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Garden journal entry
It’s a mess out there, referring to the back yard space between the house and the gazebo. The deck demolition took longer than expected. The aged lumber from the dismantled deck was piled high, along with random-sized rocks and pieces of broken concrete. Thankfully, it all was hauled away today by a couple of eager, hardworking young men. (That experience was refreshing.)
Now Mr. Gardener can turn his focus towards the rebuilding phase, and will likely sleep a little better.
Next on the list of house maintenance was painting. With peeling paint and sections of wood rot, this project was overdue. It was great to give the painters complete access to the landscape. Because much of the garden was still dormant, we could rest easy knowing that no harm would come to tender new growth and blooms on perennials or shrubs. The painting crew worked in unison like a well-oiled machine, paying close attention to detail. (Another refreshing experience.)
Strolled the garden a few days
ago, mostly to pick up sticks from all of the recent high winds. So pleased to see the hellebores in full bloom. Always a delightful surprise when I’ve discovered they have emerged. Not surprising though are the ‘Rockin’ Red’ Dianthus, grown from seed four years ago, are sporting new foliage. Edging the garden at the street, they tolerate anything—from visiting dogs to road salt. Amazing! Oh, and the daylilies are breaking through their mulched bed too. Buds are developing on the azaleas planted last summer. The star and tulip magnolias are a pleasant beginning to a season in bloom. Next, the dogwood and crabapple will join the riot of spring color.
Speaking of eager … anticipation of active gardening is off the charts, this season in particular. Like a race horse waiting for the gate to open, I am itching for a full day in the garden. You know, that day when your body aches from all the good work you’ve done? Last year I had total knee replacements, left and right, and it was the best decision. I’m grateful to the entire medical
team for their flawless skills, and to the physical therapy team that challenged my strength and capacity to do more. I feel younger, and am ready to get physical again.
Once the deck is finished we’ll renovate the gardens effected by construction. The under-performing holly shrubs have been removed leaving space for fresh ideas. The options are infinite. It’s an exciting time to be in the garden.
I’ll see you in the garden!
Chemical Solutions
Sometimes if a pond has a lot of algae or weeds the only solution is to treat with chemicals. Before we treat with any kind of chemical we will come out and identify the algae or weed so we can customize your treatment to treat that specific pest. We do biological treatments at the same time as our chemical treatments as these help prevent new blooms of algae or weeds.
• Clearer Water
• Cleaner Water
• Less Muck
• Help reduce algae and weed growth
• Healthier environment for fish and helps prevent fish kills
• Helps biological and chemical treatments to be more effective!
Pond and Lake Management
Biological Treatments
Our biological treatments are a NATURAL way we help create the perfect pond for you to enjoy without the use of chemicals. Biological products are our first line of defense in the prevention of unwanted pests such as algae, weeds, and muck BEFORE they become a problem. We recommend doing these in the spring before the warmer weather to get the best results and to help in avoiding the use of chemical solutions.
Manual Removal
Along with our biological and chemical treatment solutions there may be instances where we would recommend manual removal through the use of a special amphibious machine. By removing the biomass of weeds before applying treatments, we significantly reduce the quantity of chemicals needed. Other cases require application first to make mechanical removal more effective and efficient.
Ask the Experts
Question: I started seeds indoors, but they appear thin and are flopping over. What causes this, and will I need to start over?
Markis’ Answer: Seedlings started indoors often exhibit this issue. Inadequate lighting, such as duration and intensity, is usually the cause of etiolated (thin) seedlings. Supplemental lighting placed 2-4 inches above the seedlings can help prevent this problem. However, once it happens, it cannot be reversed. While there is a chance that they may survive, they will require a “hardening off” period before planting. The gradual introduction to the outdoor conditions will allow the seedlings to strengthen their stems before being subjected to the harsh spring winds that blow across the Midwest.
PRE-EMERGENT APPLICATION(S)
Question: For years, I have had problems dealing with crabgrass in my flowerbeds and lawn. I plan on applying pre-emergent herbicide next week. When should I initially
apply? Should I apply every 2 weeks for added protection?
Markis’ Answer: Most preemergents have a residual period that can last several months. There will be no need to reapply until that period has ended. Pre-emergent herbicides can be selective, meaning they have the ability to target specific species rather than kill all emerging plants. Pre-emergent is applied before the target weeds germinate; as new seedlings grow through the chemical, they become affected, hindering their ability to grow. The timing of when to apply depends on the product you are using. If there is a long residual period, applications can occur a couple of weeks before your target weed starts germinating. As the residual period gets shorter, applications should be closer to the germination period, or you will need to reapply to continue the effectiveness of the active ingredient.
Whenever handling chemicals it is important to read the label completely. Not only will you find the risks associated with using the product, but the label will also contain
information on application timing, rates, and sensitive plant material.
RAIN BARREL CATCHMENTS
Question: I want to take full advantage of those “April showers” this year by setting up a rainharvesting system for my gardens. What is the best way to do this? Is it as simple as redirecting my gutter water?
Anthony’s Answer: Setting up rain barrel catchments can be as simple as redirecting the flow from your gutters to containers! However, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. Unless you are meticulous about cleaning out your gutters, debris can quickly accumulate in your rain barrel. To prevent this, consider installing a simple filter –anything from a kitchen sieve to a manufactured part specifically made for rain barrels.
You’ll also want to consider how exposed the water is to the elements. Mosquitoes, in particular, breed in stagnant water, so sealing off entryways to your rain barrels is essential. This way, you reap the benefits of
rainwater harvesting without causing other unintended issues.
Don’t forget water pressure and flow are key to making the most of your harvested rain. While siphoning and water molecule adhesion can work at ground level, slightly elevating your barrel can improve water flow. If you have a larger garden that requires a longer hose, this can help make all the difference in getting the water where it needs to go. If you opt to fill watering cans instead, this also allows you to physically get the cans underneath the spigot filled.
As for other components, an overflow valve at the top and a spigot at the bottom should suffice, provided they are properly sealed to prevent leakage. Be sure the container is composed of a stronger material capable of holding hundreds of pounds of water. Likewise, ensure the base under this container is stabilized, leveled, reinforced, and weight-bearing to support the rain barrel’s full weight safely. A person walking by or a pet leaning against it should not be able to tip it over.
ANTHONY REARDON | Horticulture Agents | MARKIS HILL
Anthony and Markis are the horticulture agents for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, each specializing in edible crops and ornamentals, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson. ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.
SKINNY SEEDLINGS
Rain barrel catchments
Skinny seedlings
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Look for Reminiscent roses in the distinctive white Proven Winners container at your local garden center, or learn more at provenwinnerscolorchoice.com/reminiscentroses
The Healthy Gardener Cultivating Mindfulness through Gardening
Regularly working with soil can introduce a variety of beneficial microbes to our bodies, which helps strengthen our immune system and ward off illness.
We know that gardening offers a wide range of health benefits. It provides a source of moderate physical activity, boosts the immune system, and allows us to add fresh, healthy plants to our diet. Beyond the physical health advantages, gardening is also a powerful tool for cultivating mindfulness—the practice of being fully present in the moment.
At first, being in the moment may not seem like a significant benefit. However, most of us spend little time truly engaged with the present. Instead, our minds are often caught up in thoughts about the future— planning dinner, remembering to pay a bill, or stressing about upcoming tasks. When we aren’t worried about the future, we tend to dwell on the past—rehashing a difficult con-
versation, questioning a decision, or feeling embarrassed about something we said.
This constant mental chatter can take a toll on our well-being. That’s where mindfulness comes in.
Mindfulness is the ability to fully engage with the present, free from distractions of the past or worries about the future. Research shows that the more time we spend living in the moment, the greater our overall well-being. Practicing mindfulness has been linked to reduced stress and anxiety, better focus, and increased happiness.
One simple way to bring yourself into the present is by engaging your senses—what you can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. That’s why gardening is such a natural gateway to mindfulness.
MELISSA COTTON Field Specialist
When we immerse ourselves in gardening, our senses are naturally activated:
• Touch – The feeling of soil, plants, and garden tools in our hands.
• Smell – The earthy aroma of fresh soil, herbs, and flowers.
• Sound – The sound of the wind blowing in the trees or birds chirping.
• Sight – The vibrant colors and varied textures of the outdoors.
• Taste – The fresh flavors of homegrown vegetables and herbs.
Often, these sensations happen without conscious effort, making gardening an easy way to get lost in the moment. However, when you feel overwhelmed by racing
thoughts, you can intentionally tune into your senses to ground yourself. Ask:
• What do I smell right now?
