Happy fall, y’all. Daytime temps are still pretty warm, but there’s that unmistakable chill in the mornings: Autumn is here. And as I’ve mentioned before, fall is a great time to plant, with milder conditions that make it easy for perennials to prepare for next spring.
With that in mind, mark your calendars for several upcoming sales to round out the season:
- Saturday, Oct. 11, half a dozen local growers like myself will be part of the Wild Ones Ozark Chapter’s fall sale at GoatLab Brewery in Lowell from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is likely the largest sale exclusively for native plants in the whole region, with a huge variety of species, so there’s no better place to stock up for fall planting.
- Saturday, Oct. 25, will be my last day of the Bentonville Farmers Market (Note: I won’t be there Oct. 18). Come on out from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.!
Asters over mums
It’s mum season at all the garden centers, and that’s understandable: As most plants start to pack up shop for the year, mums offer an easy burst of color. And the flowers are good for pollinators, right?
Unfortunately, no. Mums aren’t native to this side of the planet, and they’re bred for lots of showy blossoms that offer next to nothing in terms of nectar or pollen. So this is my call to all of you: Plant asters, not mums.
There’s a wide variety native to this region, with flowers that ranging from white to blue to purple and many shades in between. Aromatic aster, above, is one of my favorites and is the main one I have in stock right now, while New England asters, the first image in this email, give a lovely deep purple.
Asters are perennial, so you don’t have to re-buy them every year. They complement other fall bloomers, like sunflowers and goldenrods, beautifully. And of course they give essential nourishment to pollinators when they need it most to prepare for winter. #TeamAster
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.
Harvesting Arkansas: Climate-smart project continues in Arkansas
Not all ‘climate-smart’ crop projects operating in Arkansas previously approved for the USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities program grants will continue to receive funding, but some are.
13 expert tips for creating a low-maintenance landscape with native plants
Better Homes & Gardens offers strategies for landscaping with natives to create a beautiful space that requires less care.
The Climate tech coalition boom
Amid federal hostility toward environmental projects, some of the industry’s biggest names are joining forces to keep the momentum moving forward.
The era of the American lawn is over
Nearly 40 million acres — about the size of Wisconsin — are devoted to turf. But our collective devotion to the lawn may finally be cracking.
Jane Goodall’s message of hope for the planet
Before her recent death, the famous naturalist argued that leaders who don’t prioritize climate change don’t deserve to be in office.
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