IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE the magazine at your place of business, please contact Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728
NEED MORE MAGAZINES? mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728
CONTACT US P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-648-4728
ADVERTISING
Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728
EDITORIAL
Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
See details on page 23.
SUBSCRIPTION
Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728
WEBSITE kcgmag.com
Goodbye summer, hello fall
Summer is drawing to an end. Major league baseball teams are racing towards playoffs, city swimming pools close by Labor Day, and the school zone speed limit signs are flashing once more. Soon lowering temperatures will remind us to find our lightweight sweaters, coffee shops start offering pumpkin spice everything, and the changing leaves begin a colorful dance as the wind carries them away.
The summer overstays its welcome, in my opinion. I’m tired of bugs, of watering, and sweat. So I gladly hold the door open as summer exits.
Enter fall. That season when the landscape seems to share a collective sigh of relief. Although the weariness is evident, fall sheds a different light, to see the garden through a different lense. There is beauty in that perennial that gave its all. I can look at those faded coneflowers knowing that even though they have finished blooming, what remains are seeds that feed the birds. That thought alone brings a smile to my face shifting my attitude to one of gratitude.
After reading my friend Lenora Larson’s article about the butterfly
garden in September (page 14), I am inspired and have a renewed sense of what is possible. With two new knees, I am …. wait …. didn’t I tell you? Yes dear garden friend, I am finally relieved of years of knee pain that kept me sidelined for many seasons. Two surgeries this year, one in spring, the other in summer, of total knee replacements. Textbook outpatient procedures with surgery in the morning and home to recover in the afternoon. I was a perfect patient following every direction and suggestion given by the orthopedic team. Best of all, Mr. Gardener took such good care of me.
At this writing I’m seven weeks post surgery feeling better than ever. I’m highly motivated and ready to be physically active again. Not only is gardening back on my list of activities, but also is the growing list of possibilities.
Now I’m eager to be outdoors. And even though the days are growing shorter as we head towards winter, we make use of every hour. American novelist and short story writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (18041864), wrote this in The American Notebooks: The Centenary Edition, “... I cannot endure to waste any-
thing so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air.”
I have new hopes for my future gardening. That I will make time to spend as many daylight hours in the open air, whether in my garden or hiking a trail.
I’ll see you in the garden!
songbirds. See more beauties beginning on page
RESEED COOL SEASON GRASSES
Question: I was told the best time to reseed my lawn with tall fescue is in September. Why is this? Do you have any tips for success?
Answer: It is recommended to reseed cool-season grasses in September simply because the extreme heat of the summer has typically passed at this point in the year. Ultimately, this enables young grass seedlings to persist without being cooked. The pre-frost, non-frozen autumn period that follows allows the plants a cool and moist environment with warm soil to establish their roots before going dormant for the winter.
Remember, “typical” does not always equal “actual.” Observing this practice, be sure to watch the forecasted temperatures. Depending on the season, the best time to apply seed can be delayed to late September or even October. So long as triple digits can be avoided, seedlings should be in the clear. Then, also keep in mind that Kentucky bluegrass should be seeded no later than early October. Tall fescue should be seeded no later than October 15th. With special care to keep these from drying out, they should have enough time to establish before winter.
BULBS MAY NOT BLOOM IN A SYNCHRONIZED MANNER
Question: Every fall, I plant my spring bulbs together, but every spring, they pop up in out-ofsynch patches. Am I doing something wrong?
Answer: Newer gardeners may be surprised that asynchronous bulb emergence can be boiled down to variety selection. In their enthusiasm for incorporating new and exciting flowers in the fall, they might overlook that bulbs do not all emerge at the same time. For instance, tulips have early-season, mid-season, and late-season varieties. Mixing and matching these, you are far more likely to have
Ask the Experts
spotty emergence than the continuous carpet of flowers intended. Going even further and attempting to interplant different types of spring bulbs, such as crocus, hyacinth, and daffodil, will put even more demand on varying emergence times—so due diligence in plant research is necessary.
Bear in mind that if spring bulbs have been individually planted, this
can also result in spotty flower arrival, as planting depth is more likely to be varied, ultimately resulting in varying growth stages. Opting to plant bulbs in troughs or leveled holes and individual holes will remedy this. A moist but not oversaturated soil should then be maintained for the remainder of the fall and at least once a month during the winter. While bulbs prefer to be on the dryer side to avoid rot,
ANTHONY REARDON Horticulture Agent
this moisture will be essential in successful root establishment and subsequent bloom success.
HOUSEPLANTS NEED TIME TO ACCLIMATE
Question: I like to bring my houseplants outdoors every summer, but they always seem to struggle when I get them back inside in the fall. Why are they doing this?
Answer: Just as indoor plants need to be acclimated to outdoor conditions, gradually introducing them to the elements and their new growing environment, the same can be said for exposing them to indoor conditions. Drastic shifts in watering habits, temperatures, and photoperiods tend to rapidly show in house plants in the form of leaf drops. As such, gradually altering these elements to the best of your
ability, whether outdoors or indoors, is critical.
Move the plants to increasingly shady areas before reintroducing them indoors. Get them acclimated to being watered once every few days rather than every day. Slowly introduce them to temperature ranges close to room temperature via protected areas. So long as the plants are brought indoors before temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they should be clear from damage. So, there is time for this acclimation process to take place.
Also remember, heat and light can still be supplemented once the plants are indoors—you may just need to invest in some equipment. Grow lights and heating pads can go a long way in sustaining the more finicky tropical houseplants, so their use should not be discounted if necessary.
WHEN TO HARVEST SQUASH AND PUMPKINS
Question: I always struggle to tell when my winter squash and pumpkins are ready for harvest. What should I be looking for?
Answer: There are two primary indicators to look for when harvesting winter squash and pumpkins. The first, the thumbnail test, means that if your thumbnail can pierce the gourd’s skin, the plant is not yet mature enough to be harvested. The second, the vine test, indicates the gourd is ready when there is no longer succulence in the stem. When removing these crops, a sharp knife or pruning shears is recommended as the vine is typically too stout to sever by hand.
Remember, even if a winter squash passes the thumbnail test, observing a curing period for the harvest is best for establishing a toughened rind. To do so, store the squash in a dry area at 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 3 weeks. In their cured state, these can be stored in coolers for up to 4 to 6 months.
Anthony Reardon 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.
Spring-blooming bulbs do not emerge all at once.
Outdoor plants need to be acclimated before bringing indoors.
Do you know the two primary squash harvesting indicators?
Kids Ask Dr. Bug about the curious things
How do you become an insect scientist and what do they do?
There are many ways to become an insect scientist, also called an entomologist. Entomologists, like Dr. Bug (me!), study the fascinating world of insects. In addition to studying insects, curiosity and education are key! Other useful subjects include math, chemistry, ecology, art, writing, and public speaking.
Depending on your interests, here are some of the different kinds of entomologist you can become one:
• Conservationist/Ecologist: These scientists study insects in their habitat, protecting beneficial insects, endangered species, and ecosystems.
