KCG March 2020

The Kansas City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

March 2020

Pansies and Violas both bright and welcoming

Mole Mania Edible Flowers with a Kick Amazing Mason Bees Plants on Your Plate – Asparagus

editor’s notes

The Kansas City

GARDENER

Change

A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Contributors Tracy Flowers Nik and Theresa Hiremath Lenora Larson Steve Nix Dennis Patton Chelsea Didde Rice Denise Sullivan Scott Woodbury Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.

How to Reach Us ...

P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone: 913-648-4728 For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at elizabeth@kcgmag.com

See us on the Web: www.kcgmag.com

Don’t Miss A Single Issue!

Get a subscription for yourself or your favorite gardener.

See page 27.

2

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

M

idwest winter weather can be unbearable at times.

Grey days paired with bitter cold send me to my laptop computer scouring the internet for a beach vacation. Motivation to be productive with work matters or household chores is lacking and my snacking tendency is in full swing.

Thankfully, though, this season’s temperature patterns have been sprinkled with delightfully unusual days. Warmer days that deliver an irresistible invitation to be outside.

A few garden tasks are in order.

I’ll collect the Sycamore and Birch tree branches that litter the landscape. They are useful starter material in the firepit. The heated bird bath could use a scrubbing. And the row of small boxwood planted on the property line loaded with oak leaves are in need of clean up.

These days make easier meeting my walking goal too. Prompted by physical indicators like increasing difficulty in getting up off the ground and decreasing ability to fit into my clothes, I committed to change. There are no drastic changes to carry out, I simply need to DO THE WORK. That’s right folks. It takes work to make this machine operate at optimal levels. It’s information I

already know – eat right and less of it, move and lift stuff, and sleep well. Not complicated.

I’m back to a formal workout three times a week (because I can’t kick my own rear) and filling in the other days with walking.

I try to take Maggie, our sweet dog. She is a large breed, Catahula Leopard mix, super social and smart. She can be a real pain in the neck, too. She is friendly to a fault, and stubborn. With correction though, we manage and are able to enjoy walking together.

Recently, our hike through the neighborhood took us several blocks away. Following the sounds of dump trucks and large machinery, we happened across a demolition in the clean-up stage, popularly known as a teardown.

We live in a desirable established area where property values are on the rise. The 70-year-old homes are less desirable, so they are reduced to rubble and new construction ensues.

But what about the garden?

What happened to their beauti-

ful landscape? These are rhetorical questions, of course.

You see, I’ve traveled by this property many times in the past. It sits between our home and the high school our children attended.

So everyday, twice a day, for years, I would pass and notice life happening there.

It is an expansive corner lot. Several mature sycamore trees line the front of the property, and purposefully placed evergreens have grown so tall that it seems they kiss the sun. I could not tell you exactly what plants were in the garden, but from a distance it was rich with color and texture in every season. With bird feeders and a birdbath, it was apparent they were birders as well.

Things change, do they not? We can go with the flow or we can take action. For me, I’m grateful for the occasional mild weather and the ability to be more active. As for the teardown, and the lost garden, I’ll eagerly watch for a new garden to admire.

I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue March 2020 • Vol. 25 No. 3 Ask the Experts ........................ 4 Plants on Your Plate Asparagus .. 6 Healthy Yards Expo .................. 8 Amazing Mason Bees ............... 10 Mole Mania ............................ 12 Pansies and Violas ................... 14 Peculiar Native Plants ............... 16 Edible Flowers with a Kick ........ 18 Douglas Co Garden Show ........ 19

about the cover ...

Conversion to a Butterfly Garden ...................... 20 Upcoming Events ..................... 22 Paola Plant Sale ...................... 24 Gardeners’ Connect program ... 25 Garden Calendar ................... 26 Tulip Time .............................. 27 Hotlines ................................. 27 Subscribe ................................ 27

Pansies and violas are a welcome addition to an early spring landscape.

Learn more starting on page 14.

10

18

Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food Flower & Vegetable feeds continuously and consistently for up to 4 full months.

Better feeding. Better eating.

® ® Osmocote®.

IfOsmocote you grow your own, grow with Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable.

The Kansas City Gardener | June 2016 If you grow your own, grow with Osmocote®.

3

where gardeners go to grow.

© 2015, All rights reserved.

© 2020, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved

Better feeding. Better eating.

Ask the Experts Gardeners have plenty of questions about soil and plant issues, DENNIS PATTON answers a few of them here.

SPRING GRASS SEEDING Question: Is it too late to dormant seed in March?

Answer: Hopefully, by the time March rolls around, there is not much dormant time left. I would call planting grass in March spring seeding. Spring seeding is tricky.

The grass will germinate but has a difficult time establishing before the heat of summer stresses out the limited roots.

Any grass seeding requires good seed-to-soil contact. Rough up the area with a rake. A verticutter may be necessary for larger areas. Spread the seed and rake to help lightly incorporate. Simply broadcasting the seed will result in poor germination.

Keep the soil moist and hope for the best. Spring seeding also competes with weed pressure as crab-

Good seed-to-soil contact is important.

Aftercare of amaryllis bulb is simple.

Angelonia petunia in container.

grass germination loves the extra attention of water and loose soil. To help reduce, apply Tupersan, which is a short-lived product that can be applied at seeding. Dimension, or

dithiopyr, can also be applied, but the seedling grass must have been mowed at least two times. The good news is this product is effective on establishing grassy weeds such as crabgrass.

Spring seeded grass will typically need to be over-seeded again in the fall. But it can help provide some cover to avoid bare soil.

layer of wax. There were little to no care instructions. The directions basically said, wait for it to flower. You know a gardener can never throw a plant away. How should I care for this wax encased bulb?

Answer: What will marketers think of next! They created wateronly bulbs for novice gardeners reluctant to touch soil. It is advertised as just set on the shelf, watch it grow, then pitch it when it is done blooming. But for those who see an afterlife for bulbs, pitching is not an option.

Your Wholesale Source for Landscaping Products and Services Mulch

Top Soils

• Premium I • Pulverized Top Soil • Colored Mulches • Custom Soil Mixes (red, brown & black) • Green Roof Soil Blends • Cedar • Rain Garden Soil Blends • Hardwood Chips • Erosion Stabilization Compost • Nature Wise

Services

• Industrial Tub Grinding • Custom Screening • Contract Consulting

$25 off

Nature Wise Compost 3 or more yards

CONFUSION ABOUT AMARYLLIS BULBS Question: I received several amaryllis bulbs this past holiday season that were coated in a heavy

Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance Services From trees and shrubs to perennials, mulch and stone, expert Landscape Designers are ready to help with your next project!

Call today for an At-Home Consultation.

Ask about our Missouri Organic Organic Resource Management

products in bags

7700 E. 40 Hwy Kansas City, MO 64129

816.483.0908

www.missouriorganic.com 4

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

7130 Troost, Kansas City, Mo. www.soilservice.com Garden Center • 816-444-3403 Nursery • 816-333-3232

Here is my recommendation.

Once the bulb has finished flowering, strip away the waxy coating and pot it. Most amaryllis bulbs fit nicely into a 6-inch pot. The bulb is planted with the upper half out of the soil. Once potted, it will grow for the rest of the spring and summer as a houseplant. The goal is to grow as much foliage as possible to build energy for next year’s bloom.

I set my pots on the patio during the summer. I also feed it often to produce as much green growth as possible.

In late summer, begin to withhold water. Place it in a dark location and let go dormant for about 8 weeks. After the resting period, return to warm, bright light, water and a new bloom should appear.

Hope this helps.

OPTIONS FOR WEED CONTROL IN FLOWER GARDEN Question: Is there an easier way to control weeds in my flower garden than hand weeding? I don’t know if my back can take the work. I am not getting any younger.

Answer: I get this question a lot and I can literally feel your pain. I often gaze into my backyard and wonder, what was I thinking by expanding my flower beds? It has doubled my work. While there is no one best solution, there is a combination of methods to control weeds.

Most importantly is mulching. Applying the mulch is work but consider it a time saver. A two- to three-inch layer of wood chips will smother out most annual weeds. Those poking through can be removed by hand.

Herbicide options are available when applied to a garden in the early spring. People know these products by the trade name Preen.

Overland Park Gardeners of America

PLANT SALE

There are other brands available on the market.

Perennial weeds, Bermuda or Zoysia, will require the glyphosate (Roundup) products. These are safe when applied with care. Treat only the weed, shielding desirable plants from the spray. This will only affect the plant that encounters the product.

Hope these tips help. In my own garden, I use mulch and the glyphosate products, spraying low to the ground and holding a piece of cardboard to shield plants. By the way, I despise redbud and hackberry seedlings.

REUSE OR REPLACE POTTING MIX Question: I am thinking of spring and container gardening.

I’ve heard conflicting messages on reusing potting mix. What is your advice?

Answer: I say reuse the potting mix from one season to the next but with a little twist. Only discard the soilless mix if the previous year’s planting had a pathogen that killed the plants.

I recommend freshening the soil before reusing it. I like to tip the pot over into my wheelbarrow, then chop up the mix, adding maybe a third of new mix to the reused soil.

This helps improve the aeration as the organic materials break down from one season to the next. You might also throw in a teaspoon or two of garden fertilizer.

Now you are ready to refill your container. I have had success doing this for several years. Happy planting!

Services offered: Landscaping Retaining Walls • Patios Outdoor Lighting 1001 S.W. 40 Hwy Blue Springs, MO 64015

(816) 229-2684

www.benslawnandgarden.com

Dennis Patton 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.

Top Soil • Mulch • River Rock Sand • Gravel• Fireplace Materials New & Used Brick • Pavers

April 23, 24, 25 Thurs-Fri 10am-7pm Sat 10am until sold out Colonial Church 7039 Mission Rd Prairie Village KS 66208

Shop Ben’s Lawn and Garden for all of your Hummert’s Dyna Green Fertilizer and Grass Seed Featured on the Toby Tobin Show Saturday mornings 6-10am on 98.1 FM Family Owned Garden You might just catch Center Offering: Ben on the show!

Annuals • Perennials • Trees BEST SELECTION Shrubs • Grass Seed • Statuary IN BLUE SPRINGS! Fountains • Bulk Material

Experts trust the #1 brand in organic gardening Laura LeBoutillier grew up working in her parents’ garden center. Since then, she and her husband Aaron have published hundreds of inspirational and educational gardening videos online for over 2.4 million loyal fans. Laura loves her garden and uses only the best products to ensure it looks beautiful. That’s why she trusts Espoma Organic® for her fertilizer and potting soil needs.

Espoma. A natural in the garden since 1929.

9108 W. 57th

Merriam, KS 66203 (1 blk E. of Merriam Dr.)

Hrs: Mon.–Fri. 7am–5pm • Sat. 8am–12pm

913-432-8092

Visit www.espoma.com/video to see our inspirational videos.

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

5

Plants on Your Plate – Asparagus DENISE SULLIVAN talks about nutritious food and preparing healthy meals, including asparagus.

A

sparagus grew abundantly along the ditch behind my childhood home. I am not sure why the previous owners chose to plant it there, but I remember my mother’s delight when it popped up out of the ground in the early spring.

Unfortunately, I did not share her delight… then. But oh, how I wish my adult efforts to grow this lovely vegetable could result in as prolific a harvest!

