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Leave the Leaves
This fall, put away the rake and forget those lawn bags. It’s time to leave the leaves and give your garden all the benefits that come from letting the leaves remain. We know it’s the norm to get the leaves picked up, bagged, and sent to the landfill, but when you
Maximilian Sunflower: Species Spotlight
Diversity is key to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. If you’re going to have to have a lot of variety, you might as well include a show stopper. Maximilian Sunflower shines as part of the “Big Four” perennial forbs with similar nutrition and nectar sources. Maximilian Sunflower—Latin name, Helianthus maximiliani—has its
For Beautiful Wildflowers in the Spring, Plant Them in the Fall
Even though the leaves are just beginning to fall, now is the time to begin dreaming of spring. Mother Nature needs time to get the beautiful, bright blooms of wildflowers just right. Wildflower beauty can abound on your property when you take advantage of fall planting, which offers the following
Illinois Bundleflower: Species Spotlight
If you’re looking to attract a wide range of wildlife from deer and turkey to quail and dove, Illinois Bundleflower is ready to go to work for you. Illinois Bundleflower—Latin name, Desmanthus illinoensis—is part of the “Big Four” perennial forbs. Bundleflower gets its name from the shape of its seedpods,
Species Spotlight: Bush Sunflower
Within our land management circle, the term “Big Four” is commonly used to refer to the four grasses that are stalwarts of the true Tallgrass Prairie. The Big Four are both prized by stewards because of the benefits they lend to the ecosystem and desired by grazers for sustenance. We
Species Spotlight: Sand Dropseed
We’ve been talking a lot about the “big four” grasses of the Tallgrass Prairie lately. While these are the all-stars of the ecosystem team, they certainly could not shine without other grasses whose roles allow them to take hold and thrive across the prairies. One of these grasses is Sand