• Urban entomologist: These scientists keep our homes and cities safe from insects, like bed bugs and mosquitoes, that can cause problems.
• Crop entomologists: These scientists keep our food supply safe by studying insect pests and promoting Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management to protect beneficial insects and to keep our environment healthy.
• Physiologist: These scientists usually work in labs, figuring out how insects work from the inside out. They may work with insect cells, DNA, and other microscopic parts and biological reactions that make insects work.
• Teacher/Professor: These scientists share their knowledge and passion for insects, inspiring future generations of entomologists!
• Military entomologist: These scientists protect soldiers from harmful pests.
• Systematist: These scientists discover and classify new insect species, keeping track
of this incredible diversity.
So, which type of insect scientist are you curious about? What insects do you want to study? To get you started, here are a few experiments you can do at home to learn more about insects.
Learn How Termites Talk!
Termites use chemical trails to help nestmates find food and their way back home.
Supplies:
• Paper and a clipboard
• A variety of pens (BIC ballpoint, gel, etc.)
• Paint brush
• Small container and slightly moistened cotton
• Termites (found in the ground near wood sources like mulch or firewood piles)
What to do:
1. First, find your tiny team. Gently dig in moist soil near wood to find worker termites. Collect 5-ish with a paintbrush and put them in a container with a damp paper towel (keep it shady!).
2. On the paper, use a pen to draw simple shapes.
3. Using the paint brush, gently place a termite in the center of a shape and watch its path. Does it follow the line?
4. Repeat step 3 with different pens. Do the termites react differently?
Observe and wonder: Can termites “smell” the pen ink? What might this tell us about how they communicate?
See this experiment in action by clicking https:// youtube.com/shorts/ cscHDDX9e7k or scanning the QR code here.
found in the garden
Water Striders glide across the water’s surface. Learn more by performing the experiment below.
Be a Water Strider Scientist!
Water striders glide across the water’s surface. Let’s unlock their secret: surface tension!
Supplies:
• Shallow dish, water
• Paperclip, hair tie, blade of grass, button
• (Optional) Toothpick, small coin
Skim the Science:
1. Fill the dish with water.
2. Gently place each object on the water. Does it float?
3. Touch the water near the object. Does it sink now?
4. If it still floats, add a little soap to the water
Water Magic: Water has surface tension, like a thin “skin.” This lets lightweight objects float, just like water striders! Touching the water disrupts this “skin,” causing some objects to sink.
Observe and wonder: What did you learn about floating objects? Being lightweight helps water striders to use surface tension.
Water striders also have waterrepellant hairs on their hind and middle legs to increase the surface area and help them glide on the water surface. Learn more about water striders here: https://mdc.mo.gov/ discover-nature/field-guide/waterstriders.
Be an Insect Inspector: Build Your Own Traps!
Let’s see what creepy crawlies live in your backyard! Build these simple traps and observe the fascinating insect world.
Supplies:
• Pitfall Trap: Plastic cup, spoon, soil, paper
• Bait Trap: Empty plastic water bottle, fruit scraps, tape
• Light Trap: White sheet, flashlight, black light (optional, with adult supervision)
Trapped!
1. Pitfall Party: Dig a hole the size of your cup in the soil. Place the cup in the hole with the rim level with the ground. Cover the top with a
Dr. Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugN Garden) is the horticulture specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit www.extension.missouri.edu.
TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist
paper “roof” held by a stick. Check your pitfall daily!
2. Bug Buffet: Cut the top off a clean plastic water bottle. Invert the top (like a funnel) and place it back into the bottom section, securing the edges with tape. Add some fruit scraps inside the bottle. Watch what insects visit your mini buffet! They can fly in but the shape makes it tricky for them to escape.
3. Night Light Show: On a dark night, hang a white sheet outside in a safe spot. Shine a regular flashlight on the sheet to create a bright area. Watch for insects attracted to the light!
a. Bonus Round: (With adult supervision) Care-
fully swap the regular flashlight for a black light and see if different insects appear. Black light attracts some insects because they can see a different range of light than we can. Remember: Identify insects using apps like iNaturalist or ask your local University Extension for help. Check pitfall and bottle traps daily and release insects carefully. Be mindful of anything that can sting or bite!
Did you know that there is a Kids Ask Dr. Bug video series? Check it out! https://bit. ly/KADBvideos. Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@Missouri. edu or https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug. Please include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this column, consider filling out this survey: https://bit.ly/ KidsAskDrBugSurvey.
OPENING AUGUST 30TH , DISCOVER THE LARGEST MUM SELECTION IN KC – OVER 22,000 MUMS IN 90 VIBRANT VARIETIES!
Prepare the Soil for Overseeding by using Earth Right NOW!
In KC we never know what fall & winter will bring. Protect your lawn & landscape from harsh weather. Accept only Original Earth Right products for the health & beauty of your lawn & garden.®
Root Starter and Enhancer
Covers 20,000 SQ FT
Covers 10,000 SQ FT
Earth Right opens up hard pan soil so roots can go deeper. Mushroom Stuff expands roots quickly after overseeding or renovating turf!
Often Copied NEVER DUPLICATED Need Help Applying our products?
Tobin Lawn & Landscape (816-765-5565) Big Green Turf Management (816-600-4936)
Visit our website to check out our mum banner, get mum care tips, and see our full list of hours! www.johnsonfarms.net
Hasta Luego Monarchs at the Pollinator Prairie
Meet the Majestic Monarch Butterflies
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024
September is considered “Monarch Month”, because the number of monarch butterflies peaks in our area as they start their migration south to their winter home in Mexico. To celebrate this event, the Johnson County Extension Master Naturalists invite you to an annual celebration entitled, “Hasta Luego Monarchs” to say Farewell for Now to the butterfly. The event will be on Saturday, September 28 between 9 am and 1 pm at the Pollinator Prairie in downtown Olathe, Kansas, at 320 S Blake Street. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
Although the monarch butterfly is found outside North America, it could be called “America’s Butterfly” because of its popularity in our country. Once you have seen a monarch, it is easy to remember its brilliant coloring. The butterfly has 2 sets of orange wings with black borders, black veins, and white dots around the edges. As a caterpillar, it has yellow, black, and white bands and fattens up before transforming into a light green chrysalis.
The monarch’s multigenerational migration is unmatched in the natural world. The butterflies have an annual migration that takes them from Mexico in the spring, north through the United States and into Canada, and then back to Mexico to spend the fall and winter. It is an amazing journey of up to 3,000 miles, and no one butterfly finishes the journey. It requires at least four generations of monarch butterflies to complete the two-way migration.
The population of monarch butterflies is in sharp decline for many
reasons, including the loss of milkweed along its migration pathway.
As gardeners, we can plant milkweed to assist the monarchs along their way. Female monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed, and
ANN TANNER Extension Master Naturalist
the hungry caterpillars feed only on the plant. If there is no milkweed to feed the caterpillars, we will have no monarch butterflies. Gardeners can also plant more late-blooming nectar flowers in their garden in-
cluding goldenrod, various asters, and salvia to help fuel the butterflies as they migrate south.