While green asparagus is by far the most common, you might also find it in purple or even a combination of the two, due to hybrid-

Asparagus with Pesto Pasta (Based on 6 servings) Calories: 292, Total Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3.5g, Sodium: 240mg, Carbohydrates: 37g, Fiber: 5g, Protein: 15g

2 cups whole grain penne pasta ½-pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 cups fresh green peas 4 tablespoons basil pesto ½ cup grated parmesan (fresh if available) Makes 6-8 servings.

Recipe adapted from Seasonal and Simple, analyzed by verywellfit.com.

ization. White asparagus is also available due to a process called ‘earthing up’, which repeatedly covers the shoots as they emerge from the soil. Without exposure to the sun, no photosynthesis occurs,

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery 573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003

www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109

Opening day at our Brazito location is March 21 Meet us in the KC area at one of these locations. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location.

Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64015 Native Plant Sale, March 14, 1 - 4 p.m., Naturescaping Workshop: 8 a.m. - 1p.m 816-228-3766 to register for Workshop.

Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. KC MO 64110 Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale, grownative.org April 18 & May 23, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Shawnee Indian Mission, 3403 West 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205, Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation Plant Sale 913-262-0867, simfoundation.org April 25, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Road, KC MO 64154, Native Plant Sale by Burroughs Audubon, Backyard Bird Center 816-746-1113, April 25, 9:30 a.m. - 2 Westport Garden Club Native Plant Sale. Kansas City Community Gardens, 6917 Kensington Ave, KC MO 64132 (Swope Park), May 2, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Deep Roots Native Plant Sale, Franklin Park, Roe & Somerset, Prairie Village KS 66208 deeprootskc.org, Sarah@deeproots.org May 16, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

6

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

Cook pasta according to package directions. Add asparagus and peas during the last minute of cooking. Drain pasta and vegetables well. Transfer to serving bowl, add pesto and toss gently. Top with cheese and serve.

so the shoots remain white. Many people find white asparagus to be less bitter and more tender.

With prime growing season from February through June, asparagus will begin to be more prevalent in the produce section as we transition into spring. When shopping for asparagus, opt for spears that are crisp and round. Ideally, tips should be pointed and tightly closed. Avoid extra-large spears, as they will be more ‘woody’ and tough. Asparagus keeps for 2-4 days in the refrigerator. Wrapping the bottom ends of the stalks in a wet paper towel and storing in a plastic bag will maximize storage time.

Asparagus is rich in Vitamins A and C, antioxidants that may reduce your risk of developing chronic disease. Vitamin C also aids in absorption of iron. Asparagus is a good source of vitamin K, potassium and folate. Asparagus is also a good source of fiber, an important nutrient for controlling cholesterol and keeping your digestive system healthy.

To prepare, clean asparagus under cool running water. Rinse tips well, dipping in and out of water to ensure removal of dirt inside tips. Cut off any white or tough ends on the spears. Spears may be left in longer lengths, or cut into one-inch pieces. To grill, broil, sauté or stir-fry, drizzle with

olive oil and fresh herbs. Cook until desired tenderness, about 5 minutes. To roast, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Follow the steps as if grilling/broiling, roast for 5-8 minutes. If asparagus can be pierced easily with a fork but is not yet flimsy, the asparagus is done.

Asparagus can also be microwaved or steamed with small amount of water, low-sodium seasoning and garlic. Microwave for 3-4 minutes in microwave safe container or steam over medium heat for 6-8minutes. To serve cold on a relish plate, plunge the asparagus into cold water to stop cooking. The main point to remember is do not overcook it to retain a tender-crisp texture and bright green color.

For longer-term storage, asparagus is best frozen, as the desired color and texture is lost in the canning process. Asparagus can however pickled, like green beans or okra, and still have be a desirable tender-crisp texture.

(Special thanks to Katie Davies, dietetic intern, for her research on this topic.)

Denise Sullivan (@MUExtJackson Co) is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For research-based nutrition and food safety information and programs, call 816-482-5850 or visit www. extension2.missouri.edu.

NOW OFFERING

LANDSCAPING Colonial Gardens is now offering full landscape consultation, design and installation. Ranging from a full landscape transformation to a simple tree installation, we can help bring your landscape to life!

Our design team, including renowned landscape designer, horticulturist, and turf expert Don Archer, has over 100 years of combined landscaping experience.

Email landscaping@colonialgardenskc.com to set up a consultation appointment today.

Looking for something specific? Beyond traditional foundation plantings, our designers can create sight and sound screens; fruit and berry orchards; and vegetable, herb and cottage gardens. We also specialize in color themes, and Mediterranean or Southwest styles.

ColonialGardensKC.com | 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014 The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

7

Spring Starts Here!

• Planters, pottery, cement pots • Tropicals, bonsai, houseplants, gifts • Annuals, planted pots, perennials, hanging pots • Boxwoods, topiary boxwoods, flowering bushes • Ornamental trees, flowering trees • Succulents, cacti • All organic, no chemicals, non-gmo herbs and vegetables • Organic fertilizers • Organic potting soils • Organic disease treatment • Diagnosis on diseases • Replanting and planting service • Natives • Butterfly, Bee, and Humming bird gardens • Landscaping service

WALDO GREENHOUSE

Make us a tradition

436 W. 85th St., Kansas City, MO office 816-444-7661 | cell 620-200-8973 facebook.com/waldogreenhousekc

Get Your Hands On A Toro The Brand Professionals Use

Recycler®

399.00

$

20372 List Price

$419.00

National Promo Price

• 22" Steel deck with Atomic® blade • Superior mulching performance

April 4 Healthy Yards Expo

promotes green lawn and garden practices

T

he 11th Annual Healthy Yards Expo on Sat., April 4, can help make greener choices for yards and homes. This free earth-friendly lawn and garden event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shawnee Civic Centre, located at 13817 Johnson Drive in Shawnee.

The Expo is free to attend.

The Expo highlights many simple and easy, environmentallyfriendly practices that can be done to achieve a nice landscape. Johnson County K-State Research and Extension is teaming with Johnson County Stormwater Management and the cities of Overland Park, Lenexa, Olathe, Shawnee and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County to present the event.

Local businesses, non-profits, city and county departments will offer seminars and tips helping people make greener choices. “The expo promotes eco-friendly practices and provides education so that you can do your part for clean water, air and healthy soils while maintaining an attractive landscape,” said Dennis Patton, horticulture agent for Johnson County Extension.

Visitors to the Expo can: —Enter to win door prizes, $50 gift certificates to purchase native plants.

—Visit with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension

Master Gardeners and local plant societies for expert advice on gardening and plant cultivation.

—Talk with city representatives to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about costshare programs for establishing rain garden and rain barrels.

—Listen to informative speakers on topics such as native plants, composting, organic gardening and edible landscaping.

—Kids can enjoy a free performance by StoneLion Puppet Theatre with their show, The Little Red Hen. —Shop our Native Plant Sale!

Choose from over 1,000 native plants selected specifically to thrive in your garden. Locally and organically grown, shop the best native plants for our area.

Free soil tests Johnson County residents get one free soil test, compliments of Johnson County Stormwater Management and Johnson County K-State Extension. It is important to know the nutrient levels in order to grow healthy plants and protect the water quality in our local streams and lakes. Bring your soil sample to the Expo. Learn how to take a soil sample by visiting the website.

For more information, visit www.johnson.k-state.edu or call 913-715-7000.

• Personal Pace® senses and adjusts to your preferred walking pace

Koi Pond and Water Feature Designs

See dealer for full warranty details *See dealer for full warranty details

TimeMaster®

1099.9921199

$

List Price

$1149.99

National Promo Price

• 30" steel deck with Dual Force® twin blade cutting system • Personal Pace® senses and adjusts to your preferred walking pace • Blade Stop System lets you start it once, then keep it running

New Installations, Remodels Upgrades, Repairs and

See dealer for full warranty details *See dealer for full warranty details **The Gross Torque of this engine was laboratory rated at 2800 RPM per SAE J1940 by the engine manufacturer

www.toro.com

Reynolds Lawn and Leisure, Inc. 12902 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, Kansas 913-268-4288 www.reynoldsll.com

8

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

Maintenance Services Wendy Hix • 913.481.5416 Tate Foster • 913.406.6804 www.hixandsonaquatics.com

Oso Easy Double Red® Rose: LUSH COLOR, LONG STEMS, ABUNDANT BLOOMS ALL SUMMER, DISEASE RESISTANT

2020

Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, quantity of blooms, stem strength, foliage, and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.

provenwinners-shrubs.com The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

9

Amazing Mason Bees Local birding expert, NIK HIREMATH talks about Mason bees and how easy it is to help pollinator bees.

M

competing with invasive species.

Even replacing a single invasive plant with a native one is a step in a positive direction. Plant one today.

If you’re willing to do a little more work, I’d encourage you to consider helping our pollinator bees. The first reaction from most is that they don’t want to, don’t know how or can’t become honey beekeepers. And, most people don’t like the idea of being stung either. Fear not, my proposal is far easier and more efficient; help our Mason bees.

If you haven’t heard of Mason bees, I’ll provide a short primer.

They are metallic blue, black or green in color and about the same size as a house fly. There are 140 species of Mason bees in North America. They don’t make honey.

They are solitary bees, so they

ost readers of this magazine are aware of the plight of our pollinator populations and the consequent impacts on our ecology. I hope this article uplifts your spirits and inspires you to act to reverse this trend. There are over 250,000 insects which are pollinators. These include flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths and bees.

You can’t help them all, but one thing which will help many of them is planting native plants. There is a codependence in our ecosystems and food webs and most of these food webs have plants at the root of them. Thus, the more we can plant and sustain native plants, the more we do to build and nurture a healthy ecosystem. Additionally, native species require less care and resources, and thrive well when not

Now booking for the 2020 season!

As the seasons change so does the ambiance of your water feature. Whether it is colorful blooms in the summer or breathtaking ice sculptures in the winter, with a FOUR seasons water feature you can enjoy paradise 365 days of the year!

After 25 years of being dedicated to transforming boring backyards into a one of a kind magical experience we have learned what makes a water garden paradise no matter the season. Let us create the backyard of your dreams this year!

We back our Water Garden installations with a 5 year leak free guarantee!

4385 W 247th St. Louisburg, KS Office Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-4pm Retail By Appointment Only

www.swanswatergardens.com

10

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

A single Mason bee can pollinate as many flowers as 100 Honeybees. don’t form hives. Because Mason bees are far more docile than honeybees, there’s very little risk of being stung. And even if you are stung, it’s no more painful than a mosquito bite. Mason bees have only one generation per year; new Mason bees emerge from their cocoons in early spring and adult bees die off at the end of the nesting season. Male Mason bees die within 2 days of mating. The female has a 4- to 8-week life span. The Mason bee season starts in mid-spring and is complete by early to mid-August.

It is the unique manor in which Mason bees lay their eggs and provide food for their young that gives them their name and makes them such wonderful pollinators.

Females lay eggs in naturally occurring tunnels or in tubes you can provide in a Mason bee house.

Once they’ve laid an egg, they’ll collect pollen and nectar and mix it with their own saliva to make a pea-sized pollen ball to feed each larva. After each brood cell of larva and pollen ball is formed, they seal that cell with mud – just like a Mason, and thus their name.

The larva hatch within one week of being laid and eat the pollen ball for nourishment. Soon after consuming the pollen ball, they will spin a cocoon to hibernate for the winter.

While the Honeybee is more widely known for its pollinating work, the Mason bee is more efficient. Honeybees carry pollen just

on their hind legs but Mason bees carry pollen on their entire bellies, thus making them far more efficient and effective pollinators.

