PlantNebraska

Do you have a balcony, patio, driveway, or tiny yard? You can still grow an amazing garden and attract pollinators to it!

This week on the Plant Nebraska Podcast, Sarah and Hanna talk with Jeremie Fant from the Chicago Botanic Garden about container gardening beyond the basics. Learn how native plants, perennials, shrubs, and even small trees can thrive in pots, support pollinators and survive Midwest winters.

Whether you're gardening in an apartment or looking to add more growing space at home, this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration to help you experiment and grow more plants in more places.

Listen anywhere you get your podcasts or on our website: https://plantnebraska.org/resources-events/growing-deeper-podcast.html

Hey friends: no plant sale in our East Campus greenhouses today (Friday, June 19) because we are getting ready to head to Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue tomorrow (Saturday, June 20)! Stop by the Nature Center (new location this year - NOT Camp Brewster) from 9 am to 12 noon on Saturday to shop native perennials for sun and shade, grasses and sedges, herbs, shrubs and trees (paw paw or persimmon, anyone?!).

We will also be at Schramm Park in Gretna from 10 am to 2 pm for the annual Pollinator Party - perennial plants for sale plus tons of fun, family activities.

We take credit/debit or checks (no cash, please), and remember, PlantNebraska members get a 15% discount!

We'll see you there!

More w**ds, please! For the next few weeks we'll be looking at some unfortunately named "w**ds." But here's a PSA for you: they aren't w**ds -- these plants are beautiful AND ecologically beneficial, so give them a chance!

First up: Joe Pye w**d (Eutrochium purpureum & Eutrochium maculatum). This Nebraska native grows 5-7 feet, and prefers moist, rich soils. It works well in a rain garden and also tolerates clay soils well. Joe Pye prefers full sun to part shade and features clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. Pollinators love them, and the flowers give way to attractive seed heads, which give the garden some nice winter interest.

It's said that the plant was named for the 18th century Mohican tribal leader Joseph Shauquethqueat, whom settlers called "Joe Pye," and who used the plant medicinally to treat burns, wounds and fevers.

Joe Pye needs some space to stretch its legs for sure, but if you have room in the back of a bed or in a rain garden, this is one to consider!