At Pollinator Prairie, an accessible trail winds around the four gardens, including a garden dedicated to monarch butterflies. In addition to several varieties of milkweed, you will also find other native nectar plants including many different asters, blazing stars, and coneflowers. At the celebration, there will be educational exhibits of interest for everyone, including demonstrations by Monarch Watch to tag and release monarch butterflies. Parsons’ Gardens from Olathe will be on site with native plants for sale, and the Master Naturalist NestBox Stewards will showcase their bird nesting boxes. Finally, there will be fun games, crafts, and activities for children.
For more information on Hasta Luego Monarchs or the Pollinator Prairie, visit johnson.k-state. edu. You also can call the Johnson County K-State Research Extension office at 913-715-7000. To celebrate this event, the Johnson County Extension Master Naturalists invite you to an annual celebration entitled, “Hasta Luego Monarchs” to say Farewell for Now to the butterfly. The event will be on Saturday, September 28 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Pollinator Prairie in downtown Olathe, Kansas, at 320 S. Blake Street. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
Although the monarch butterfly is found outside North America, it could be called “America’s Butterfly” because of its popularity in
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.
Monarch Butterfly on Swamp Milkweed
Photo by Ann Tanner.
Monarch Caterpillar on Swamp Milkweed Monarch Chrysalis
Photo by Ann Tanner.
Photo by Betsy Betros.
our country. Once you have seen a monarch, it is easy to remember its brilliant coloring. The butterfly has 2 sets of orange wings with black borders, black veins, and white dots around the edges. As a caterpillar, it has yellow, black, and white bands and fattens up before transforming into a light green chrysalis.
The monarch’s multigenerational migration is unmatched in the natural world. The butterflies have an annual migration that takes them from Mexico in the spring, north through the United States and into Canada, and then back to Mexico to spend the fall and winter. It is an amazing journey of up to 3,000 miles, and no one butterfly finishes the journey. It requires at least four generations of monarch butterflies to complete the two-way migration.
The population of monarch butterflies is in sharp decline for many reasons, including the loss of milkweed along its migration pathway. As gardeners, we can plant milkweed to assist the monarchs along their way. Female monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed, and the hungry caterpillars feed only on the plant. If there is no milkweed to
feed the caterpillars, we will have no monarch butterflies. Gardeners can also plant more late-blooming nectar flowers in their garden including goldenrod, various asters, and salvia to help fuel the butterflies as they migrate south.
At Pollinator Prairie, an accessible trail winds around the four gardens, including a garden dedicated to monarch butterflies. In addition to several varieties of milkweed, you will also find other native nectar plants including many different asters, blazing stars, and coneflowers. At the celebration, there will be educational exhibits of interest for everyone, including demonstrations by Monarch Watch to tag and release monarch butterflies. Parsons’ Gardens from Olathe will be on site with native plants for sale, and the Master Naturalist NestBox Stewards will showcase their bird nesting boxes. Finally, there will be fun games, crafts, and activities for children.
For more information on Hasta Luego Monarchs or the Pollinator Prairie, visit johnson.k-state. edu. You also can call the Johnson County K-State Research Extension office at 913-715-7000.
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.
Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale at Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Rd. KC MO 64154. September 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.plattelandtrust.org.
Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. September 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.moprairie.org.
Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation - Fall Native Plant Sale at Shawnee Indian Mission, 3403 W. 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205. September 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. shawneeindianmission.org
Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph MO 64507. Sunday, September 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. deeprootskc.org.
We’re open weekdays, year-round at the nursery (9814 address above) and weekends now until October 16.
EXHIBITORS
Climate Action KC ~ ChangeGamers!
Suds Refillery ~ Botanical Belonging The Resilient Activist ~ BikeWalkKC
Evergy ~ Magpie Creative Reuse Collective
WM ~ Lutherans Restoring Creation
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment
Ripple Glass ~ Missouri Organic Johnson County Extension Master Naturalists
Marcie’s Backyard Honey ~ KC Can Compost
Flourish: A Furniture Bank ~ City Roots Nursery Compost Collective KC
Otto’s Environmental Improvements LLC
Green CAT Services ~ WaterOne
Waste Management
Crafted: a fair trade collective (formerly Ten Thousand Villages Overland Park)
Helianthus Books ~ Bridging The Gap
Re.Use.Full ~ Friends of the Kaw
Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City
Crush Glass ~ Good Energy Solutions
KC Farm School at Gibbs Road
Metropolitan Energy Center ~ BoysGrow
HOSTED BY THE CITIES OF: Fairway, Merriam, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Westwood and Westwood Hills
Rose Report Detecting Rose Malnutrition
During September the roses should be enjoying cooler temperatures and likely will produce larger blooms with more vibrant color. A gardener’s reward for all the effort during the hot days of summer. However, if your roses are not looking as good as you would hope in September, the following is an article that may help you diagnose your rose symptoms.
If you have a rose question, please contact our Ask a Rosarian hotline at kcrosehelp@gmail.com. Fact sheets on all areas of rose care as well as videos can be found at www.kansascityrosesociety.org.
A Guide to Avoiding Rose Malnutrition
Perhaps the greatest secret held by most rosarians is the knowledge of how to drastically reduce stress in this modern world. After a hard day at the office or just coping with a hectic daily life, a simple stroll through the rose garden just before dusk to admire the health and vitality of the bushes can be extremely beneficial and rewarding to the mental fortitude.
However, this wonderful stress reducing activity can be abruptly shattered when you notice the early symptoms of foliage sickness. Two main reasons for this sickness worth checking out immediately are the irrigation system and potential pests (including gophers).
Assuming these two primary reasons are not responsible then attention should quickly turn to nutritional deficiencies. With three primary elemental nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium), three secondary elements (Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur) and five micronutrients (Iron, Boron, Copper, Manganese, and Zinc), the real need for a simple mechanism to correctly decide the lack of which elements are potentially responsible would be most helpful.
To use this diagnostic table, a primary decision needs to be made as to whether the symptoms are localized to only matured leaf sets, or mostly new emerging foliage.
In general, if only the older foliage is affected, then there is a high probability that it is a primary nutrient deficiency (Nitrogen, Phosphorus or Potassium) or perhaps a secondary elemental deficiency (Zinc or Magnesium). Lack of Nitrogen can induce light green foliage with the lower foliage sets turning yellow and then finally brown. On the other hand, a lack of appropriate levels of Phosphorus can cause the foliage to turn dark green (often red and purple too) with the lower leaf sets yellow to greenish brown. If the symptoms are localized to only certain areas of the bush, then the chances are that there is a Potassium deficiency especially if the spots of dead tissue are smallish occurring at the tips, edges and between the vein structure. If the dead spots are generalized and enlarged, then the nutrient deficiency is Zinc. On the other hand, if the leaves are mottled or chlorotic (even redden with some dead spots) the suspected deficiency is the lack of sufficient quantities of Magnesium.
