KCG Sep23 issue

Independently owned and operated since 1996

PUBLISHER

Michael Cavanaugh

EDITOR

Elizabeth Cavanaugh

CONTRIBUTORS

Jerry Dreyer

Sean Holland

Lenora Larson

Dennis Patton

Anthony Reardon

Elizabeth Stoakes

Ann Tanner

Scott Woodbury

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Are you ready for fall?

It was one of those rare midAugust days where the daytime temperature resembled the beginning of autumn, hovering in the mid-70-degree range. This lingered for a couple of days and everyone I encountered was chattering about the cooler weather. “Are you ready for fall?” they asked. In their eagerness, I half expected an offering of a pumpkin spice latte blanketed by a hand-knitted koozie. That’s the thing with Midwesterners—warmhearted always!

While in line at the carwash that same day, the attendant asked if I was “ready for fall.” He was confused by my response. “Dude, it’s still summer,” I reminded. With only four more weeks of summer and temperatures to match, it was my goal to enjoy every last day of summer.

He persisted, “If I gave you a week of these kind of days, then would you be ready for fall?” My answer still negative. “I don’t get excited about fall until I return from a tropical vacation at the end of summer.” He could relate to that.

The truth is I’m all about appreciating what is, not what is yet to come.

Recently I discovered a podcast, “Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris.” The episode, “We Know Nature Is Good For Us. Here’s How To Make Time for It, Scandinavian Style,” is a conversation with Linda Åkeson McGurk, a Swedish American writer and author. While

McGurk’s book, There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather focuses on “raising healthy, resilient, and confident kids,” I connected with the concepts she brings to bear, and considered that this was applicable for adults too. I kept listening.

For example, the discussion addressed why humans are so drawn to nature (thinking about gardeners here) and the many scientific benefits. Other examples include camping, cold plunges, and why we should go outside even when the weather sucks.

The concept of friluftsliv, pronounced “Free-Loofs-Leaf,” a Norwegian word which translates roughly to ‘open-air living,’ is widely popular across the Nordic countries where, despite freezing temperatures and very few hours of sunlight throughout the winter months, getting outside and embracing the outdoors is part of life all year around.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we abandon our comfy heated environs in the midst winter’s fury. However, I for one can (and should) put forth a bit more effort towards getting outside regardless of rain, or snow, or winter wind. And don’t blame the weather if your gloves are not suitable. Retailers that sell weather-appropriate attire are everywhere, both online and in a brick-and-mortar shop near you. How about you? Will you consider spending more time in nature no matter the weather?

For many of you reading this, these are not new concepts. You garden in one way or another every season. Many of you have shared your winter projects inspiring me, yet again, with your unrelenting devotion to beautifying your garden sanctuary.

Hats off to all who already practice friluftsliv through gardening, or trailbiking, or hiking, or sitting on a park bench to watch the birds no matter the weather. For those of us who whimper at the sign of cold winds and frosty windows, let’s practice open-air living. Let’s gear up and get out there. Allow nature to revive and restore us to happier, healthier gardeners.

I’ll see you in the garden!

Bring your loved ones along for The Best U-Pick Experience in Kansas City! Take a stroll through our orchard and flower fields for fresh apples and flowers! Pumpkin picking coming soon!

Ask the Experts

Question: I never know when to harvest my pears. They’re usually rotting by the time I pick them. When is the correct time for pear harvest?

Anthony’s Answer: Pears can be a finicky crop to harvest, specifically because they ripen from the inside out. This means that by the time they “seem” ready to be picked, based on softness, the inside of the fruit can already be rotting. For this reason, the fruit should not be allowed to ripen on the tree and should be picked beforehand.

You should look at other external factors to know when to harvest pears. When the fruit is ready for harvest, the pear’s lenticels (breathing pores) will cork over, turning brown. The background color of the fruit will turn from dark green to light green. Fruit will pull away from the tree readily, with little effort.

Once harvested, the fruit can then be allowed to ripen at room temperature for up to 7 days. Storing the fruit in a paper bag will expedite this process, as the ethylene gas produced by the fruit will be captured and increase ripening.

TIME FOR HARVESTING SWEET POTATOES

Question: I planted sweet potatoes for the first time this year. How does the harvesting process work with these?

Anthony’s Answer: Sweet potatoes should be pulled from the ground before the year’s first freeze, as the roots are sensitive to cold damage. Depending on how large you want your sweet potatoes to be, you may opt to harvest them earlier or now in September. A dig test to determine size is the best way to decide.

Once harvested, sweet potatoes are best left to cure for 5-10 days in a very warm location, as they can easily be damaged while collected, and these wounds will need to seal

off. Unlike potatoes, sweet potatoes should be stored in warmer areas after curing, above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, lest you risk the crop taking on an off flavor.

Can you eat those ornamental sweet potatoes you’ve grown too? Technically yes, but they may not be very good. They should observe the same curing process as a field sweet potato.

HOW ABOUT SUNFLOWERS

Question: I want to try harvesting my sunflowers this year. Any tips?

Anthony’s Answer: Your attention should be on preventing birds from eating your seeds before you can and knowing when your seeds are ready to be harvested.

A paper bag or cheesecloth can be placed over the sunflower head to protect it from birds once the petals have begun to shrivel. These can be secured using twist ties or rubber bands.

To know when to harvest, the florets (tiny flowers) in the center of the flower head will be shriveled and dead. The head itself will no longer be following the sun but facing downward. And the backside of the sunflower head will lose chlorophyll and turn yellow.