• What sounds do I hear?
• What textures can I feel?
• What colors or objects do I see?
• What tastes am I experiencing?
This simple exercise helps redirect your focus away from stress and toward the present moment. Beyond gardening, it’s a practice you can use while taking a shower, eating a meal, or going for a walk. Notice how this shift in mindset makes you feel. Mindfulness is a skill we build over time. No one is perfectly mindful all the time, and there are moments when reflecting on the past or planning for the future is necessary. However, with practice, we can learn to return to the present when we need to.
If you’re looking for a simple way to improve your health and boost your mood, cultivating mindfulness is an excellent tool. The best part? It doesn’t require extra time, effort, or cost—it’s simply about shifting how you engage with everyday activities.
So next time you are tending your garden, take a moment to notice the soil in your hands, the scent of fresh earth, and the sound of rustling leaves. By doing so, you’re not just growing plants—you are cultivating mindfulness and well-being.
Melissa Cotton is a Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health Education with the University of Missouri Extension. She offers programming related to healthy aging, chronic disease prevention and management, and overall wellness in the Kansas City area. Email her at cottonmr@missouri.edu for more information.
Welcome to a Gardener’s Paradise!
Spring Open House
April 1 - 6, 2025
* Refreshments * Specials * Give-Aways *
Bring a gallon jug for some free Nature ’s Source fertilizer!
Come enjoy a day in the country, shopping our huge greenhouse full of our expansive selection of Annuals, Perennials, Vegetables & Herbs, as well as Shrubs, Trees, Houseplants, Supplies & More!
1430 Hwy. 58
info@arnoldsgreenhouse.com Sun. 1 - 5 pm, subject to change due to weather.
~ Follow us on Facebook for all the Latest News & Specials ~
Recycling and circular economy at its best!
Missouri Wildflowers
573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109
Meet us at one of these locations in the KC area. Give us your order at least 5 days before a sale, and we will bring it to the location.
Deep Roots Native Plant Sale at City of Prairie Village Municipal Offices, 7700 Mission Rd. Prairie Village, KS 66208. April 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. deeprootskc.org
Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation - Native Plant Sale at 3403 W. 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205. Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. shawneeindianmission. org
Native Plant Sale by Burroughs Audubon at 6212 NW Barry Rd. KC MO 64154. Backyard Bird Center 816746-1113. Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Deep Roots Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, KC MO 64110. May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. deeprootskc.org
Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Raised Beds
Kids Ask Dr. Bug about the curious things found in the garden
Do spotted lanternflies actually glow? And why are people talking about them?
Even though they’re called “lanternflies,” they don’t glow. They’re getting a lot of attention because they’re a new insect causing problems in some areas.
Spotted lanternflies are from Asia, and they were first found in the United States a few years ago. Adult lanternflies are beautifully colored with grayish wings with black spots, and their back wings have red, black, and white colors. Young lanternflies start out black with white spots and then develop red patches.
These insects are a problem because they eat sap from many different plants, including fruit trees and other important crops. When they feed, they weaken the plants and leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew, which can cause more damage.
Because they don’t have many natural enemies in North America, their numbers have grown quickly. They spread by hitching rides on cars, firewood, and other things. We haven’t found them yet in Missouri, but they have been found in nearby states.
If you see a spotted lanternfly, take a picture of the insect and tell an adult. If possible, collect the insect and report it to the Missouri Department of Agriculture (plantpest@ mda.mo.gov or visit https://agriculture.mo.gov/plants/pests/spottedlanternfly.php). This helps scientists keep track of them and protect our plants.
Beautiful but bad for gardens—if you see this insect, please tell an adult, take a picture, collect the insect, and report it to plantpest@mda. mo.gov.
How do butterflies find their favorite plants?
Imagine you’re a butterfly searching a vast landscape for the perfect plant. It’s not as random as it might seem! Butterflies have some impressive tricks to find exactly what they need.
First, they can see more colors than we can, including ultraviolet light. This helps them spot colorful flowers from far away. They’re especially attracted to reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.
But sight isn’t everything. Butterflies also use their antennae to smell. They can pick up scents from plants carried by the wind and then follow the scent trail. Some plants even release special scents that attract specific butterflies.
Here’s a cool fact: butterflies can taste with their feet! When they land on a plant, sensors on their feet tell them if it’s a good food source. Female butterflies often do a “drumming” motion, tapping their feet on leaves to taste the plant’s chemicals.
TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist
This helps them decide if the plant is a good place to lay eggs.
So, butterflies use their amazing eyesight, sense of smell, and taste to find the right plants for food and to lay their eggs.
What are the string-like things on the end of mayflies? What do they do?
If you’ve seen mayflies around lakes or rivers, you might have noticed the long, thin “tails” on their bodies. These aren’t really tails; they’re called cerci (pronounced “sir-see”). Mayflies typically have two or three of these.
Cerci are like highly sensitive feelers and mayflies have these both as a nymph and as an adult. They detect changes in water or air currents and vibrations. This helps mayflies know what’s happening around them and avoid predators.
These cerci also help mayflies balance when they fly. It’s like how a tightrope walker uses a pole to stay steady. This is important because
mayflies only live for a short time as adults, sometimes just a few hours or a day.
Mayflies spend most of their lives as underwater nymphs. When they become adults, their main job is to start the next generation. Their cerci help them avoid predators and fly to where they need to be so they can do this quickly before their short lives end.
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Check out the Kids Ask Dr. Bug video series: https://bit.ly/ KADBvideos
Questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to https://bit.ly/Kids AskDrBug
Play the catching fireflies game: https://bit.ly/CatchFireflies
Consider sharing feedback by filling out this brief survey: https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug Survey
Dr. Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugN Garden) is the horticulture specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit www.extension.missouri.edu.
Cold Snowy Winter is Good for Spring Blooms
One of my customers recently expressed anxiety about the long, cold winter now behind us. She was worried that plants suffered as much as we top-dwellers did. But snow covering the ground and freezing temperatures for weeks on end shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Decades ago this was more common. Every winter I used to skate on ponds. Now it’s rare to find a cold spell long enough to safely freeze a pond. But this year it did. The freezing-cold stretches lasted for many weeks and so did the snow. It’s all as it should be, I told my customer—ground frozen, garden blanketed in snow, and plant roots happily tucked away for winter.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that immediately after steady cold winters, when the ground is frozen solid longer, blooms of spring wildflowers are better. Displays of wood poppies, violets, wild geraniums, wild hyacinth, and Virginia bluebells are all more intense, prolific, and with more stems and flow ers pushing up through the ground in April. This spring should be like that.
Plant vigor and bloom displays have to do with at least two things. First, the stress derived from the previous year’s excess drought or rainfall, which can set plants back. Last year was a bit rainier than normal. Second, when soil is wet in winter, but not frozen, roots die back (rot) more, causing a plant
clay near the surface. I also have drainage problems. On the bright side, it will be a 100-year-old house at some point, and the future owners will perhaps appreciate the gardens and trees we are planting now, and the little garden buddies that will inevitably follow. I choose to dream on!
to retreat, or even die. When it retreats, the advances its roots made in the previous season are lost—they die back, depositing organic matter into the soil. Two steps forward, one step back. Sadly, it doesn’t generate as many spring blooms. This is a normal process, a cycle of life: flourish, wither, die, then back to flourish all over again. Each generation builds on the next. It’s how plants transform poor compacted soil into healthy organic topsoil. Slowly, over time, this transformation happens. I see it especially in older neighborhoods where the disturbances of new home construction have had time to heal.
Horticulturist
Topsoil around a 100-year-old house (with plants) is softer, deeper, and has more organic matter. How do I know this? When I start a new project, I sink a shovel into the ground and take a look. Soil around old houses is easier to dig and tends to be full of worms and other soilchurning invertebrates. At the microscopic level, these soils are full of bacteria and fungi. These organisms—these little garden buddies— decompose dead plant matter into organic matter (humus) as deep as roots will grow, and give soil healthy structure and tiny pockets of air. A perfect environment for plants to thrive.
The soil around old houses also drains water better than around a 20-year-old house. To my chagrin, I can’t sink a shovel to the hilt at my new house. I always hit compacted
That said, I’ve seen topsoil transformation happen over a much shorter period of time. It took a mere decade or two for the soil at the grounds of Alberici Corporation in St. Louis to transform from tortured bulldozer clay to decent prairie earth. For the first five years, compass plant and big bluestem were scrawny seedlings. Fifteen years later, they became towering beanstalks reaching up tall, the proof that organic matter deposits were building, year after year, deeper into the ground, and perhaps as deep as the plants are tall (8 to 10 feet). I once dug a compass plant up at Shaw Nature Reserve that I had started from seed. It had a thick root that sank 8 feet deep into the old field soil. It started from a seed, tossed out of a bucket on the ground 15 years earlier.