If only the new foliage is affected, then Table 1 outlines a number of diagnostic possibilities with potential deficiencies in the micronutrient class.
JUDY PENNER Rose Garden Consultant
ONLY MATURE LEAF SETS AFFECTED Deficiency
A. Whole rose bush exhibits symptoms
1. Leaf sets lighter green to yellow. Nitrogen
2. Leaf sets dark green developing red & purple Phosphorus
B. Symptoms are localized to certain areas
1. Leaf sets chlorotic, mottled with spots of dead tissue
a. Dead tissue appears in spots, usually at tips and between veins
b. Dead tissue much more enlarged involving complete areas between veins
2. Leaf sets chlorotic, mottled with dead spots
MOSTLY NEW EMERGING FOLIAGE AFFECTED
A. Terminal bud dies
1. Young leaves typically hooked, finally dying back at tips and edges
2. Young leaves become light green at the base and finally look twisted
3. Young leaves permanently wilted, no chlorosis
B. Terminal bud commonly remains alive
1. Young leaves not wilted
a. Scattered spots of dead tissue with smaller veins remaining green causing a herringbone effect
b. Dead spots are not common over the leaf surface
i. Veins/tissue between veins light green
Potassium
Zinc
Magnesium
Calcium
Boron
Copper
Manganese
Manganese
Sulfur
ii. Chlorotic with principal veins typically green Iron
Article & table from Thorn Scratchings, bulletin of the Pacific Southwest District, Luis Desamero, editor, Dr. Tommy Cairns, author. Fall, 1994 issue.
Judy Penner is an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and Professional Rosarian since 1987. She has a Rose Garden Consulting business and can be contacted at judyssecretgardens@gmail.com.
Table 1. Guide to Detecting Rose Malnutrition
Come enjoy fresh air & Autumn at Arnold’s Prairie: Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Hardy Mums, Fall Color Pots Pansies, Cornstalks, Décor, Fall Veggies, Pumpkin Patch Fall Bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, etc) including Proven Winners Apple Cider & Products from Louisburg Cider Mill Grass Seed, Straw Bales, Mulch, Fertilizers, Tools & More!
Low 6.5% sales tax at our rural location
email or visit our Facebook page for info. on Fall Classes / Workshops
Late summer garden Beauty in the
Late summer is one of my favorite times in Kansas City. The temps are still warm, nights are a little cooler. Football is coming back, but the Royals are still playing some good ball. Kids are back to school and routine. But most of all the gardens are full and beautiful. You have made it through the summer swelter and your gardens are thanking you for it. We are energized when the season begins, but let’s be honest, by September we are tired. We need our garden to give us a little back for all the love we poured into it. Here are some great late summer/early fall favorites of mine. They are not only beautiful but fairly easy.
My mother had an upright Sedum in her garden when I was growing up. In fact she still has it there. It is an old-fashioned plant that is easy, great for pollinators and handles tough soils. ‘Autumn Joy’ is a classic variety of Sedum, but there are new options on the market with brighter hot pink blooms instead of the traditional mauve. Different color foliage is available on Sedums like Purple Emperor and Night Embers, which both sport purple toned leaves. Some of the newer varieties are more compact and less floppy. If yours is having trouble staying upright, you can pinch the plant by 1/3 or 1/2 in early June. Don’t delay in doing this, if you pinch too late you may not have flowers.
I truly don’t have a favorite color in the garden. But I do appreciate the cool blues and purples that Asters (Symphyotrichum) provide in the late summer garden. October Skies and Raydon’s Favorite are two of my personal favorites. Both of them are medium-sized perennials, getting 2-3 feet tall and wide. Full disclosure: they can seed, so I cut mine down in the fall before
they spread. They are also a favorite of those late pollinators, but there are so many options out there, you can definitely find your color and size of choice.
Let’s talk about Goldenrod (Soli dago). There are so many options to choose from. Upright, tall, clumping, short, plume like flowers, clumping flowers. They are native to our region so handle adverse conditions and tough soils well. Do use caution when selecting your Goldenrod of choice, some can be invasive. I personally like Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’. The blooms are light and airy, but luminescent yellow.
Beauty berry (Callicarpa) is in my opinion still an underutilized shrub. It is medium in stature, growing 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. It can be pruned each season in the spring to control height if needed. Tiny lavender flowers appear mid summer followed by clusters of tiny purple berries. They are fairly adorable. The fruit is high in moisture content, which makes it a favorite of many songbirds. There are some newer varieties on the market, such as Pearl Glam, which sports darker purple toned leaves in addition to the clusters of purple berries. Beautyberries are native to Missouri.
I may sound like a broken record if you have heard me speak or read other articles I have written, but Catmint (Nepeta) is one of my favorite perennials. The bees love it and I love that it blooms for over six months. I do give it some atten-
ANNE WILDEBOOR Horticulturist
tion and it reciprocates by blooming for all of those months. I cut mine back when the blooms are starting to fade. I cut it all the way back to the basal growth, no single stem deadheading on this one. Late August is my final haircut for my Catmint; letting it bloom one more round into the fall, letting it slow down and rest before the winter comes.
A few months ago in my article I talked about Anemone for part shade. Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ is a show stopper. Its soft pink dainty blooms dance on long slender stems. They are wonderful tucked in the middle of the border, usually around 3-4 feet tall. Make sure you are placing them in soil where moisture is evenly distributed. They do not enjoy being dry and can rot if it’s too wet.
When you think of Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) you think “that’s a cool season annual”, and you’re right. In some of our garden beds at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens we leave ours in from the spring planting, limping them along through the summer months. Sometimes giving them a very short summer crewcut. Then when the temps cool down, they are well rooted in and ready to bloom their heads off. Sometimes they even overwinter and are even more glorious in the spring. So if the opportunity presents itself in
your garden, throw some in in the spring and let them ride throughout the season.
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) is another strong perennial performer. Blooming in the heat of summer extending into the fall. Providing nectar for pollinators and food for birds. They handle tough clay soils and hot/dry conditions. There are some smaller varieties on the market such as Little Goldstar, which only gets 14-24 inches tall, where the older varieties can get 24-36 inches tall.
Smaller varieties of Zinnias such as Profusion or Zahara are wonderful season extenders. They are mounding in habit, only getting 12-18 inches tall. They’re great choices for front of the border or large containers. They do not require deadheading to keep fresh blooms coming and they have disease resistant foliage. Both series offer a wide variety of colors and single or double flowers. My personal favorite is Zahara Double Fire for its deep orange double blooms. A favorite of our visitors this summer is Zahara Raspberry Ripple, which is planted at the Amphitheater bed. Salvia, both annual and perennial, are fantastic in the late summer. The perennial varieties can handle one more deadheading just like your catmint to continue blooming into fall. The annual Salvia loves those hot summer days, but the blooms almost become more vibrant when the nights cool a bit. Keep your annual Salvia deadheaded so your blooms will keep coming. The hummingbirds, bees and butterflies will thank you.