Sunflowers heads should be severed whole and stored upsidedown in a well-ventilated area to dry. Once dry, seeds will easily detach and be ready for roasting.

Question: Help! I was in the path of the windstorm. I have been getting conflicting information. How do I know if my tree should be removed versus just pruned?

Dennis’ Answer: That is a great question and often difficult to answer as it can vary from tree to tree. The best recommendation is that the entire tree should likely be removed if the main trunk has received damage. The trunk is the foundation of the tree. Once hardwood or the structural support of the tree is damaged, the tree is more likely to fail. Other thoughts to consider are potential targets. That is, if the tree falls, what is in the way? The house, car, neighbors, you? If there is a target, it is probably better to remove the tree.

Corrective pruning is best for side limbs damaged in a storm. Damaged branches should be removed back to the next lower point of attachment. That would be the next crotch or branch angle. We never just cut or stub off at the point of damage. When in doubt, get a certified arborist on site to evaluate the tree. Listen to what they say. When in doubt, they will help you better make a decision.

OVERSEEDING YOUR LAWN

Question: Do I need to overseed my lawn every fall? The advertising makes it sounds like seeding

should be part of my yearly maintenance. Is that really necessary.

Dennis’ Answer: The goal is never to need to reseed the lawn. Overseeding is only necessary when the lawn has patchy, bare areas. Patches the size of a cup or saucer may need to be overseeded. If you have a decent stand or are just on the thin side, overseeding should not be necessary.

With proper fertilization, proper mowing, and if the weather cooperates, the lawn should thicken up and fill in on its own by spring or summer next year.

GARDEN TOUR SCHEDULED FOR 2024

Question: I was so bummed that your garden tour sold out in June. When will you hold your next garden tour so I can get it on the calendar?

Dennis’ Answer: The garden tour as part of the International Master Gardener Conference was a smashing success. We had to limit sales to help protect our gardens. Good news, our next tour will be on May 17 and 18, 2024.

I must admit I am already fretting about this tour as I have offered up my garden as part of the tour. The pressure is on!

Mark your calendar for May 2024 for the next EMG garden tour, and watch for ticket information in Spring 2024 on our website, www. johnson.ksu.edu.

DENNIS PATTON |Horticulture Agents | ANTHONY REARDON

Dennis and Anthony are the horticulture agents for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, each specializing in ornamentals and edible crops, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

Pears can be a finicky crop to harvest.

Never leave a stub when pruning a tree.

Pull up sweet potatoes before the first freeze.

WHETHER TO PRUNE OR REMOVE MY TREE

HARVESTING PEARS

Butterfly Sexual Dimorphism

Procreation is every species’ ultimate survival strategy. Butterflies, which live only a week or two as sexually active adults, have no time to waste on courting the wrong gender. Clues abound between the sexes in addition to the obvious differences between male and female genitalia. Collectively referred to as “sexual dimorphism,” these gender differences in appearance and behavior allow rapid action when choosing a mate. Almost all animals exhibit some degree of sexual dimorphism in size, color, body hair, voice, odors and/or behaviors. For mammals, the males are generally larger, hairier and more aggressive.

Among invertebrates, the female is typically larger to accommodate her eggs. Gender extremes exist such as the Yellow Garden Spider, Argiope. The brilliant yellow and black female averages over an inch in length when mature. She weaves a web and awaits dinner’s arrival. In contrast, the shy beige male is only 1/4th inch long and must demonstrate that he is a prospective mate, not a meal. Rather than build a web, he cautiously approaches hers and plucks the edges like a harpist, creating a hypnotic rhythm that allows him to safely approach and copulate. Then he dies inside her genitalia, but not in vain. His corpse may block access by other males, guaranteeing that he is the father of her offspring.

Butterfly Caterpillars: Are You a Boy or a Girl?

A caterpillar’s sex is determined during fertilization as the gravid female lays each egg on the hostplant and inserts a sperm chosen from the sperm bank in her vagina. A caterpillar’s sole occupation is eating, so they have no need of sexual characteristics. Only a DNA test can reveal its eventual gender. Wings, genitalia and any sexually dimorphic features develop later during metamorphosis into an adult.

Visual Cues to Butterfly Gender

Side-by-side comparisons with a field guide in hand will assist your identifications for both species and gender. Monarchs are easily sexed since the female is larger with wings a deeper shade of orange and heavy black veins. The smaller, brighter male has a black dot on each hind wing. In some species of butterflies, these dark spots contain fragrant pheromones, a “butterfly cologne” that attracts females. Ironically, the Monarch’s distinctive black dots are vestigial and release no scent!

Butterflies may be colored so differently that they don’t

LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven

look like the same species. For example, female Black Swallowtails are black with pale yellow dots and vivid blue hindwings, while the black males have two rows of bright yellow spots across the wings. Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are always yellow with black vertical stripes but the female may be black with blue hindwings.

Behavior

Butterfly species without obvious visual sexual dimorphism include Zebra Swallowtails, Red Admirals and Painted Ladies. Lepidopterists may use a microscope to

examine the genitalia, but behavior can assist a butterfly gardener in making educated guesses, especially when you see a butterfly repeatedly touching her abdomen to the hostplant’s leaves. Only females lay eggs! Another example, male and female Zebra Swallowtails are apparently identical, but their behaviors are strikingly different. Courting males patrol an elliptical territory at an altitude of 3 to 4 feet, passing the paw-paw hostplant about every 15 minutes. In contrast, the females either flit from flower to flower or hang out in the pawpaw patch to lay eggs.