The power plants have to help themselves is remarkable. They survive and thrive in community with other organisms that help them along. Plants are resilient to disruption—they bounce back in spite of the occasional down-turn. So this season, don’t be anxious; don’t let the long, cold winter we have had get the better of you. Spring will be a little brighter, a little fuller, and taste a little sweeter than the new normal.
Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education and has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native seeds and plants to enrich your landscaping all year at grownative.org.
SCOTT WOODBURY
Jacob’s ladder, Virginia bluebells, blue-eyed Mary
Wild sweet William, river oats
Photos by Scott Woodbury.
Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance Services
From
June 6 and 7
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Lee’s Summit, MO
$20 per person
Children 12 and under attend free
For ticket info please visit mggkc.org/our-projects/garden-tour/
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Let’s
reduce light pollution during spring migration of birds
Have you ever spent a dark, quiet evening outdoors in spring? Embrace nature’s annual awakening by getting acquainted with the night. You may hear “spring peeper” frogs calling, owls hooting, or coyotes howling (even near cities). Overhead, you may hear the flight calls of migrating songbirds!
Most people know spring as a magical season of bird departures and arrivals, but few realize that their beloved sparrows, warblers, orioles, hummingbirds, thrushes, and others migrate under cover of darkness. Why? Night conceals them from predators. Cooler temperatures and calmer weather help birds sustain the intense muscular activity required to fly continuously for 8 to 10 hours per night. Lastly, nighttime travel reserves daytime for feeding and resting.
Why expend valuable energy vocalizing during migration? Ornithologists believe calling helps keep flocks united and on course in darkness. Spring migration is a highspeed sprint for breeding. “Early birds” win the highest quality mates and nest sites. March 15 to May 31 marks migration season, but “peak” songbird movement in Kansas City occurs from April 28 to May 17. Migration is extremely wind and weather-dependent: activity fluctuates wildly day to day. Weather radar actually detects flocks of flying birds! Witness this in real time by consulting “BirdCast.” Cornell University’s fascinating interactive website integrates weather and radar data to alert observers to peak
migration nights.
Birds risk their lives during their biannual journeys. Proliferation of human-built and human-altered landscapes has created additional hazards. One that’s often unnoticed, but has a HUGE and growing impact, is the flood of “ALAN”—Artificial Light at Night. Tour neighborhoods after dark, and you’ll see houses burning outdoor lights all night. Dozens of streetlights illuminate roadways. Parking lots and empty office towers remain brightly lit. Pole-mounted floodlights surround rural houses and barns. “Light pollution” blots out stars and moonlight, which many birds (like Indigo Buntings) utilize for navigation. City lights attract birds at night, diverting them from their migration routes and increasing fatalities as they collide with buildings and windows. Some birds simply die from exhaustion, unable to find their way out of the urban maze. The Kansas City metropolitan area occupies the heart of the Central Flyway and is consistently among the 10 most dangerous cities for migrating birds.
The lower cost of LED lighting has spawned excessive usage everywhere. What can we do to help? Fortunately, effective mitigation measures for homes, businesses, and cities are virtually identical (economical, too). Some guidelines for bird-friendly lighting:
1. Timers and motion detectors ensure that light is available only when needed. Install the lowest number of outdoor lights with the lowest effective wattages.
ELIZABETH STOAKES
2. Warmer-colored lights are less disturbing to wildlife than harsh blue-spectrum lighting.
3. Close blinds and curtains at night to avoid attracting birds to windows.
4. Extinguish lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during migration season.
5. Shield fixtures to direct beams downwards rather than diffusing light into the sky.
6. Avoid using floodlighting, spotlights, or searchlights.
7. Raise awareness of light pollution among your neighbors, HOAs, employers, and government officials and
urge adoption of mitigation measures.
Light pollution is a complex, farreaching ecological problem, and there is much more to learn. Lights Out Heartland, DarkSky Missouri, and International Dark Sky Association websites contain excellent information. ALAN impacts ALL wildlife, disrupting not only migration but hunting, reproduction, and other activities. Recent research has also found ALAN to be detrimental to human health. All creatures benefit from natural darkness and quiet at night. Protect the night and we help the birds—and ourselves!
Elizabeth Stoakes is a past President of Burroughs Audubon Society in Kansas City and has been birding for over 25 years. Please contact BAS via mail@burroughs.org or text/call 816-795-8177 with any birding questions.
by
Indigo Buntings navigate using stars.
Photo
Ron Billinger.
UPCLOSE
with Adam Burkiewicz
HOUSE OF ROCKS LANDSCAPE
SUPPLY AND BUILDING STONE
THERE ARE GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO THEIR CRAFT, MADE OBVIOUS BY THEIR CAREER CHOICE. WE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE INFLUENCES TOWARD THEIR CAREER, AS WELL AS OTHER INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE.
Company: House of Rocks Landscape Supply and Building Stone, serving Kansas City and beyond since 1984 for natural stone and landscape materials
Owner: Adam Burkiewicz
Mission statement: Our mission is to offer a wide range of stone and landscape supplies, with the expertise to guide their use, all delivered with exceptional service and competitive prices.
Products/Services: As one of the Midwest’s most complete natural stone and landscape supply companies, we carry several different colors and sizes of river rock, bagged rock, natural wall stone, stone edging, decomposed granite, limestone slabs, landscape boulders, flagstone, bluestone, Mexican beach pebbles and natural stone thin veneer. We’re just getting started. We are also your local source for gravel, sand, mulch, and pulverized compost—enriched top soil. Any natural stone, along with landscape and masonry supplies like mulch, top soil, steel / plastic / aluminum edging, Laticrete Masonry Veneer Installation System (MVIS).
Delivery: We handle orders from a half ton to several hundred tons while offering convenient daily delivery service throughout the Kansas City Metro and beyond. Our landscape stone is also available for pickup in your truck or trailer in any amount.
History: Purchased by Jack Robinson in 1984 who operated the company with growing success until his retirement in 2021. We began selling minerals and fossils along with a small selection of landscape rock. We slowly started to carry additional items by customer request as we grew.
Tell us about your team: Our team takes pride in old-fashioned customer service. We know that most of our customers do not know much about rock and it is our job to educate them and make recommendations to solve their problem.
Background: I started in the industry in 2010 after graduating from K-State. Since then, I’ve been involved in this industry in just about every role there is, continuously learning and growing.
Tell us about what/who inspired you to work in the Rock/Landscape industry: I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career so originally I just started in this industry to gain work experience. I came to really enjoy the opportunity to learn multiple disciplines including equipment operation, sales, human resources, accounting, software, marketing, and inventory management.
As an industry professional, what is trending on the home gardening scene? Since COVID, we’ve seen an increased focus of homeowners looking to invest in improving their indoor
and outdoor gathering spaces. Instead of a vacation, those funds have been used for flagstone patios, stone fireplaces, water feature / water garden areas, or just beautifying existing yards.
and outdoor gathering spaces. Instead of a vacation, those funds have been used for flagstone patios, stone fireplaces, water feature / water garden areas, or just beautifying existing yards.
What is your favorite outdoor activity: I like to relax when outdoors whether its grilling, enjoying a fire pit, or indulging in a cigar.
What is your favorite outdoor activity: I like to relax when outdoors whether its grilling, enjoying a fire pit, or indulging in a cigar.
What every gardener / homeowner should know: I’d like every homeowner to know that “rock” can be many different things and each part of the country has completely unique types and colors. From decorative gravel, to boulders, to limestone slabs, to veneer stone. In order to have a variety available, we bring in stone from throughout North America.
What every gardener / homeowner should know: I’d like every homeowner to know that “rock” can be many different things and each part of the country has completely unique types and colors. From decorative gravel, to boulders, to limestone slabs, to veneer stone. In order to have a variety available, we bring in stone from throughout North America.
When the work is done, how do you spend your free time? I enjoy exercise and relaxing in my limited free time.
When the work is done, how do you spend your free time? I enjoy exercise and relaxing in my limited free time.
Contact information: House of Rocks, 1725 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas 66106. We are open to homeowners and industry professionals, so please stop in Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. See our website: houseofrocks. com; call 913-432-5990.
