The Quite Contrary Garden

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. ☮️💚🍅

03/31/2025

03/12/2025

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

10/02/2024

Aromatic Aster

09/21/2024

Late summer/early fall at The Quite Contrary Prairie.
1. New England Aster
2. Showy Goldenrod
3. Rough Blazing Star
4. Aromatic Aster
5. Little Bluestem
6. Illinois Bundleflower
7. River Oats
8. Mountain Mint
9. Little Bluestem turning red and going to seed
10. Sideoats Grama

07/26/2024

Prairie update: she's thriving. It's less a prairie and more a jungle. Every book told me that it would be 3 years before things really get established but idk seems pretty established to me.

06/23/2024

Mama 💖

06/21/2024

Summer Solstice

06/09/2024

I've been a bit quiet over here but I thought I'd give an update of what I've been up to. Some of you may remember my posts from last fall and winter where I was working to establish two native plant gardens, AKA The Quite Contrary Prairie and my backyard prairie. I'm surprised and happy to report that both prairies* are going gangbusters and I have thousands of native plants popping up all over. *By prairies I mean native plant gardens but it sounds way more dramatic to say I'm re-establishing a prairie than to say I put native plants in my yard. By native plants I mean plants that are indigenous to Missouri/Kansas and pre-date the introduction of European plants to North America.

I had spent several years learning about native plants and planning to transition part of my farming area into a native garden, and everything I read led me to temper my expectations for the first season. Native plants often have low germination rates or need several seasons to germinate and can be slow growers. I never expected to already have thousands of native plants! So I've been spending my time wandering around the prairies and seeing new plants emerge every day and feeling my heart explode with awe and appreciation.

Pictured: 1. The Quite Contrary Prairie 2 & 3. The patch of bee balm and river oats that started this native plant obsession 4. Gray headed coneflower in my backyard prairie. 5. Brown Eyed Susan 6. American Beautyberry 7. Partridge Pea (and a purple coneflower seedling) 8. Illinois Bundleflower 9. Purple poppy mallow