The hidden treasure weed which monarchs love

Honey bee on honeyvine

“A weed by any other name would smell more sweet.”

I step outside the back door and immediately grow heady on the intoxicating perfume of honeyvine.

Bees, butterflies, iridescent flies, and jaw-droppingly giant wasps float in and out of my garden nectaring on this sweet feast.

Of all the flowers in my garden these [...]

How to mulch every area of your garden, and why

New mulch by spablab

Spring had sprung and the weeds with it; little bitty seedlings appeared everywhere.

But I was new to Kansas and didn’t even know what a Kansas weed was. There was nothing for it but to let the seedlings grow.

Why to mulch

I wish I’d known then what I know now – most garden [...]

Cover Crops - a short guide

Hairy Vetch by homeredwardprice

Don’t leave bare soil in your garden when you could plant a cover crop instead. Here’s why and how.

1. A cover crop is a short-term planting which is used to protect and/or improve your soil rather than for food.

2. Plant your cover crop in the fall rather than leaving bare soil [...]

5 Spray-Free Ways to Control Weeds

Garden Plot by OakleyOriginals

Organic weed control methods come in four main types: heat, light, mechanical, and chemical.

Being unfamiliar with chemical organic control of weeds, I am going to stick to describing the first three methods.

You’ll find each method of control broken down by the type of tool and/or materials you need. Useful videos are [...]