I Should Kill My Lawn

05/20/2026

I love CowPots!

05/20/2026

01/20/2026

If you were following me last summer, you know that I suspended all of my plant and gardening activities in July after we learned my mom had cancer. To my family's deepest sadness, we lost her in November.

Gardening was a joy that I shared with my mom. I remember being a small child and playing in the garden while she watered. Words can't express all of the devastation, horror and anguish from the past months. But I guess I don't need to say everything for you to understand why I'm having trouble getting excited about growing again.

Yesterday morning, I was sitting in my office feeling listless, and I noticed something extraordinary. The tree in our backyard was full of bluejays. In years past, I put out suet cages and black oil sunflowers seeds for the birds. And now they were returning to my garden, on the coldest day of the year, searching for my hospitality.

I had the realization that, even if there is nothing more I can do for my mom, there is still care to be given. I bundled up the dogs and myself, went to Farm and Fleet, bought 10 suet cakes, and hung them in the backyard.

A couple hours later, however, there were no birds to be found. Were the cakes stale? Where did the birds go? I was disappointed.

Later, I was on the phone with my counselor. She was telling me that grief never shrinks, your life simply grows up around it. And as I was listening to her, I looked out my office window, and the backyard was full of songbirds! A giant, fat cardinal. Blue birds and jays, and small brown birds that I didn't know the names of. The backyard was aflutter with tiny, colorful wings.

If you're going through a time of grief or loss, just remember: you have so much good to give the world. Even if you think you will not be missed, you will. And in ways you will never even realize! Showing love and kindness to others is the way we get through the darkness.

Here's to the coming growing season, and to the privilege and blessing of caring for others!

07/31/2025

Hi plant people. For those of you who don't know, my mom is really sick and I won't be doing any plant sales again, at least for this year. I do have lots of seed starting trays left, if you're interested in trying your hand at seed starting. I also still need lots of cardboard, so if you have any large furniture boxes, feel free to bring them by!

Send a message to learn more

07/02/2025

free seed starting trays! pm me to arrange pick up!

07/01/2025

I am pausing plant sales for a bit to give myself a bit of a break, but I am still doing porch pickups. PM to arrange something. I'm also cutting deals for bulk buys, so hit me up!

FEDERALLY ENDANGERED + ILLINOIS ENDANGERED NATIVE
-Leafy prairie clover $5

ENDANGERED ILLINOIS NATIVES
-Large flowered beardtongue $5 (only a few left)
-Tube beardtongue $5

ILLINOIS NATIVES
-Gaillardia $3 (only a few left)
-Rose milkweed $5
-Butterflyweed $5 (only a few left)
-Early sunflower $3
-Rattlesnake master $5
-Palm sedge 6 for $10
-Little Bluestem 6 for $10
-Baptisia australis var. minor $6
-Clustered Mountain Mint $5
-Anise hyssop $5
-Button bush $5
-Nodding onion $3 (NEW)
-Common evening-primrose FREE
-Switchgrass FREE
-Monarda FREE
-River Oats FREE

NON-NATIVE PERENNIALS
-Echinops ritro $3 (x1)
-Perennial salvia $5
-Delphiniums $3

VEGETABLES AND HERBS
-Mitsuba $2
-Rhubarb $5

FREE STUFF
-Small dog grooming table
-Milwaukee power tool battery chargers
-Seed starting trays
-Brown plastic Adirondack chair
-100' garden hose

06/30/2025

06/25/2025

I am waiting to see how the weather looks before committing to doing a plant sale on Saturday. Still doing porch pickups though. I'm cutting people deals for bulk buys, so hit me up to negotiate! I am also still giving milkweeds to people who bring me cardboard! Here is the updated list:

FEDERALLY ENDANGERED + ILLINOIS ENDANGERED NATIVE
-Leafy prairie clover $8

ENDANGERED ILLINOIS NATIVES
-Large flowered beardtongue $5
-Tube beardtongue $5

ILLINOIS NATIVES
-Dense Blazing Star $5 (only a couple left)
-Gaillardia $3
-Rose milkweed $5
-Butterflyweed $5
-Early sunflower $3
-Rattlesnake master $5
-Palm sedge 6 for $10
-Little Bluestem 6 for $10
-Baptisia australis var. minor $6
-Clustered Mountain Mint $5
-Anise hyssop $5
-Pale Indian Plantain $5 (x1)
-Button bush $5 (NEW)
-Common evening-primrose FREE
-Switchgrass FREE
-Monarda FREE
-River Oats FREE

NON-NATIVE PERENNIALS
-Echinops ritro $3 (only a couple left)
-Perennial salvia $5
-Delphiniums $3

VEGETABLES AND HERBS
-Mitsuba $2
-Rhubarb $5

FREE STUFF
-Small dog grooming table
-Milwaukee power tool battery chargers
-Seed starting trays
-Brown plastic Adirondack chair
-100' garden hose

06/25/2025

Here's a list of the top 5 trees I would never plant on my property, living in central Illinois:

1. White mulberry. Are you surprised that I didn't say Bradford or Callery pear? No one talks about how aggressive and invasive white mulberry is. It is not indigenous to the US, and it will spread like crazy on your property. Removing it is a nightmare. Hate hate hate hate hate: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/invasives-your-woodland-white-mulberry/

2. Bradford or Callery pear. By now you know why. The only way to prune these trees is with a horizontal cut right at the base of the trunk: https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-callery-pear

3. Blue spruce. Time and time again, I see people in my area planting these poor trees, and I just wish they would look up and see what those trees look like in about 10 years. Dead. They look dead. Because they're mostly dead. Here's something else you should know: we live in a part of the world where there is only one endemic evergreen plant, and it is a shrubby little thing that you wouldn't want in your yard. Everything else that is native to our area is deciduous. Work with nature, not against it! https://homertree.com/blog/battling-blue-spruce-diseases/

4. Silver maples. The only native on this list. Might be the most obnoxious tree of all time. It is constantly dropping stuff in every season, and it's highly invasive roots will cause damage to plumbing and septic systems. Yes it's fast growing, but at what cost? Be a good neighbor and don't plant these. Plus, there are soooo many other great native maple trees that don't have the problems of silver maples, and have way better fall color: sugar maple, red maple, black maple, etc... https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=635461

5. Willows. Most species of willow should never be planted in a suburban or urban environment. It will absolutely destroy your plumbing. However, if you have plenty of acreage and it isn't near any water lines, go for it! https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-willow/

Is there a tree you think I should have included? Let me know in the comments!

06/23/2025

Just a reminder during this especially hot week that young native plants need to be watered with the same frequency as non-native young plants. My usual strategy is watering them every day for the first week, then twice a week for the next three weeks, then once a week for the rest of the growing season. The following season, you won't need to water them at all (as long as it's not a moisture loving plant that has been planted in the wrong place). (Picture of my parkway project last year.)