Contact information: House of Rocks, 1725 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas 66106. We are open to homeowners and industry professionals, so please stop in Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. See our website: houseofrocks. com; call 913-432-5990.
NOW AVAILABLE AT: Jacksons Greenhouse & Garden Center, Topeka v Doctors At the Lake, Lake of the Ozarks v Manns Lawn & Landscape, St. Joe v Gronis Hardware and Seed, Leavenworth v Clinton Parkway Nursery, Lawrence v Barnes Greenhouses, Trenton, MO v Soil Service Gdn. Center, Kansas City, MO v Loma Vista North, Kansas City, MO v Skinner Garden Store, Topeka v Full Features Nursery, Smithville v Springtime
Penrod’s Greenhouse, Kearney v North Star Garden Center, Liberty v Grimm’s Gardens, Atchison v Moffet
treasured garden complement ferns
ferns are one of Earth’s oldest plant groups. Filigreed foliage gracefully unfurls from wiry stems that don’t produce flowers or seeds, instead reproducing from tiny spores. Think of them as the Oscar-winning supporting actors that elevate the main players in the garden scene.
Prized for their uniquely fine texture and range of colors and sizes, ferns easily complement the bold foliage and flowers of hostas, coral bells, woodland natives, impatiens, and other shade garden plants.
With few exceptions, ferns require regular watering and welldrained soil enriched annually with compost and leaf matter. A layer of moisture-retaining mulch or spreading groundcover also helps ferns reach their full potential, especially in gardens under mature trees.
Although they are not pollinated by insects, many native ferns host butterfly and moth caterpillars. Ferns are typically used as shade garden or border plants, but they are also excellent in containers.
Athyrium filix-femina or lady fern is indigenous to all of North America. This adaptable native can tolerate drier soils than many other ferns and will tolerate more sun if the soil is kept moist. Lady ferns grow 18-24” tall and look beautiful winding between taller background plants and low-growing ground covers.
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Lady in Red’ is a naturally occurring selection of the native lady fern, with striking dark burgundy stems that work especially well with dark purple and burgundy coral bells and black cohosh.
AMY ALBRIGHT Grower/Designer
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Ghost’ is a cross between Japanese painted fern and lady fern with bright, frosted green fronds that give a ghostly white glow. Dark purple stems hold the fronds upright and taller than other Athyriums. Ghost ferns are more tolerant of dry soil than others and grow 18-24” tall.
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Godzilla’ is Japanese painted fern on steroids, growing up to 36” tall! A mutation discovered in the ’90s, this giant painted fern will form a jaw-dropping mass of arching silvery fronds with green highlights and dark purple stems when planted in a shady understory.
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ or autumn fern offers yet another striking color of fern with chartreuse-green foliage blushed with coppery-orange. The reddish stems
add even more visual spice. They can be evergreen in mild winters. This fern grows 12-18” tall and is native to eastern Asia.
Dryopteris marginalis or marginal wood fern is native to the eastern half of the United States, including
Plant Names Key
1. ‘Ghost’
2. ‘Godzilla’
3. ‘Lady in Red’
4. Royal fern
5. Sensitive fern
6. Leatherwood fern
7. Lady fern
8. ‘Brilliance’
9. Christmas fern
10. Ostrich fern
11. Foxtail fern
12. Boston fern
13. Asparagus fern
14. Plume fern
15. Lemon button fern
(continued on page 18)
Amy Albright and her husband, Doug Davison, own Vinland Valley Nursery, a full service organic nursery and greenhouse that includes a huge selection of native plants and features a U-pick flower garden, workshops and a garden shop just south of Lawrence, KS. Their team includes experienced landscapers, plant growers, and artists, including their three daughters who grew up in the business.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.
our Osage Cuestas ecoregion. Leathery leaves make a beautiful addition to the woodland garden and, when densely planted, can form a lovely and easy-to-maintain groundcover that will not spread. This fern is tolerant of dry shade once established. It was discovered for the first time in Minnesota in 1981!
Matteuccia struthiopteris or ostrich fern is a very tall, clumpforming, arching fern that can grow up to 6’ tall in moist, woodland settings. Fine, ferny fronds have the feathery appearance of long ostrich plumes and emerge at the narrow base of the clumps in spring as fiddleheads. Ostrich fern is native to the northeastern United States, Canada, and Alaska. It makes nice backdrop in a shady border.
Onoclea sensibilis or sensitive
fern is a runner with unique bold, deeply divided leaves that grow 1218” tall, though they can grow taller. An excellent groundcover, sensitive fern has a wide native range and is indigenous to our local area. Fossils of this ancient fern have been found alongside dinosaurs.
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis or royal fern is native to the eastern half of North America. Spores are formed in brown, tassel-like clusters that resemble ornamental grass plumes. Royal fern clumps usually grow 2-3’ tall but can reach up to 6’ when planted in moist or marginal aquatic areas. In its native range, royal ferns grow along woodland streams, so if you have a pond, this is the fern for you!
Polystichum acrostichoides or Christmas fern stays green through the holidays, hence the name. This
evergreen fern has leathery fronds from 1-2’ tall. Silvery fiddleheads emerge in early spring.
Tropical ferns make wonderful additions to annual combinations of all shapes and sizes, and can also be grown indoors when kept moist and humid.
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ or asparagus fern is commonly used in combinations with annual plantings as a “filler” between the “thriller” and “spiller” layers.
You can step up your game by substituting Asparagus densiflorus ‘Meyersii’ or foxtail fern in your combos. Each frond has short branches of foliage giving this fern a distinct look with tubes of fine green.
Asparagus plumosus or plume fern has the most delicate foliage of all and will send out long runners. A
glass terrarium is a beautiful setting for a plume fern and also provides a high humidity level during the dry winter months.
Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ or lemon button fern is a relatively petite fern with rounded lobes along its arching stems. It makes a wonderful companion to shade-loving annuals when grouped together in terracotta pots and is also easy to maintain indoors through winter.
Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Massii’ or Boston fern is probably one of the best-known ferns and is popular as a stand-alone subject in hanging baskets or urns. They grow 18-24” high and tumble over gracefully.
No garden is complete without ferns. Even without a shady garden spot, it’s easy to find one to fit a special container for indoors, balcony or patio!
(continued from page 17)
Photo courtesy of Monrovia.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia.
Flower Shopping for Butterflies
Adult butterflies are nectar generalists and flower favorites may vary greatly between gardens. Size and shape are more important than color or fragrance. Flat blossoms like Coneflowers, Sunflowers, Tithonia and Zinnias form ideal surfaces for butterflies to land and “taste” the flower with their feet. Closely packed small flowers like Salvias, Liatris, Lantana and Butterfly Bush also provide suitable landing strips. Diversity is important because the more different flowers you offer, the more butterflies you are likely to see. Not all flowers are nectar sources because some, like the Carrot (Parsley) family, use pollen rather than nectar to attract pollinators. Varieties and hybrids that lack nectar are as useless as plastic flowers. Deep tubular flowers like lilies are physically incompatible with butterflies’ relatively short tongues. And nocturnal flowers are unavailable since butter-
flies and bees are asleep when they bloom.
Does Flower Color Matter?
Very few animals can see a range of bright colors. Exceptions include primates like humans, the birds, some fish, bees and butterflies. Surprisingly butterflies have the best color vision, from ultraviolet through the visible light spectrum to infrared. With such a superpower, you would expect butterflies to have strong color preferences. However, the many studies are contradictory and inconclusive. Since color doesn’t seem to matter to butterflies, you can choose your favorite floral colors for your butterfly garden!
Native versus Ornamental: What Does Science Say?
Several universities and nurseries have been rigorously researching the pollinator attractiveness of many native species versus their varieties
and hybrids. The results are often dramatic. Hybrids may lack nectar or have double and triple petals that block access to nectar. Cultivars that differ significantly from the original species are more likely to interfere with normal insect activity, especially purple-leaved selections. However, as demonstrated in the Mt. Cuba Center studies, hybrids like Phlox paniculota ‘Jeana’ was seven times more attractive than the straight species and the other six varieties tested. The hybrid Rudbeckia fulgida ‘American Goldrush’ also attracts more pollinators than the straight species. (Note: we will have these plants at the Paola Plant Sale, also Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas Halo’, a native variety that was the highest rated Hydrangea for Bumble Bees.) Plants and pollinators continue to co-evolve and flowers “want to be the best” to improve pollination. What about the common practice of propagating highly attractive na-
tives by tissue culture for nurseries to sell? These plants are still pollinator magnets but future potential is lost without sexual reproduction, which drives evolution. In my opinion, your own research in your own garden is the best guide for choosing butterfly blooms. Trust your eyes and empirical evidence. I have a prairie remnant full of native flowers, but my resident and migrating butterflies consistently choose ornamentals like Butterfly Bush and Tithonia. Your experience may differ.
