The Quite Contrary Garden

05/17/2026

04/23/2026

Little Prairie in the City is alive. So am I. I'm finally admitting that I have enough (of some kinds of) plants and this is the year I establish paths! I am done being precious about every growing thing even though they are magic and bring me indescribable joy. The growing things:
1. Jacob's Ladder
2. Phlox
3. Columbine
4. Golden Alexander
5. Purple Poppy Mallow and River Oats
6. Witch Hazel
7. Milkweed and Mountain Mint
8. Baptisia
9. Sedges, grasses, Asters, Goldenrod, Coneflower
10. Paths
11. More paths

12/31/2025

Filled up a grocery bag with plastic trash that blows into the backyard prairie. 😔 Grateful to for helping me reframe this as helping to clean and protect the neighborhood and waterways. The prairie is so gorgeous right now with red and gold grasses, interesting seed pods, and evergreen leaves poking through. Pictures do not do it justice.

11/09/2025

Fall in the Quite Contrary Prairie.
1. Illinois bundleflower seedpods
2. River oats
3. Little Bluestem gone to seed
4. Little Bluestem turning green, gold, and eventually red.
5. The prairie

05/08/2025

I'm a bit late in sharing, but back in February I passed the Grow Native Certified Professional exam. The Grow Native program is run by the Missouri Prairie Foundation and the certification recognizes individuals' knowledge and skills related to working with native plants in a professional capacity.

This was the hardest test I have ever taken in my life and in fact, I failed it the first time. I spent months studying and basically memorized the hundreds of plants in the native plant database by color, height, bloom time, sun, and soil conditions. I had to recognize plants by sight, identify trees by their leaves, put plants in order of bloom succession, match native insects to their host plants (not just Monarchs!), and identify and know how to eradicate invasive plants like Bush honeysuckle or burning bush.

In recognition of passing the test, I received a certificate, a button, and now when I talk about native plants you can rest easy that a governing body says I know what I'm talking about 😂. I'm also listed on the Grow Native Certified Professionals website, linked in my bio.

So what does all this mean? It means I'm a giant nerd who willingly signs herself up for tests and continuing education requirements. It also means that I can help you establish and maintain your own native plant gardens. I created two large native plant gardens last year that I refer to as my prairies, and I'd love to help you do the same!

Come to my seedling giveaway this Saturday from 9-noon at The Quite Contrary Garden and you can see The Quite Contrary Prairie. I'll have some native plant seedlings to give away in addition to veggie plants.

05/04/2025

Hello friends, I would like to invite you to a plant giveaway this Saturday, May 10th 9am-12pm at The Quite Contrary Garden. I started hundreds of tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber and other vegetable seedlings and giving them away is my small way of fighting back against the hopelessness I feel right now. Come see my prairie, talk plants, grab some seedlings or get some for a neighbor in need. I would love to see you on Saturday! Bring your own box if you can. ☮️💚🍅

03/12/2025

Husband called me a minion today. He's not wrong and now I can't unsee it.