The Kansas City
GARDENER October 2026 | kcgmag.com
Switch It Up
New ideas for a fall display
Spirea Grows Up The Healthy Gardener: Pumpkin Spooky Feels in the Garden Quieter Lawn and Garden Equipment When a Good Growing Season Turns Stressful
editor’s notes
The Kansas City
GARDENER Independently owned and operated since 1996 PUBLISHER Michael Cavanaugh EDITOR Elizabeth Cavanaugh CONTRIBUTORS Natalie Carmolli Markis Hill Glenn Hodges Kevin Keilig Jesse Kirk Sidney Patrick Anthony Reardon Anne Wildeboor Scott Woodbury DISTRIBUTION Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE the magazine at your place of business, please contact Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 NEED MORE MAGAZINES? mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 CONTACT US P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-648-4728 ADVERTISING Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 QUESTIONS ABOUT EDITORIAL AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE See details on page 19. WEBSITE kcgmag.com
Getting ready to garden...in my head
I
t’s Saturday morning and Mr. Gardener is gone. He’s bike riding with a friend, they’ll be gone for a while. I could use some “me” time in the garden. And the temperature is decent. Hmmm, I need to run a few errands, but there’s no way I’m going to Target or Michael’s on a Saturday, especially since procrastinating is still an option. Deciding what I want versus what I need is difficult. What I really want is garden time, and when the weather is tolerable, carpe diem. So when I’m done with this cup of coffee…..Changing clothes will move the process along. Ugh, long pants and long sleeves. Oak mites are still able to find an opening. I’m still scratching from last weekend’s outing. Grab socks and my hat. Yard shoes? In the gazebo. To the linen closet for a couple of towels, one to protect the gazebo furniture from my ickiness and a hand towel for my face. Sweat-er, I am. What time does the tennis match start? I’m invested in cheering on the American players. Later. Coffee, ice water, and a snack. Where’s my phone? Dang, it needs
to be charged. Nobody calls and my hands will be busy. I wonder why I even have that thing. Just leave it on the desk to charge. Scanning around my feet, I wonder where’s Louie? Last I saw the poor thing was napping on the bed. Let’s leave well enough alone. I need to clean his box. Save that chore for later. Wait—did I take my meds yet? Better double check the med box. Hey, there’s Miss Amy out in her yard. What’s she working on? That’s all she needs is me yammering in her ear, when she probably could use a bit of alone time too. Focus Wait what was I looking for? Oh yeah...... Does any of this resonate with you, dear gardener? The mental gymnastics we put ourselves through, whether gardening to accomplish tasks, or simply to piddle around. Is it my age? Mostly I think it’s about the busyness. That need to have it all done at once. That is not a good thing. And it’s stressful. This is why I yearn for garden time. It is that time and space dedicated to stillness and serenity. I’m
learning to skip all of the mental traps that are like sink holes. Step foot in one of those and you’ll likely lose the intention of the day. I’m ever grateful for the chance to practice being still in the garden. On a sad note, we learned at press time that Toby Tobin, a Kansas City icon, has passed away. We’ve gathered a few thoughts that we have posted on our website, KCGMAG. COM. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends and all who listened and learned from him. May he rest in peace. I’ll see you in the garden!
In this issue
October 2026 | kcgmag.com 4 Ask the Experts 6 The Healthy Gardener: Pumpkin 8 When a Good Growing Season Turns Stressful 10 Switch It Up 12 Spirea Grows Up
14 16 17 18 19 19
Spooky Feels in the Garden Quieter Lawn and Garden Equipment Upcoming Garden Events Garden Calendar Rose Report Subscribe
About the cover: Ornamental peppers, Caladium, Croton ‘Picasso’s Paintbrush’ and Ornamental cabbage grouped together in a container creates a distinct autumn display. Learn about other plants for groupings starting on page 10.
2
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
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The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
3
Ask the Experts STRATEGY FOR NEGLECTED APPLE TREE Question: I’ll admit I neglected my apple tree a bit this year. I didn’t thin the fruit enough, or support the branches, and now the weight has caused a large crack in the trunk. What can I do? Is my tree doomed? Anthony’s Answer: Structural cracks in fruit trees can be serious, as they essentially act as openings for invasion by pests and diseases, while also threatening the stability of the tree itself. Your first step should be to remove any remaining fruit to minimize continued stress. Then, inspect the severity of the damage. While some cracks can be more easily compartmentalized or sealed over, others can extend deep into the structural support wood itself. For the latter, trained arborists can use hardware to restore external structural integrity to trees that can no longer provide it on their own. This, however, should be done in a manner that does not create the formation of new (or worse) wounds through friction or girdling. Although it will add more stress to an already stressed specimen, removing a portion of the tree canopy to reduce the weight of weakened attachments may be necessary; however, gardeners will do well to never remove more than 25% of live growth within a single growing season. Ultimately, if the tree is close to a home or at any risk of falling and injuring someone, it should be removed. NIGHTTIME TEMPS LED TO LAWN FUNGAL DISEASE Question: My lawn looked awful during the late summer months.