Shopping to Please Butterflies and Gardeners
Native species will always be a safe choice. However, heirloom flowers are also open-pollinated and often more garden-worthy because they were selected by your grandmother for qualities like longer bloom time, bigger flowers and tidier growth habit.
It is critical to know whether insecticides were used when plants were raised for sale at large nurseries and big box stores. If so, you risk poisoning butterflies and bees. Familyowned organic nurseries tend to be safer, as are plants offered by environmental groups and Extension Master Gardeners.
Mark your calendar for the Paola Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 24 through 26, INDOOR SHOPPING, at the Miami County Fairgrounds. We will again feature butterfly host plants, pollinator-approved flowers and a full range of other native and ornamental plants. Please see our ad, visit on Facebook, or call the Paola Extension Office 913-294-4306.
LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener, Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.
Common Milkweed is a magnet for these Fritillaries and other butterflies but this native plant is an aggressive thug, spreading by seed and root.
Photo by Lenora Larson.
Veronica Candela Hot Pink
Campanula Rapido Blue
Nepeta Chartreuse on the Loose
Coreopsis Sizzle & Spice Crazy Cayenne
Chrysanthemum Igloo Pumpkin Zone 3 Hardy Mums!
Rose, Miniature Parade Lynn
Rudbeckia Pawnee Spirit
Salvia Noble Knight
Aquilegia Kirigami Light Blue and White
Rose, Miniature Parade Meri
Discovering the Rockhill Historic District: Where Gardens and Architecture Flourish Together
In the heart of Kansas City lies the Rockhill neighborhood—a “village” where lush gardens and historic architecture meet to create a living canvas of beauty and heritage. As one of the city’s oldest and most picturesque communities, Rockhill celebrates its rich history and its enduring commitment to preserving both natural and architectural splendor.
The neighborhood owes much of its unique character to William Rockhill Nelson, a visionary reformer who arrived in Kansas City in 1880 with a bold plan to shape the city’s future. Having already made his mark in journalism, law, and land development, Nelson’s passion for creating beautiful urban spaces left the most lasting impression. With a firm belief in the power of welldesigned landscapes, he set out to transform Kansas City into a city of parks, boulevards, and attractive residential areas—a vision that still resonates today in the streets and gardens of Rockhill.
A Garden Community, Shaped by History
Walking through Rockhill, visitors are greeted by a blend of sprawling gardens, tree-lined streets, and stately homes that
evoke timeless elegance. The gardens, though diverse in style, share a common thread: they are expressions of care and pride. Whether it’s the formal gardens with their perfectly trimmed hedges or the more natural, native plant gardens that blend with the landscape, each one adds a unique chapter to the neighborhood’s story.
These gardens reflect the neighborhood’s history, with many homes built to the specifications of Nelson himself. A staunch proponent of the “City Beautiful” movement, Nelson believed that urban spaces should be aesthetically pleasing while serving a functional purpose. In Rockhill, this philosophy is evident in both the homes and the gardens.
The Legacy of William Rockhill Nelson
Nelson’s influence on Rockhill is undeniable. In the 1890s, he acquired land in the area, developing what would become Rockhill. His own residence, Oak Hall, was later donated to establish the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art. The stone homes he built were designed with durability in mind, many featuring stone quarried directly from the property.
Nelson’s vision extended beyond architecture. He advocated for parks, boulevards, and city improvements, believing that beauty and functionality should coexist. In Rockhill, the gardens reflect this vision, nurtured by homeowners who honor the district’s past while helping it grow into the future. Today, the Rockhill District remains a vibrant community that celebrates its history through the preservation of both its architecture and its gardens. Homeowners, both longtime residents and newcomers, take pride in maintaining the beauty of their surroundings.
A Place for Reflection
There is something truly special about walking through the streets of Rockhill. Perhaps it’s the way the architecture rises from the earth itself, or the sense that the gardens have been here for generations, quietly watching over the homes they surround. Every turn reveals something new—a secret garden behind a wrought-iron gate, an old stone wall overgrown with ivy, or a magnificent tree offering shade on a summer day.
In many ways, Rockhill feels like a sanctuary, where nature and human design come together to cre-
ate something extraordinary. It’s a neighborhood that encourages reflection, inviting you to pause, breathe, and appreciate the simple joys of a well-tended garden and a thoughtfully crafted home.
As the district celebrates 50 years as a Historic District and 125 years as a vibrant community, Rockhill’s legacy remains one of preservation and passion. It stands as a living testament to the vision of William Rockhill Nelson and the generations of residents who continue to care for this remarkable neighborhood.
Come Celebrate With Us
To celebrate Rockhill’s 50th anniversary as an Historic District and its 125th year as a neighborhood, a special walking tour will take place on May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors will be welcomed to step inside eight different and unique gardens and view 35 architecturally significant historic homes’ exteriors. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the beauty and history of this remarkable neighborhood firsthand.
Tour the Gardens and Architecture of Historic Rockhill tickets may be purchased through the website: rhgctour.com, or for more information, please call 816-588-0497.
Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series April 8
A program crafted to inspire us to be creative with our plants and gardens this spring is planned for this month.
David Bird, owner of Bird’s Botanicals, plans to regale us with a program titled “Get Out of Your Houseplant Rut.” He promises to help us break out of any plant rut we might be mired in.
This Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series program is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St., Merriam, KS 66202. It is across the street from Ikea, which is east of I-35 between Johnson Drive and Shawnee-Mission Parkway.
David plans to bring plants for purchase, and there will be door prizes as well.
David has operated Bird’s Botanicals since 2001. Many of us knew him and his crew as “cave people” for operating in an underground cave for about 15 years. Now the business model has migrated to a pop-up selling style. Bird’s Botanicals can be regularly found at the City Market in Kansas City and Overland Park Farmers Market as well as other venues.
This program is part of the Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series. Find out more about Gardeners Connect on Facebook or at GardenersConnect.org.
Shawnee Garden Sampler Tour
June
14th, 9 am to 5 pm, rain or shine, the Garden Club of Shawnee is hosting the ever-popular Garden Sampler Tour. This tour supports community efforts to beautify, educate and inspire gardeners of all ages and levels of skill. Six gardens have been selected for the 2025 tour that showcase unique aspects of garden styles—from small pocket patio gardens to large estate lots—tightly groomed landscapes to fields of native flowers and plantings. We try to have something for every gardener’s interest! Join us on June 14th, rain or shine.
Beginning April 1st tour tickets will be available at the early bird pricing of $15 from Garden Club members, as well via Eventbrite (accessible via the Garden Club’s website at https://thegardenclubofshawnee.org/). Note that tour ticket pricing will increase to $20 starting May 1st, at which time tickets will also be available through these retailers:
Family Tree Nursery (Overland Park and Shawnee) | Wild Birds Unlimited (Shawnee and Olathe) | Earl May Garden Center (Shawnee)
Take the guesswork out of fertilizing
We are often asked, “Why should I get a soil test?” The first key to lawn and garden success is knowing soil fertility.
A soil test reveals the baseline nutritional values of your soil. A test can determine the type and amounts of fertilizer needed for optimal plant health. A good soil test also determines the pH level of the soil so corrections can be made.
Soil fertility is something that cannot be seen, felt or guessed. It varies from one yard to the next. In many cases the test shows that too many nutrients have been applied and additional chem-ical elements such as phosphorous and potassium may be harmful.
Phosphorous and potassium levels build up in KC soils. Excess can harm growth, or worse, leach out and pollute streams and lakes. Many garden resources recommend a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 5-10-5. Long term use of these products can lead to chemical buildup. Soil testing takes the guesswork out of fertilizing.
A common misbelief is that our local soils need lime. Lime raises the pH, and most KC soils already have high levels. A simple soil test will determine soil pH. You’ll then learn the correct treatment options, saving you money.
Start your lawn off right! Johnson County Residents, get one FREE soil test. (a $20.00 value!)
Learn more at johnson.k-state.edu or call 913.715.7050
Extension recommends a soil test every three to five years. All local extension offices provide soil testing services. Soil samples brought or mailed to the Johnson County Extension office are sent to the Soil Testing Laboratory at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Our agents analyze the lab results and writ personalized recommendation. Your report is usually mailed to you in four to six weeks.
