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In today's episode, Patience, Mistakes, and #gardengoals, we go over common mistakes beginner and even intermediate gardeners can make; the virtues of serenity, patience, and open-mindedness in the garden; and how your best-laid plans can come true.
Host Stephanie Barelman
Stephanie Barelman is the founder of the Bellevue Native Plant Society, a midwest motivational speaker, and host of the Plant Native Nebraska Podcast.
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The Plant Native Nebraska podcast can be found on the podcast app of your choice.
Episode Content#gardengoals
- Don't be rigid
- Do have fun
- Don't fall on the sword of perfectionism
- Don't worry about every little weed
- Do think about what your spaces to be
- Do be thoughtful
- Do make a plan, but don't be afraid to deviate from it
Failures are the star-stuff dreams are made of
You know how we are all just leftover particles from dead stars?
The very beginning of human knowledge is screwing up, or at the very least, understanding how things work.
Failure= Understanding Success
We can also acknowledge beautiful things unfolding from devastating realties. Waxing philosophical now...
That being said there may be mistakes you'd like to avoid altogether:
Mistake #1: All planning and no action.
Don't plan stuff out and then not do it. Don't do that to yourself, it's not nice.
- Don't panic! We can help you think of ideas! https://bellevuenativeplants.org Bellevue Native Plant Society
- You can take Monarch Gardens classes https://www.monarchgard.com/classes.html
- Prairie Moon has some layouts to get you started: https://www.prairiemoon.com/PDF/2020-Prairie-Moon-Nursery.Garden-Kit-Layout-Suggestion_WEB.pdf
Mistake #2: Ignoring the house front.
The front of your house should be the first place you look to make a statement about natural spaces and it's likely the one you frequent the most. Just remember:
- Use cues to care https://www.humanegardener.com/wild-design-home-gardens/
- Mix up bloom times. Think: all seasons
- Keep your space maintained. Weed once a month: at minimum
Mistake #3: Not prepping the space well before getting started.
How to site prep: https://prairielegacyinc.com/planning-your-prairie/
Think of garden shapes: https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/basic-design-principles-and-styles-garden-beds
Mistake #4: Forgetting about ground covers.
Sedges, baby.
Popular ground covers for sun: heath aster, wild strawberry, Missouri evening primrose, silky aster, purple poppy mallow, pussytoes, purple prairie clover and more.
Popular ground covers for shade include wild ginger, violets, wild geranium, zig zag goldenrod, mayapple, shade asters, Virginia waterleaf, and others.
Mistake #5: Not taking sun requirements into account or planting something that likes it wet in dry soil or vice versa.
Look up plant stats, but experimental skepticism is ok.
Mistake #6: Not thinking of adding in paths to weed and access the garden.
Paths can be stepping stones, turf grass, mulch, crushed limestone. The options are there. Just make it easy for yourself to get around. Make paths two to three feet wide.
Mistake #7 Planting a ton of tall stuff by a sidewalk or path, or letting something go to seed and grow there so your paths disappear.
Need a recipe for some potting soil for all the stuff you have to pot up because you psychotically can't bear to waste it??? Yeah???
https://www.hortmag.com/smart-gardening/homemade-potting-mix-with-compost
Mistake #8 Planting several aggressive plants, when it’s more practical to control one or two.
Aggressive things to keep an eye on:
- Root Spreaders: wild mint, silphiums, native sunflowers, prairie sage, western yarrow, obedient plant, native roses, elderberry, common milkweed
- Prolific Seeders: hyssops, pitcher sage, tall boneset, verbena stricta, rudbeckias
We are not saying "DO NOT USE" these plants. We are saying decide for yourself if you can handle the maintenance. Many of these are wonderful plants. You can always grow root spreaders in large containers.
Mistake #9 Not planting most things in drifts.
Drift philosophy: https://www.monarchgard.com/thedeepmiddle/fundamentals-of-natural-garden-design
Mistake #10 Trying to do too much all at the same time.
Dream big but start small. Maintain what you finish. Impress your neighbors. Remember we want to win them over!
Be patient
Gardens take time to be at their best. Some plants need years to even get started. Baptisia, leadplant, and shrubby St. John's wort are all plants that need years to really get going.
Let yourself practice and play. Have fun and live a little!
Thank you for listening!
-Stephanie
Additional content related to this episode:What makes a plant native?
http://bonap.net/fieldmaps Biota of North America North American Plant Atlas database-select Nebraska
https://bellevuenativeplants.org Bellevue Native Plant Society
native (wild type) vs. nativar/native cultivar (cultivated by humans for desirable characteristics)
On the Web
BONAP aforementioned
BNPS aforementioned
http://www.facebook.com/groups/bellevuenativeplantsociety- BNPS on Facebook
Books & Authors
Rick Darke- The Living Landscape
Douglas Tallamy- Professor and Chair of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Entomology at the University of Delaware, author of The Living Landscape, Nature's Best Hope, naturalist, and curator of "Homegrown National Park".
Enrique Salmon- Iwigara
Daniel Moerman -Native American Ethnobotany
Heather Holm- https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com
Native Plants of the Midwest
Planting in a Post-Wild World
Jon Farrar's Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska
Additional Resources- NSA at https://www.plantnebraska.org great articles and downloads
- Xerxes Society- champions of pollinator health
- Native Plant Finder- https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/
Other Local Organizations
- Green Bellevue
- PATH
- Nebraska Native Plant Society
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Get some merch! https://plant-native-nebraska.myspreadshop.com/
Find us on Facebook
Visit our homepage https://plant-native-nebraska.captivate.fm
Give us a review on Podchaser! www.podchaser.com/PlantNativeNebraska
Support My Work via Patreon
The Plant Native Nebraska podcast can be found on the podcast app of your choice.
