Iowa Native Gardener

Virginia Bluebells are one of my all-time favorite wildflowers. There was a time when the woods near me were carpeted with acres of these delicate blooms—an ocean of blue beneath the trees every May. Sadly, those woods are gone, one of the many casualties of the derecho. But the memory of that breathtaking sight inspires…

Jack-in-the-Pulpit has long held a place in Native American traditions. The plant was used medicinally, but only with great care, as its raw form contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause a burning sensation if ingested. Stories and names tied to this plant often reflect its unique appearance, with “Jack” referring to the spongy cylindrical…