Natural-Look Gardens + Sustainable Gardening
Mother Nature is the best landscape designer, so start with what grows here naturally. Think seasonal themes: stunning false indigo in early spring, bright summer coneflowers and milkweeds, graceful prairie dropseed and colorful bluestems and asters in the fall. Start with the natives for a sense of Nebraska spirit, then mix it up with hybrids for smaller sizes and added color.
Succulents
The succulent craze is spilling out of our pots and into our perennial gardens. New hybrids featuring bright, colorful, and variegated foliage to fill empty spaces along sidewalks and in between taller plants. They fill a functional role in the landscape, too, their cover prevents weeds and keeps the ground temperature cooler, helping their neighbors through the hot summer. Try Sedums like Voodoo, Lime Twister, or Flaming Carpet, and check out new colorful hen & chicks like the Chick Charms series.
Wildlife Habitats
It’s not just about the Monarchs. Butterflies of all species, bees, migrating songbirds, and other creatures are suffering from habitat loss. You don’t have to have acres of land to make a difference. A few pots on a balcony or a sunny corner of your yard can serve as a much-needed refueling stop along the migration path. Natives, species of nectar-rich flowers, plants that produce seeds and berries, and winter cover can all help a variety of wildlife thrive in our city. Try native favorites like New Jersey Tea Shrub, Lead Plant, and Gayfeather.
Ornamental Grasses
This trend isn’t new, but it isn’t going anywhere. Easy-care, drought-tolerant, with year-round interest, ornamental grasses add texture and movement to the landscape. They add a sense of place to prairie-dominated ecosystems like Nebraska. We’ve expanded our collection to give you more color and size options. Erianthus Plume and Maidengrass pictured.
Shady Bloomers: Barrenwort & Lenten Rose
The popularity of these two shade-lovers is apparent in the number of new varieties coming onto the market over the last few years. They’re some of the first flowers to break the late-winter gloom. The large, drooping Lenten Roses are great for cutting, and the tiny fairy-wing Barrenwort are whimsical additions to borders.
