The Queen of the Prairie, Filipendula rubra, is a herbaceous perennial that grows well in medium to wet soil, in full sun to partial shade.  Growing tall and upright, it has fragrant leaves and pale pink flowers, and is insect and disease resistant.

Facts about Queen of the Prairie:

Good things to know about Queen of the Prairie :

Queen of the Prairie, is a native to North America and is hardy from US Zones 3 to 8.  A tall and wide pink-flowered perennial, it is tolerant of poor soil and all levels of sunlight.  Its leaves and flowers are decorative, and the plants attracts beneficial insects throughout the summer.

You will find Queen of the Prairie in the Woodland Path at Demonstration Garden.

Queen of the Prairie is a tall large plant, and can create impressive borders and features in native plant gardens.  It is tolerant of poor soils, provides a food source for pollinators, and is a good choice for naturalized areas, wet meadows, or cottage gardens.

To Mulch or Not to Mulch?

Why use mulch in your garden? Because spreading a 2-inch-deep layer in your garden blankets the ground, shielding the soil from the sun. This conserves water, prevents moisture loss from evaporation and reduces weeds. Organic types can be any organic material which will contribute organic mater to your soil as it breaks down:

• wood chips
• bark
• grass clippings
• hay or straw ( make sure no seeds are present)
• cocoa bean hulls
• compost
• pine needles ( adds acidity to soil)
• old newspaper
• sawdust or wood shavings

Non-organic mulches also show proof of higher plant yield though they contribute nothing to soil quality. Plastic sheeting is an example of non-organic mulch.

Why use mulch in your garden?

Advantages:

1. Weed control
2. Moisture conservation
3. Disease control
4. Cleaner vegetables
5. Erosion prevention
6. Soil organic matter increase- with organic mulches
7. Earlier harvest -with plastic mulch

All mulches help reduce weed growth. But different types may work differently with various plants. Therefore you may find that newspaper and straw works well with asparagus while plastic cover works well with sweet potatoes. One of the main disadvantages with organic mulch, because it keeps the soil cooler, is that it may delay the maturity of a warm season crop. Sweet potatoes like warmth, so plastic is a better choice. Blueberries like acidic soil, so for them, pine needles are an ideal selection.

Disadvantages:

1. Expense
2. Possible delay maturity -with organic mulches which keep soil cool
3. Rainfall absorption
4. Need for extra nitrogen -with high carbon mulches such as straw or wood chips if plants look deficient, add nitrogen.
5. Environmental concern -when using plastic it requires yearly disposal

The Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is  3 foot tall perennial that has white petals and a yellow center.  It is prolific, attracting butterflies and growing in hot sunny areas of the garden with low maintenance.  Through out the country, it is used to naturalize fields, pastures and roadsides.

Facts about Oxeye Daisy:

Good things to know about this hearty perennial :

The Oxeye Daisy, or marguerite, is a vigorously growing herbaceous perennial that grows well in dry, full sun areas of the garden, U.S. zones 3 to 8.  It is resistant to deer, rabbits and tolerates drought well.  Leaves are dark green and toothed oval, and blooms appearing in May to August.  Spent blooms can be removed or “deadheaded” to prolonged flowering. These perennials are hearty and prolific and clumps should be divided every 2 to 3 years.

You will find Oxeye Daisy at Demonstration Garden in late June and July.

The Oxeye Daisy can be seen throughout North America in fields and pastures.  In the Demonstration Garden, it blooms June to August, and attracts nectar feeders including butterflies and various insects.  It is one of the most showy perennials in our garden and they make excellent cut flowers!

Niagara Falls White Pine has long, bluish green needles that add color and texture contrast in the home landscape garden.  Growing 4 to 6 inches at its terminals per year, it creates a waterfall-like shape in the garden, which gives it its name.  At 10 years, it can be from 1 to 5 feet tall.

Facts about Pinus strobus ‘Niagara Falls’:

Good things to know about Pinus strobus ‘Niagara Falls’ :

Niagara Falls is a dense, bluish green needle pine, with gently weeping branches providing a cascading landscape accent in rock gardens or a mass planting.  It must be grown in full sunlight, in moist or dry slightly acidic soil, and is tolerant of urban pollution.  Native to North America, Pinus strobus ‘Niagara Falls’ is hardy to Zone 3.

You will find ‘Niagara Falls’ White Pine in the conifer bed at Demonstration Garden.

With an unusual bluish green needle color and cascading form, the Pinus strobus ‘Niagara Falls’ provides a delightful accent to home landscapes.  It is a fast grower under optimal conditions, and is sturdy in cold and crowded environments.

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ along with a few additional varieties can be found trellising the well known arbors at Demonstration Garden.  The Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ is a deciduous climbing shrub with 3 inch wide blooms of deep purple flowers fading to violet overtime with a lime green anther.  Disease resistant and vigorous, this climber needs a supporting structure to grow properly and can reach 8 to 10 feet high at full maturity. It is a very good choice for Iowa home gardens.

Facts about this popular variety:

Good things to know about planting and caring for Clematis x jackmanii.

Clematis x jackmanii will thrive in a well drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral PH soil. It will require at least 6 hours of full sun and an inch of water weekly. Clematis varieties which develop flowers on new growth with do best in Iowa. Each spring it should be pruned well. When planting, bury the crown two inches under the soil surface. Water well and trim to 12 inches or low buds to encourage multiple branching. Clematis likes the roots to stay cool while the top is warn in the sunshine. Therefore, they are well complimented by annuals or other pants around the root base to keep cool but not so close as to crowd. Blooms will be continuous from June as long as into September.

Mulch can provide winter protection for the crowns and will also keep summer roots cool. Clematis makes good cut flowers living up t o 4 days if cut when just beginning to open but may require some support with wire or other floral design materials.