In fact, a single Mason bee can pollinate as many flowers as 100 Honeybees. A single Mason bee will visit 1,600 to 2,400 blossoms in a day!

Now comes the easy part. A Mason bee house is easy to install; just 6 to 7 feet of the ground, facing south or east, and within 300 feet of pollen and nectar sources in your yard. Bee houses can be placed on the side of a shed, fence, post, garage or even on your house. The house should be protected from the rain, tilted down slightly and firmly affixed, so it doesn’t sway in the wind. Don’t place it near your bird feeders or bird houses as that makes it too easy for the birds to eat the bees or the just laid eggs.

Add an empty wet plant tray or wet patch of bare soil within 25 feet of the Mason bee house for the bees to use in sealing off the brood cells.

If you want, you can take the bee house into your garage late in the summer and keep in a dark place to minimize parasites or predators through the cold winter months. But even if you don’t bring it inside, rest assured, most of the bees will survive outdoors to emerge the next spring. After several consistent days with 50-degree temperatures in the spring, the bees will eat their way out of the tunnels or tubes and start the cycle again. Because Mason bees only travel 300 feet to collect pollen and nectar, and they remember the tube or tunnel in which they were born, they will continue to repopulate your yard from year to year.

If you’d like to learn more about these fascinating and vitally needed Mason bees, our store staff would love to help you!

Nik and Theresa Hiremath own and operate Wild Birds Unlimited of Leawood at 11711 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas. Contact them at 913-491-4887.

TREES WORK

health for your

Feeling tired?

Spending just 20 minutes outside can give your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.

Spending time in nature, conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.

Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.

Taking a nature walk may increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.

Exposure to nature contributes to physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Get healthy in nature this year. Visit mdc.mo.gov/places-go or download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you.

Download for

Android

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

11

Mole Mania Pest control professional, STEVE NIX teaches about these spring-time lawn pests including how to get rid of them.

A

s springtime approaches, lawns and gardens begin to show evidence of the peskiest of pests – the ground mole.

The Latin name given to the mole is misleading (scalopus aquaticus) because it was originally thought to be a water-based animal but that was later found not to be true. Moles till and form soil, feed on destructive insects and dig tunnels that aerate the soil and permit moisture to penetrate deeper soil layers. When moles disfigure a manicured lawn and damage the roots of garden plants while searching for food, they become undesirable. Take a deep dive into the lives of moles and what you can and can’t do to get rid of them.

What Does A Mole Look Like?

Most never actually see moles – just their handy work in the form

of molehills and raised tunnels throughout their lawn. The mole is about 6 inches long and weighs about 3 ounces. It has 36 teeth and lives for more than 3.5 years in the Midwest region. Its body is somewhat cylindrical-shaped with an elongated head. The eyelids are fused and sight is limited to simply distinguish between light and dark.

The ear opening is small and is concealed in the fur, but hearing is fairly acute. The species has exceptional odor detection and can identify the direction of its prey even in 15% oxygen levels.

Where Do Moles Live?

Moles are native to Canada, Europe, Mexico and the United States. The Eastern Mole, most common in our area, is a small sturdy animal that lives principally

MORE THAN

100,000 BULBS BLOOMING

Eastern Ground Mole underground and is highly specialized for a subterranean way of life.

Like other insectivore species, it prefers loamy soils in woods, pastures, meadows and manicured lawns.

How Do Moles Fit In The Food Chain?

Moles’ primary food source is earthworms, but they will also consume insects, larvae, and vegetation. In captivity, they will eat ground beef, dog food, mice and small birds. Dogs, cats, foxes, birds of prey and coyotes all hunt the mole. The species hosts a variety of parasites.

It’s a Mole Life Moles maintain a home range of about two acres throughout their lives and can dig at 17 feet per hour. Moles are solitary creatures, coming together only to mate.

Territories may overlap and males may fight fiercely if they meet. The

Eastern Mole digs both permanent burrows and shallow, temporary ones just under the surface, used for foraging. The regular, permanent highway is often built 25 centimeters or more below the surface and is used as a retreat during hot days, dry weather and when the frost has descended. When digging new burrows, dirt is excavated into molehills.

The nest is built approximately a foot below the surface and has several approaches, with one that enters from below. The gestation period is usually 45 days and a single litter of two to five young is produced between mid-April and June. They are born blind and naked and are relatively large compared to the mother. At 10 days old they exhibit a fine, velvety fur that is retained for several weeks. The offspring grow rapidly and leave the nest in four weeks.

EST.2007

ROYAL P ND EST.2007

SERVICES

ROYAL P ND

Spring Pond Cleaning Specials

CLASSIC STATUARY

SERVICES

Head outside to encounter buds, blossoms, and bulbs during our inaugural springtime festival celebrating the landscape newly abloom

12

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

• Pond Maintenance • Rebuilds • New Construction • Pond Cleaning • Competitive Prices • Fully Licensed

816-560-0816

RoyalPondServices.com RoyalPondServices@gmail.com

Fountains ; Planters Bird Baths ; Benches 14935 Metcalf • Overland Park, KS 913-897-4700 www.classicstatuarykc.com

What Doesn’t Get Rid of Moles Folk remedies, scare devices and repellents are plentiful and may include: Castor beans, which have a very low probability of being consumed because the jaw and teeth of moles are designed for invertebrates.

Flooding is ineffective due to moles’ excellent swimming ability and may cause a surge in worm and other invertebrates population.

Chewing gum has been used and is completely ineffective; even if the gum is pre-chewed, the species will not consume it or blow bubbles.

Gassing is another method that is common and is a waste of time and money because of the exceptional odor detection and will cause the moles to seal the tunnels and wait for the dissipation of the chemical.

Sonic repellers in theory will drive moles away through sound.

The devices initially scare the moles but they quickly adapt to the sound and remain unaffected.

So What CAN Get Rid of Moles?

An effective program for mole reduction starts with a detailed inspection of the property and is the

key to success. There are successful approaches to Mole control which may include traps. Two common traps are used with various levels of quality and effectiveness, which include scissor-type and harpoon types. The use of this mechanical control method needs to be applied by an experienced applicator for the best results. Numerous studies have indicated trapping alone is approximately 15% effective due to environmental aversion to these stations.

The application of baiting “worms” has proven to be successful in the reduction of mole populations and has been utilized for quick knockdown and long-term control. The material is placed in the environment and is consumed in a fatal dose by the moles. This method is best applied by a highlyexperienced applicator to achieve positive results.

Steve Nix is in his 21st year as a Pest Control Professional. He is the Pest Department Manager at Ryan Lawn and Tree. Steve has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri and is a certified Entomologist from Purdue University.

www.ECHO-USA.com

www.BEARCATPRODUCTS.com

ONE DAY SALE

15% OFF select units

STOP IN AND

SAVE BIG ON ALL YOUR OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT NEEDS

SATURDAY MARCH 28, 9a-4p

Make Your Neighbors

GREEN WITH ENVY

This Spring

For All Seasons Lawn Food Plus Crabgrass and Weed Preventer Apply in early spring or fall 2 to 3 weeks prior to seed germination to obtain control of grassy and broadleaf weeds. Coverage: 5,000 sq. ft.

Have a lawn and garden question for the Gard’n-Wise Guys? Go to Facebook and ask them your question.

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 Garden Center, Lee’s Summit v Heartland Nursery, Kansas City, MO v Planter’s Seed, Kansas City, MO v Penrod’s Greenhouse, Kearney v North Star Garden Center, Liberty v Grimm’s Gardens, Atchison v Moffet Nursery, St. Joe v Suburban Lawn & Garden, Kansas City, MO

OPEN HOUSE SPECIAL

20% OFF www.REDMAX.com

Northland Feed 4807 N BRIGHTON AVE, KCMO 64119

816-452-8393 The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

13

Pansies and Violas both bright and welcoming

Pansies and violas may look similar, but these varieties have several key differences, explains CHELSEA DIDDE RICE.

A

s we welcome spring with open arms and life returns to our previously dormant landscapes, consider adding some instant color to your flower beds or containers with pansies or violas. These sweet, small plants bring a fresh look with their cheerful, bright faces that come in almost any color under the sun.

Some may ask, “What’s the difference between a pansy and a viola?”

Well, all pansies are violas but not all violas are pansies. Both are members of the Violaceae family.

The two varieties are sometimes used interchangeably, and share a common origin, but there are a few differences to consider that will determine which one is best for certain situations.

Temperature Tolerance Both pansies and violas prefer cool temperatures and often look weary when hot, humid weather arrives. The ideal time to enjoy both of these varieties is from early March through the end of May, and from early September through the first snowfall or hard frost. While violas are lauded as being hardier than pansies when it comes to temperatures far below freezing, there have been many winters where I’ve planted them in the fall and had both survive to resume blooming in the spring.

Light Pansies and violas flourish in part to full sun, so long as the temperatures stay cool. However, violas can handle a bit more shade than pansies because, in nature, 14

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

and these varieties certainly don’t disappoint: Matrix, Solar Flare, Frizzle Sizzle, Colossus, Heat Elite, Cool Wave and Delta. For a dainty yet bright pop of color, consider these viola favorites: Penny Citrus Mix, Sorbet Series and Rocky Series.

Pansy Cool Wave Mix they tend to flourish at the foot of trees or interspersed between rocks on hillsides or in meadows. If they’re not getting enough light, you may notice decreased blooming and tall, leggy plants that “stretch” for sunshine. Both will thrive in containers and landscapes.

Size Both the blooms and the entire pansy plants are larger than violas.

Pansy blooms are typically two to three inches in diameter and the plants stand about six to 12 inches tall. So if you’re filling a large container or looking for big impact,

pansies may be your best choice.

Violas, on the other hand, typically produce blooms that are about the size of a penny and the plants only grow about three to eight inches tall. The bonus with violas is that since the blooms are smaller, the plant produces a larger number of them. When selecting plants at your local garden center, look for plants that are stocky and healthy with dark green foliage. The ideal plant is one with just a few blooms open but many buds showing.

Popular Varieties Pansies offer a slightly wider range of color options than violas,

Interesting Facts If the flower has two petals pointing upward and three petals pointing downward – you’re looking at a viola. If the flower has four petals pointing upward and only one pointing downward – it’s a pansy.

Both the leaves and flowers of pansies and violas are edible (for humans) and are high in vitamins A and C. Upscale restaurants often use the flowers to garnish crisp spring salads, and at-home bakers will dress cakes, tarts and delicate pastries with these bright blooms.

The word “pansy” comes from the French word pensée which means “thought.”

Pansies were bred from the small viola wildflower by an English gardener in the early 1800s.

Now that you know more about these two cool weather flowers, head out to your local garden center and pick up some pansies and violas to welcome spring!

When Chelsea Didde Rice isn’t at work as a senior communications specialist, she is an avid gardener who enjoys teaching people how easy it can be to garden. You may contact her with questions by email to chelseadidde@gmail.com.

Violet Sorbet Midnight Glow

Pansy Heat Elite Orange Blotch

Pansy Colossus

Pansy Cool Wave

Viola Sorbet Morpho

Above: Pansy Delta Premium Persian Medley; Below: Viola Penny Citrus Mix Above left and right: Viola Rocky Series; Below: Pansy Frizzle Sizzle Mix

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

15

Peculiar Native Plants Native plant guru, SCOTT WOODBURY reveals interesting discoveries about a handful of peculiar native plants.