Why Should Humans Care?

A butterfly must detect gender to fulfill its destiny and will quickly discern whether it should pursue or ignore a fellow member of its species. Many of these differences are too subtle for human casual observation, so does it even matter? For me, the more I know about any butterfly, the more I care about its survival. This second level of knowledge could increase your connection and caring about these beautiful insects. Ultimately the survival of butterflies and the survival of humans on this planet may be closely linked.

A Marais des Cygnes Master Gardener, Lenora is a member of the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. She gardens in the clay soil and cruel winds of Paola, KS. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.

You know that this is a male American Snout because he is walking on 4 legs. The females walk on 6 legs.

A male Monarch shows off his conspicuous black dots, which females lack.

Male Cabbage Whites have 1 black dot on the forewing while females have 2. She has flipped her abdomen up to tell him “NO!”

Photos by Lenora Larson.

Rose Report

A Great Month to Enjoy Fall Blooms!

It always seems as if September is a reset month – classes and activities start again and our schedules seem to fill up quickly. We continue to endure warm temperatures and might wonder, why are we gardening in this heat? (Helpful hint, set aside a few minutes in the early morning or late evening to enjoy your gardens and you will be rewarded with a great attitude adjustment.)

Our roses need to be kept watered so they can build up nutrients and resist the constant disease and insect pressures of the fall. Be sure they get the equivalent of 1-2” of moisture a week (between precipitation and watering) to ensure good blooms in September and October. It’s time to stop deadheading which signals the plants to slow down their growth and get prepared for winter.

This is also a good time to get a soil test that will offer great guidance on what amendments might be needed in your garden to be prepared for spring.

The Kansas City Rose Society (KCRS) will host the Central District of the American Rose Society Conference and Rose Show at the Radisson Hotel in Lenexa from September 22 to 24. The rose show on September 23 will be available for public viewing from 2 to 4 p.m. Membership is not required to register for the conference and enter the rose show. If interested, please look for the link at the KCRS website listed below.

The KCRS also offers great activities at Loose Park this month. A fun (and free) event is Jazz in the Roses on September 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. The Society’s annual fundraiser, Wine and Roses, is on September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30. Tickets are available on the website. Finally, on September 30 bring the kiddos to Storytime in the Garden at 10 a.m. on the Garden Center Patio.

More details are at www.kansascityrosesociety.org on the Event Calendar page where you can also find a handy link to get your rose growing questions answered in our FAQ Section or email us at kcrosehelp@ gmail.com.

Buck Roses – Bred for Midwest Winters

Some of the toughest roses in the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden at Loose Park were bred by a professor at Iowa State University. Dr. Griffith Buck was a horticulture professor who passed away in 1991 after teaching and researching for almost 40 years. Dr. Buck is now widely revered as his quest to breed winter hardy land-

JERRY DREYER Consulting Rosarian

scape roses resistant to common fungal diseases was ahead of his time. Other breeders relied heavily on chemical disease control to manage fungal diseases. His methods were remarkably simple – plant the new seedlings out in an open field and let the Iowa winters determine which might be candidates for further evaluation and introduction based on winter survival and disease resistance. Over a hundred varieties of Buck roses are treasured by collectors and have been used for breeding many of today’s more recent disease resistant varieties.

Buck rose varieties are most available from mail-order nurseries. Nine varieties are currently growing in the garden at Loose Park. The most famous is undoubtedly Carefree Beauty due to its fragrance, disease resistance and hardiness. Also, this variety has been a prolific hybridizing parent. Besides being used by Dr. Buck for many subsequent generations in his program, Carefree Beauty has been used as a parent by hybridizers in the U.S., Europe, India, and Australia.

Carefree Beauty grows to four to five feet, both tall and wide. Due to its great disease resistance, it was named as an Earth-Kind®

rose, meaning it grows well with no spraying and minimal care.

Quietness

A great Buck rose discovered in the family garden after his death is Quietness. Pat Henry of Roses Unlimited named this rose and comments “it is still my favorite –gorgeous bloom, repeats often, fragrant and withstands the heat of the summers and the cold of the winter.” Quietness has become a favorite of gardeners across the country.

Distant Drums

Another fragrant shrub rose from Dr. Buck that is often seen in rose competitions is Distant Drums. Highly valued for its unusual color, it is classified as a mauve rose and has tones of tan and pink. Since the bloom changes color as it opens, the bush is impressive with a wide array of colors.

The Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden grows six other Buck roses in a spectrum of colors including apricot, red, white, and pink. Buck roses offer great options for home gardeners and rose afficionados alike. More information is available at the Kansas City Rose Society website https://www.kcrsroselibrary. com/roses-by-hybridizers.html.

Moving up and down Interstate 35, Jerry Dreyer has grown roses over 10 years each in Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas. He is a Consulting Rosarian with the Kansas City Rose Society and American Rose Society. Hybridizing new roses is a special passion (or his wife asks, disorder?) along with experimenting with different propagation methods. Due to their most recent move to a shaded lot, he’s currently growing over 200 roses in pots.

Distant Drum

Carefree Beauty

Quietness

Photos by Lauren English.