I hope you enjoy this late summer garden time as much as I do. If you do have a chance, come out and visit us at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Garden. Our gardens are blooming and happy!
Anne Wildeboor, a Kansas State University graduate in Agriculture/Horticulture, has over 20 years of experience in public horticulture, including roles at Powell Gardens and the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. She loves sharing her passion for plants with the public and working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers.
Anemone
Goldenrod Solidage Fireworks Snapdragon Roc ket Bronze
Aster October Skies Rudbeckia Little Goldstar
Salvia Big Sky
Zinnia Zahara Double Fire
Pearl Glam Callicarpa Beauty Berry
Sedum Night Embers
Nepeta Cats Meow
Photo courtesy
Photo courtesy of
Photo
The huge female Great Spangled Fritillaries mate in May and nectar on flowers until October when they spread their eggs on violets.
Black Swallowtail caterpillars are plentiful on members of the carrot family in September and even after October’s frosts.
September in the Butterfly Garden
When is the best time to visit a butterfly garden?
I emphatically choose September, first because of the garden’s beauty. A fall garden abounds with fully grown blooming annuals and perennials. Robust insect populations delight me with pollinators busily foraging in preparation for winter. Many butterfly species are still actively breeding so it’s my best month for caterpillar sightings. And I see remnants of the fall Monarch migration around the third week of September.
September Flowers
By fall, ornamental plants make a huge impact because they typically bloom more copiously and longer with much larger flowers than native species. Fall butterfly favorites include Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower), Pentas, Caryopteris, Russian Sage and Lantana, but beware of worthless sterile hybrids! With our prairie heritage, fall can be a glorious display of natives in bloom. Multiple species of yellow Sunflowers, blue Salvias and masses of lavender Asters dominate. Butterflies and Honeybees are flower generalists, so Monarchs
appreciate both native and ornamental blooms to fuel their journey to Mexico. However, many native bees have specialized flower requirements, so maximize the number of native flowering plants that you provide.
New studies are demonstrating that some ornamental plant varieties are far more attractive to insects than their native counterparts. My own experience matches the studies published by Mount Cuba Center in Delaware, which have demonstrated the pollinator-attracting superiority of varieties like Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’, Rudbeckia fulgida ‘American Gold Rush’ and Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas Halo’. Does this attractiveness correlate with nutrition? We don’t know for butterflies, but for bees, each species requires different flowers with unique ratios of protein to lipid in their pollen. For Honeybees, the optimum ratio is 1:1, while Bumblebees utilize flowers with a high protein pollen ratio of 14:1. And Masonbees use pollen with a high-fat ratio of 2:9! These ratios vary widely by flower species, so I provide a broad diversity of native and ornamental flowering plants to
increase my chances of having the right flowers for each pollinator species.
Summer Maintenance
With the massive loss of habitats in the Midwest, butterflies need us to maintain nectar-rich flowers throughout the summer and into the fall, especially since climate change is producing extreme weather patterns of alternating floods and extended droughts. Even my beloved prairie natives have needed watering to survive during the past three summers of extreme heat and drought. Deadheading increases and prolongs blooming for the pollinators, while weeding increases space, moisture and nutrients for desirable plants.
September Garden Clean-up
Your ornamental landscape is a diverse collection of plants that support beneficial insects and should be left undisturbed through the winter. However, there are exceptions to the “Leave the Leaves” rule because humans persist in the cultivation of unnatural lawns and vegetable gardens. Falling leaves must be removed or mowed from lawns. Vegetable gardens are a col-
lection of mono-cultures that attract specific insect pests. Do you want to protect squash bugs and asparagus beetles? No! Remove and burn all plant debris. Mulch with chopped leaves rather than straw, which harbors rodents.
Planning for Next Year
My September garden shows the culmination of last year’s planning with some successes and some miserable failures. Note which butterflies you’ve seen this year. Are you missing some favorites for lack of host plants? Has your yard grown too shady? Make a hit list for February tree pruning with techniques such as removal or limbing-up or coppicing to enlarge sunny areas for nectar-rich flowers. Despite what an expert may say, which flowers were a hit in your garden? Should you add some of the newly verified pollinator magnets? There are many books and online resources, including the April 2024 the Kansas City Gardener magazine, the butterfly host plant issue. September is the time to start combining the gardening lessons of the past year with your hopes for the future.
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.
Autumn Joy Sedum provides plentiful nectar for migrating Monarchs like this male.
LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven
Photos by Lenora Larson.
Something Wicked is Coming Your Way
The last thing I want to do is poo-poo goldenrods, but there is one that destroys gardens: tall goldenrod (Solidago canadensis or S. altissima). It usually blows in from a nearby (or far-away) ditch or untended patch of ground. The seeds are light and fluffy, and designed for the wind to carry them on a breezy day, like many other common garden weeds including dandelion, mare’s tail, salsify, thistle, field aster, prickly lettuce, sow thistle, cottonwood, black willow, maples, and sometimes cattail. These seeds can blow for miles, but when they finally land on bare ground they germinate, proliferate quickly, and have the potential to absolutely wreak havoc.
The unsuspecting gardener might think that tall goldenrod belongs in the garden because it can appear so suddenly, like it’s always
been there. Or because it attracts so many pollinators when it’s goldenyellow flowers appear in late summer and early fall. How can you say no to a plant that is covered in bees, wasps, beetles, and monarch butterflies? Or perhaps because it’s native to existing in extremely rare and ancient remnant tallgrass prairies and open woodlands, we feel it has a right to claim territory in our gardens. What is the native gardener to do?
Many gardeners haven’t yet learned that it already exists in their neighborhood, even their own yard. It’s often hidden in plain sight, because when it’s not in bloom, its foliage looks quite similar to other desirable native plants, like blackeyed Susan, yellow wingstem, eastern blazingstar, and other, desirable goldenrods. Most unsuspecting gardeners or land managers never knew what hit them, because this
SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist
plant can go from zero to flowering in a single season. In two seasons, it can colonize underground into a patch 5 feet wide. And by year three, it’s game over. The tall goldenrod has won, taking over entire sections of the garden.
I see it looming over other plants all the time, especially in large gardens and rain gardens. Right now, it is snuffing out school gardens, college campus gardens, neighborhood gardens, and home gardens throughout the Midwest. I know of a multi-million dollar garden not far from my house that has been engulfed by tall goldenrod, except for the trees and shrubs that can survive it. I know of a public garden in the city that came back from the brink of drowning
by golden, and thankfully is now thriving. I know of two college campus gardens in St. Louis that are suffering dearly and will be lost completely, if the tall goldenrod is not addressed this year. However, I have a neighbor up the street who saved her tiny garden by recognizing and removing a single plant early, before things got ugly. If you are a gardener, you might want to take a closer look at your plants. Tall goldenrod is tall at the end of the season (5 to 10 feet), but not so tall early in the season, so here’s what to look for when it’s not in bloom. It has tell-tale curved branch tips at the top of the plant, especially on a hot summer day. It looks like it’s wilting. It has alter-
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 numerous species of native goldenrods at grownative.org.