Photos by Scott Woodbury.

O

n a recent late winter hike, I noticed a large egg lodged in a branch in a valley that feeds the Meramec River. Because the river had flooded into the valley, I realized that what I thought was an egg was more like a bobber that had floated down the river. But it wasn’t a bobber either. It was a wild gourd (Cucurbita pepo var. ozarkana), which had come from somewhere upriver. In fall I find these gourds on the Huzzah river in Crawford County, which is 80 miles away by highway. How far would this gourd have traveled if I hadn’t picked it up? Theoretically it could have floated to the Gulf of Mexico or get lodged in a tree in any valley along the 800-mile waterway. This is a good example of long distance dispersal. I recently read that native Americans com-

blue-eyed Mary

Nelumbo lutea

wild gourds

monly used wild gourds as fishnet floats as early as 5,000 to 7,000 years ago.

About 17 years ago I planted a white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), in

the Whitmire Wildflower Garden.

It grew for several years, bloomed and then disappeared, so I thought it died. Seven years ago though, it shot up and bloomed within three months in the exact same location.

That year also happened to be a great year for white wild indigo in the adjacent tallgrass prairie planting.

About one hundred came up and bloomed, where only a few dozen had bloomed in previous years. The plant in the garden had been alive, but dormant in the

ground for five years. It has since disappeared again. Some native orchids and groundnut (Apios spp.) are known to go dormant for multiple years.

Most native seeds have a dormancy mechanism, preventing them from sprouting before winter. After all, if seeds sprouted at the onset of winter, they would likely freeze to death. But blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna), doesn’t.

It is called a winter annual and germinates in November. It slowly

A Gardener’s Destination Welcome early spring with pansies and violas, snapdragons, cool season vegetables, seed potatoes, onion plants and sets, asparagus crowns, and strawberry plants. v Over 200 varieties of bulk seed, packaged seed from Renee’s Garden, Botanical Interest and many new varieties v Beautiful spring flowering trees and shrubs v Wind Chimes, pottery, urns, statuary, lanterns, wrought iron décor v Fertilome fertilizers, soils, and seed starting supplies

Water Features • Retaining Walls Design • Install • Maintain www.bsadesigns.com Brandon Henderson 16

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

913.302.0138

112 E. Green St. • Clinton, MO 64735 660-885-3441 • Mon.-Fri. 8-6, Sat. 8-4

grows all winter, and then blooms in April. Its purple-spotted green leaves have a sugary substance that prevents them from freezing— natures anti-freeze. Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) and Miami mist (Phacelia purshii) are also winter annuals.

Every year in late summer I notice the seed heads of glade coneflower (Echinacea simulata) disappear: there one day, gone the next.

Taking a closer look, I noticed the seed heads laying on the ground below the flower stalk and shredded to pieces. Mice were possibly climbing the stems and cutting off the heads. It was then that I remembered years before seeing mouse tracks in the snow leading between seed stalks of Missouri black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia missouriensis), on the very same glade. Laying scattered on the snow below the stalks were the obvious “crumbs” left from a seed head that had been removed and chewed apart. Mice were climbing the stems to get to the seed heads above for food. On the night before Christmas, creatures were stirring, not in a house, but on a glade.

There are two plants in the citrus family that grow wild in Missouri, wafer ash (Ptelea trifoliata), and prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum). Neither are true ashes, but both are the larval food source for giant swallowtail butterfly—the largest butterfly in the state. The peculiar thing is that in Missouri, they lay their eggs only on these two types of plants, and their caterpillars look like fresh bird poop, which has to be nature’s best camouflage. Tiger swallowtail, viceroy, and red-spotted purple butterflies also have caterpillars that resemble bird droppings.

Are you old enough to remember Mexican jumping beans? I was fascinated by them when I was a kid, and perhaps that’s one reason why I’m a horticulturist today.

That, and I grew snapdragons in my basement when I was ten. If every child grew American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), from seed, there probably would not be any nurses, carpenters, or computer workers.

The world would be full of gardeners instead. Nor would there be chia pets; we would have lotus pets instead. That’s how fun it is. In April, take a few lotus seeds, snip the ends off with a pair of sturdy scissors and throw them in a jar of water. Step back and see what

happens. In three days they sprout, in six days they grow a long tail (a leaf stem), and at 10 days they grow a white beard (roots). Voila, green-bearded snakes! Replace the water every three days. Plant them in a large tub or half whisky barrel (that holds water) with soil at the bottom and a layer of pea gravel on top, then watch them grow fast

into flowering plants that flower and fruit in the same season. If you are looking for a few seeds, there is a lotus pond at the Whitmire Wildflower Garden where you are welcome to take a few.

Happy Gardening Y’all!

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmore

Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 28 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program. Find suppliers of native— peculiar and otherwise—at www. grownative.org, Resource Guide.

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

17

Edible Flowers with a Kick Local horticulture expert, TRACY FLOWERS identifies edible flowers that are easy to grow for any gardener.

S

ummer is so close you can taste it. Literally! This is the perfect time to head out to your favorite nursery to peruse the seed asile and prepare for your edible summer garden. Most edible flowers lack flavor and are just a pretty garnish. If you really want to liven things up try some varieties that pack a zestier punch in the kitchen. Let’s take a look at a few edible flowers that are easy to grow in the Kansas City area.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) Growing nasturtium can be like living in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Poke these large wrinkly seeds into the soil, and a few days later, ethereal leaves spring from the ground.

Their ultra bright, neon flowers and unique round leaves have a strong and spicy flavor. A little bit of nas-

Nasturtium turtium goes a long way in spring salads as many people say they taste like a radish.

Marigold (Tagetes spp) Yes, marigolds are edible.

Dried, and crushed their petals can

One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense.

Safe Digging Is No Accident: “Always Call Before You Dig in Kansas” Call 811, 1-800-DIG-SAFE, (800-344-7233) or visit us at www.kansas811.com.

18

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

Marigold be used as a saffron substitute. For the more adventurous, fresh petals add a citrus flavor to soups or seafood. French varieties are known to be mild, where other types have a more pungent marigold-scented punch. Only enjoy a sprinkle as large quantities will cause some stomach upset. But I doubt anyone is going to eat a pound of marigolds.

Kale Flowers (Brassica oleracea) Kale is already popular in the vegetable garden. Allow this coolseason veggie to grow into the hot, early summer and a glorious bolt of golden-yellow flowers will shoot from the middle of your plant. Kept in part shade during the hottest months, kale will continue to produce abundant amounts of flowers that have a flavor somewhere between a rose and a stalk of broccoli. They work well in a healthy salad or as a sandwich topper. The bees will thank you too when these flowers start producing pollen in that time between the spring and summer season.

Garlic Chive Flowers (Allium tuberosum) Most gardeners include garlic chives in their plantings as an organic way to attract beneficial insects. They are also easily grown from seed, or from your neighbor’s seed leaping into your yard. You can pull and enjoy garlic chives at all stages of flowering to keep them from taking over. Younger fresh white florets are best sprin-

Dianthus kled sparingly as a fragrant garnish over pasta or roasted vegetables.

Another method is to harvest them at the pre-seed stage where the flowers are just starting to fade and fresh green seed pods are just barely emerged. These get chopped, then the petals and pods can be used in pesto, curries and sauces.

Dianthus (Dianthus spp) Dianthus is a classically used in the cool season garden. Their peppery-scent can also be used as a culinary herb. Aside from being a colorful salad addition, the delicate petals of dianthus flowers can be sprinkled over cinnamon toast to add an extra flavor of nutmeg and clove.

There is a special magic to popping out your back door, slippers on feet and scissors in hand, to quickly snip a few things from the garden.

Using edible flowers is another way a gardener can use plants to make every day a special one. *Gardeners grow their knowledge along with their garden, so always be sure of what you are eating and ask an expert if you have any questions about edible flowers.

Tracy Flowers runs a horticultural consultancy business in Kansas City. Her current garden passions are native plants, edible flowers and Japanese gardening. Any questions about this article can be answered at kctracyflowers@ gmail.com.

Sustainability focus of Garden Show in Lawrence Sat., March 28

Safe Digging

S

1

Call or Click 3 Working Days Before You Dig.

2

Wait the Required Amount of Time.

3

Confirm Utility Response.

4

Respect the Marks.

5

Dig with Care.

ince we all realize the importance of our lands remaining diverse and productive over time, the 2020 Garden Show presented by the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners will focus on sustainability. The 2020 Visions for Sustainable Gardening event will be on Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be held in two buildings on the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 2110 Harper Street, in Lawrence, Kansas. The Garden Show includes expert speakers, educational booths, a bird house and feeder building workshop, a garage sale filled with garden related items, outdoor craft items, vendors, food trucks, a theme garden and raffle items. If you love all things botanical and meeting fellow gardeners, this is the event for you!

Educational presentations will be given by Tom Buller, the Douglas County Extension Agent, and Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners. Six presentations will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue every hour. Topics include vegetable gardening, gardening for pollinators, composting and mulching, garden design, daylilies, and bees and beekeeping. Extension Master Gardeners should check with their County Extension Agent for course eligibility for advanced education credits.

Educational booths will provide information on topics such as: the edible garden; family gardening; good and bad bugs; pollinator gardens; soil, compost and mulch and tool sharpening. There will also be one booth to help sustain you: Yoga for gardeners. Both the educational booths and the educational speakers will be using QR codes to provide additional information.

Instructions on how to access materials using the QR codes, which is as easy as pointing your cell phone camera at them, will be available at the Welcome table and throughout the event.

If you are looking for garden art or useful and decorative garden items, our garage sale, crafts, and raffle area will have great choices for you. The garage sale offers a wide variety of garden related items. If you pick up an old shovel or tool at the garage sale that needs to be sharpened, we will have a booth that will do that for you.

We will have some amazing raffle items including a large water garden pot and a KU basketball signed by the team. Our crafty Master Gardeners have also created some wonderful items that would add pizzazz to your garden.

Vendors include several Lawrence based businesses: local members of the Mid-America Begonia Club; the Jungle House (house plants and creative pots); the BodyTruth Bar (botanical soaps made using sustainable processes), bodytruthbar.com; and Indapot, indapot.com. Indapots are unbreakable silicone pots that are rigid but pliable, colorfast, made without harmful chemicals, can withstand all temperatures, and are long-lasting and recyclable. They really fit the sustainability theme. Every gardener is going to want these pots!

With all this activity going on you are probably going to get hungry. Two different food trucks will be onsite to curb your hunger. The Torched Goodness truck will be serving breakfast items and crème brulee in the morning. The crème brulees will sell out quickly, so if you want one, get there early! JB Tacos will serve lunch. They have wonderful tacos to meet all tastes, including vegetarians and vegans.

We hope you agree that this is an event you don’t want to miss!

Please mark your calendar now for Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 to 3:00. For updates and additional details, check the Douglas County Master Gardeners website at dgemgks.com, or our Facebook page at facebook.com/douglascountymastergardeners.

starts with

YOU

mo1call.com

1-800-DIG-RITE or 811 The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

19

Conversion to a Butterfly Garden Butterfly maven, LENORA LARSON, describes how to convert your current yard into a butterfly garden.

• Maintain some areas of full sun with nectar-rich flowers from March to November • Insert Cat Foods (caterpillar host plants) among your other plantings Not just Pretty Flowers You already have flowers, but are they the right ones? You’ll never see butterflies or bees on your Knockout Roses. Many such hybrids are sterile and as useless as plastic flowers. Use open-pollinated perennials, native plants and oldfashioned self-sowing annuals for nectar from March to November.

