Category: Blog

Does Spotted Knapweed Repel Monarch Butterflies?

by Ilse Gebhard, KAWO member This question came to my mind a number of years ago when I was raising monarchs from eggs and caterpillars found in the wild for the following two Citizen Science Projects: Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and Project Monarch Health. Milkweeds are the only plants that monarch caterpillars will feed on […] Continue reading "Does Spotted Knapweed Repel Monarch Butterflies?"

Plant Milkweed for Butterflies and Bees

by Ilse Gebhard, KAWO member Here is an interesting research paper that shows the importance to monarchs and bees of gardens with milkweed in urban settings. If you would like to read the entire paper, please contact me at: [email protected]. Adam M. Baker · Daniel A. Potter Published online: 6 June 2018 ©Springer International Publishing […] Continue reading "Plant Milkweed for Butterflies and Bees"

Why It’s Important to Remove Invasive Species from Your Yard

by Mike Weis, KAWO member and owner of Dropseed! Native Gardens There’s a problem lurking in your yard and it’s wreaking havoc elsewhere, whether you know it or not. Invasive species continue to be a major problem for conservation and restoration efforts and most of these invasive plant outbreaks in wilderness areas originate in our […] Continue reading "Why It’s Important to Remove Invasive Species from Your Yard"

Weeding Induced Meditation

by Ilse Gebhard, KAWO member That’s right.  Weeding, not weed, induced meditation. Wikipedia defines meditation as a practice of mindfullness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance […] Continue reading "Weeding Induced Meditation"

Glacial Gifts: Garden Design for Dry, Sunny Slopes

by Mike Weis, KAWO member and owner of Dropseed! Native Gardens Here in Kalamazoo county, most of our landscape is the product of outwash from glacier activity over 10,000 years ago. (Warning: armchair geology lesson from a fool) Essentially, a confluence of glacial moraine Lobes, Sublobes and Interlobes of the enormous Laurentide Ice Sheet pushed […] Continue reading "Glacial Gifts: Garden Design for Dry, Sunny Slopes"