This apple tree has been propped with bracing.
Lawn with brown patch, a fungal disease.
Don’t wait too long to harvest sweet potatoes.
I reseeded already, and it is coming back. But how do I prevent my grass from dying next summer? Markis’ Answer: Tall fescue in the Kansas City metro area took a hit this year. During late July into August, there were multiple weeks where the nighttime temperature was in the 80s. This undoubtedly stressed our cool-season lawns. These high nighttime temperatures, combined with high humidity, create ideal conditions for a fungal disease known as brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani). Brown patch causes, well, brown patches in tall fescue lawns. It is a noticeable, striking contrast to the dark greens you might have been seeing all season. How to prevent it next year? Well, unless you control the weather, we can assume that these favorable environmental conditions will happen every year. So, changing that is not feasible. However, there are things you can do to mitigate the overall damage it causes.
First, overseed with a turf blend that includes rye or Kentucky bluegrass, two species that have some tolerance for this disease. Second, reduce the time your leaves stay wet. This could be irrigating less often, core aeration of your lawn, or adding compost to clay soils to improve drainage. Third, and probably the largest contributor to why it gets so bad, STOP FERTILIZING IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS. Your cool-season lawn does not need to be fertilized 4 or 5 times a year. Twice in the fall is good enough, especially if you leave clippings and mulch leaves on the lawn. Golf courses fertilize that often, and it looks great, but they are also spraying fungicides all the time to combat the problems they create. Over-fertilization contributes to runoff and reduced water quality, but it also can directly feed plant-destroying pathogens. Make sure you get the fertilization right by skipping
spring and summer fertilization next year. Your lawn and your wallet will thank me next year. TIMING OF SWEET POTATO HARVEST DEPENDS Question: Is there a “golden window” for harvesting sweet potatoes? I always pull them around this time, wondering if they could have been better if I had waited. Anthony’s Answer: Sweet potatoes can be left in the ground until just before a frost without losing quality. Nuance, however, comes from what you want from your harvest. Turkey-sized sweet potatoes may take quite a long time to process and cook. And, depending on your “friends” cohabitating the garden, they may get eaten by voles fattening themselves before winter, before you even get the chance to try them. Keep an eye on your crops by harvesting plants incrementally. If they seem like they may start declining in desirability – time to pull them.
MARKIS HILL | Horticulture Agents | ANTHONY REARDON Markis Hill and Anthony Reardon are the horticulture agents for K-State Extension Johnson County, each specializing in ornamentals and edible crops, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.k-state. edu, or call our Garden Hotline at 913-715-7050.
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October 2026 | kcgmag.com
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The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
5
The Healthy Gardener
The Many Uses of a Pumpkin
G
rowing pumpkins in your garden can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially because pumpkins can serve many different purposes. Pumpkins are relatively easy to grow as long as they have plenty of sunlight, water, and room to spread. Their vines can take up quite a bit of space, so it is helpful to give them an area where they can grow freely. Watching the small flowers turn into pumpkins and slowly change from green to bright orange can be an exciting part of the gardening process. Depending on the variety you grow, you may end up with pumpkins that are perfect for cooking, decorating, carving, or saving seeds for next year’s garden.
One of the best things about pumpkins is that almost every part of the pumpkin can be useful. Pumpkins are a popular fall decoration, whether they are displayed whole on a porch, arranged as part of a centerpiece, or carved into jacko’-lanterns for Halloween. After using them as decorations, however, you don’t necessarily have to throw them away. If the pumpkin is still fresh and hasn’t been painted or exposed to anything harmful, the flesh can often be cooked and used in a variety of recipes. Pumpkin can be roasted, pureed, or added to soups, breads, muffins, pancakes, oatmeal, pasta dishes, and pies. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that works well in both sweet and savory foods.
SIDNEY PATRICK Field Specialist 6
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
Pumpkin also has some impressive nutritional benefits. It is naturally low in calories and contains fiber, potassium, and vitamins and minerals that can be part of a healthy diet. Pumpkin is particularly known for its beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gives the pumpkin its bright orange color and that the body can convert into vitamin A. Adding pumpkin to meals can be an easy way to include more vegetables and nutrients in your diet. And don’t forget about the seeds! Pumpkin seeds can be separated from the pulp, cleaned, seasoned, and roasted for a crunchy snack. They can also be added to salads, trail mixes, granola, oatmeal, or used as a topping for soups. Pump-
kin seeds contain protein, healthy fats, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and zinc. You can even save some of the seeds from your best pumpkins and try planting them in your garden the following year, creating another use from something that might otherwise be discarded. A pumpkin can provide food, decoration, seeds for next season, and even material for the compost pile when you’re finished with it. It makes you wonder: what other things could we grow in our gardens that could have multiple purposes? Perhaps one of the most rewarding parts of gardening is discovering that what we grow can provide us with much more than we initially expected.
