What If I Can’t Burn?

On page 65 of our current catalog we advise in boldface type, “Burning is the single most important management practice for native plantings.” Wayne R. Pauly, in his booklet How to Manage Small Prairie Fires, succinctly summarizes the benefits of regular burning:
“Fire rejuvenates a prairie; more plants flower, produce seed, grow taller and are generally [...]

Be Here Now

I need to remind myself to “be here now.” This is my new mantra! It is mid-January and we have endured some gawd-awful cold weather. Now, after our thaw, it feels like we are on the downhill side of winter. Recently I have been hearing different bird songs, the light is coming back, and seed [...]

Higher Seeding Rates for Frost Seeding?

A customer recently asked:
“I want to get your opinion on planting techniques:  The intent is to drill this seed in the spring.  But there is always the possibility that we won’t be ready to plant by then, which might lead us to doing a frost seeding next fall/winter.  Personally, frost seeding appeals to me because [...]

Fire For Woodland Restoration and Management

I received this question from John in Minnesota:
“I have a small patch of maidenhair in a woodlot I’m restoring. ‘Restoring’ means getting rid of buckthorn over the last few years. Maidenhair Fern, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, May Apple, Bloodroot, Hepatica, Wild Ginger and 1 Trillium have showed up. I was wondering what fire would do in [...]

Fall Textures

Yesterday, December 9th, we got hit with the season’s first significant snow storm. We had to dig out from under accumulations of a foot or more. It is a dramatic end to what was a long and beautiful fall.
Here are just a few pictures to commemorate the passing of growing season 2009:
Brutus and I on [...]

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