Assuming that you already have masses of nectar-rich flowers, adding more flowers will not increase the number of individuals or species of butterflies. Butterfly gardeners know that the secret to suc-

Photos by Lenora Larson.

W

hat is a butterfly garden?

The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) describes it this way, “A butterfly garden provides the resources to sustain resident breeding populations of native butterflies.”

We mature gardeners have mature gardens with plants crammed into every inch. There’s no room for more. But once you’ve fallen in love with butterflies, you are urged to establish a butterfly garden. Do you have the space and time for another garden? I don’t. However, this is not a problem because you needn’t build a new separate space. Instead, you can convert your entire yard into a butterfly garden with a few simple steps: • Avoid insecticides • Leave the leaves and other debris in fall

You’ll never see this shimmering Pipevine Swallowtail unless you or a near neighbor has a Pipevine (Aristolochia) in their yard. cess is feeding the children, the caterpillars. The short-lived adult butterflies do not eat; they don’t even have mouths! Caterpillars do all the eating and each species dines only on specific plants. You choose which butterflies grace your garden by which caterpillar food plants you insert among your ornamentals.

Matching Host Plants to Butterflies How do you know which plant hosts which butterfly? A Photographic Field Guide to the

Butterflies in the Kansas City Area, authored by Betsy Betros, provides information about butterflies and host plants in the area. The internet also abounds with information.

Just enter the name of the butterfly plus “caterpillar” into the search box. Then Google the listed host plants to decide which one will prosper in your garden. Extension Master Gardeners recite the mantra: “right place, right plant”. This explains why a small space designated as “the butterfly garden” usually doesn’t work very well.

Planters Seed Co. • Since 1924 •

Retail • Wholesale Lawn • Garden • Farm 513 Walnut, KCMO • 816-842-3651

20% OFF All Bird Houses

*

Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-5pm, Sun 9am-3pm

*Valid in-store only at the Leawood, KS Wild Birds Unlimited location.

Not valid on previous purchases or with any other discounts. Valid March 6 -16, 2020.

Potatoes, Onions, Herbs and Vegetable Plants arriving daily!

Flowers & Vegetable Seed of Leawood, KS

Locally Owned and Proudly serving Kansas City for 31 years 11711 Roe Avenue (NE corner 119th and Roe) • 913-491-4887 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun noon-4pm www.wbu.com/kansascity

Join us at www.facebook.com/wbuleawoodks

BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • GARDEN ACCENTS

20

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

~ Largest Selection in the Area ~ Grass Seeds of All Types • Fertilizers Mulches • Bulbs • Bird Supplies • Pottery Best Quality of “Locally Grown” Bird Seed!

10% OFF

entire purchase Must present this ad at time of purchase for 10% off entire purchase of retail priced products at Planters Seed Co. Coupon applies to regular retail priced items. Cannot be combined with any other discounts. No ad reproductions, duplications, or electronic coupons accepted. One per customer. One-time use only.

Expires 3/31/2020.

March Planting Dates Plant Above-Ground Crops: 1, 5, 6, 27, 28 • Transplant: 5, 6 Plant Root Crops: 11-14 • Plant Flowers: 1, 27, 28 • Control Pests: 16, 19-21

1/4 pg ad for March and April issues of KC Gardener magazine

Paola Plant Sale 9 am to 5 pm

Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Some cat food plants may like the place you’ve chosen, but many will perish in a spot that was too sunny, too shady, too wet or too dry.

For instance, you have a shaded, moist area in your backyard. A Milkweed or Rue would quickly die, but a Hop Tree for the Tiger and Giant Swallowtails, would thrive. Or plant a patch of Violets, cat food for several species of Fritillaries. Perhaps you have a sunny garden with Rudbeckia and Coreopsis. To host Sulphur butterflies, you could insert yellow-flowered members of the pea family like the garden-worthy natives, Wild Senna and Partridge Pea. Your herb garden probably already has cat foods for the Black Swallowtail, i.e., Parsley, Dill and Fennel.

depend on their unique plant host.

The chrysalids need an undisturbed area to attach themselves during metamorphosis and adults need nectar. They also require shelter during inclement weather and winter so leave areas with standing stems and leafy debris year-round.

Do NOT clean up your garden in the fall because you risk killing next year’s butterflies that are sleeping among the fallen leaves or on twigs and bark. If you wish to become a certified butterfly garden and display an attractive sign, visit the North American Butterfly Association’s website www.naba. org for the guidelines and forms.

The butterflies and other pollinators will thank you as they gratefully make their homes in your garden.

A Garden for All Seasons Butterflies live their lives in four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult. You can attract the largest number and variety of butterflies by providing the requirements for all four stages of each species’ life cycle. The egg and caterpillar

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.

Pollinator Plants • Butterfly Host Plants Native Plants • Annuals • Perennials • Tropicals Edible Woody Perennials • Succulents • Veggies Hanging Baskets • Combination Planters 808 Baptiste Drive, Paola, KS 66071

Take the Baptiste Drive exit off Hwy. 169 and turn west. The sale is in the Family Center parking lot.

Sponsored by Master Gardener Research and Extension

Your number 1 resource for all pond needs, from set-up to service!

• Call us for a free consultation

• • • • •

REVIVE YOUR GARDEN www.greenleafkc.com

816.916.5171

dreaming of warm weather and lots of blooms...

• Spring cleanings and Fall closings • Monthly cleaning services • Specializing in pond reconditioning

GET READY FOR SPRING!

Marais des Cygnes District

• Pump, filter and liner repair

Dental Care with a Garden View New Patient Special

$100 OFF

Update, clean, rearrange On-going bed maintenance New & existing gardens Landscape design/install Professional ser vice

Exam 4 Bite Wing X-rays Regular Cleaning ($210 value for $110) Must present this coupon.

Servicing Kansas City area ponds and water features since 1973

Mission, Kansas 66202 913.722.3000 • pond-guys.com

A division of Custom Aquariums by Design, Inc.

$

Many plants play double duty. This Common Milkweed is a host plant for Monarch caterpillars and a nectar source for these Great Spangled Fritillaries, whose caterpillars eat only violets.

April 30, May 1 & 2

TLC Dental Care Dr. Karen Rethmeyer

816-333-3337 408 E. Bannister Rd., KCMO 64131 www.TLC.dental

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

21

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see Club Meetings African Violet Club of Greater Kansas City Tues, Mar 10, 6pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Membership. Visitors welcome.

Finch love sunflower and nyjer!

LARGEST SELECTION

of wild bird supplies in the KC area, including bird seed, feeders, houses and hardware.

Family-owned & operated since 1990.

6979 WEST 75TH STREET

4480 SOUTH NOLAND RD

OVERLAND PARK, KS

INDEPENDENCE, MO

913•341•0700

816•924•4924

HOURS:

HOURS:

M-F 10A-6P | SAT 10A-5P | SUN 12P-5P

M-F 10A-6P | SAT 10A-5P | SUN 12P-4P

WildBirdHouseStore.com

Find us on Facebook!

Use Our Natural Products All Year For Containers, Gardens, Turf, Shrubs, Trees and Ponds.

Join Judy Penner, Director/Rosarian of Loose Park & Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in the garden center on Saturday, March 21st from 10 - Noon for “On Your Mark for a Rosy Spring”. Judy will discuss the best rose varieties for our area and demonstrate how to prepare the soil, dig the hole and plant a rose bush for best results.

EARTH RIGHT SUPER STUFF is the perfect product to apply in spring, especially before a rain. Prepare the soil now for a better lawn and great gardens.

Planting with THE MUSHROOM STUFF will quick start your spring gardens, shrubs & trees. Use in containers too!

Our SURE BLOOM NATURAL & SURE BLOOM 6-7-6 contain vitamins, trace minerals, enzymes & organic acids not found in commercial fertilizers. Experience great results in containers & gardens, around trees & shrubs & on the lawn.

NATURAL PRODUCTS THAT KEEP YOUR GARDENS, LAWNS & PONDS HAPPY & HEALTHY

For information on all Earth Right products call us at 913-492-2992 If you want to have our products applied contact Tobin Lawn & Landscape at 816-765-5565 or Big Green Turf Management at 816-600-4936.

22

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

Bonsai Society of GKC Sat, Mar 28, 9am-12:30pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Workshop. Info and Master Classes, bsgkc.org.

Garden Club of Shawnee Wed, Mar 4, 7pm; at the Town Hall at Shawnee Town 1929, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. *Please note the date change* Our program will be “Compost Is the Answer-What What Was the Question?” presented by Stan Slaughter, Education and Garden Specialist, Missouri Organic Recycling. Guests are welcome. Snacks will be provided and door prizes awarded. Please visit gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page for information about our club.

Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Sun, Mar 15, 1pm; at the Fern Room, Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. We will have information on getting tubers out of storage. We will be planning our tuber sale. Everyone is welcome! You can find the Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/GreaterKansas-City-Dahlia-Society/174531619237937 Greater Kansas City Gardeners of America Mon, Apr 6, Social and refreshments at 6pm, Program 6:30pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd & Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Presentation: Gardening in Containers. Container Gardens are for Different Situations. Few of us have the perfect yard, but some challenges do have solutions. If you desire an eye-candy flowering pot, or have no yard, little sun, challenging squirrels, questionable soil, limited mobility, want a plant not hardy to our winters, or just want ONE tomato plant on your deck, this talk is for you! Our speaker will be Nancy Chapman, with the Johnson County Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs. Guests welcome, no charge to attend. Questions contact: jolybe@outlook.com Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group Wed, Mar 11, noon-2:30pm, at Rose Room, Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Presentation: Food and Herbs as Medicine. The lesson material will be about the importance of water and rest; the need to learn about using foods, herbs, berries and backyard weeds. The herbs and weeds are those that can be grown in Zone 5. Foods to eat and foods to avoid. Backyard Buddies (weeds) will include: henbit, cayenne, garlic, lamb’s quarters, and wild violets. There will also be a presentation on three herbs used for healing. In addition a smoothie made from plants and fruits will be presented and samples will be shared. Tinctures will also be presented with a demo on how to make them. Facebook: Check us out at Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group. Friends and visitors are always welcome. Questions: Call Lynn at 816-308-5450.

Heart of America Gesneriad Sat, Mar 21, 10am-noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Membership.

Heartland Hosta & Shade Plant Society Sat, Mar 21, 9:30am Check-In and Hospitality, Meeting at 10am; at our NEW LOCATION Lakewood Way Community Church, 1150 NE Woods Chapel Road, Lee’s Summit, MO. This is one block east of I-470 and Woods Chapel Road.

Danny Lawson will present “My Favorite Hostas

for the Midwest”. Danny, a lifelong Kansan and gardener, was introduced to hosta 20 years ago by his sister, a Sedgwick County Master Gardener. After that his love for hosta took off quickly. Danny is President and Newsletter Editor of the Wichita Hosta Society. He is also the Editor of the annual Online Hosta Journal and the bimonthly AHS eNewsletter for the American Hosta Society. A hosta convention regular, Danny enjoys traveling the country and touring gardens in all growing zones. Come and enjoy his entertaining presentation, you will laugh and learn! A potluck luncheon will follow the program with meat and drinks provided by the society, bring your favorite dish to share. We hope you’ll join us for great information, food, door prizes and raffles! Visitors are welcome!