April is an excellent time to test the soil, especially if you are planning a fertilizer program. Save yourself time and money by getting your soil tested today.
It all starts with a soil test!
If you crave that spring green, fertilize in fall, it’s routine.
• Fall fertilization is critical to your lawn’s health in spring
• Applying just the right kind and amount of fertilizer saves you money and protects our water quality
• JoCo Residents: Get one free soil test and a personalized recommendation for your lawn Funding provided by the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program. Limit one per Johnson County household.
Rise and Shine, Roses!
It’s April. Time to wake up your roses from the long winter’s nap. The care you give your roses this month will prepare them for the rest of the growing season. It seems like spring comes earlier each year, although we still experience some April freezes. The old rule of starting rose care on Tax Day, April 15, is no longer hard and fast. Let’s be flexible and say anytime the first few weeks of April, depending on long-range weather forecasts, should be a good time to begin spring wakeup tasks.
Pull back the blankets
The first task is to pull back the mulch that has been protecting the crown of the plant. Carefully pull back the mulch with a hand fork to prevent damage to new buds along the canes. If you have tender roses and piled mulch high around the crown last fall, poke it gently out from between the rose canes with your fingers. After the base of the plant is clear, use a rake to create an open circle of soil about a foot in all directions to apply fertilizer later on.
Next, it’s time for a spring haircut. Remove any canes that are dead, damaged by winterkill, have large scars/wounds, or diseased with black or purple blotches. Cut back until you see white or light tan pith in the center of the cane. After this step, pruning gets more complicated depending on the variety of roses you are growing. Easy care shrubs and roses in informal settings can be trimmed back by a third or even half if they have gotten too big for their space. They also benefit from removing some of the canes in the center of the bush to improve air flow and light penetration.
Climbing roses, tall hybrid teas, and other roses in formal rose gardens are more finicky, needing specific pruning techniques for best bloom.
For details visit our website: www.KansasCityRoseSociety.org then click on the Grow Roses tab then click on Prune. You will find detailed pruning instructions and many “before and after” photos to guide you.
LAURA DICKINSON Consulting Rosarian
The last spring task is to give your roses their first fertilizer treatment of the year to encourage strong, healthy canes and provide the nutrients to produce their first, beautiful blooms. There are many fertilizer options and magic recipes available in rose manuals and online sources. A thorough discussion of fertilizers would be a Rose Report of its own! The two main options are organic vs inorganic formulas. Both have strengths and weaknesses. Organic sources contain low amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K on the label) that take time to break down into nutrients the plant can absorb. But they offer micronutrients and organic compounds that benefit both the plant and the living organisms that contribute to healthy soil. Inorganic products are higher in N-P-K which is quickly available to the plant. But they do not provide micronutrients or any “food” for the living organisms. There is no single right answer. Do whatever works best for your time and your roses. I recommend supplementing your soil
with compost or other plant-based soil amendments to “feed the soil” in addition to any fertilizer treatments you apply. For further information on fertilizer, visit our website, click on Grow Roses tab then click on Fertilize. After fertilizing, water your roses well to dissolve the fertilizer into the soil, and rake the mulch back into place.
Follow these spring wake-up steps in April and in 4-6 weeks your roses will produce strong new canes with healthy buds and your first blooms of the season. What joy!
Much more information on growing roses can be found on the Kansas City Rose Society website: www.KansasCityRoseSociety.org. Click on the Grow Roses tab. If you have questions about roses, our Consulting Rosarians, certified by the American Rose Society, are ready to assist you. Send an email to: Rose Help@KCRoseSociety.org.
Mark your calendar now for our annual Rose Show and Rose Day May 31-June 1. See our website for more information. I will see you in the rose Garden!
Laura Dickinson is an American Rose Society Master Consulting Rosarian and President of the Kansas City Rose Society. She has retired from a career in science education and program management and has been presenting science and gardening information to a wide variety of audiences for over 40 years. She has a special interest in low maintenance roses and encouraging reluctant gardeners to give roses a try. Her motto is: Roses are easier than Tomatoes.
Give them a trim
Time for breakfast
4th of July before pruning
4th of July after pruning
4th of July six weeks later
Join MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City for the 2025 Garden Tour
Join MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City for our 2025 Garden Tour. We are featuring seven beautiful gardens in Lee’s Summit. The tour is on June 6 and 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, children 12 and under attend free. Tickets go on sale April 1, both online and at select retailers. Cash and credit purchases are available at select gardens on the tour. Please visit mggkc.org/ our-projects/garden-tour/ for complete details.
Here is a sneak peek of two of the gardens on our tour.
Tree
Tales (Garden 3)
Moving from one area of the country to another does not mean leaving all your plants and trees behind. This garden proves that experimentation and persistence can mix old and new landscape environments together successfully.
The garden owner brought trees and plants from Oregon and stored them in pots for a year. The bare
lot had flooding issues that had to be addressed. A dry creek for handling rain overflow, French drains, and compost made the yard ready for planting. Numerous bearded and heirloom irises also made the trip from Oregon. Many of the trees started as saplings. The garden owner has created a landscape filled with tree and plant specimens not normally seen in our local nurseries.
Over three hundred Northern privets create hedges that divide the large yard into a series of areas to explore. The areas are always in transition, and the garden owner has embraced this, while still maintaining a long-term vision. One area contains a tiered water fountain set in a raised bed vegetable garden. Another area of the landscape has been given over to the deer that often grazed on other plantings. Both the deer and garden owner like the compromise.
This garden owner has overcome distance and obstacles to bring a little piece of the old home to the new home. Experimentation, problem
solving, and imagination have created a unique landscape that moves beyond the expected.
Cul-de-sac Creations (Garden 4)
Can a pie-shaped yard with shared sidewalk and street views provide privacy while still providing open, lovely views for passersby? This garden proves it is possible. Besides being beautiful, a wide variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees delight those lucky enough to be in or outside the garden area.
The garden owner has planned the landscaping with two views in mind. Looking out the window from inside the home and looking into the yard from the street are different yet equally inviting. Rather than planting a hedge along the street, berms of varying heights provide privacy while not blocking the view in or out of the garden space. A gravel path from the deck area leads to a shaded, charming water feature. This area of the garden is secluded, and the sound of the water masks traffic noise.
Being an opportunistic gardener is not an issue. The yard has areas of sun and shade, so the garden owner has the luxury of finding a variety of plants and being able to find just the right spot to place them. There is also a custom potting bench, compost bins, and a vegetable garden large enough to feed the family. The variety of plants and uses in the garden are equal.
Thinking of a garden space as being both private and public is unique. The garden owner has created a functional, beautiful space that can be enjoyed by all, inspiring a distinct perspective on a typical, suburban lot.
Cul-de-sac Creations
Tree Tales
Cul-de-sac Creations
Garden Club of Shawnee
Upcoming Garden Events
Thurs, Apr 3, 7p; at Shawnee Town 1927’s Town Hall, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. K-State Extension Master Gardener Merle Sharpe will talk about native plants. Visitors are always welcome. You can learn about us at our website gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page.
Greater Kansas City Iris Society
Mon, Apr 14, Gather starting 6:30p, Meeting 7-9p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. Program: Preparing and Grooming Iris for Show, Artistic Designing with Iris. We will share how to prepare single named specimens for show and Artistic Design arrangements for our judged Spring Show on May 10.
Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society
Sun, Apr 27, 1:30-3:30p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Our program will center on the tips and logistics of moving our plants outdoors. It’s about timing and how to properly place them in the best spots as we keep in mind sun and shade factors, times of day and watering schedules. Let’s share our successes and what we’ve learned from the past. We’ll also include our monthly show and tell: please bring a plant you want to show off or have questions about. Everyone is invited and refreshments will be served.
Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Apr 10, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Douglas County Master Gardener Margaret Kramar will discuss “Sustainability: Inside and Out.” This discussion will include tips for sustainable gardening and some lifestyle pointers to help live more sustainably. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
Leawood Garden Club
Tues, Apr 22, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206. Speaker: Jennifer Stefanchik, Techniques to Boost your Vegetable Harvest. Have an interest in growing more of your own produce? Have a vegetable garden and want a better harvest? Whether new to food gardening or experienced, you are sure to learn new techniques that will have your harvest baskets overflowing with delicious, healthy, home-grown produce. Jennifer Stefanchik is an Extension Master Gardener with Johnson County, Kansas. From balconies in Chicago
to large backyard gardens in Kansas, Jennifer has been growing vegetables for over 20 years. She enjoys sharing her gardening success stories to inspire vegetable gardeners of all experience levels.
Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City
Sun, Apr 13, Live Auction 2-4:30p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St, Merriam, KS 66202. Annual Orchid Auction. Rare and Unusual Orchids from the best American orchid growers in Hawaii, California, Illinois and elsewhere. Non-auction plants priced to sell starting at $5. Free Entry to the Public. This is a fundraiser for our nonprofit society. More information at osgkc. org and find us on Facebook.
Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Apr 1, 10a; at Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy, Raytown, MO 64138. Program will be “Beautifying Our Gardens with Perennials,” presented by Mary Wood, RGC Member & Master Gardener. Guests are always welcome. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.
PLANT
Spring Open House
Apr 1-6; at Arnold’s Prairie Greenhouse and More, 1430 Hwy 58, LeRoy, KS 66857. Refreshments, Specials, Giveaways. 620-9642423
African Violet Show and Sale
Sat, Apr 5, 9a-2:30p; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112. Sho-Me African Violet Club presents 39th Annual Show and Sale “Enchanted Violets & Beyond.” NO ADMISSION FEE
Earth Day Celebration
Sat, Apr 19, 10a-2p; at Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64132. Celebrate Earth Day with information about the wildlife of Swope Park, learning about preservation while exploring the forest, pond, and marsh around the property, and making wildflower or milkweed seed balls. Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Children’s Program will be presenting “All About Seeds.” Children will learn about the anatomy of a seed by dissection and observation. They will also discover the ways that seeds are dispersed, and why seeds are an important food source. This event is free to the public, all ages are welcome. For more infor-
mation visit https://lakesidenaturecenter.org/
Paola Spring Plant Sale Apr 24, 25, 26, New Location INDOOR SHOPPING at the Miami County Fairgrounds Bldg #2, 401 Wallace Park Dr, Paola, KS. Featuring pesticide-free locally grown plants. In addition to the usual selection of butterfly host plants, pollinator flowers and native perennials, there will be ornamental annuals, perennials, herbs, succulents, hanging baskets, trees and veggies. Extension Master Gardeners, including butterfly expert Lenora Larson, will be on hand to assist More info at www.maraisdescygnes. ksu.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/mdcemg or call the office: 913-294-4306.
Spring Plant Sale OP Arboretum Fri, Apr 25; at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8909 W 179th St, Overland Park, KS 66013. FOTA Member PreSale Event Thurs, Apr 24, 2-8p; Open to the Public Fri, Apr 25—Sun, Apr 27, 9a-5p. Choose from a wide selection of over 250+ locally grown plant varieties. Find your favorite annual and perennial staples, sun and shade lovers, hanging baskets, daylilies, natives, pollinators, shrubs, grasses, herbs and edibles. All proceeds from the sale go toward future Arboretum projects and supporting our mission. No special ticket or admission price is required to shop and attend. Plant list at: https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/springplant-sale/
Northwest Missouri Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale Fri, Apr 25, 8a-4p and Sat, Apr 26, 8a-2p; a plant sale will take place at the University of Missouri Extension Office at 4125 Mitchell Ave, St Joseph, on the Missouri Western State University campus. More than 150 varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and herbs will be available along with monarchfriendly milkweed. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help answer questions.
Thyme for Kids Plant Sale
Apr 25-26, Fri 9a-6p, Sat 9a-4p; at Cornerstones of Care—Ozanam Campus Greenhouse, 421 E 137th St, Kansas City, MO 64145. Stock up on plants for your home and garden, while helping children grow and thrive! Our Plant Sale is so much more than a plant sale, and proceeds funnel right back into our horticulture program. Your purchases help fund seeds, supplies, stipends, and more. For more information about the Plant Sale, please contact Stefanie at stefanie. caravella@cornerstonesofcare.org. Visit cor-
nerstonesofcare.org/plantsale for updates and for additional ways to support the plant sale.
Native Plant Sale Shawnee Indian Mission Sat, Apr 26, 9a-2p; at Shawnee Indian Mission, 3403 W 53rd St, Fairway, KS 66205. Hundreds of plants from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. As usual, there will be a wide selection of plants, but you can also pre-order anything from Missouri Wildflowers’ extensive catalog and save on shipping costs.
KC Parks Spring Fling
Sat, Apr 26, 11a-3p; at Swope Park Bandstand, presented by Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Green Carpet Fashion Show. Local Exhibitors. All Ages. Stone Lion Puppet Theatre. Hands on Learning. Free. Celebrate our Parks and our Planet.
Native Plant Sale
Sat, Apr 26, 8a-noon; at Lenexa Farmers Market, 17201 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66219. Discover a vibrant variety of landscaping options. Browse grasses, flowers, and other plants from local vendors. For more information, lenexa.com/nativeplantsale.
Garden Cleanup Volunteers Needed Sat, Apr 26, 9-11:30a; at Kaw Point Riverfront Park, 1403 Fairfax Trfy, Kansas City, KS. Bring water, long pants, work gloves, sturdy shoes. Questions? Contact us at Friendsofkawpoint6@gmail.com.
Recycling Extravaganza
Sat, Apr 26, 9a-2p; at Black & Veatch, 11401 Lamar, Overland Park, KS 66211. Enter at the main entrance off of 115th St. You do not have to be a resident of Overland Park. Go to opkansas.org/recycling to view items acceptable.
Wyandotte Co EMG Plant Sale
Fri, May 2, 9a-5p and Sat, May 3, 9a-2p; at the Wildcat Room of the Extension Office, 1200 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. The Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners will be conducting their annual plant sale. There will be vegetables, herbs, perennials, berries, ornamental grasses and more grown by the EMGs, and annuals offered at competitive prices. Come early to be sure you see everything that’s available. Proceeds fund the EMG educational programming. Cash, checks, and debit and credit cards accepted. For more information, call 913-299-9300.
Garden Treasures Sale
May 2 and 3, 9a-5p; at 12201 Aberdeen Rd, Leawood, KS. Plants, pots, tools, decor and FREE hot dogs. A Faith Missions benefit for
SALES | TOURS | ETC
Upcoming Garden Events
women and children in Rwanda and Uganda.
Liberty’s Town and Country Garden Club
Annual Plant Share
Sat, May 3, 8a-noon; at Rotary Plaza, downtown Liberty (100 W Franklin). We invite you to stop by for free garden plants and share your own if you wish. No early birds please.
Platte County MG Plant Sale
Sat, May 3, 10a-3p and Sun, May 4, Noon3p; in the Greenhouse located at the Northland Career Center, 1801 Branch St, Platte City, MO 64079. This 1st annual plant sale will offer a variety of perennials, natives, annuals and herbs. The sale happens rain or shine. Proceeds benefit the MU Extension Master Gardeners of Platte County. www.plattecountymastergardeners.org; plattemgs@gmail.com
Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser
Sat, May 10, 8a-2p; at Monarch Watch, KU West Campus, Lawrence, KS. https://monarchwatch.org/events. We will have thousands of plants available, and all are ideal for starting butterfly gardens or adding to established gardens and can contribute to the health of monarch and pollinator populations. Our Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser will be primarily an outdoor event, and there will be tours of our gardens, games, activities, monarch butterflies, caterpillars, and lots of butterfly plants for your own garden! Online ordering of plants will be available in advance (mid-April), and details will be posted soon. Thank you for your interest and continued support!
Discover The Beauty of Historic Rockhill—Garden & Architecture Tour
Sat, May 17, 10a-4p. The Rockhill neighborhood is celebrating its Golden Jubilee. It’s been 50 years since Rockhill was designated an historic district and 125 years since William Rockhill Nelson developed the neighborhood. This is a walking tour* featuring over 35 homes of architectural interest and entrance into 8 beautiful gardens. Each ticket entitles you to a tour bracelet for garden entrance and a 32-page full color brochure filled with history, architecture, garden information and a map of the tour. *People with disabilities may park in the neighborhood. The Rockhill neighborhood is located just east of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Parking will be available in the lot of the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden at 4800 Rockhill Rd. The Welcome Tent will be across from the parking lot at 532 Pierce St. Purchase tickets at https://rhgctour.com.
Free Family Fun: Miami County Farm Tour Showcases Local Agriculture May 10-11. Discover the heart of Eastern Kansas agriculture during the free Miami County Farm Tour. This self-guided tour invites visitors to explore 12 diverse farms, offering hands-on educational experiences and a glimpse into rural life amidst the county’s scenic beauty. Although this event is child friendly, each site is a working farm. Visitors are asked to encourage to respect for the farm’s operations, plants and animals. Pets should be left at home. For more information about the farm tour or to receive a map of the sites please call 913-294-4045. The tour’s website, www.MiCoFarmTour.com, features a map of the sites and information about their location.
