What are the advantages of incorporating wildflowers into your garden? According to the NPIN website ( http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ ), they conserve water, save money on fertilizer and provide a home for birds and butterflies. The goldenrod and endangered False Foxglove were found at the Chiwaukee Prairie. Unfortunately, my photography skills are not great so the False-Foxglove (A. skinneriana) isn’t the best picture.
I keep old copies of Garden Gate around for inspiration during the long winter months in Illinois. The articles and design ideas are timeless and I always find something new to think about for the coming spring. Have you seen Garden Gate magazine? You can pick up a copy at Borders Books and from their website: www.gardengatemagazine.com For example, the February 2008 issue had an article about shasta daisies. It points out that the daisy has many good qualities such as “forms nice clumps”; “stiff stem” and a “long bloom season”. Upload a picture of your home on www.mygardenonline.com and see if the Shasta Daisy would look good in your garden!