New to Wisconsin

3 years ago

We are buying a home in the Fox Valley area. Where can I find lists of native and well adapted plants for this area? I'm coming from Texas so a whole new set of plants to learn about. I'm looking for pollinator plants as well. Thanks in advance.

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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

A visit (or call) to the Green Bay Botanical Gardens would be your best first step.

https://gbbg.org/

...and welcome to the Dairyland.

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Comments (8)

djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The Gordon Bubloz Nature Preserve is in the Appleton area. While Milwaukee is a bit of a drive, the Boerner Botanical Gardens is there. There are roses, day lilies, hostas and all kinds of native plants. Nice walking paths too. Welcome to Wisconsin! Welcome to the forum.

I also found a link that might help.

kb.jniplants.com

debra
loreleicomal thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
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loreleicomal
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you both!
heidielizabeth
3 years ago
Welcome to Wisconsin! Although it did not happen in 2020 due to quarantine, keep your eye out for the 2021 Master Gardeners' Sale at State Fair Park (West Allis/Milwaukee) in May. Amazing perennials are cents on the dollar, and all the Master Gardeners are there to answer questions. Arrive early for best selection and bring a wagon (or two) to pull all the beautiful plants you pick out.
loreleicomal thanked heidielizabeth
loreleicomal
Original Author
3 years ago
Good to hear that there is a master gardener program in WI. They are very active here in Texas so I'll look for them and their knowledge up there. Thank you @heidielizabeth!
heidielizabeth
3 years ago
I also recommend taking a little drive to Sheboygan to enjoy Book Worm Gardens. You will immediately feel nostalgic as you walk through the gardens inspired by children's books. http://www.bookwormgardens.org/
loreleicomal thanked heidielizabeth
honibaker
3 years ago
Welcome!

Our DNR (Dept of Natural Resources) publishes lots of info about Native Plants.

Here is a comprehensive list of those plants: (note: I normally do not post links for security

reasons, but you can see this is a government website)

https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/nh/nh0936.pdf
loreleicomal thanked honibaker
jemdandy
3 years ago
Welcome to Wisconsin. I'm considered a transplant although I've been here 60 years. About permanent plants, be serious about the hardiness zone rating. I suggest to wait until May 15th to begin gardening activities. You can start preparations in April, but delay plantings.

Our winters are very variable. Some are snow filled while other are not so much. Although we can on occasion get a mild winter (as defined by the locals), it is guaranteed there will be at least one extreme cold snap. As a home owner, your first priority is to insure that you have a good working furnace, and its a good idea to develop a working relationship with a heating/air conditioner contractor. If a furnace fails in mid-winter, it needs immediate attention.

A high level of attic insulation goes a long way to avoiding roof problems with premature snow melt. (Snow melting on roof while the air temperature is below freezing is a major cause of 'ice dams' and large icicles hanging from the gutters). For example, my gas usage reduced by 15% when I had my attic re-insulated and no more icicles.

You will be living in the part of the state that was covered by the last glacier. That glacier did not cover all of this state. There is a western portion that escaped.

Although we are still known as the dairy state, we lost that title to California. There were shifts in the tax laws that caused a number of dairies to close. That has been remedied after the damage was done, but in later years, economic conditions furthered the demise of the small family diary operations. However, we still make cheeses of many kinds! Our cheese makers have won awards at world wide competitions.

I don't envy you coming here at this time since we are in the midst of a corona virus epidemic. We began spiking the number of cases starting Sept 1. This increase was partly caused by school starts, but political pressure to relax cautions was a major factor as well.

We do not get a good spring weather. The better weather begins May 15th. However, I enjoy our summer and fall, and I hope that you will too. We do get hot days in summer, but nothing like Texas.

Welcome.
loreleicomal thanked jemdandy