Easy Living Yards

02/24/2024

We’ve been hearing a lot of concern that this eerily mild winter will prevent your fall/winter-sown seed from stratifying. We sincerely share your concern about the changing climate, but let us offer a small consolation—your seeds are still stratifying. Optimal stratification temps vary from species to species, but generally fall between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (some seeds stratify better closer to 50 than 32). In a normal year, stratification probably occurs more in the fall and early spring than in the heart of winter for northern climates. Given the nighttime low temperatures and the fact that soil temps are moderated compared to air temps, those of us in northern states still probably have a good stratification window before soils really warm up this spring. Regardless, if you have a site prepped and ready, now is still a great time for EVERYONE to plant a native seed mix! 🌱

01/27/2024

Excited to be working on a new design for an upcoming project! It’s wonderful to be creating beautiful spaces that humans and nature both love. ❤️ 🐰🐛🐝🐞🦋🌼 And of course nothing proceeds without the approval of my design supervisors. 😂

09/23/2023

It’s always fun welcoming fall with a wonderful display of fresh blooms and a pollinator buffet! Happy fall! Shown: aromatic aster (Sympyotrichum oblongifolium), rough goldenrod (Solidago rigidum), blunt mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). 🐝

07/25/2023

Super excited to be headed back to the Midwest Native Plants Conference this year in Dayton OH this weekend! Anyone else going?!? Make sure to come say hi 👋🏻🌼🌱🌿

06/27/2023

What a wonderful showcase of just how extensive our native plants can grow underneath the soil surface!

Exciting news! A new permanent display has been installed at the Franklin Avenue Library. The 11-foot-tall prairie root will educate and spread awareness about the importance of native perennial plants in rural and urban Iowa landscapes. https://www.dmpl.org/prairie-roots

Join us for our kick-off program Thursday at 6:30 PM to celebrate the new display and be the first to pick up the Franklin Avenue Library's Native Prairie Passport! Discover native tallgrass prairie locations around the metro with an interactive presentation and one-of-a-kind nature craft.

The Prairie Roots Project is made possible thanks to a grant from the Tallgrass Prairie Center, and a partnership with Des Moines Parks and Recreation.

06/21/2023

Happy First Day of Summer! We have our first echinacea bloom of the year. The bright flowers bring lots of happiness to our house.

06/10/2023

Enjoying a beautiful native bouquet from the garden! Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Bradburys beebalm (Monarda bradburiana), Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ‘Oertel’s Rose’), Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ - sterile non-native)

05/26/2023

Tell me you love native plants without saying you love native plants 🤪 We just traveled our to South Dakota and loved seeing all the different native plants vs Ohio!

04/05/2023

Always appreciate the help to make our rain garden better!

03/11/2023

Guess who’s birthday is today?!?!? It’s Ben’s. He’s the best dad, husband, landscaping designer I know! He’s been working tons on projects this year, so here’s to a day to celebrate him and all his hard work! Happy Birthday Ben from your wife, kids and followers 🎂

03/07/2023

Spring is arriving in Cincinnati a little early this year. It makes us anxious to see all the beautiful flowers soon 🌼🌷

02/15/2023

Excited to begin this project at a new homesite! Restoring 10 acres of farmland into a beautiful oasis habitat of native plants for humans, plants, and critters alike! It will be a few years before this landscape matures, but the rewards will be worth it. Thankful to be partnering with clients who care so much about the other living creatures who might call this land home yet again.