For more information about this meeting and upcoming events, please visit www.heartlandhosta.club, our Facebook page www.facebook. com/HeartlandHostaAndShadePlantSociety/, or email Charlene Wendel, President, at wendycharlie@yahoo.com.

Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Sun, Mar 15, 1:30-4pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Visitors are welcome! For information on the Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society, call 816-444-9321, visit kccactus.com.

Kansas City Garden Club Mon, Mar 2, 10:30-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Membership.

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Wed, Mar 11, 11am; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Loretta Craig, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will present, “Soil Health Equals Human Health”. Loretta will give a presentation on how human digestion and plant digestion depend on nurturing the symbiotic relationship between humans and microbes. Meeting is free, open to the public. For more information, contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

Lee’s Summit Garden Club Sun, Mar 15, 2pm; at Lee’s Summit Social Service, 108 SE 4th St, Lee’s Summit, MO. Topic: Gardening with Children. A hands-on workshop, showing children how to plant seeds and plants. Parents and grandparents are invited to our information table for an assortment of gardening tips. A great family project. Everyone is welcomed to our Sunday gardening workshop.

Refreshments are always served.

Mid America Begonia Society Sat, Mar 21, 1-3pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Membership.

Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City Sun, Mar 15, Beginner’s group and Growers’ Roundtable 1:30-2:15pm, Speaker 3pm; at Lenexa Senior Center, 13425 Walnut St, Lenexa, KS 66215. Doug and Beth Martin present “Native Orchids of Southern France.” Open to the public. www.osgkc.org or on Facebook.

Overland Park Gardeners of America Mon, Mar 9, Social time 7pm, meeting begins at 7:30pm; at Colonial Church, 71st and Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Program will be New Plants and where to plant them presented by Andrew Fox. Andrew is the new owner of Arnold’s Greenhouse near Emporia. Visitors are always welcome. For more information please call Karen 785-224-7279.

Raytown Garden Club Tues, Mar 3, 10am; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO. Our Club theme this year is “Grow Strong Roots;

Grow Our Communityâ€?. We will have a brief presentation at the beginning of the meeting entitled “Garden Hints: Easy to Grow Annualsâ€? by member Jennifer Barnes. In place of a program, we will be celebrating 70 YEARS of being The Raytown Garden Club, as well as our 70th anniversary of joining the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri‌we joined on March 7, 1950! We will enjoy a specially-decorated meeting room for this month, party punch, a custom decorated cake, dainty sandwiches, mints, nuts, and other finger foods. The Historian’s Scrapbooks and Yearbooks (some dating back several decades) will be available to peruse, and several of the longest-serving members will share some of their favorite memories of the club from as far back as 1990. We will also hold our annual Silent Auction. In keeping with our commitment to make our world a little better, we are switching from paper and Styrofoam cups to asking members and visitors to bring their own coffee cups or insulated hot/cold cups. We hope to help in a small way to eliminate some of our disposable waste that must be taken to a landfill. Please come meet our group, we would love to get to know you! Refreshments served, visitors are welcome! Check out our Facebook page at Raytown Garden Club or visit https://sites.google.com/site/ fgcmwestcentral/clubs/raytown.

Santa Fe Trail Garden Club Wed, Apr 8, 10am-noon; at the JOCO Library-Oak Park Branch, Meeting Room, 9500 Bluejacket Dr, Overland Park, KS 66214. Business Meeting follows by a program at 11am on “Champion Trees of the Overland Park Arboretum� by Jim Ernest. Get the skinny on these giants including cottonwoods, sycamores, oaks and hickories and where to find them at the Arboretum. Visitors welcome.

Sho Me African Violets Fri, Mar 13, 11am-1pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64112. Visitors welcome. 816-513-8590 Water Garden Society of GKC Tues, Mar 17, doors open at 5:30pm for snacks, socializing, meeting begins at 6:30pm; at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 2552 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day we will be going green with two guest speakers. Stan Slaughter from Missouri Organic will present first at 6:30pm. It’s been said he brings science and music together in ways that enthrall, educate and inspire his audiences. One of his topics will be the benefits of compost and how it relates to the cycle of life. Also, we are all hopeful that Spring will be just around the corner, so, Deb Spencer of Water’s Edge in Lawrence will share some tips and reminders of best practices when opening up our ponds. Parking is free and just outside the lower level doors in back. All meetings are open to the public.

Events, Plant Sales, Classes March Lower Maintenance Design and Plant Selection for Native Gardens Tues, Mar 3, 6:30-8pm; at Anita B Gorman Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110. Registration required; visit https://www. deeprootskc.org/2020series to reserve your tickets (adults). Easy-maintenance native gardens are attainable when small (under 150 square feet) and planted with the right tried-and-true native plants.

As gardens increase in size and complexity, more consideration should be given to design, plant choice and maintenance needs. This presentation will show you how to design for lower maintenance and maintain a select set of top-performing native plants. Join Scott Woodbury, manager of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, for an evening that will help you make smart plant choices that will pay off for years to come. Presented in partnership with Deep Roots.

Advance tickets are required. 816-759-7300 Perennials That Pack A Punch Thurs, Mar 5, 11:30am-1pm; at Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1216 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Erin Busenhart, Family

Tree Nursery. Sponsored by Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Registration not required. Fee: $5.00 (waived for currently certified EMGs). For information, call 913-299-9300.

Kansas City Garden Symposium Mar 6-7, 2020; in Arupe Hall at Rockhurst University. Composed of three events spanning two days. A Friday workshop and Banquet with a full day Saturday Symposium. Attend any of the events or attend all three for maximum learning and fun. Symposium: A full day of programs by four acclaimed garden presenters including lunch, Price $129. Banquet: An evening of dinner at Lidia’s Kansas City including a program by presenter Brie Arthur entitled Fragrance in the Air; Price $99. Workshop: Implement the Design.

A garden design for the gardener workshop. Price $69. For details, including purchase tickets, go to gardensymposium.org Build a Bluebird House Sat, Mar 7, 10:30-11:30am or 12:30-1:30pm; at Anita B Gorman Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110. Registration required (ages 10+). Bluebirds are year-round residents in Missouri. They usually begin nesting the first half of March. Perfect timing for this project!

Would you like to help increase the local bluebird population while having many hours of enjoyment watching our beautiful state bird? Register for one of these sessions and you will build a bluebird house of your own! 816-759-7300; For more information email discoverycenter@mdc. mo.gov; www.mdc.mo.gov/discoverycenter How to Start a Vegetable Garden and What to Plant Tues, Mar 10, 7-8:30pm; at Johnson County Extension Office, 11811 S Sunset Dr, Olathe, KS 66061. Presented by Jennifer Stefanchik, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener.

Have an interest in growing your own vegetables? Have a vegetable garden and want some ideas to grow something new? Have a vegetable gardening question? Or just want to learn more about cultivating a prolific home garden no matter the size? Join this discussion to get started, what vegetables and fruits work best, and tips for growing healthy plants. Cost: $10 per person.

Register at: johnson.ksu.edu or 913-715-7000.

Space is limited.

Raising Vegetables in Large Containers Wed, Mar 11, 1pm at Mound City Library, and Tues, Mar 17, 6:30pm at LaCygne Library.

Need a way to maximize your yields while making gardening easier on your body? Marais des Cygnes EMG Mike Brown will share his real-world experience using 20-plus gallon pots to grow very lush, productive produce. Growing in large containers produces many unexpected benefits, even for flowers, and was especially advantageous during the unusually wet weather of last season. Mike will emphasize the effects of colored containers and their sun orientation in maximizing plant growth.

Vegetable Gardening 101 Wed, Mar 11, 7pm; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007.

Melony Lutz, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, and her husband Bob Lutz, an avid gardener, will give a presentation on vegetable gardening. They will share their tips and tricks on how to grow a productive garden. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

19th Annual Spring Gardening Seminar Sat, Mar 14, 8am-3pm; at Rockhurst University, Arupe Hall. If you’re a novice or avid gardener, our seminar has something for you. The all day event offers practical advice and new ideas to inspire you. The morning starts with Dave Tylka discussing Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People. The day continues as speakers familiar with the Midwest present a variety of topics.

Bring your friends and spend a day exploring new ideas that will inspire any gardener. Counts as 6 hours continuing education. Open to the public. Presented by Master Gardeners of GKC. For more information go to www.mggkc.org/ spring-seminar.

(continued on page 24)

Spring is here!

Ask your landscape contractor to spread STA-Certified Compost for your next project. Or visit us LOGO - COLOR for STA-Certified Compost, Mulch Products and Soil Blends!

KC

Belton, MO 2008 E 171st St 816-761-3046 lawncorps.com

Lee’s Summit, MO 2101 SE Hamblen Rd 816-231-0753 kccompost.com KC

COLOR PALETTE 278U

448U

363U

Bringing glorious living color to your garden since 1977.

Spring Planting Days March 9-14 10% OFF all Cool Season Annuals and Cole Crops

Open 9am-5pm Mon-Sat beginning March 2 Review our plant list and dream about spring!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

#NeedMoreFlowers

www.arnoldsgreenhouse.com info@arnoldsgreenhouse.com (620) 964-2463 • 1430 Hwy 58, LeRoy, KS 66857 The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

23

Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale in Paola Choose eco-friendly plants and garden sustainability

A

s the trend continues toward gardening for wildlife and eco-sustainability, the annual plant sale in Paola will feature native plants, butterfly host plants and pollinator plants in addition to the everpopular annuals and perennials.

The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 30, May 1 and May 2 in the Family Center parking lot, 808 Baptiste Drive, in Paola. The timing is perfect for home gardeners who are eager to get outside and begin working in their 2020 gardens.

Our suppliers—all local growers—assure us their plants have been grown without harmful chemicals, including Neonicotinoids.

So Much to Choose From “We always offer many interesting and hard-to-find plants,” says plant sale chair Sondra Dela Cruz. “We will have ten different varieties of Milkweed this year for those who love butterflies and other beneficial insects.”

Shoppers will also find colorful annuals for containers and bedding; edible woody perennials; tropicals and succulents; herbs and vegetable transplants for unbeatable homegrown taste; and gorgeous hanging baskets and planters for instant beauty and Mother’s Day gifts.

24

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see (continued from page 23) Native Plants Sale Sat, Mar 14, 1-4pm; at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Enhance your landscapes with native plants. Green Thumb Gardens and Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be on site with native plants for sale while supplies last.

816-228-3766; www.mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods Vegetable Gardening 101 Thurs, Mar 19, 7pm; Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Melony Lutz, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, and her husband Bob Lutz, an avid gardener, will give a presentation on vegetable gardening. They will share their tips and tricks on how to grow a productive garden. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

Monarch caterpillar and Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillar sharing a Common Milkweed (A. syriaca).

Butterfly expert Lenora Larson will be on hand during the sale to answer questions and guide shoppers toward the best selections. Shoppers can be confident their purchases are right for Midwest clay soil and unpredictable weather conditions.

Mark your calendar now, and save the last day of April and May 1-2 for the Paola Plant Sale.

For more information contact the MdC Extension Office at 913294-4306. Visit the website at www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg.

Beware of Plants that Poison Pollinators!