Photos by Scott Woodbury.
Although native, tall goldenrod (Solidago canadensis or S. altissima) is very aggressive and can easily and quickly dominate other plants, degrading the design intent of home gardens and native plantings.
nate leaves and hairy stems. The leaves are three-nerved and narrow, tapered to a point up to 6 inches long. When you pull up a plant when the ground is moist, you can see the white rhizomes (suckering roots) that spread far and wide. The first course of action to get tall goldenrod under control is to pull as many of these stems as possible to set them back and keep them from flowering. Some of the roots will remain and resprout from the ground, so you will need to follow up again (in spring) with more pulling or targeted herbicide spraying. If they are blooming or have just bloomed, cut the seed heads off and bag them immediately. Put them in the trash, because they will sprout in the compost bin.
There are plenty of other goldenrod species to choose from that are not garden bullies. Showy (Solidago speciosa), old field (S. nemoralis) and cliff (S. drummondii) goldenrods do well in full sun. They can spread from seed, but are easier to keep in check. Rigid goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigida) is more difficult to control because it gets big and clumps expand rapidly. The shade-loving goldenrods include zigzag (Solidago flexicau-
lis), blue stem (S. caesea), roughleaved (S. rugosa), Buckley’s (S. buckleyi) and elm-leaved (S. ulmifolia) goldenrods, though showy goldenrod tolerates part shade too. Elm-leaved goldenrod is the most aggressive of these.
The bottom line is that tall goldenrod has no place in new and developing sunny gardens. It simply
will outgrow all of the other plants. The one exception is in shady open woodlands, where it can exist without taking over.
Lastly, goldenrods are keystone plant species, according to entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home That means that they are especially important for wildlife. As a group,
goldenrods support the foliageeating larvae of more species of butterflies and moths than any other genera of herbaceous perennial plant. Those larvae (caterpillars) are crucial food for baby birds, mammals, and reptiles. Goldenrods, therefore, are key to supporting entire food chains in the Midwest.
Take the guesswork out of fertilizing
K-State Research and Extension/Johnson County
We are often asked, “Why should I get a soil test?” The first key to lawn and garden success is knowing soil fertility
A soil test reveals the baseline nutritional values of your soil. A test can determine the type and amounts of fertilizer needed for optimal plant health. A good soil test also determines the pH level of the soil so corrections can be made.
Soil fertility is something that cannot be seen, felt or guessed. It varies from one yard to the next. In many cases the test shows that too many nutrients have been applied and additional chemical elements such as phosphorous and potassium may be harmful.
Phosphorous and potassium levels build up in KC soils. Excess can harm growth, or worse, leach out and pollute streams and lakes. Many garden resources recommend a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 5-10-5. Long term use of these products can lead to chemical buildup. Soil testing takes the guesswork out of fertilizing.
A common misbelief is that our local soils needlime. Lime raises the pH, and most KC soils
already have high levels. A simple soil test will determine soil pH. You’ll then learn the correct treatment options, saving you money.
Extension recommends a soil test every three to five years. All local extension offices provide soil testing services. Soil samples brought or mailed to the Johnson County Extension office are sent to the Soil Testing Laboratory at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Our agents analyze the lab results and write personalized recommendations Your report is usually mailed to you in four to six weeks.
Soil amendments made this fall will help you get a jump-start next spring. Save yourself time and money by getting your soil tested today.
• November fertilization is critical to your lawn’s health
• Applying just the right kind and amount of fertilizer saves you money and protects our water quality
• JoCo Residents: Get one free soil test and a personalized recommendation for your lawn or garden
PLANTS ON YOUR PLATE Green Beans
Snap beans, string beans or green beans…different names for the same product. Older plant varieties often had a fibrous ‘string’ that ran the length of the bean, hence the name. Through modern plant breeding, newer varieties tend not to have this string. The name snap bean became popular due to the sound made when picking and preparing for cooking. Green beans are the second most common home garden plant, right behind tomatoes. Green beans are classified as bush or pole varieties, and both will yield the same nutritious product. Pole beans, however, require slightly different maintenance in needing a pole or trellis to support their growth. Originating in Peru, green beans were shared through south and central America via migrating Indian tribes. Native Americans would plant pole beans as part of the three sisters planting process, where corn stalks would provide the structure for the beans to climb, while squash plants would provide shade to the roots to retain moisture.
When selecting fresh green beans, look for a bright, vivid color
and a velvety feel and firm texture. Don’t choose limp, split or oversized beans that are bulging, as the seed pods inside will reveal tough beans and potentially produce that fibrous string. Fresh beans can be stored in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Trim away any insect or ‘rust’ spots as you prepare your beans.
Green beans have always been one of my favorite garden-fresh vegetables and one that I was most actively involved in harvesting as a child. I didn’t exactly enjoy bending over the long rows planted in our family garden, or snapping the ends to prepare for a meal, but I did enjoy the simple goodness of a pot of fresh cooked green beans, seasoned with onion and a bit of ham or bacon. Add in some fresh new potatoes, with a side of sliced tomatoes, and that was a common summertime dinner. Like most vegetables, green beans are a low-calorie choice and are a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as potassium, magnesium and fiber.
If you have an abundance of
DENISE SULLIVAN Nutrition Ninja
green beans, they can easily be frozen, canned or pickled. As a low acid food, green beans must be pressure canned, unless being prepared as a pickled product, which can be water bathed due to the addition of vinegar. Complete instructions for both can be found at the National Center for Home Food Preservation
website at www.nchfp.uga.edu.
Growing up, we pressure canned most of our green beans plain, but over the years, I have become more fond of pickled dilly beans. The recipe below, from Seasonal and Simple has a similar flavor as dilly beans and makes a tasty side dish for a late-summer picnic.
Dilled Green Bean Salad
MAKES 5 SERVINGS
INGREDIENTS
1-pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
4-6 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
DIRECTIONS
• Steam green beans over boiling water for 5 minutes, until tender-crisp.
• Stir together beans, dill and onions in a bowl. In a separate bowl or small jar, combine oil, vinegar, mustard and hot sauce and whisk or shake to combine.
Recipe adapted from MU Extension Seasonal and Simple, analyzed by verywellfit.com
Denise Sullivan is a retired Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, with 38 years of experience in the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Cooperative Extension Systems.
Upcoming Garden Events
The Garden Club of Shawnee
Wed, Sep 4, 7p; at Shawnee Town 1929 Town Hall, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. “The Callery Pear Conundrum” presented by William Warnes, K-State Extension Master Naturalist. This will also be our fall plant, seed, and bulb exchange. As always, we will serve drinks and snacks, and great door prizes will be given away. Visitors are always welcome! Please visit our website gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page for more information. Please note this meeting is on a Wednesday rather than Thursday.
