All the Dirt on Gardening

One native plant can make a huge difference in the future of butterflies, birds and humans. Photo Monarch larva are on milkweed in the yard during their migration through Oklahoma to Mexico last fall. Whether you grow a potted plant or a farm, everyone can help stop the extinction of American insects, birds and animals by planting one native plant each year. Tulsa Audubon Society annual tour is this weekend with six home gardens that are wildlife habitats. One vendor will be selling plants, birdhouses and other nature items at each location. Mary Ann King, owner of Pine Ridge Gardens ( www.pineridgegardens.com ) and Marilyn Stewart of Wild Things Nursery ( www.wildthingsnursery.com ) provided information about some of the plants they will have available for your garden. Zanthoxylum clava-herculis — toothache tree /prickly ash /Hercules' Club is a host plant for Giant Swallowtail butterfly and songbirds eat the fruit. Native of all the states in the southeast US. Aromatic, sm...

Pearl Garrison, communications director for the new Oklahoma Botanical Garden is slated to speak in Muskogee Thursday January 17 at 10 a.m. Here is all the infomation from my column this week Oklahoma garden official to speak in MuskogeeJan 17 10 a.m. at Kiwanis Senior CenterPublished January 09, 2008 06:20 pm - The public is invited to hear a presentation of the plans for the new 240-acre Oklahoma Botanical Garden northeast of Tulsa. By Molly Day Oklahomans will soon have another reason to be proud of their state's commitment to plant diversity and the development of its natural resources. The Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden is a remarkable addition to the education of young horticulturists and will contribute to the preservation of native plants. The garden, which also will be a research and education center, is on 240 acres northwest of downtown Tulsa on the Persimmon Ridge in the Cross Timbers of the Osage Hills. The public will have an opportunity to hear about the Garde...