The nectar and pollen of plants containing systemic insecticides (Neonicotinoids) will poison your bees and butterflies. Most of the plants sold at big box stores are poisonous. Even large nurseries may be selling plants treated with systemic insecticides, so you need to ask. If the manager of the store doesn’t know or can’t assure you that their stock is grown organically without systemics, do NOT purchase their plants. You risk poisoning your pollinators. —Lenora Larson

Pruning for Beginners Sat, Mar 21, 9-11am; at Second Baptist Church, Liberty MO. Heartland Tree Alliance will offer basic tree pruning course for shade and ornamental trees utilizing hands-on and teacher instruction. All tools provided, must register in advance, space limited. https://tinyurl.com/libertyprune or call Sarah 816-561-1086 Bird in the Hand Sat, Mar 21, 11am-2pm; at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Missouri River Bird Observatory staff and Burr Oak Woods partner in an on-going project to identify and track the birds that come to our feeders each winter. From the resident chickadees and cardinals to the migrating juncos and sparrows, we capture, apply colored bands and release these fascinating creatures.

Once banded and recorded, you will be able to track individual birds through this and future seasons. This program is weather permitting.

816-228-3766; www.mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods Rose Demonstration Sat, Mar 21, 10am-noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Loose Park Rosarian and Director, Judy Penner will show and tell rose enthusiasts what is needed to get going and achieve real rose beauty in their own gardens. How to prepare the soil, dig the hole and plant a rose bush for best results will be demonstrated. Also, learn which rose varieties will grow best in this area. Come and see how to care for roses already growing to bring out their best – all from an expert. Like all good gardeners, Judy Penner is concerned with responsible procedures and products in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden and home gardens, large or small. Sponsored by Kansas City Rose Society and Kansas City MO Parks & Recreation Dept. There will be refreshments, prizes and fun for all interested in planting roses and caring for existing roses in their gardens. All are welcome to this FREE event.

Inviting Pollinators to the Garden Mon, Mar 23, 7-8:30pm; at Johnson County Extension Office, 11811 S Sunset Dr, Olathe, KS 66061. Presented by Mae Christenson, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener. The plight of the pollinators is in the news. Loss of habitat, pesticides, plant selection are just a few of the known reasons. In this session you will learn practical tips you can implement right in your yard. We can all do our part to create pollinator friendly landscapes. Cost: $10 per person. Register at: johnson.ksu.edu or 913-715-7000.

Burroughs Audubon Society General Meeting Tues, Mar 24, 6:45pm; at Paseo Room, Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110. Cowbirds: Harmless Native Species or Dastardly Mobster Villains? A

Scientist’s Perspective, Sarah Winnicki, PhD Candidate, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. To many birders, there is no such thing as a “good” cowbird. They lay eggs in other birds’ nests and their offspring deprive host chicks of food and care, often with fatal consequences. This nest parasitism is especially alarming in declining host species such as wood warblers. Yet cowbirds are also a protected native species and cannot be completely eradicated.

Sarah Winnicki will share insights from her research into this conundrum. She studied the impacts of cowbirds on the growth and development of grassland songbird chicks with Dr Alice Boyle as a Masters student. In her current work, she is studying the endocrinology of bird development, working with Dr TJ Benson and Dr Mark Hauber (of “Cowbird Lab” fame). See burroughs.org for more information.

Plant Identification & Hike Tues, Mar 24, 1-2:30pm; at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Registration required (adults) online at mdc.mo.gov/events. As you prepare for foraging in nature for those delicate spring wildflowers and early greens, discover tips to build your plant identification skills. 816-2283766; www.mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods Vegetable Gardening 101 Wed, Mar 25, 7pm; at Tonganoxie Public Library, 303 S Burg, Tonganoxie, KS 66086. Melony Lutz, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, and her husband Bob Lutz, an avid gardener, will give a presentation on vegetable gardening. They will share their tips and tricks on how to grow a productive garden. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

2020 Garden Show, Visions for a Sustainable Future Sat, Mar 28, 9am-3pm; at Building 21, Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St, Lawrence, KS. Free Admission. Educational booths, Food trucks, Garage sale of garden-related items, Garden crafts for sale, Informational speakers, Raffle, Theme display garden, Vendors. Douglas County Master Gardeners.

Protecting the Pollinators Mon, Mar 30, 6:30pm; at Fort Scott Community College - Round Room, 2108 S Horton, Fort Scott, KS. This free public program is sponsored

by Bourbon County Garden Club and Southwind Extension District-KSU. Attracting pollinators, establishing their habitat, identifying beneficial insects, and using insecticides properly will be covered. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact kharding@ksu.edu.

April The No-Sow Garden Thurs, Apr 2, 11:30am-1pm; at Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1216 N 79th St, Kansas City KS. Lenora Larson’s many flower beds are ablaze with color from April to mid-November.

Who has the time to plant all those flowers?

“Certainly not me,” she says, but through the years she has discovered the answer: select those flowers that eagerly plant themselves. Her presentation will showcase self-sowing flowers and describe the necessary horticultural techniques to achieve a glorious NO SOW garden year after year. Lenora Larson is a Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener and member of local chapters of both the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. She is a proud ‘science geek’ with a degree in microbiology from Michigan State University, a career in molecular biology and a life-long interest in wildlife, especially the creepy and crawly. She maintains a 2-acre garden in the English Estate

landscape style on her 27-acre property, Long Lips Farm, in rural Paola, KS. This presentation sponsored by the Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Registration not required. Fee: $5.00 (waived for currently certified EMGs). For further information, call 913-299-9300.

Basic Garden Photography Tues, Apr 7, 7-8:30pm; at Johnson County Extension Office, 11811 S Sunset Dr, Olathe, KS 66061. Presented by Carol Fowler, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener. We all have a smart phone tucked in our pocket or purse just waiting to snap photos of family, friends and for gardeners’ plants. In this class you will learn tricks and tips that will help you take your photos from ho-hum to stunning. Just a few tips help make sure you capture the moment for a lifetime.

Cost: $10 per person. Register at: johnson.ksu. edu or 913-715-7000. Space is limited.

Sho-Me African Violet Club 36th Annual Show and Sale “Galaxies of Violets” Sat, Apr 11, 9am-3pm (Not open Sunday); at Loose Park Garden Center, W 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112. Suggest not following GPS directions. Instead, follow this route: The Loose Park entrance is the West driveway immediately South of 51st St. The Garden Center side street is located just past the Pavilion (a right turn). Let us provide a colorful gift for upcoming celebrations – birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, anniversaries! Then brighten up your own home with a variety of plants and colorful blossoms. NO ADMISSION FEE. If further information is needed, call Brent Scheuerman 913-738-9955.

Spring Container Workshop Sat, Apr 11, 9-11am; at Colonial Gardens, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. Create a beautiful spring combination container to welcome the warmer season we’ve all been waiting for! Choose from three container options and fill it up with your choice of colorful annuals to cheer up any space! Workshop fee includes container, plants, soil, and fertilizer. For an added perk, participants will receive 15% off pottery! Cost: $59. Register at colonialgardenskc.com or call 816-229-1277.

TreeKeepers Tues-Thurs, Apr 14-16, 9am-1:30pm; at George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S Speck Rd, Independence, MO. Heartland Tree Alliance is offering a daytime course for anyone wanting to learn more about shade and ornamental trees.

Learn about soils, biology, selection, pruning, ID, and planting. Classroom and hands-on learning taught by MDC Forester Chuck Conner. All tools provided, must register in advance, $50 fee. tinyurl.com/treekeepers2020 or call Sarah 816-561-1086.

Orchid Auction Sun, Apr 19, the auction begins at 2pm and ends at 4:30pm. The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City will hold its’ fundraiser, an Orchid Auction, at the Lenexa Senior Center, 13420 Oak St, Lenexa, KS. Free Admission. Non-auction plants will be available, starting at $5.00. For more information, visit www.osgkc.org.

Landscaping for Birds Mon, Apr 20, 7-8:30pm; at Johnson County Extension Office, 11811 S Sunset Dr, Olathe, KS 66061. Presented by Colleen Winter, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener. Recent reports show that our bird population is declining worldwide. Loss of habitat and other factors are at blame. Helping to preserve birds can start right at home. This class will provide you with the resources and information you need to turn your landscape into a sanctuary for our feathered

friends. Cost: $10 per person. Register at: johnson.ksu.edu or 913-715-7000.

for Spring

Plant Sale Apr 23-25. Thurs-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am until sold out; at Colonial Church, 7039 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Sponsored by Overland Park Gardeners of America.

Thyme For Kids Plant Sale Fri, Apr 24, 9am-6pm and Sat, Apr 25, 9am-5pm; at Cornerstones of Care Ozanam Campus, Sims Greenhouse, 421 E 137th St, Kansas City, MO. Open to the public and free to attend, most items cost between $2-$8, and proceeds from the sale support our Build Trybe program, a mentorship community building health and independence while empowering youth with employable skills.

It is a bridge connecting youth who lack a stable support system to opportunity through 3 skillbased career paths: culinary, construction and horticulture. Choose from a wide variety of plants and other garden items! Houseplants, Dish Gardens, Ready-to-Go Planters, Flowering Baskets, Annuals, Perennials, Ornamental Grasses, Foliage Accents, Herbs, Vegetables, Teacher Gifts, Mother’s Day Gifts. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted. Questions? Contact Stefanie at stefanie. lindsay@cornerstonesofcare.org or learn more at cornerstonesofcare.org/plantsale.

Uptown Garden Faire Sat, Apr 25, 8am-2pm; at 201 W Truman Rd, Independence, MO 64050. Welcome Spring at Uptown Garden Faire! Vendors/growers will be selling annuals, perennials, native plants, yard art, gardentiques, tools and much, much more. Visit with Smokey Bear at our Arbor Day festivities and help us celebrate 20 years of being a Tree City USA. Ample parking, food vendors, demonstrations, raffles. Sponsored by Independence Tree Commission and Independence Parks & Recreation. Call 816-797-8711 for details.

Paola Spring Plant Sale Thurs, Apr 30, Fri, May 1, and Sat, May 2; 9am-5pm; in the Family Center parking lot, 808 Baptiste Dr, Paola, KS. As part of the MdC Extension Master Gardeners’ mission to educate the public and help save our essential insects, the sale will feature butterfly host plants and the best pollinator plants, as well as other annuals, perennials, natives and veggies, all from local growers. Expert EMGs, including butterfly expert Lenora Larson, will be on hand to assist shoppers throughout the sale. More info at www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg.

Central Missouri Master Gardeners’ Annual Plant Sale Sat, May 2, 7am-noon; at the Jaycee Fairgrounds, 1445 Fairgrounds Road, Jefferson City, MO. The indoor plant sale features tomatoes, vegetables, peppers, herbs, annuals, perennials, natives, hanging baskets, container plantings, shrubs, and trees. Proceeds from the sale fund scholarships, community garden projects, and the River City Gardens.

More events are posted on our website, KCGMAG.COM, click on “Events.”

Promote club meetings, classes, seminars, plant sales, regional conferences and other gardening events for FREE! Send details to:

Now Hiring

Gardening for Pollinators Tues, Apr 21, 6:30pm; at Extension Office, 104 S Brayman, Paola, KS 66071. Flowering plants and their pollinators began to co-evolve about 250 million years ago. Learn how flowers attract pollinators and how to help the pollinators survive in a changing world from Lenora Larson, butterfly expert and MdC EMG. Lenora will mention some of the plants that will be available at the Paola EMG plant sale on Apr 30, May 1 and 2 and will provide handouts on “bee-friendly” plants.

For more information call 913-294-4306, visit www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu, or follow www. facebook.com/mdcemg.

elizabeth@kcgmag.com

Deadline for publishing in the April issue is March 5.