Sidney Patrick is a Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health Education with the University of Missouri Extension. She offers programming related to active aging, healthy eating, and physical activity in the Kansas City area. Email her at spatrick@missouri.edu for more information.
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Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale at Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Rd. KC MO 64154. October 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.plattelandtrust.org. Deep Roots native plant sale at Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Avenue. Overland Park, KS 66213. October 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., deeprootskc.org. Iron County Courthouse, 250 S. Main, Ironton MO 63650. Mountain Music Festival - MWN Native Plant Sale. mountainmusicfestival.net October 17, 9 am 4:30 pm We’re open weekdays, year-round at the nursery (9814 address above) and weekends now until October 11. Open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday. We can ship your order! We ship plants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year. UPS usually delivers the next day in Missouri and to the middle of surrounding states. Shipping charges apply.
The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
7
When a Good Growing Season Turns Stressful
F
or much of this summer, our trees and landscapes had something we haven’t been able to count on very often in recent years: adequate rainfall. Through the end of August, lawns were green, trees looked good, and many homeowners didn’t even need to start running their irrigation systems until June. That moisture was especially beneficial for young trees and shrubs still trying to establish root systems. Unfortunately, these same wet conditions that helped plants grow also created an excellent environment for fungal diseases. As I write this in early September, I’m seeing quite a bit of fungal disease throughout the Kansas City area. Needlecast on spruce (photo right), powdery mildew on oaks and lilacs, leaf spots are affecting oaks, rust and scab on apples and pears, and anthracnose on sycamores, oaks and dogwoods. Many foliar fungal diseases become most noticeable in the lower and interior portions of the canopy before progressing upward and outward. These areas tend to remain damp longer after rainfall or irrigation and generally have poorer air circulation. Rainfall and overhead irrigation can also splash fungal spores from infected foliage onto other susceptible leaves. There are several things homeowners can do to reduce disease pressure. Cleaning up infected fallen leaves can reduce the amount of fungal spores the following year. Proper pruning can improve air circulation through dense canopies. When irrigating, apply water to the soil rather than repeatedly wetting the foliage. Most importantly, promote healthy, vigorous plants through appropriate
watering, mulching and pruning. One issue I’m seeing quite a bit right now is rapid defoliation of chlorotic oaks affected by Tubakia leaf spot. This is a good example of an important concept in tree health: stress is cumulative. Trees rarely experience just one stressor. Poor soil conditions, iron chlorosis, construction damage, root problems, drought, excessive heat, insects and diseases can all pile on top of one another. As those stresses accumulate, the tree has fewer resources available to respond to the next problem. Secondary insects and diseases that might be relatively minor on a vigorous tree can become much more significant on one that is already struggling. Normally, our most intense heat occurs during August. As we move into September, temperatures begin to moderate and trees get an opportunity to recover. This year, that hasn’t happened. Back-to-back weeks of temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 degrees, combined with wind and very patchy rainfall across the metro, have rapidly depleted soil moisture. Plants that looked great only a few weeks ago are suddenly wilting. Some species, particularly cottonwoods and walnuts, have begun shedding leaves in response to the stress. The good news is that losing leaves in September is very different from losing them in May or June. By this point in the growing season, trees have had months to photo-
JESSE KIRK Master Arborist 8
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
synthesize, produce sugars and store carbohydrates that will help support next year’s growth. Late-season defoliation is therefore generally much less damaging than losing the canopy early in the growing season. Repeated early defoliation is another matter. A tree that loses much of its foliage early may have to use
stored energy to produce a second set of leaves. If this happens repeatedly, carbohydrate reserves can become depleted. This can be particularly stressful for newly planted trees that don’t have significant energy reserves to rely on. So what can homeowners do? For many fungal diseases, prevention is much more effective than trying to treat the problem after symptoms appear. Fungicides are generally used to protect developing foliage during periods favorable for infection. This often requires multiple properly timed applications during the spring to maintain a protective barrier as new leaves emerge and expand. By the time leaves are covered with spots or beginning to fall, spraying them isn’t going to make those
damaged leaves healthy again. When heat and drought become the primary stressors, the answer is much simpler: supplemental moisture. Deep watering during extended hot and dry periods can make an enormous difference, particularly for recently planted trees. Mulch is another valuable tool. A properly mulched root zone reduces evaporation, buffers soil temperatures, recycles organic matter and gradually improves soil structure. That doesn’t mean building a mulch volcano around the trunk. Wider is better than deeper. Spread mulch over as much of the root zone as practical, but keep it away from the trunk and root flare. We want to see those butts—buttress roots, I mean! One of the most important things to remember is that tree health is rarely determined by a single event. A wet spring, fungal disease, nutrient deficiencies, extreme heat and suddenly dry soil may individually be manageable. When they occur together or repeatedly, however, their effects accumulate. Pay attention when a tree suddenly changes. Premature leaf drop, thinning foliage, unusual discoloration or dieback can be a tree’s way of telling you that its ability to tolerate stress is being exceeded. Sometimes the solution is as simple as water and patience. Other times, there is a larger underlying problem. If your tree isn’t looking happy and you’re concerned it may be something serious, have a Certified Arborist take a look. Identifying the underlying source of stress early gives you the best opportunity to correct what can be corrected and help the tree recover.