Select Sedum for late-season garden color

Autumn is creeping ever closer and our gardens are showing the stress of a hot summer. When planning your landscape in the spring, it is easy to include plants that give spring and summer blooms, but we often forget about late-season color in the midst of the spring frenzy. Gardeners from novice to expert both find it a challenge to identify plants that can withstand the summer heat and look good by the time they bloom in August and September. One of the best choices for late-season color is Sedum.

Sedum, commonly referred to as Stonecrop, or as my grandmother called them “Live-Forever”, is a versatile succulent perfect for many problem areas of the landscape. They thrive in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun daily), tolerate rocky soils, and require little water once established, making them perfect for Xeriscaping (landscaping requiring little to no irrigation). To pollinators, the bloom clusters are each a five-star restaurant offering a supply of nectar for bees and butterflies through the blooming season.

Many new varieties are introduced by perennial growers every year, giving landscapers and gardeners much more variety than the old standard ‘Autumn Joy’ cultivar. Dozens of newer cultivars offer different foliage colors, textures, and improved growing habits over older types. Even though we are nearing the end of the season, it is a great time to get a jump start on next year’s perennial garden by exploring some new sedum varieties.

‘Autumn Fire’ and ‘Frosted Fire’ are similar to ‘Autumn Joy’, but grow in a tighter habit, and

don’t tend to get as leggy throughout the summer. If you are seeking variety in foliage color, ‘Back in Black’, ‘Night Embers’ and ‘Touchdown Teak’ all display dark foliage on a 1-2’ tall plant all sea-

er varieties look at home planted among larger stones and boulders, while small mounding varieties add interest when tucked between stones and along rock walls.

Stonecrop is also very showy

consider when choosing a site for your sedum is soil drainage. Sedum can tolerate spring rains, as long as they are in fast-draining soils; try to avoid planting them where they will receive frequent water or runoff from irrigation systems. To improve drainage, work compost into the bed. In addition to good drainage, make sure they receive plenty of sunlight, at least 6 hours or more each day—the hotter, the better.

Gardeners generally find very few problems with their sedum. Deer tend to avoid them, and most insects don’t bother them. Overwatering is the most common cause of a sedum’s demise. If we have an early spring, lots of rain, or too much fertilizer is applied, stonecrop can tend to quickly grow tall on weak stems, which causes them to flop by the time fall arrives. To avoid this, give them a trim early in the season to stunt their growth a bit, letting them grow to a few inches tall, then pinching them back by about half by mid-June in order to promote bushy growth. Overcrowded plants can be dug up and divided in early spring, before they begin to grow.

son long, giving interest even when the plant isn’t in bloom. To add contrast in texture and size, ‘Blue Elf’, ‘Lime Zinger’, ‘Firecracker’ and ‘Steel the Show’ all boast great foliage color on a 6-8” mounding habit that doesn’t spread wildly like some of the groundcover types. If you are a fan of the mounding/ spreading ‘Kamtschaticum’, ‘Boogie Woogie’ and ‘Atlantis’ are both must-haves that keep to their tidy, mounding habit.

One of the most popular uses for sedum is in a rock garden. Tall-

as a mass planting in borders or as edging along paths. Taller varieties add texture to the middle of the border, as well as late-season blooms when other perennials are bloomed out for the year. Shorter, mounding types are particularly showy when planted as edging along pathways. Their drought tolerance makes them a perfect candidate to plant in areas of the yard that don’t receive much water, atop berms, and in areas that are mulched with gravel or decorative rock.

The most important thing to

Fertilizer is rarely required for a good crop of sedum, but if you feel the need, use a balanced slowrelease fertilizer like Osmocote, or an organic fertilizer like Espoma Garden Tone. Finally, though they are drought tolerant plants, stonecrop is not a cactus, so it does occasionally need supplemental water during dry spells, especially to get it established during its first couple of seasons. With proper care, any gardener can enjoy season-long interest from this landscape favorite, the Live-Forever.

Autumn Fire

SEAN HOLLAND

Perennials Manager

Sean Holland is Perennials Manager at Suburban Lawn & Garden, 135th and Wornall location, in Kansas City, Missouri. You may reach him at seanh@suburbanlg.com.

Photo credit: Walters Gardens.

Night

Firecracker

Atlantis

Touchdown Teak

Above: Lime Zinger

Below: Back in Black

Embers

Frosted Fire

Above: Steel the Show

Below: Autumn Joy

Coraljade

Kamtschaticum

Above: Blue-Elf

Below: Boogie Woogie

Watch Out for ‘Student Flyers’

Wasn’t it only yesterday we welcomed back our spring and summer birds? Some, like hummingbirds and flycatchers, stayed to raise families; others, like warblers and waterfowl, paused only briefly before rushing northward.

Now days are growing steadily shorter, altering birds’ hormones and making them restless and eager to travel again. The lengthy, wonderful pageant of fall migration has begun!

Spring migration in KC flits by between mid-March and midMay. Fall migration stretches over August, September, October, and even into November. Birds swap worn summer plumage for fresh feathers, and accumulate fat to fuel long southbound flights. (Fun fact: 1 gram of fat = 125 miles of flight under ideal conditions!) Hormoneinduced hunger allows birds to add 50% or more to their summer weights. Birds like orioles that eat mostly insects throughout summer switch to a more fruit and/or seedbased fall diet for rapid weight gains. They’ll gladly forage in your garden if it contains favorite foods from native grasses, flowers, and fruiting plants. Variety is the spice of migration; the mixture of species changes daily, and identification is challenging. Birds cease singing, and simple “call notes” can be harder to name. Young birds and fall adults are camouflaged in muted plumage and species look similar.