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic people to fill positions at our Lenexa, Overland Park, So. Kansas City retail locations and our growing farm in Edgerton, Kansas.

Cashiers Phone Operators Hardgoods Sales Plant Sales Merchandising Receiving Clerk Marketing Associate Human Resources Generalist

Truck Drivers, (CDL & non-CDL) Equipment Operators Landscape Maintenance Trimming, Mowing, Planting Horticulturist Grow Farm Labor

Fax resume to 816-941-3838 Email resume to suburban@suburbanlg.com Apply in person at our Corporate office.

13635 Wyandotte // Kansas City, MO 64145 Questions? Contact Human Resources at 816-941-4700.

Area Grower Shares Tips on Cut-flower Gardening

O

n the cover of the revised edition of her book, “The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers,” you can see Lynn Byczynksi at the back of the photo showing her commercial cut-flower operation near Lawrence, Kan. The first edition was published in 1997, the second in 2008.

The book draws on her experience as a grower and as an editor and publisher of a trade publication for growers for local markets. She plans to share some of the tips of the trade and her love for cut flowers in the March 21 Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series program titled “Cut-flower Gardening.”

The program is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, in the Auditorium of the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost, Kansas City, MO

64110. This is a free event, and all are welcome.

Lynn and her husband, Dan Nagengast, started growing organic vegetables in 1988 and soon diversified into cut flowers for sale at farmers markets. They have called their operation Wild Onion Farm. They continued growing for market until 2014.

In 1992, she created a monthly trade publication for local food and flower producers, “Growing for Market.” The first issue of “Growing for Market” was published in January 1992, and Lynn ran it until 2016.

Since 2011, she has been marketing strategist and chief financial officer of Seeds From Italy, the U.S. distributor for Franchi Seeds, Italy’s oldest familyowned seed company, founded in 1783. Seeds From Italy offers more than 450 varieties of Italian heirloom vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

25

March

garden calendar n LAWN

• Spot-treat for dandelions, henbit, chickweed and other weeds. Spot spraying reduces the amount of chemical used and reduces drift. Use larger droplets and spray lower to the ground.

• Apply crabgrass controls in late March through mid-April.

• Seed thin areas in bluegrass and tall fescue lawns.

• Missed fall fertilization of bluegrass and tall fescue? If so, apply nutrient with crabgrass control.

• Avoid March fertilization if fall fertilizer was applied as it increases weed pressure and weakens grass reserves.

• Lower mowing height about 2 inches to remove winter debris, do not scalp. Raise back up to at least 3 inches for summer health.

• Take a soil test to determine fertility needs. Nitrogen, the first number on the bag, is usually all that is required.

• Tune-up lawn mowers for another season.

• Sharpen mower blades for a quality cut.

n TREES AND SHRUBS

• Delay pruning birch, maple and walnut trees until they leaf out. They tend to ooze sap if pruned too early.

• Prune spring flowering shrubs soon after bloom.

• Prune summer-blooming shrubs now for excellent flowering.

• Mulch trees and shrubs plantings, up to 4 inches deep, keeping mulch away from trunks.

• Fertilize trees and shrubs.

• Plant new trees in the landscape.

• Remove tree wraps from young trees for summer growth.

• Rake and clean ground cover planting.

n FLOWERS

• Plant pansies, snapdragons, calendulas, osteospermum and other cool loving annuals.

• Clean up perennial beds by cutting back foliage and removing winter mulch layer.

• Prepare soil for annual planting by adding organic matter like compost.

• Take a soil test if one has not been done in the last five years.

• Fertilize gardens based on soil test needs, typically nitrogen only sources.

• Start seeds under lights indoors for transplanting to the garden.

• Remove winter mulch from roses and prune as needed.

• Cut ornamental grasses back to within 3 to 5 inches of the ground.

• Plant new roses.

• Divide and plant perennials.

• Fertilize spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.

• Remove seed heads from spent bulbs. Don’t remove foliage until it yellows naturally.

• Help control iris borers by destroying old foliage before new growth begins.

n VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Prepare soil for spring planting.

• Take a soil test.

• Fertilize garden before planting based on soil test results as normally nitrogen only is needed.

• Plant broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage in late March.

• Plant potatoes, peas, onions, lettuce and other salad crops.

• Asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries can be planted.

• Start transplants from seed for tomatoes, peppers and other warmseason vegetables.

• Sharpen garden tools and repair.

• Apply dormant oil to fruit plantings to reduce scale and mite insects.

• Control peach leaf curl before growth begins.

• Prune fruit plantings, fruit trees, grapes, raspberries and blackberries.

• Remove mulch from strawberries when growth begins.

n HOUSEPLANTS

• Fertilize to encourage rapid spring and summer growth.

• Repot crowded plants in a 1-inch larger pot.

• Shape plants by pruning and trimming.

• Remove winter dust from leaves with damp cloth or by placing in a warm shower.

• Check for insects.

• Start cuttings of plants.

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. Dennis Patton 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.

Debbie’s Lawn Busters Custom Designed Landscaping Installation & Maintenance

Established 1975

FREE

Estimates!

JOHNSON COUNTY TOPSOIL & LANDSCAPE MATERIALS, LLC

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed ♥ 816-392-4433 ♥ 816-618-3674 ♥

TOPSOIL • GARDEN MIXES

Debbieslawnbusters.com

BULK MULCH • FLAGSTONE RIVER GRAVEL • WATER GARDEN ROCK

We’re getting ready for another great season!

913-681-2629

THE METRO’S ONLY FULLY STOCKED, DEDICATED POND STORE!

WALLSTONE • BOULDERS

Prevent Winter Tree Damage Request Your FREE Pruning Consultation With a Certified Arborist Today!

2 BLOCKS WEST OF US69 ON 199TH ST.

STILWELL, KS

816-842-5012 • pondskc.com 1557 Swift Ave., KCMO Check our website and Facebook for more information.

Improving our planet one customer at a time.

26

March 2020 | kcgmag.com

WWW.JOHNSONCOUNTYTOPSOIL.COM

www.RyanLawn.com

Tulip Time 2020: Event renamed to honor founder – Jerold Binkley

J

erold Binkley Tulip Time 2020 is set for April 10-26. The event features more than 100,000 tulips in Shawnee County Parks + Recreation’s three featured gardens – Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee, Old Prairie Town/WardMeade Botanical Garden and Doran Rock Garden and surrounding areas in Gage Park. For 2020, the event will once again be named for its founder, Jerold Binkley who passed away during Tulip Time in 2019.

Tulip Time began nearly 30 years ago in the home gardens of Jerold and Joan Binkley. Mr. Binkley desired to create an ongoing and beautiful county-wide event with Tulip Time. Today the event draws visitors from around the nation. A ribbon cutting will be held during the Tulip Festival at the Lake April 11 to dedicate a special section of Ted Ensley Gardens in Mr. Binkley’s honor.

There are two special events in addition to regular self-guided tours through the gardens. Tulips at Twilight features 35 lighted displays with more than 40,000 tulips illuminated by candle light and lighted displays. The displays include 15-foot tall illuminated tulips and larger-than-life illumi-

Hotlines for Gardeners Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer your gardening questions.

CASS COUNTY

816-380-8494; Wed, 9am-noon

DOUGLAS COUNTY

785-843-7058; mastergardener@douglas-county.com; Mon-Fri, 1-4pm

GREATER KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AREA

816-833-8733 (TREE); Mon-Fri, 9am-noon; mggkc.hotline@gmail.com

JOHNSON COUNTY, KS

913-715-7050; Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; garden.help@jocogov.org

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO

660-747-3193; Wed, 9am-noon

nated flowers, illuminated mushrooms tall enough for patrons to walk beneath them, rivers of blue lights and floating lanterns in the Asian garden. Patrons may enjoy live music and Old Prairie Town building tours on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tulips at Twilight is set for 7-10 p.m. April 10-26. Admission is a $5 donation with children five and under free.

Tulip Time Festival the Lake is set for April 11 at Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee. The event is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested for the day which features classic cars, food trucks and musical performances.

This year, since the event is the day before Easter, there will be an egg hunt for children.

Tulip Time has been attended in the past by people from 68 cities in Kansas, multiple states and visitors from the United Kingdom,

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

th ly G ui de to Su A Mon thly cc es Guid e to Suc October 2014 sf ul cess ful Gard Garde ning G ar de enin g to Succe ssful August 2015 ni ng A Mont hly Guide

For convenient mail delivery, complete the form below and send with your check for $25.00. You will receive a one-year subscription to The Kansas City Gardener.

QUESTIONS ABOUT ROSES?

Ask a Rosarian; kcrosehelp@gmail.com; www.kansascityrosesociety.org

2015

r Garden

for the Octobe

ity with Grasses Beauty and Divers een Not Just for HallowCall 811 Orange and Black: Lemon rd of Digth Control BeforeBiYou Daylily: Beau Park eM ty for fy Weeds for Better Identi Decis ThanBu ion Time: ShouSeeded Lawn More a tte Dayrfl onth: Blue In the bird y Ask andExpe Feeding of Newly ld You Remove YourGaAsh rdenTree Conserva rts about weed Proper Carethe with tories control, oozin g sap and more Marvin Snyder

City, State, Zip:

MIAMI COUNTY

913-299-9300; Mon, Wed, Fri, 9am-4pm

July

Address:

E-mail: Where did you pick up The Kansas City Gardener?

WYANDOTTE COUNTY

d the W ate Butterflies and Bee s Love These rlilies Spooky Plants

Name:

Phone:

913-294-4306; Thurs, 9am-noon

GAR G A RENEDREN E R N D E D R A G ER Beyon The K T ty K an sa Cihe s C it y a n s a s C Th e Ka ns as ity A M on

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

913-364-5700; Apr thru Sep, Mon 10am-4pm, Thurs 10am-4pm

India, Russia, Australia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Tulip Time is an annual destination popular with everyone from area residents to out-of-state visitors on bus tours. A $5 donation is suggested at Ted Ensley Gardens and Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden to help cover the cost of the event and enable Tulip Time to continue in future years.

Guided tours for groups of 15 or more with advance reservations are available at Ted Ensley Gardens (785) 251-6800 and Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden (785) 251-6989.

Following the blooming season for the tulips, the bulbs are removed and sold to the public.

Tulip Time is a combined effort of Friends of Ted Ensley Gardens, Friends of Ward-Meade, the Parks For All Foundation and Shawnee County Parks + Recreation.

Please enclose your check payable to The Kansas City Gardener and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208 The Kansas City Gardener is published monthly Jan. through Dec.

The Kansas City Gardener | March 2020

27

But First,

Tree & Shrub Sale Early season selection of freshly-dug trees arriving daily from our local farms.

Flowers

20-50% off

Select varieties of evergreens and flowering shrubs.

up to 25% off

Sale Starts March 14, 2020

Creeping Phlox

Pansies & Violas

Sprouted Bulbs

$6.99

$19.99

4 for $9.99

(1 Gal.)

(Flat of 36 plants)

(4� pots)

Shop our online store! www.suburbanlg.com

Local delivery or in-store pickup available.

BULK MULCH

Free Delivery Available starting on orders of 4 cubic yards or more.*

105th & Roe (913) 649-8700

K-7 & Prairie Star Pkwy (913) 897-5100

135th & Wornall (816) 942-2921

*Restrictions apply. Order in store, by phone, or online at KCMulch.com

#suburbanlg // suburbanlg.com