KC Native Landscapes

09/30/2026

09/22/2026

Admiring one of my favorite seasonal combinations: the blue and purple hue of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) with the bright yellow of goldenrods (Solidago spp.)

There's a combination for gardens of all sizes and moisture conditions, as long as you get some sun. All combinations are pollinator magnets, providing crucial food during the autumn as other plants start winding down.

09/10/2026

I ran into this Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), also known as the "Flying Lobster", in a garden recently. A moth that feeds during the day, it looks a bit like a cross between a hummingbird and a bumblebee. This is the kind of unique pollinator you see when planting a diverse native plant garden, what a joy!

09/06/2026

There are plenty of native plants that thrive in the shade, featuring interesting foliage and flowers that bloom in the spring or autumn. I'm really enjoying this layout that sits under a large tree in Waldo, featuring Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Big-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla), and Elm-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia, not pictured because it hasn't bloomed yet.)

While full-sun flowers steal the show in summer, this is a time when shadier woodland and glade plants shine!

09/03/2026

Take a moment to enjoy the Monarch migration this September!

08/29/2026

This Sweet Black Eyed Susan (rudbeckia subtomentosa) has a long-lasting season, staying up and open after many other rudbeckia varieties fade back. And the pollinators appreciate it!

08/24/2026

Coming in for a landing on this Rose Milkweed (asclepias incarnata), part of a planting in its second year.

08/16/2026

Quite happy with how this backyard garden has established in just a few months!

08/12/2026