/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Native grasses

There is a new publication out from the U of M Extension via Mary Meyer and Diane Narem. There may be a few of you out there who have heard of Mary Meyer with the U of M Extension with all of the work she has completed on grasses for our garden. She and Narem have a vast amount of information and background on grasses so I was very happy to see a new publication from them come out via as an e-book (and a free one at that) called “Gardening with Native Grasses in Cold Climates.” This really interests myself and my family because the DeJaeghere homestead is surrounded by native prairie so we get to see these wonderful plants each and every day and have also been thinking of bringing some of them into the garden setting in our yard too. The next best part about this e-book is that it also discusses how these grasses support butterflies as well. We normally think of flowering plants as playing a supportive role when it comes to butterflies but grasses have a very important role to play too. The book can be found at the following website: https://www.cfans.umn.edu/now-ebook-gardening-native-grasses.

“Part of the appeal of using native grasses over other ornamental grasses is the benefit they have as part of the ecosystem. A unique feature of the e-book is the inclusion of charts showing which flowers work well together with which grasses to attract certain species of moths and butterflies. Native grasses benefit these insects during their larval stage, and pairing grasses with the corresponding wildflowers will provide food for the insect’s adult stages,” said Gabe Sinner with the U of M. So, not only do you get an explanation of what grasses attract which butterflies but they also help you with information about how to use them in your landscape. If you are looking for a little reading for the cabin this summer during your vacation, here is a great publication to get started with by two very knowledgeable people.

At this point of time, we gardeners are spending probably more time filling in the vacant spots in our gardens, weeding or just enjoying the gardens that we have established. The rain has provided plenty of water and unfortunately, plenty for the mosquitoes to find safe harbor in. Since gardeners tend to have birdbaths and other water sources in our gardens, this is a good time to make sure that you are providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes in your yard. If there are any containers that are holding water, they should be dumped out once a week and either left to dry out or you can refill them with fresh water. You may even see mosquito larvae jiggling around in the containers. I generally don’t always think about our outside pet’s water bowl, which is a large one and I do see mosquito larvae even in something such as this at this time of the year. This is when having the wind that we normally get is a blessing because it is really hard for mosquitoes to land on you and bite you when it is so windy. It also dries out the lawn and other spots that water may sit that will allow the mosquitoes to survive.

And lastly, if you have a nostalgia for fairs and have not been involved with the Lyon County Fair for some time but are looking for a way to contribute, please consider joining a new group forming that is working with the Fairgrounds Community Garden. We have a very large flower garden at the entrance of the fairgrounds across from the Public works building that at present time is in the process of being replanted. The garden has received close to 300 new plants so far this year of which 200 are native perennials. If you are interested in helping out, even if you have a half hour every week or every other week to work in the garden, please contact me for further information.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today