Jesse Kirk is District Manager for Wellnitz Tree Care and a Registered Consulting Arborist and ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. A graduate of Kansas State University, he specializes in professional tree management, plant health care, and arboricultural consulting. Email him at Jkirk@wellnitztreecare.com or call 913-350-0050.
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Need to have our products applied for you. Call Tobin Lawn & Landscape at 816-765-5565. Tune in on Saturday 6 - 10 AM to The Tobin Home & Garden Show FM 98.1 KMBZ.com The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
9
Switch It Up T
New Container Combos for Fall
his time of year, mums are everywhere. Not only available for purchase at local garden centers and nurseries, but also at grocery and hobby stores. Mums are the number one seller in the fall season, and for good reason. Mums put on a big color show for sure, whether in a fall display with pumpkins, straw and corn stalks on the porch, by themselves, or in a combination container replacing tired summer annuals. Easy to care for in the short term, mums naturally are the effortless choice. However, if you’re looking for alternatives, hoping to make your fall display the envy of the neighborhood, let’s explore a few options. Autumn offers plenty of amazing plants that are stunning in fall displays. There are a few spooky options too. There are several annual flowers that are great Thrillers, or Fillers for your container instead of mums: Celosia, Dahlias, Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Asters, Ornamental Peppers, Ornamental Cabbage/Kale and Croton, to name a few. Celosia with its tall feathery plumes or cockscomb type flowers lasting all fall will work as a great center piece in a combination planter. A grouping of different colors of Celosia in a container is spectacular as well. They bloom the entire season till we get a killing frost/freeze. Dahlias make a stellar show as a
Thriller or Filler in your containers. The large flowers will be produced continuously, even longer than mums. Some varieties sport multicolored flowers, including fall-like colors. Many people are a bit skeptical about Dahlias, or have experienced trouble growing them in the summer. Believe me, they perform their best in the fall with shorter days, cooler weather and less humidity. The old varieties of sunflowers (Helianthus) bloom for a very short time. Check out these newer varieties of reblooming Helianthus commonly referred to as sunflowers this fall. The ‘Sunbelievable,’ ‘Sunfinity,’ ‘Sunbeckia’ or ‘Sol Seeker’ series are amazing. They grow big and come in several color variations. Their flowers may be smaller than the old-fashioned sunflowers, but the abundance of repeating showy sunflower-like blooms till frost will more than make up the difference in flower size. Rudbeckia, commonly called Black-eyed Susan include annual or perennial varieties for our zone. Bottom line is they are very showy and blooms last a long time, especially the ‘Sunbeckia’ series. ‘Pawnee Spirit’ will knock your socks off. If you select a perennial version, you can plant it in the landscape and it will return next year. The annual versions will bloom all the way until a freeze, where perennial versions
KEVIN KEILIG Annuals Manager 10
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
may not bloom quite as long. Asters are hardy perennials that can be a great substitute for early blooming mums in your combo pots and fall displays. They are available in shades of blue, purple, pink and white. When they are done blooming in early October, plant them in a sunny garden and they will return next year exponentially bigger than
they are this year. They are one of the best for attracting pollinators too. Great value for the purchase. Ornamental Peppers are one of my favorites for fall decorating. Some eye-catching varieties are ‘Sangria’ and ‘Acapulco.’ If you want to make your display or container a little scary in the spirit of Halloween, try varieties ‘Medusa’
Croton ‘Picasso’s Paintbrush’
Kevin Keilig is Manager of the Annuals Division at Suburban Lawn & Garden, 135th and Wornall location, in Kansas City, Missouri. You may reach him at kevink@suburbanlg.com.
or ‘Wicked.’ Varieties like ‘Black Pearl’ have purplish-black foliage with deep black peppers, which creates contrast with other orange and yellow fall-colored plants. These peppers are edible, although they may be a little hot. Ornamental cabbage and kale are phenomenal in fall displays and combination containers. Look at the photo on the cover; the dark silverypurple cabbage named ‘Ruby Perfection’ is a traffic stopper. This variety actually produces a small head of cabbage that can be harvested at Thanksgiving to add to the table. Ornamental kale and cabbage will turn deeper colors when temperatures get cooler later in fall. They work well with fall pansies too, and will last deep into December, long after mums and other fall annuals are done. They will continue to thrive even after hard freezes. Saving the best for last (drum roll please). One of my favorite substitutes or companions for fall mums are Croton (Codiaeum variegatum). The most popular is ‘Petra.’ It has large ovate leaves abundant with glorious fall colors of red, orange, yellow and green with striking veining designs of varying intensities on every leaf. Additional varieties to consider are ‘Oakleaf,’ ‘Gold Dust,’ ‘Iceton,’ ‘Sloppy Painter,’ and ‘Norma.’ How about a spooky Croton to try? The characteristics of ‘Mammy’ and ‘Picasso’s Paintbrush’ make them ideal for a Halloween display. ‘Mammy’ has multi-colored leaves similar to ‘Petra’, but they are wavy top to bottom. They remind you of snakes in a witch’s brew over the fire. My absolute favorite is ‘Picasso’s Paintbrush.’ It’s not a very spooky name, but you could rename it, as we do to “Witches Broom” for the fall season. The narrow wispy foliage in a collage of fall colors looks like the back end of a witch’s broom. Tilt the container of “Witches Broom” Croton at an angle and attach a Halloween décor witch, seated on the container. “Witches Broom” Croton will certainly attract attention in your fall display, with or without mums.