Heartland Hosta & Shade Plant Society
Sat, Sep 14, Hospitality 9:30-10a, Club Mtg 10-10:45a, Speaker 10:45a-noon; at 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. Come join us for a video tour of 20+ American Hosta Society (AHS) National Display Gardens presented by Danny Lawson. Danny is a lifelong Kansan and the President of the Wichita Hosta Society. He is also the Editor of The Hosta Journal for the American Hosta Society. Danny is a wealth of hosta knowledge and has visited these gardens personally. Members, Guests and public welcome. www.heartlandhosta. club; https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandHostaAndShadePlantSociety.
Heartland Peony Society
Sat, Oct 18, 9a-12p; at Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W 75th St, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Annual Speaker meeting presents Carol Adelman. Carol and her husband, Jim started Adelman Peony Farms near Salem, Oregon, over 30 years ago. Carol will share how they began growing peonies and about all things new in the peony world.
Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society
This month’s meeting will be a membersonly picnic at the home of a club member on Sun, Sep 15. Members will be provided the address and meeting time in the club’s newsletter.
Leawood Garden Club
Tues, Sep 24, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206. Program: “Going Batty for BATS!” Guest Speaker Nancy Chapman. Like many wildlife in our urban setting, bats are unsung heroes of the night. Nancy will highlight who lives in Kansas City, why we should be grateful and what to do if one accidentally gets in your house. Raised in Los Angeles, in 1976 Nancy returned to Kansas roots and received a degree in Agriculture Economics from Kansas State University. She’s been an Extension Master Gardener volunteer since 2007 and a member of the EMG Speakers bureau for over ten years.
Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Wed, Sep 11, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Mikey Stafford, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will demonstrate
how Master Gardeners judge flowers in a contest. Learn what judges are looking for if you have an interest in entering horticulture contests. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City Sun, Sep 8, 1:30-4:30p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St, Merriam, KS 66202. One of our favorite speakers returns. Alan Koch, Gold Country Orchids, Sacramento, CA, will be speaking in person “Mini Vandaceous Species & Hybrids for the Home Grower.” Open to the public. More information at osgkc.org and find us on Facebook.
and Sun, Sep 15, 1:30-4:30p. Orchid Growers’ Tour. Stopping by three homes to see how orchids can be grown. Open to members only.
and
Sun, Oct 13, 1:30-4:30p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St, Merriam, KS 66202. Michael Rafferty, OSGKC member, will speak on the Medicinal Powers of Orchids. Open to the public.
Raytown Garden Club Tues, Sep 3, 10a; at Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy, Raytown, MO 64138. Program will be “Improving Our Health and Well-being: Yoga for Gardeners” presented by Gwen Hull, Well Regarded local Professional Yoga Instructor. Guests are always welcome. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.
how hummingbirds are banded for tracking. Lucky participants may be able to join the process. Free to the public, walk-up registrations accepted. This is a family friendly event. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
2024 Old Settler’s Community Flower Show
Entries accepted: Thurs, Sep 5, 6-8p and Fri, Sep 6, 8-9a. Open for Viewing: Fri, Sep 6, 1-8p, Sat, Sep 7, 9a-3p; at Olathe City Hall, 100 E Santa Fe, Ground Floor. Presented by the Olathe Garden & Civic Club in coordination with Olathe Old Settlers Days, this annual flower and horticulture show is for everyone to participate in and enjoy! Entries will be accepted from amateur (noncommercial) 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! *Free & Open to the Public* – both entries & viewing. For additional details about entries, contact Susan at albertsusanm@gmail.com. We hope you can join us!
Butterfly Garden Open House Sat, Sep 14, noon-3p; at 500 Eisenhower Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048. The Leavenworth County Master Gardeners will host an Open House at their Butterfly Garden. Join us as we follow the migration of the Monarch Butterflies as they continue their journey to Mexico. Learn about Monarch Way Stations. There will be activities for children. If available, guests may tag and release Monarch Butterflies. This event is free. For more information, contact the Leavenworth County extension office at 913-364-5700.
to the public, children welcome when accompanied by an adult.
Flower Garden and Train Show
Sat, Sep 21, 9a-5p; at 1503 Ensley Circle, Raymore. This will be our last show this year. Our home has more flowers than you will ever see. Enjoy the path through our Gardens as you see six Trains running under a Waterfall, one Train running across the Water Garden. This is a Free Show that your entire family will enjoy. One person said this is better than Walt Disney world!
Kaw Valley Farm Tour: Vinland Valley Nursery
Sat, Oct 5, 9a-8p and Sun, Oct 6, 9a-5p; at 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Fall is a great time for planting! On top of our vast selection of perennials, shrubs, trees, and landscaping supplies we’ll have fall plants and decorations, food and beverage, games and activities for our stop on the annual Kaw Valley Farm Tour! Mark the occasion in the Moon photo booth and all-new Giddyup video booth. Our Haunted Walk opens Oct 5 and we’ll be open late to ring in the spooky season! Sign up online in advance for our Oct 6 Dried Wreath Making workshop at www.vinlandvalleynursery.com.
Orchid Show
Fri, Oct 25, 3-8p and Sat, Oct 26, 9a-4p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St, Merriam, KS 66202. The annual regional orchid show, “Bewitched By Orchids”. Area society displays from Omaha, St Louis, Springfield, and Fayetteville. Vendors from Minnesota, Chicago, Wichita, St. Louis and our local Bird’s Botanicals. Open to the public. Admission $5.
CLASSES | SEMINARS
Hummingbird Festival Sep 5-7, 9a-4p; at George Owens Nature Park, 1601 Speck Rd, Independence, MO 64057. Have you ever looked out your window at a hummingbird and wondered about what they need, where they go, how they would feel perched on your finger? Come to the Hummingbird Festival at George Owens Nature Park and find the answer to these questions. During this three-day science and gardening event, there will be presentations, activities, and demonstrations to help you better understand these tiny, amazing birds. George Owens Naturalists have been feeding and studying hummingbirds for years, and they will be your guides as you learn and interact with these birds. The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will have a hands-on presentation to teach you how to design a garden with plants that attract hummingbirds to provide what they need. Participants will leave with a garden plan for their own yard. Extension Master Gardeners and the MGGKC Children’s Program will also have family-friendly activities, demos and displays all three days, to help you learn why hummingbirds are such important pollinators. On Friday, Reading Rocket will have books available on hummingbirds. On Saturday, a scientist will be demonstrating
The Gardens at Unity Village Farmer’s Market
Sat, Sep 14, 8a-noon; at Unity Village, 150B NW Colbern Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086. Experience a century of history and nostalgia in the barn and gardens at The Gardens of Unity Village Farmer’s Market. Three cultivated acres behind the 3-story barn provide freshly harvested vegetables and fruits. The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will have a pollinator display with butterfly puddler demonstration. There will also be a fun children’s activity called “Pollinators.” Free to the public, children welcome when accompanied by an adult.