Youngsters comprise a significant proportion of fall migrants. Species like swallows, orioles, and ducks migrate in flocks containing family groups. But most songbirds migrate individually, by night, and their offspring miraculously find their way to wintering grounds they’ve never seen. How? Despite decades of elegant experimentation and impressive revelations, ornithologists are still unraveling migration’s mysteries.

Migration requires both orientation and navigation. Orientation enables birds to fly in the right direction for the right length of time, to

cover a required distance. This isn’t as simple as flying directly south; often birds have several “legs” to their journeys, like airplanes following flight paths between airports. This information is hardwired into their DNA. For example, tiny blackpoll warblers leaving Canada in fall initially fly eastsoutheast. On reaching the northeastern U.S., they turn and fly directly south (mostly nonstop, over the ocean!) until they reach South America, then disperse throughout Brazil and the Amazon basin. In spring, they funnel northward to Florida, then return to Canada via land-based, northwesterly routes. Season-specific routes allow the birds to take advantage of favorable winds, and to access vital “stopover habitats” in spring (including our gardens!).

Genes are amazing, but birds

ELIZABETH STOAKES Birding Enthusiast

are far from being feathered little robots! Changing weather, winds, and food supplies make each trip unique. Birds can use multiple cues simultaneously to adapt to current conditions and maintain course. They can see polarized light, and this allows them to orient themselves southward when taking off at sunset. Experiments with captive indigo buntings in a planetarium proved that these nocturnal migrants also perform celestial navigation. Surprisingly, they didn’t rely solely on seeing the North Star, but instead reacted to rotations of stars in its vicinity. Apparently, buntings are genetically predisposed to begin learning their “star map” while still in the nest.

What happens when clouds obscure the sky? Many birds can physically detect the earth’s magnetic field, which tends to be stron-

ger toward the poles and weaker at the equator. White-crowned sparrows are just one species that possesses crystals of magnetite (a magnetically-sensitive mineral), in their nasal cavities or brains. Magnetic cues supplement celestial navigation, and may be especially important for birds that “zig-zag” during their travels.

Birds learn from each migration and increase navigational skills with age. Older birds wander off course much less frequently, even facing strong winds and storms. Waterfowl and raptors may use physical landmarks such as rivers and mountains to hold their courses. Homing pigeon experiments suggest that birds can use subtle scents and sounds to return faithfully to known “rest stops”, breeding and wintering grounds. Skillful migrants are most likely to survive and produce equally talented offspring.

Try enjoying migration “by ear” as well as by sight! Stand outdoors on quiet nights, and you may detect the melodious calls of migrants passing overhead. Some travelers are unknowingly increasing our knowledge, thanks to the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking Network (https://motus.org). (“Motus” means “movement” in Latin.) This growing network of more than 750 receivers detects passing birds and animals equipped with special lightweight radiofrequency tags and stores vast amounts of data. Current work explores not only migration routes, but how birds utilize habitats, and rates of winter mortality. BAS is presently contributing monetary support for fascinating MOTUS studies of wood thrushes and cerulean warblers. Projects require close collaboration by multiple entities, including your Missouri conservation department, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and SELVA (a South American bird conservation network), all with one unifying purpose—ensuring that the birds we love will traverse our skies for decades to come!

Elizabeth Stoakes is currently President of Burroughs Audubon Society in Kansas City and has been birding for over 25 years. Please contact BAS via mail@burroughs.org or text/call 816-795-8177 with any birding questions.

Above: Orchard Oriole fattens offspring for migration Below: First-year female Northern Parula warbler

Photos by Terrence Thompson.

HUGE PEONY SALE

by Heartland Peony Society www.peonies.org

Saturday, October 21

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until sold out)

LOCATION: 75th & Nall Ave.

Asbury United Methodist Church

5400 W. 75th St., LOWER LEVEL, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Featuring a variety pack of three peony types and colors and an extensive selection of choice, hard-to-find colors, Japanese tree peonies, and a wonderful selection of Herbaceous and Intersectional peonies.

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery

573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003

www.mowildflowers.net

mowldflrs@socket.net

9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109

Meet us at one of these locations in the KC area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we’ll bring it to the location.

Deep Roots Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. deeprootskc.org. September 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. www.moprairie.org. September 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation - Fall Native Plant Sale at 3403 W. 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205. shawneeindianmission.org September 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale at Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Rd. KC MO 64154. www.plattelandtrust.org. September 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We’re open weekdays, year-round at the nursery (9814 address above) and weekends now until October 16.

U-PICK FARM FUN FOR 22 YEARS!

• Over 23,000 mums in 32 varieties, 7 colors, 3 bloom times!

• Plus tri-color multi mums in 3 bloom periods

• Apple Cider or Pumpkin Spice* doughnuts and Cider Slushies.

• U-Pick Apples, Veggies, Sunflowers and Pumpkins*

• Playground opens in late September*.

*Check website and Facebook for updated information.

CHECK OUT OUR VIP SEASON PASS

177th and Holmes • 816.331.1067 www.johnsonfarms.net

Invitation to Hasta Luego Monarchs

Saturday,

September

30,

2023 FREE and Family-Friendly Event

Everyone loves a party…

Right? Please join the Johnson County Master Naturalists at our party to say “Farewell” to the gorgeous monarch butterfly. These butterflies have been with us in increasing numbers throughout the summer. September, however, is the “Month of the Monarch” because it is September when the numbers of monarchs in our area reach their peak, and the butterflies begin their migration south to Mexico to spend the winter.