Celiosa
Sunbeckia ‘Sarah’
Dahlia
Helianthus ‘Sol Seeker’
Aster ‘Henry Blue’
Ornamental Pepper ‘Medusa’
Nagoya Series Ornamental Kale
Croton ‘Mammy’ The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
11
Spirea Grows Up: Why This Old Workhorse Deserves a Fresh Look
A
nyone who has spent time in urban areas has seen spirea. It rings parking lots, anchors foundation plantings, and lines suburban walkways. There’s a reason for that: spirea is one of the toughest, most forgiving shrubs you can plant. It shrugs off clay soil, handles summer heat, and once established, tolerates drought better than most flowering shrubs. It’s cold hardy well beyond what a Midwest winter can throw at it, deer tend to leave it alone, and it asks for almost nothing in return. Spirea is a big family, with species ranging from graceful, arching bridal wreath types to native meadowsweets. In this article we’ll focus on Spiraea japonica, the compact, mounded, summer-blooming species that makes up the vast majority of what’s sold and planted in home landscapes today. This type of spirea is a workhorse. And that has been both its greatest strength and its biggest image problem. Why spirea got typecast For decades, Spirea japonica earned a reputation as a plant you specified, not a plant you fell in love with. Conventional varieties bloomed for a few weeks in early summer, then spent the rest of the season as a plain green mound. Many older types grew larger and looser than homeowners wanted, developing a rangy, twiggy look by midsummer. So they became the plant of medians and bank landscaping: de-
Double Play Candy Corn spirea
Double Play Doozie
Double Play Dolly
pendable, forgettable, and rarely the first choice for gardeners who prefer something with personality.
new growth that emerges glowing red, transitions to orange, then matures pineapple yellow, all topped with purple blooms. Double Play Doozie® spirea goes a step further: it’s a true rebloomer, producing waves of red-pink flowers from early summer until frost. Because it’s seedless, it never spends energy on seed production, and it won’t selfsow around the garden. The new kid on the block is Double Play Dolly® spirea, the 2026 Flowering Shrub of the Year. Its foliage emerges orange-red in spring, matures to bright chartreuse, and then serves as the backdrop for electric purple flowers, a stunning color combination. At just 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall and wide, it’s tidy enough for the front of a border, a low hedge, or a spot along a walkway.
Keeping spirea at its best is simple Here’s the good news for busy gardeners: spirea care is simple. Plant it in full sun, water it through its first season, and mulch it in. The one job worth doing every year is a tight prune in early spring. Spirea blooms on new wood, meaning each year’s flowers come from that year’s growth, so a spring cutback costs nothing in bloom. Skip it, and even modern varieties can get loose and rangy over time. Cut plants back by about a third to a half, and the reward is a dense, rounded shrub, fresh colorful foliage, and maximum flower power. Ideal for the home garden. Tough enough for a parking lot, pretty enough for center stage. These new spirea have earned a second look.
The new generation changes the math That calculation is changing fast. Newer varieties keep the qualities that made spirea a landscape staple and add what it always lacked: serious, season-long color and compact sizes that fit real home gardens. The Double Play® spirea series from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs is a great example. These varieties were bred to perform twice, first with vividly colored foliage, then with bold summer blooms, so the show starts weeks before the first flower opens and keeps evolving all season. Double Play® Candy Corn® spirea lives up to its name, with
NATALIE CARMOLLI Shrub Expert 12
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
Natalie is rooted in horticulture, having worked in the family floral business until college, where she earned her degree in fine and theatrical arts. Now, an avid gardener, writer, and public speaker for Spring Meadow Nursery, Natalie delights in sharing her expertise and enthusiasm about the art of gardening, using Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs.
