Einstein Design

07/28/2026

With the upcoming Buck Moon, check out the full moon in the garden at Frame Park. 🌕

07/24/2026

An exciting project with native perennials. I've had the amazing opportunity to design, plant and maintain this lovely garden.

05/07/2026

Ever wonder how a plant gets its name? Some are obvious, but others like this iris seem peculiar.

With a little curiosity I looked into how it got its name:
It was named as the counterpart to a cultivar named 'Caesar'—which F. Cleveland Morgan also bred—because of its close relationship, similar dark color, and superior performance, though 'Caesar' is rarely grown today. https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/iris-sibirica-caesars-brother-caesars-brother-siberian-iris

I love this plant in the landscape because of its grass like foliage and a striking purple flower in late spring. 💜

04/18/2026

A great article from UW-Extension to look at after all the rain this week!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EFGdGk3mi/

Recent flooding across parts of Wisconsin has been difficult for many communities. It can also have a serious impact on trees and shrubs in our landscapes.

When soils stay saturated, plant roots can quickly run out of oxygen—leading to stress, decline, or even plant death if flooding persists. If you’re concerned about the trees and shrubs around your home, this article will help you know what to expect, how to respond, and which plants are most at risk.

🌧️ hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/effects-flooding-woody-landscape-plants

03/04/2026

More detailed information on this unique native. Plants are so amazing!

Right now, in wet woods across the Eastern US, a plant called Skunk Cabbage is generating its own body heat — up to 70°F above the surrounding air temperature — and MELTING through frozen ground from below.

This isn't photosynthesis. This is thermogenesis. The same process your body uses to stay warm.

- Skunk Cabbage is one of the only plants on Earth that produces metabolic heat
- It burns stored starch at a rate comparable to a small mammal
- Its internal temperature holds steady at 68-77°F even when the outside air is 15°F
- It pushes through snow and frozen soil by literally melting a tunnel from underneath
- The heat volatilizes its chemicals — producing a rotting-meat smell that attracts the first flies of the season

Those early flies crawl inside the hooded spathe, get warm, pick up pollen, and carry it to the next furnace down the creek.

While you're still wearing a winter coat, this plant is running a heated pollination station in a frozen swamp.

March's first bloom doesn't wait for warmth. It makes its own.

02/15/2026

These amazing flowers will be blooming soon! 💐🥰

01/19/2026

Definitely a native Pinot Plant Pick for a wet spot in your yard!

Fun tree fact! Tamaracks are the only conifer in Wisconsin that shed their needles each fall, making it a deciduous conifer. In September and October, tamarack needles turn golden yellow just before falling, making them easy to spot in the fall and winter.

Another interesting thing about the tamarack is its fruit, which are small, round and hang on the tree for several years. In the spring, these small cones are a striking deep reddish-purple color. Neat!

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas! 🌟