Did you know monarch butterflies have been considered “Royalty” since early European settlers arrived in the New World and were astounded by these gorgeous orange and black butterflies? To show their respect for these butterflies, the settlers named the butterflies “Monarch” for king. Monarchs are known as the “King of Butterflies” in the same sense that the lion is the “King of Beasts”. The monarch butterfly is known and respected worldwide for their beauty and their endurance.

The monarch’s multigenera-

tional migration is legendary. Monarch butterflies have an annual four generation migration that takes them from Mexico in the spring, north to Canada, and then back to Mexico in the fall. It is an amazing journey of up to 3,000 miles, and it requires four generations of monarchs to complete the journey. The fourth generation emerges in September and starts their journey to Mexico. These “Super Monarchs” live longer, travel further, and reproduce on a different schedule than previous generations.

The life cycle starts when a female monarch butterfly lays their eggs on milkweed. It is the only food a monarch caterpillar can eat. The caterpillar will emerge from its egg, chomp away on milkweed for about 2 weeks, until it crawls off and transforms into a chrysalis. After one to two weeks, a beautiful monarch butterfly will emerge from its chrysalis. The availability of milkweed is critical for the process. If there is no milkweed to feed the caterpillars, we have no monarch butterflies.

ANN TANNER Master Naturalist

The number of monarch butterflies is in sharp decline for many reasons, including loss of milkweed along its journey north as well as loss of forests in Mexico, where the butterflies overwinter.

To help save the monarch, you can purchase native milkweed to add to your garden. You can also add more late-blooming nectar flowers to your garden including asters, salvia, goldenrod, and lantana. These flowers provide the energy migrating butterflies need for their journey to Mexico.

The Johnson County Master Naturalists celebrate the fantastic journey of the monarch butterfly every year at the Hasta Luego Monarchs event at the Pollinator Prairie near downtown Olathe at 320 S. Blake St. on Saturday, September 30, 2023, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The four gardens of the Pollinator Prairie are linked by an accessible trail that winds around four gardens, including one dedicated to monarch but-

terflies. In addition to milkweed, you will find other nectar plants in the Monarch Garden including asters, coneflowers, and Joe Pye.

We will have educational exhibits of interest for everyone, including demonstrations by Monarch Watch, in which representatives from the group will tag and release monarch butterflies. This is so exciting! We never know if one of our tagged monarch butterflies will be rediscovered in Oklahoma, Texas, or even Mexico.

If you are interested in learning more about or participating in our Bluebird Stewards program, we will have bluebird monitors in attendance to answer your questions. In addition, the Bluebird Stewards will have bluebird boxes available for purchase. If you are interested in adding native plants, including perennial milkweed or nectar plants to your garden, Parsons’ Gardens from Olathe will be onsite with native plants for sale. Finally, we will have fun games and a small prize for children who attend.

Monarch Butterfly on Lantana

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar on Swamp Milkweed

Monarch Butterfly on Thistle

Photos by Ann Tanner.

Ann Tanner is a pharmacist by training and a naturalist at heart. She is originally from Mississippi, but she has lived in Kansas for more than 30 years. Ann’s passions are conservation, birding, and native prairie protection and restoration. Ann enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with the community.

Complementary Coreopsis Stars that Shine by Day

The color yellow is perhaps the cheeriest of hues. Yellow makes me think of Big Bird, smiley faces, sunshine, and lemon meringue pie. It grabs my attention, and puts a smile on my face. So does Coreopsis, a group of native plants in the Aster family, that bloom yellow in spring and summer. Yellow flowers easily complement other colors, especially when used sparingly, like with the Swedish and Palauen flags.

Some of my favorite plant combinations involve vibrant, yellow coreopsis, as with lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), Ohio horsemint (Blephilia ciliata), foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), and showy evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa), which is a lovely and informal grouping of plants for full sun. And then there’s the stunning plains coreopsis (C. tinctoria, an annual) with purple poppy mallow

(Callirhoe involucrata), if you’re going for eye-popping intensity. Both of these coreopsis species spread in the garden by seed.

Also, butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and threadleaf coreopsis, (C. verticillata, an eastern U.S. native) provide another killer combo, and these plants don’t spread around as much from seed. Keep in mind that a little yellow goes a long way; in many situations, less is more.

Because plains coreopsis is annual, look for seedlings that come up randomly from year to year. Also, plains coreopsis can tolerate growing on rocky soils, such as the side of a driveway or roadside.

A softer combination is prairie coreopsis (C. palmata) with pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum, formerly Cacalia plantaginea). These plants

SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist

are tolerant of dry soil and full sun. By mid-summer, lemon-colored tall coreopsis (C. tripteris), topping out at 6 to 7 feet tall, blooms with other tall perennials, such as Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) and hollow-stemmed Joe pye (Eutrochium fistulosum, formerly Eupatorium fistulosum). Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is also in peak bloom at this time and works well with these tall perennials.

Later in summer, star tickseed (C. pubescens) is still blooming in part shade, along with garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata, an annual). This is the time of year when beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) fruits are turning bright purple.

If your garden is lacking the summer cheer that the color yellow supplies, try adding a few masses of coreopsis. It may cheer you up, and will surely benefit the bees and goldfinches that thrive on them. Happy gardening!