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The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
13
Spooky Feels in the Garden
S
Contorted Filbert
Celosia Chief Gold
Vertigo
Dracula Orchid
Angelonia AngelFlare Black
Eyeball Plant
types of Dracula Orchids. Some have three triangular burgundy petals with a creamy center that looks like a little face, very spooky. But whatever one you choose you definitely need to make sure you research and understand how to care for it. My friend David Bird, of Birds Botanicals has all these funky, fun and spooky plants. Black plants can also be spooky. Each year more options of black plants come on the market. Last year I tried Angelonia AngelFlare™ Black, it was very striking. The Summer Snapdragon, as it’s also known, blooms are linear and a
good vertical aspect in containers and beds. But the dark blooms definitely can get lost if not put in the right location. Vertigo is my favorite large, black annual grass. It is a fast grower, sometimes getting five feet tall and two feet wide. So make sure that you are choosing your location wisely. Black mondo grass is a fun perennial option. Very similar characteristics to Liriope. It does need well drained soil for winter survival. One that kids love is the Eyeball Plant (Acmella) or the Toothache Plant. For our spooky theme we will go with the first common name. Its
blooms are yellow with a distinct burgundy red eye on the top of the yellow. So it looks like an eyeball! It really is a daisy without the petals. The toothache common name comes from the herb characteristics. Acmella can cause a numbing sensation so was often used as a natural remedy when people had toothaches. Whatever spooky or not spooky plants you choose to enjoy in the month of October I hope you do get out and enjoy your garden or a public garden in our area. Whether it’s pumpkins or plants this is such a fun season to be creative with and embrace!
Photo courtesy of birdsbotanicals.com.
pooky season is one of my favorite seasons. I love decorating once the calendar flips to October. I am not one for decorating early, no pumpkins on my porch in August. There are some different plants where you can enjoy something a little bit weird and funky throughout the year. When I was an intern in college I was introduced to Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, which is a variety of Contorted Filbert (Corylus). I have also grown the burgundy variety Corylus ‘Red Dragon.’ When you look at these shrubs with leaves, you may think they need a little more water. They truly look wilty and pretty sad. It is really just how they look with foliage. But when they drop their leaves you are left with a mass of twisty, curvy, funky branches. Definitely a winter interest statement piece. They are also great to cut and add to winter interest containers. One of my mom’s favorite flowers is Celosia cristata, or as I refer to it, the Celosia that looks like a brain. It is a great full sun annual that blooms throughout the summer into the fall. It also dries beautifully and comes in a variety of colors. Red, pink, orange, yellow, peach. I love the Cramer’s varieties from Johnny’s Seed Co. To get the best production of those brainy flowers you need to deadhead throughout the season. They will not look brown but will look a little tired. Make sure you cut them off, so your flowers keep blooming and getting bigger. If indoor plants are your cup of tea.The Dracula Orchid is definitely spooky. It’s an orchid that enjoys cool temperatures and good humidity. There are over a 100 different
ANNE WILDEBOOR Horticulturist 14
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
Anne Wildeboor, is long-time horticulturist at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. She loves sharing her passion for plants with the public and working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers.
GRAND OPENING throughout October
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Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm What was Wild Bird Center and Wild Bird House, is now
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1430 Hwy. 58, LeRoy KS 66857 17020 US 40 Hwy, Unit #10, Independence, MO (Across the highway from Tim’s Pizza.)
816-372-4867
grow@arnoldsprairie.com Sun 1 - 5 pm
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The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
15
Quieter Lawn and Garden Equipment Photos by Scott Woodbury.
E
very fall leaf season I’m subject to an unearthly cacophony of noise, and my hearing ticks further toward deafness. If I’m home when one particular neighbor’s landscape crew is blowing leaves in the front yard, I head out with rake in hand to see who can move leaves faster. Our front lawns, trees, and volume of leaves are about the same size. The crew consists of two (or three) young people with gas-powered blowers. I have a metal leaf rake, a bundle of leaf bags, and a lame back. Guess who wins every time? Based on hard evidence, I can say that raking leaves by hand, the old-fashioned way, the quiet way, is more efficient than blowing leaves. I’ll admit that blowing leaves is efficient when leaves are thin, like on a sidewalk in summer when leaves and debris are sparse. Small handheld battery-powered blowers get small jobs done efficiently. They are quieter than big backpack blowers, but they still create a high-pitched noise. For small jobs, a broom works almost as well, especially a long branch broom. I’ve seen these handmade brooms in use all over Mexico City, and they really work well. In the time it takes to drive to the hardware store and back, I made one from river birch twigs and a hornbeam branch, and use it frequently. In autumn, when leaves are abundant and start to pile up on the lawn, out come the backpack blowers across the neighborhood. The deeper the piles,
River birch branches stripped of leaves make efficient leaf rakes. Strip the leaves, bundle the branches, and attach them to a hornbeam handle. the slower the progress, because when leaves stack up, even a little, blowers lose efficiency. It’s nearly impossible to move a leaf pile with a blower, especially when leaves are moist. That’s where leaf blowers hit a wall and stop making sense, and when a hand rake becomes the most efficient tool for the job. That’s why I can move big piles of leaves more efficiently (and quietly) by hand, the old-fashioned way. I’m noticing that many of my neighbors are swapping out their old gas lawn mowers for newer (and much quieter) battery-powered models. I love mine because of the low noise, and zero fuss and smell. As long as I have charged batteries, my mower starts every time. There is no more stinky gas spilling, no more difficult cord pulling, no more oil changes, and no more exhaust wafting down the street.
SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist 16
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
As a homeowner in a typical St. Louis neighborhood, I choose to maintain more lawn than garden in the front yard. Visually the ratio of about 70% lawn to 30% garden (including new tree and shrub plantings) appears to fit in, though I have slightly more garden than most of my neighbors. For now, I’m not installing more garden beds, because for me it takes more effort to garden than mow grass, and I’m currently at my physical and time limit. However, as new trees and shrubs get bigger each year, the ratio is shifting further away from lawn, as planned. I’ll eventually have 50% shady garden beds in front, and will plant them with woodland wildflowers, much like the transitional woodland garden design, found at the Grow Native! website. If you are as sick of noisy and smelly maintenance equipment as I am, you have the ability to change. Old-school hand tools work well, sometimes better than power tools. Modern mechanical engineering
has developed more compact, lightweight, quiet, and powerful garden tools that won’t bog you down or clutter your garage. My new compact electric power washer easily fits on the cabinet shelf, and weighs just four pounds. My string trimmer weighs 11 pounds and doesn’t ever wear me out. These new compact electric tools, plus my trusty hand tools, make lawn and garden care quieter, cleaner, healthier, and much more efficient than the noisy gas machines of the past. No more stinky clothes, no more wrestling pull cords, no more deafening roar, no more complete physical exhaustion, no more filter changes, no more gas cans in the garage, no more oil and gas spills and no more fuss. Lawn and garden work is less of a chore. I’ve got more energy, peace of mind, and free time to enjoy the garden more. Now if only I can convince my neighbors (and their landscape contractors) to do the same. Wishing you a quieter autumn!
Scott Woodbury is the owner of Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding, and he is a Grow Native! professional member. Find suppliers of native plants and seed, as well as landscaping services, at grownative.org.
Upcoming Garden Events CLUB MEETINGS Garden Club of Shawnee Thurs, Oct 1, 7p; at Shawnee Town, 1929 Town Hall, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. The Garden Club of Shawnee has awarded six grants to local non-profits this year, and we will hear presentations on the gardening projects the grant recipients used their award money for. Drinks and snacks served, great door prizes. Visitors welcome! Visit gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page for more information. Homeschool Garden Club Ages 6-13; $10 per session. Every first and third Wednesdays thru Nov 18; 1-2p; at Kansas City North Community Center, 3930 NE Antioch Rd, Kansas City, MO 64117. “To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.” Come see what gardening is all about at KC North Community Center. There, students will learn how to maintain a garden using practical, hands on experience such as planting, growing, building, cooking, crafts, and more! Contact: kendra.beaver@kcmo.org; 816-730-7740 KC North Garden Club Ages 18+; $5 per session. Every Wednesday thru Nov 18; 10:30a-noon; at Kansas City North Community Center, 3930 NE Antioch Rd, Kansas City, MO 64117. Calling all green thumbs! Join the Garden Club at KC North where each Wednesday we will plant seeds, pull weeds, maintain the beds, make meals from the produce, DIY plant signs, hear from special guests and more. Contact: kendra.beaver@kcmo.org; 816-730-7740 Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Wed, Oct 14, 11a; at 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048 Leavenworth County Master Gardener, Cara Kruid will discuss “Bringing Nature Indoors for Green Year-Round.” She will cover houseplant choices, care and seasonal tips. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For information contact Leavenworth County K-State extension office at 913-364-5700. Leawood Garden Club Tues, Oct 27, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206. Horticultural Hints: Winter Rose Prep, by Laura Dickinson. Program: Your Tree Doesn’t Need That: The Services You’re Being Oversold, by Tyler Woodard, an ISA Certified Arborist (#MW-6136A) and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) Professional with Arbor Masters. Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Sun, Oct 18, 1:30-3:30p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO. Cactus grafting, a Frankenstein experiment. Grafting is a propagation method that fuses the top of one cactus on the root system of another cactus. The public is invited; refreshments will be served. Olathe Garden & Civic Club Tues, Oct 20, 1p. Field Trip to the Overland Park Arboretum, 8909 W 179th St, Overland Park, KS 66013 **Free & Open to the Public** (Must pay your own Arboretum entry ticket.) Join us for a field trip to the Overland Park Arboretum! Optional carpool leaves from Grace Church at 12:30p, or meet us there.
