It’s been a hot, dry marathon of a summer, but school’s back in session, fall is on the horizon, and I’ve got several updates to share with you all. First, some dates. My summer hiatus is over, and I’ll be returning to the Bentonville Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from Aug. 23 to Oct. 25, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come say hello this Saturday!
Further down the line, mark your calendars for the Wild Ones Ozark Chapter’s fall native plant sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at GoatLab Brewery in Lowell (I’ll be skipping the farmers market that day). If you’re looking for native plants, this is the place to be, with several of us growers from across the Ozarks region selling a huge variety of exclusively native species.
Benefits of autumn planting
You might be thinking, Why would I buy plants now? Spring is the diva of gardening, of course, but when it comes to plants that live for a couple years or longer, autumn and the milder stretches of winter can be just as worthwhile for planting.
Cooler temperatures and a little more rain on average make the coming months an easier time for plants to grow their roots and get established with minimal assistance. They can also focus on those tasks instead of spending energy on growth above ground. As long as the ground’s not frozen, plants can be planted — tucked into bed for the winter, as another grower I know likes to say. And once spring rolls around again, they’re ready and raring to go.
On a related note, the cold months are the best times to prune woody shrubs and trees, too, for similar reasons.
Native plants and climate in the news
Ozark Roots’ mission is to help the region adapt to a changing climate and protect its essential natural resources. Here’s some of what I’ve been reading on these topics — including examples from across the U.S. that we could follow right here.
Senate Bill 105 prohibits plant nurseries from importing, exporting, buying or selling climbing euonymus, all varieties of Japanese honeysuckle, sericea lespedeza, perilla mint, burning bush and Callery pear.
Growing ornamental perennial grasses in your landscape serves multiple purposes: They can fill in exposed soil, reduce erosion and attract birds to the garden while also adding colorful hues and textures.
Years of drought conditions in the Midwest and Great Plains have opened the door for pests and diseases that are killing bur oaks. (Also check out this related story about a new study warning that the world’s total supply of fresh water is quickly disappearing.)
A sweeping conservation plan identifies where Joshua trees may survive in a warmer future and plots out how to best protect that land.
The Trump administration’s assault on what EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called “climate change religion” is based on demonstrably false assumptions and assertions.
Ozark Roots is back on Instagram
Find me on Instagram or Bluesky for educational videos, views from local natural areas, information about upcoming events and more.
Thanks for reading!
Dan
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