Coreopsis Bloom sequence

1 May-June: Lanceleaf (Coreopsis lanceolata)

2 June-July: Threadleaf (Coreopsis verticillata)

3 June-July: Plains (Coreopsis tinctoria)

4 June-July: Prairie (Coreopsis grandiflora)

5 June-Sept: Star (Coreopsis palmata)

6 July-Aug: Tall (Coreopsis tripteris)

Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education and has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native plants, seeds, and services at the Grow Native! Resource Guide: www.moprairie.org.

Pictured above: Lanceleaf coreopsis, Ohio horsemint, and showy evening primrose

Pictured above: star tickseed, garden phlox and beautyberry Star tickseed has the longest bloom time of all the coreopsis, because it blooms repeatedly, especially after prompt deadheading. But if your goal is feeding finches, don’t touch those seed heads.

Photos by Scott Woodbury.

Upcoming Garden Events

Dahlia Shows

Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society announces show schedule: Powell Gardens Sep 1-2; Suburban Lawn and Garden Sep 29-30 (135 & Wornall Rd, KCMO). For more information on shows, or regular meetings held at the Anita B Gorman Conservation center, see www.kcdahlia.org or e-mail: greaterkcdahlia@gmail.com.

Raytown Garden Club

Tues, Sep 5, 10a; at Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy, Raytown, MO 64138. Program will be “Caring and Sharing with Plant Propagation” presented by Iva Stribling, RGC member. Guests are always welcome. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.

2023 Old Settler’s Community Flower Show

Free & Open to the Public, both entries & viewing. Entries

accepted: Thurs 9/7 6-8p, Fri 9/8 8-9a. Open for Viewing: Fri 9/8 1-8p, Sat 9/9 9a-3p; at Olathe City Hall (100 E Santa Fe). Presented by the Olathe Garden & Civic Club in coordination with Olathe Old Settlers Days, this annual flower and horticulture show is for everyone! Entries will be accepted from amateur (non-commercial) gardening enthusiasts. Look at the beauties in your garden, arrange them to fit a floral design class, or just clip them and show them off as specimens! Bring them to the ground floor of the City Hall building and we’ll help you get entered, or just come by to see all the beautiful entries! For additional details about entries, contact Susan at albertsusanm@gmail.com.

September to Remember Garden Tour

Sep 8 & 9. Marais de Cygne Extension Master Gardeners will be showcasing six unique gardens in Louisburg, Spring Hill and Paola area. Look for Rattlesnake Master and Compass forbs, stunning Elephant Ears, Catalpa, Corkscrew Willow and Harry Potter Trees, garden art, monarch waystation, and numerous water features and vendors at each garden. Admission for both days is $20.00 with visitation 9a-5p each day.

Idalia Butterfly Society

Sat, Sep 9, 5p; at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St, Overland Park, KS 66204. Doors open at 5p; beverages and light snacks will be served. Meeting begins at 5:45p with the program immediately following a brief session of business and announcements. Betsy Betros, noted Kansas City Area entomologist, will present “Jewels of the Air: Dragonflies.” Dragonflies are ancient insects that evolved flight 319 million years ago. Betsy’s photographs of these aerialists in action will illustrate their beauty and their amazing aerial acrobatics. And they eat mosquitoes! The meeting is free; visitors are welcome, no RSVP needed. Call/text 816-795-8177 with any questions.

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners

Wed, Sep 13, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Loretta Craig, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will give a presentation on “Self Care Gardening.” The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information, contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Terra Luna at Overland Park Arboretum

Terra Luna is returning to the gardens this fall for two magical weekends only, Sep 14-16 & 21-23. Tickets on sale now at https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/terra-luna/.

Kansas City Cactus & Succulent Society

Sun, Sep 17, 1:30p; at the Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Join us for a roundtable discussion highlighting the activities and programming of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America’s national conference held in Colorado Springs, CO in July. Club members who attended will share their experiences attending talks, field trips and plant/pottery purchases from some of the country’s top experts and cactus/succulent growers in the country.

Heartland Hosta & Shade Plant Society

Sat, Sep 23, 10a; at Woods Chapel Community of Christ

Church, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. Nationally recognized hosta expert Rob Morko will be our featured speaker. Rob is a frequent speaker at

hosta clubs and gardening groups across the country. He is a Johnson County Kansas Extension Master Gardener where he has served on the Advisory Board. He has also served on the Executive Board of the American Hosta Society, on the boards of the America Hosta Growers Association and Midwest Regional Hosta Society, ad as a Contributing Editor for The Hosta Journal. In addition to this, Rob is owner of Made in the Shade Tissue Culture — a plant tissue culture laboratory specializing in hosta propagation. Come join us and learn more about growing hosta and why they are the top selling perennial in the U.S.

Butterfly Garden Open House

Sat, Sep 23, noon-3p; at 500 Eisenhower Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048. The Leavenworth County Master Gardeners will host an open house at their Butterfly Garden. Please join us as we follow the migration of the Monarch Butterflies as they continue their journey to Mexico. Learn about our Monarch Waystation. There will be activities for children. If available, there will be opportunities to capture, tag and release Monarch Butterflies. There is no fee. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Blue Springs Historical Society Community Flea Market and Fall Plant Sale

Sat, Sep 23, 8a-1p; at Blue Springs Museum Garden, 101 SW 15th St, Blue Springs, MO. Blooming Blue Springs Garden Master Gardeners.

