through a woodland forest. Within these different native communities are large varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials that all have adapted to the climate, soil conditions, and wildlife. While...more
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Jill Zetting
Jill Zetting is one of the retail horticulturists at Johnson's Nursery. She holds a degree in Landscape Horticulture. She will be writing about the reasons to use native plants and their care.
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