Fall Family Festival at Beanstalk Kansas City Community Garden
Sat, Sep 21, 10a-2:30p; at 6917 Kensington Ave, Kansas City, MO 64132. The Beanstalk Children’s Garden is a unique learning environment where children are invited to see, smell, touch and taste growing plants. There are seven gardens to explore including a water garden and insect garden. Join Beanstalk Children’s Garden, KCCG, and Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City for a day of free family fun. There will be fruit and vegetable tasting, garden crafts, bug exhibits, hand painting, yard games, scavenger hunt, and free basil plants. Free
Tips & Techniques for Successful Seed
Saving
Tues, Sep 3, 7p; at Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Mark Sorensen, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will give a presentation on seed saving. Discussed will be which seeds are easy to save and how to clean and store. What special techniques help the gardener make sure next year’s crop will be “true to type.” And why heirloom varieties are better for saving than hybrids. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
The Amazing Bluebird Thurs, Sep 5, 11:30a; in the Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Sarah Heppler and Grace Troeh, Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Delve into the realm of bluebirds as Grace and Sarah share their love of these birds. Learn how to attract these bright little birds to your yard and become a Citizen Scientist by recording your observations on the Bluebird Stewards’ website.
TOURS | SHOWS | FESTIVALS
Pre-registration is not required. A $10 class fee is payable by cash or check at the door.
Garden Design
Sat, Sep 14, 1p; at Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. At this workshop, you will learn some tips and tricks for making any landscape look professionally designed and maintained –just in time to spruce up fall plantings and prepare for spring 2025! Come with an idea of a new or existing area you would like to design and VVN staff will guide you through the process from start to finish. You will leave with new knowledge and a garden design. $40 per person. Register online at www.vinlandvalleynursery.com.
Prepping Native Beds for Fall Sat, Sep 21, 9-11a; at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Native flower beds need our help to prepare them for the colder weather ahead. Join Burr Oak Woods staff along with MU Extension Master Gardeners to learn what to expect when overwintering your native plants through a formal presentation followed by hands-on work in the gardens on site. All tools will be provided. Clinic—seed saving for food. Free to the public, adults 16 years and older. Please register at https://mdc.mo.gov/ events?combine_event=&name=burr+oak+ woods&county=All®ion=.
Flower Arranging Sat, Sep 21, 1p; at Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. At this workshop, staff will share tips, techniques, and tricks for creating beautiful bouquets. Take a trip to the flower field where we will show you how to select the perfect flowers and greenery, then gather in the workshop to prepare and arrange your own bouquet. We will go over a variety of techniques for creating beautiful arrangements and guide you through creating them. $40 per person. Base price includes flowers from the field, floral supplies, and a vase. Additional flowers and vases are available, priced per piece. Register online at www. vinlandvalleynursery.com.
Tree Resiliency Panel Featured at Prairie Village Tree Board’s Fall Seminar Wed, Sep 25, 7p; at the Meadowbrook Clubhouse, Birch Room, 9101 Nall Ave, Prairie Village, KS. Life can be tough for trees in the Midwest where droughts, periodic flooding, storm damage, temperature extremes, diseases, insect pests and clay soils can all take their toll. But the most resilient trees can survive and maybe even thrive with a little extra care from us. Local tree expert will discuss the resiliency issue at the Prairie Village Tree Board’s Fall Seminar. This year’s speakers include Jonah Nelson, third-generation owner and manager at Family Tree Nursery; Rick Spurgeon, aka Professor PlantRight and an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist; Jesse Kirk, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Wellnitz Tree Care; and Cathy Justice, Program Manager and ISA Certified Arborist with Heartland Tree Alliance. If you’re interested in finding out what the toughest, most resilient trees are for Kansas City or how you can make your own trees more resilient, then come to the seminar. The public is invited to attend free of charge.
Starting Your Lawn
Wed, Sep 25, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS
66007. Get a jump on spring and learn basic strategies for Fall restoration of your lawn or starting a fescue lawn. The speaker is Crystal Miles, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
Hypertufa Pumpkins
Sat, Sep 28, 1p; at Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Hypertufa is a manmade material that resembles natural tufa, a soft, porous limestone used to form garden sculptures and planters for alpine and succulent plants. The aggregate mixture is pressed in or on boxes, baskets, and other forms to create rustic, natural-looking containers that can be planted in a variety of creative ways. A relatively light material compared to concrete, these sculptures and planters can withstand very cold temperatures. The moldable material makes it possible to create a variety of shapes and textures. In this workshop, you will learn the basic recipe for hypertufa and make a hypertufa pumpkin. Take home your piece to dry and cure or leave at VVN and pick up later. $40 per person. Price of the workshop includes all you need to make one 8”-11” hypertufa pumpkin for your fall displays. Register online at www.vinlandvalleynursery.com.
Tree Risk Assessment
Thurs, Oct 3, 11:30a; in the Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Tyler Fike, Horticulturist for the City of Lawrence, KS. Trees are often seen as the centerpieces of our landscapes. Injuries, disease, or poor growth habits can make them vulnerable to damage from our intense spring weather. Tyler will teach you how to identify such risks, so that you will know when and how to address them. Preregistration is not required. A $10 class fee is payable by cash or check at the door.
List your garden events like
Send details to elizabeth@kcgmag.com
Deadline for the October issue is September 7.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
•
•
•
• LAWN
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.
Local hosta guy recognized for outstanding service
The Hosta Guy, Made in the Shade Gardens, also known as Rob Mortko. A fixture not just in the Kansas City metro area, but across the globe, for many years in the world of hostas and supplying them to the people who love them. Rob and his wife Sheri live and garden in their shaded woodland home in Olathe, Kansas.
For 20 years Mortko operated Made in the Shade Gardens – a retail and mail order hosta specialty nursery, then devoted full time efforts to Made in the Shade Tissue Culture – a plant tissue culture laboratory specializing in hosta propagation.
This past June, Mortko was awarded the Alex J. Summers Award by the American Hosta Society (americanhostasociety.org) at their annual convention, this year held in Marlborough, Massachusetts. This
award is the highest award offered by the American Hosta Society. It is awarded to a member of the Society in recognition of having given outstanding service to The American Hosta Society, the development of the genus Hosta, or both. He has
Hotlines for Gardeners
Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer your gardening questions.
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
certainly done both!
The recipient of this award is also asked to choose a specific hosta to receive the Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Hosta Award. Mortko named Hosta ‘Heart and Soul’ (pictured above) as his selec-
tion. It was the very first that he found in his garden some 25 years ago, from Hosta ‘Vanilla Cream.’ Mortko ended his acceptance speech by sharing a favorite line from his father-in-law. “I’m just a nobody, here to tell everybody, that there’s somebody…” somebody who could benefit from you sharing your time, your knowledge, your passion, and your talent. That’s true for life in general, but it also applies to the world of hostas. Congratulations Rob, Kansas City gardeners and Hosta lovers are proud of you!
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
For convenient mail delivery, complete the form below and send with your check for $35.00. You will receive a oneyear subscription.
E-mail: Where did you pick up The Kansas City Gardener?
Please enclose your check payable to The Kansas City Gardener and mail with this form to: P.O.