Leawood Garden Club

Tues, Sep 26, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66203. “Managing Our Clay Soil for Greater Success”. Do you moan and groan our clay soil?

Clay is the most nutrient rich soil and yes, we have lots of it. Once you understand the why and how to manage it, you’ll come to love it...well, at least not hate it. Nancy Chapman, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener volunteer since 2007 and a member of the EMG Speakers Bureau for over 10 years. She helps steward a Giving Grove fruit tree orchard in KCMO’s Spring Valley Park.

Fall Tree Seminar—Prairie Village

Wed, Oct 4, 7p; Birch Room at the Meadowbrook Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave, Prairie Village. “Plant native! Plants native!” – it’s been the same refrain preached by tree experts nationwide for years. So what are homeowners to do when their hearts are set on planting a gingko, a Japanese maple or some other non-native tree in their yards? Local tree experts Dennis Patton, Sarah Crowder, and Robert Whitman will discuss the native versus non-native. Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent, Dennis Patton writes regularly for the Kansas City Star and The Kansas City Gardener. Program Manager of the Heartland Tree Alliance, Sarah Crowder formerly served as urban forester for the city of Overland Park. With more than 30 years experience as a landscape architect and an expertise on native plants, Robert Whitman rounds out the panel who will help homeowners weigh the pros and cons in choosing between native and non-native trees. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Mo-Kan Daylily Club

Sat, Oct 7, 10:30a; at Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W 75th St, Prairie Village. The meeting starts at 10:30a with a meet and greet, followed by a pot luck lunch, presentation, and club business meeting. The guest speaker will be Dennis Patton, horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. Dennis will be speaking about soil. Guests are welcome!

Kaw Valley Farm Tour

Oct 7 & 8. Visit local farms and learn about farm practices directly from the farmer. See kawvalleyfarmtour.org for more information and tickets.

Heartland Peony Society Peony Sale

Sat, Oct 21, 9:30a-3p or until sold out; Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W 75th St, Prairie Village. Featuring a variety pack of three peony types and colors and an extensive selection of choice, hard-to-find colors, Japanese tree peonies, and a wonderful selection of Herbaceous and Intersectional peonies. www.peonies.org

GARDEN CALENDAR

September list of what to do in the garden.

• Seed bluegrass or tall fescue lawns early in the month for best results.

• Sod new lawns or dead spots for quick recovery.

• Renovate bluegrass or tall fescue by verticutting then overseeding.

• Core aerate cool-season turf to aid in root development and thatch breakdown.

• Fertilize cool-season grasses with high-nitrogen sources of fertilizer.

• Mow turf at least 3 inches. Sharpen the mower blade for a clean cut.

• Continue to mow Zoysia but do not fertilize or aerate this late in the season.

FLOWERS

• Plant spring flowering bulbs, tulips, daffodils, and others.

• Dig, divide, or plant peonies.

• Divide perennials, especially spring bloomers.

• Remove seed heads from perennials to prevent reseeding in the garden.

• Plant chrysanthemums for fall color.

• Dig gladiolus as the foliage begins to yellow and air-dry before storing for winter.

• Clean up garden areas to reduce insects and disease as plants die back for winter.

• Enrich the soil by adding organic matter such as compost.

• Soil test for the next growing season.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Continue to harvest vegetables.

• Pick apples and pears and store them in a cool place to extend freshness.

• Harvest pumpkins when the flesh is completely orange. Avoid carrying by the stem.

• Harvest winter squash when the rind cannot be punctured with your fingernail.

• Plant lettuce, spinach, and radishes for fall harvest.

• Remove weeds from garden plantings before they go to seed.

• Dig tender herbs from the garden and place them in pots for indoor use this winter.

• Remove small tomatoes to increase the late development of more mature fruits.

• Spade or till garden plots incorporating fallen leaves or grass clippings to improve soil quality.

• Plant garlic cloves for next year’s crop.

TREES AND SHRUBS

• Plant trees and shrubs, deciduous and evergreen.

• Rake up fallen leaves and compost.

• Prune broken and dead branches from trees.

• Avoid pruning spring flowering shrubs to ensure spring flowers.

• Handpick bagworms to reduce a problem infestation next year.

HOUSEPLANTS

• Bring plants in before temperatures drop into the 50’s.

• Clean and wash before moving indoors to reduce insects.

• Fertilize before winter conditions arrive and growth slows.

• Force poinsettias into Christmas bloom by starting dark treatment.

MY GARDEN (Use this space to list additional tasks to accomplish in your garden.)

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.

LAWN

CASS COUNTY

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

DOUGLAS COUNTY

785-843-7058; dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com; Mon, Wed, 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

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

913-364-5700; Leave a message. A Master Gardener will contact you.

MIAMI COUNTY & LINN COUNTY

913-294-4306; Thurs, 8am-noon

WYANDOTTE COUNTY

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

QUESTIONS ABOUT ROSES?

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

Autumn Tree Sale

Bring a flash of red to your yard with an autumn blaze maple or a glow of gold with a river birch. Select trees are up to 50% off! Sale begins September 9th.

Fall into Color

Fall flowers have arrived and are ready to bring home. Our vibrant, hardy mums are grown on our own local farm and have a wide range of bloom times. Pair them with pansies and ornamental kale for a classic seasonal display.

Reach for the Sky

Perennial ornamental grasses bring a soft and inviting texture to any landscape.

Hardy Mums starting at $7.99

Ornamental Grasses starting at $16.99