Friend or Foe? Lily Pads in Wisconsin
With gorgeous blooms and vibrant foliage, lilies are a gorgeous addition to an ornamental pond, but can become quite a nuisance in a recreational body of water. Imagine trying to reel in a fish through a densely knotted mess of stems and pads or, worse yet, detangling the mass from your boat’s propeller. What a […]
Creating Your Perfect Sensory Garden
Want to get away from it all? Some days, we could all use a mindful minute in nature, and sensory gardens are the perfect location. They’re specially crafted to appeal to the senses and create a calm and grounded environment. They can certainly be enjoyed by anyone, but they’re especially beneficial to those with sensory […]
Soaking up the Sun: The Western Painted Turtle
During rural Wisconsin summers, turtles are hard to miss. Whether they’re sitting out on a log in a lake or accidentally finding their way into your backyard, they have their few months of glory and then disappear. So, who are these mysterious critters anyway? Well, I’m glad you asked. Being Wisconsin’s most common subspecies, you’ve […]
Sounds of Summer: The Northern Leopard Frog
When I was a kid, my family didn’t have a cabin to vacation in during the summer. No pontoon boat, no sandy beaches, and definitely no air conditioning. What we did have was a trailer with rotted out floor boards from the ’70s, and what it lacked in amenities it made up for in smell. […]
4 Critical Types of Wisconsin Wetlands
Wisconsin has a wealth of wetlands, and we’re better for it! Wetlands play an important role in our local landscapes and biodiversity. They prevent flooding by capturing excess water, purify water by filtering out pollutants, and serve as nurseries for many of our young fish and wildlife.2 Wetland is a general term for a whole […]
The Journey of a Seed
Unlike many other living things, seeds don’t get a happy childhood at home. For their success, it’s important that they get as far away from the parent plant as possible and quick! You see, a little plant in the shadow of its parent won’t get the sunlight, water, and nutrients it needs to grow big […]
Are You a Farmers Market Regular? Here Are 5 Reasons You Should Be
Every summer, Midwesterners flock to their local farmers markets, and they should! Not only do farmers markets connect us to the neighbors who grow our food, but they also support our environmental and economic health. Here are just a few reasons why going to the farmers market should be part of your routine this summer. […]
Does Composting Really Make a Difference?
I grew up in a family that so badly wanted to be good at composting. Throughout my childhood, there were multiple attempts at starting our own household system. Whether it was the compost bin that split open (it was as much of a mess as you can imagine), or the hole in the ground that […]
3 Steps to a Beautiful & Delicious Garden
As more and more people become interested in growing food in their own yards, the line has begun to blur between edible garden plots and ornamental landscaping. While the results are stunning, not everyone has the time or resources to completely overhaul their pre-existing layout. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways to adopt this new […]
5 Ways to Save Water Outdoors This Summer
As awareness of water conservation increases, more and more people are looking for ways to cut back on their daily use. What most people don’t realize is that a whopping 30% of average American household water use takes place in their yard.1 So how can we save water outdoors this summer? Ditch the Sprinkler Sprinklers […]