Native Plant Sale
Sat, May 24, 8a-noon; at Lenexa Farmers Market, 17201 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66219. Discover a vibrant variety of landscaping options. Browse grasses, flowers, and other plants from local vendors. For more information, lenexa.com/nativeplantsale.
Kansas City Rose Show
Sat, May 31; at Loose Park Garden Center. Free and open to all rose gardeners with assistance provided for first-time exhibitors. Classes for live blooms and rose photographs. Entries accepted from 8-11am. Visit https://www.kansascityrosesociety.org for the show handbook with class lists and show rules. Also find links to tips on how to grow and show prize-winning roses.
Kansas City Rose Day
Sun, Jun 1, 1-4p; at Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden in Loose Park. View the results of the Rose Show in the Garden Center with hundreds of blue-ribbon winners and gleaming trophies. In the garden, enjoy family activities, live entertainment, and an afternoon of beauty in this world-renowned rose garden. Free to everyone. Visit https:// www.kansascityrosesociety.org for further information.
MGGKC Garden Tour
Jun 6 and 7. Details to come.
Hermann, MO 30th Annual Town and Country Garden Tour
Jun 7 and 8. The Garden Tour includes both a walking tour of gardens in downtown Historic Hermann and a driving tour to gardens in the hills around Hermann. The $20 ticket price includes visits to at least five private gardens; these gardens are both in town and in the country and include a traditional foursquare garden and native plants. Tickets will
be sold online before the tour at Eventeny and during the tour at Topiaries (138 E. 4th) in downtown Hermann from 10-4 on Saturday and 10-3 on Sunday. Gardens close at 5p on Sat and 4p on Sun. A map to the gardens will be provided starting on Sat Jun 7 at 10a at the Topiaries ticket sale site; those who prepurchase tickets will pick up the map at that time as well. The Hermann Garden Club’s website www.hermanngardentours.com provides up-to-date events, ticket prices, links to the online ticket sale site, contact numbers, and photographs of past tour gardens. Visit the FAQS page on the website for answers to all your questions. “Like” us on Facebook at “Hermann Garden Tours.” Go to www. visithermann.com to find information about lodging.
Garden Sampler Tour Sat, Jun 14, 9a-5p, Rain or Shine. Got the winter blahs? Already scanning the seed catalogs for the newest plants? Save the Date of June 14 for the ever-popular, Garden Club of Shawnee’s Garden Sampler Tour. Visit https://gardenclubofshawnee.org for latest information regarding Club and tour event.
CLASSES | WORKSHOPS
Berries
Thurs, Apr 3, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Let’s talk Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries. If enough time and interest, even Strawberries. Part of this seminar will be held outdoors with a demonstration. Seminars are FREE but space is limited, so please RSVP by calling 785-842-3081.
The Fruits of Your Labor
Thurs, Apr 3, 11:30a; in the Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presenter is Matt Bunch, Director of Horticulture, Education, and Orchards for Kansas City Community Gardens. He will discuss which types of fruit grow best in the Kansas City area, and how you maintain them, what pests to watch out for, pest management, pruning, cultural requirements, and best varieties for our area. Mr. Bunch also serves as Horticultural Advisor for The Giving Grove, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience from retail/ garden centers, residential and commercial horticulture, municipal horticulture, botanical gardens, and non-profit horticulture. He searches out Champion Trees in the Kansas City area and has “re-wilded” his small yard in Waldo while continuing to grow veggies and small fruits. There is no registration required for this class. A $10 class fee will be collected at the door. 913-299-9300.
Containers I Thurs, Apr 10, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to grow flowers and vegetables in containers. What varieties work best. What soil to use and how to care for them to create a showstopper. Seminars are FREE but space is limited, so please RSVP by calling 785-842-3081.
Tips For Successful Seed Starting
Thurs, Apr 10, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Leavenworth County Master Gardener, Yvonne Willcott, invites you to come join this fun Q&A session to learn new tips, tricks and tools needed to save money in the long run and start seeds in your own home— successfully! Learn how and when to begin seed preparation (as well as preferred seed choices) and everything that you will need to produce viable transplants. The class is free and visitors are welcome! For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
Top 10 Annuals and Perennials
Thurs, Apr 17, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn about some of our favorite annuals and perennials and how to incorporate them into your landscape. Seminars are FREE but space is limited, so please RSVP by calling 785-842-3081.
Creating a “No Fuss” Garden: Raised Beds
Thurs, Apr 17, 7p; Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Leavenworth County Master Gardener, Jackie Lee, says: “Yes, you can have a thriving, productive garden without the overwhelming complexity that you might associate with gardening!” Raised beds provide a permanent feature on a patio or elsewhere in the garden and support a wide range of plants. This allows you to add color in what might otherwise be a dull area. Join this informal class and learn how to: choose materials to suit your size and budget; prepare the soil mixture; use the square foot gardening method (saving time and space); plant your chosen plants. The class is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
List garden events like classes, workshops, club meetings, and plant sales for FREE! Send details to elizabeth@kcgmag.com Deadline for the May issue is April 7.
GARDEN CALENDAR
April list of what to do in the garden.
LAWN
• Be kind to the environment. Spot treat instead of spraying the entire yard for spring broadleaf weeds.
• Mow based on spring growth, 2-3 inches is recommended for bluegrass and tall fescue.
• Delay fertilizing zoysia until mid to late May.
• Avoid fertilizing bluegrass and tall fescue in April for improved summer health.
• Sharpen the mower blade if not already done.
• Repair mowers to reduce problems later.
• Don’t bag it! Let the clippings fall, returning valuable nutrients.
• Be water-wise; restrict watering now for increased summer resistance.
• Apply crabgrass control by Tax Day for best results.
VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
• Plant carrots, onions, beets, and other salad crops.
• Thin seedlings to recommended spacing to promote good growth.
• Harvest asparagus until spear size decreases, about six to eight weeks.
• Harvest rhubarb leaves by pulling.
• Remove seed stalks from rhubarb.
• Prune fruits if not already done.
• Plant fruit crops, tree fruits, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• Remove mulch from the strawberry bed.
• Prune raspberry and blackberry plantings.
• Plant asparagus and rhubarb.
• Save the honeybees, avoid spraying insecticides when trees and plants are flowering.
• Cultivate soil to control weed growth by dragging the hoe below the surface.
• Hasten the compost pile by turning.
• Fertilize vegetable gardens before planting for good growth.
• Spray fruit trees on a regular basis for insect and disease-free fruit.
TREES AND SHRUBS
• Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom to promote good flowering next year.
• Prune deciduous trees now for quick healing.
• Plant new trees and shrubs, but do not plant too deep.
• Mulch around the base of young trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and control weeds.
• Water newly planted trees and shrubs on a regular basis.
• Fertilize young trees to promote growth.
• Check pine trees for needle diseases and control.
• Remove dead or dying trees promptly to control insects and disease.
FLOWERS
• Remove winter mulch from the perennial garden and roses.
• Cut back last year’s growth from perennials.
• Prune roses; Fertilize roses to promote strong growth and good flowers.
• Plant new rose bushes.
• Remove seedpods from spring flowering bulbs.
• Do not remove green foliage from bulbs to encourage good flowering next year.
• Plant annuals from transplants or seed.
• Divide overgrown perennials.
• Improve garden soil, add organic matter such as compost or peat moss.
• Clean up ground covers by raking or mowing over the tops at the highest setting.
HOUSEPLANTS
• Remove winter dust from leaves with damp cloth or place in shower.
• Repot older houseplants into a 1-inch larger pot with fresh soil.
• Start fertilizing for spring and summer growth.
• Fertilize amaryllis and keep in high light to encourage new leaves.
• Do not move plants outdoors until nighttime temperatures remain above 55 degrees.
Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Markis Hill is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.
2351 N. 400 Rd. • Edgerton, KS • Hours: 9am-6pm, Mon.-Sat. • Sun. noon-4pm 2 miles west of Edgerton on Hwy 56 to County Line, 2 miles north 1/2 west
Turner Community Gardens • 55th & Klamm Street • Turner, KS Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm • Sun. noon-4pm
KCMO Farmers Market Location • 3rd & Walnut, Saturday only Stall 50 across (west) from the Arabian
Enright Gardens
No Ordinary Gardening Adventure gorgeous plants, wonderful staff, unique garden store www.enrightgardens.com NOW BLOOMING AT THESE 3 LOCATIONS
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