WPS Garden of Lights Spotlight: The Homes of Beneficial Insects & Pollinators
As you explore the wintry outdoors and see a dazzling 325,000 holiday lights during WPS Garden of Lights, you’ll likely notice that we have a botanical and nature-inspired theme, and this is no coincidence! Each and every one of our hand-crafted displays represent an element of nature in some way, from buzzing bees to spinning […]
3 Easy Tips for Sustainable Garden & Landscape Cleanup
Raking leaves, cutting back plants, and cleaning up our landscape is part of our typical fall checklist, but did you know that beneficial pollinators, insects, and other animals rely on autumn debris and dried plants for shelter and food in the winter? Fall garden cleanup can also make spring gardening far easier as much of […]
Fall Checklist: 8 Gardening Tasks You Shoulder Consider
Although fall is a more relaxed period of the year in the garden, there is still plenty to do. Tending to and tidying gardens and landscapes now will give you a jump on activities next spring. Read on for a checklist of some useful strategies and materials to apply towards optimizing your garden production this fall […]
8 Unique Tips for Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs in Fall
If you envision a spring landscape blooming with vibrant color, planting bulbs will get you there. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, or a beginner just testing the waters of bulb planting, the following tips will help you get to know these wonderful plants a little better, and give you an even greater opportunity to grow […]
How to Really Recycle to Make a Difference
The sculptures of the Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit are on their way back to Oregon this week. After experiencing these beautiful yet eye-opening sculptures in person this summer, many visitors to the Garden walked away pondering how they could make a difference in their local environment. One way to help improve […]
Horticulture Team Takes on Long-Term Magnolia Preservation Project
If you visit the Garden in spring, you’ll see one of the oldest flowering plants known worldwide, the magnolia. These beautiful flowering trees are older than bees! Yet, even more interesting is the Garden grows 14 unique magnolias breeds that don’t grow anywhere else. A collection of plants this rare is worth preserving! That’s why […]
The Little-Known & Endangered Karner Blue Butterfly
In 1992, the Karner Blue Butterfly, a subspecies of the small blue butterfly, was federally listed as an endangered species. Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species program has worked to identify, protect, and restore the Karner blue butterfly to prevent its extinction. You, too, can help prevent the extinction of this […]
The Magnificent Migration of Monarch Butterflies & How a Super Generation Makes it Happen
No migration compares to that of the small, black and orange creature you see fluttering through your neighborhood in summer. When you think about migration, you might describe how birds fly south for the winter and return when temperatures warm up again. For a monarch, migration is much more complex and requires multiple generations to […]
The Problem with Nutrient Pollution & Algae Blooms
By Josie Knuth, Marketing & Communications Intern Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea reveals the devastating impact plastic pollution has on local habitats of water species like Stanley the Sturgeon and Giacometti the River Otter. Unfortunately, plastic isn’t the only pollutant swimming in the homes of Stanley and Giacometti. Algae, the smelly, green stuff […]
4 Invasive Plants to Avoid in Your Garden & What to Plant Instead
Invasive plant species can cause significant harm to Wisconsin’s natural environment, but gardeners have the power to help prevent their spread! One of the best ways to stop the spread of invasive plants is to be mindful of what you’re planting in your garden and landscape. Although it can be tempting to dig up a […]