Raytown Garden Club Tues, Nov 3, 10a; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133. The program will be “Planting in 2026: Hits & Misses in Our Gardens,” Round Table Discussion by RGC Members: Rose Bailey-Hammock, Jennifer Barnes*, Mary Smead*, and Mary Wood*. *Master Gardener. Guest are always welcome. For more information, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub
TOURS | PLANT SALES | MORE Dahlia Shows Oct 2-3. Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society last show at Suburban Lawn & Garden (135th & Wornall Rd, KCMO). For more information visit www. kcdahlia.org; email: greaterkcdahlia@gmail.com. Kaw Valley Farm Tour 22nd Annual Oct 3-4. Get tickets and plan your adventure at: kawvalleyfarmtour.org MOMGA Conference Watch Party Sat, Oct 3, 9a–3:30p; at Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110. $45 per person conference pass. Register at MOMGA website: https://www.momga.org/2026-state-conference For full details, including the conference schedule, session information, and speaker lineup, visit the dedicated 2026 Missouri Master Gardener State Conference page on the MOMGA website: https://www.momga. org/2026-state-conference. Prairie Village Tree Board Fall Tree Seminar – Right Tree, Right Place Wed, Oct 7, 7-8:30p; at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse in the Rosewood A room, 9101 Nall Ave, Prairie Village, KS 66207. The Prairie Village Tree Board is hosting its popular free annual Fall Tree Seminar featuring a moderated panel of local experts to discuss ways to improve our tree canopy, planting the right tree in the right place, planting natives versus non-natives, and more. This year’s panelists include Markis Hill, Horticulture Extension Agent with K-State Extension Johnson County; John McLenon, Landscape Designer with Rosehill Gardens; and Bridget Tolle, City of Prairie Village’s Urban Forestry Specialist. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious tree lover, this is an opportunity to learn more about tree selection, planting and care. Bingo Night Oct 9 & 10, 6p; at Paula’s Petals, 33607 E 199th St, Pleasant Hill, MO. $30 fee. Register online at www.paulas-petals.com; 816-929-0522 Go Green 2026 Environmental Fair Sat, Oct 17, 9a-noon; at Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway, Mission, KS. Come learn something new, connect with local organizations and discover how small changes can make a big difference. It’s a morning of ideas, inspiration and simple ways to live a little greener, proudly hosted by the cities of Fairway, Merriam, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Westwood, and Westwood Hills. A FREE, familyfriendly event featuring local businesses and nonprofits with information and resources to help you make sustainable choices.
Houseplant Palooza Symposium Sat, Oct 17, 9a-4p; at Fulkerson Center, Missouri Western State University St Joseph, MO. Presented by the Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners. Learn how to be successful growing your indoor plants from preparing them for winter, propagation, succulents, and houseplant bonsai. Speakers are professionals in the field including keynote speaker, Darryl Cheng author of “The New Plant Parent” and “The New Plant Collector” who will discuss “An engineer’s approach to houseplant care.” Tickets are $54 including lunch and a plant to take home. Register at https://nwmomastergardeners.org
johnson.k-state.edu, then News and Events.
Fall Farm Festival & Pumpkin Patchs Sat, Oct 24, 11a-3p; at Colonial Farms, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. Experience the magic of autumn at Colonial Farms! Immerse yourself in the beauty of the season with an array of exciting activities and attractions. Join us for a fall filled day on the Farm, pick pumpkins, visit the animals, take a ride in our Military Vehicle or get lost in our maze! Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to share information on pumpkins and general resources and classes. Tickets are $12.55 (tax included) **Please note admission tickets do not include the cost of apples, pumpkins, or food and drinks—additional costs apply. Visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-farm-festival-pumpkinpatch-tickets-1998094807356 to purchase tickets. Family friendly (all ages) with children supervised by parent or adult.
Dig Your Dinner: Plentiful Peppers Wed, Oct 14, Noon–1p; Virtual, preregistration required, FREE. Spice up your garden and your plate! Join Anthony Reardon, Horticulture – Small Farms agent, and Chelsea King, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health agent, for a flavorful look at peppers. Learn how to grow peppers at home, discover new ways to enjoy them in your cooking, and explore their nutritional benefits. Dig Your Dinner brings together gardening know-how and nutrition tips to help you make the most of fresh, seasonal foods—from the garden to your table. Explore previous sessions and catch up on topics you may have missed on the Dig Your Dinner YouTube playlist.
CLASSES | WEBINARS Fruit Trees: So you think it would be nice to grow fruit trees in Kansas Tues, Oct 6, 2-3p; Virtual, preregistration required, FREE. This presentation will introduce how to plan an orchard and details to consider when growing apples, pears, and other fruit trees. General knowledge about the ups and downs of orchard duties. A look at the annual schedule required for growing fruit trees in Kansas. Register at https://www. johnson.k-state.edu, then News and Events. Backyard Prairie: Fall Tues, Oct 6, 6-7p; Virtual, recorded, preregistration required, FREE. A prairie garden has a rhythm that changes with the seasons—and fall is an important time to prepare your planting for what comes next. Join Patti Ragsdale for the final session of our fourpart Backyard Prairie Series and learn practical tips for fall maintenance, what to watch for as the growing season ends, and how to plan for a healthy, thriving prairie in the year ahead. Patti Ragsdale is president of the Kansas Native Plant Society, a K-State Extension Master Naturalist and executive director of Botanical Belonging. Register at https:// www.johnson.k-state.edu, then News and Events. K-State Garden Hour Webinar: Groundcovers for Kansas—Covering Your Bases Wed, Oct 7, Noon-1p; Virtual, preregistration required, FREE. Groundcovers have many uses in the Kansas landscape. From living mulches to lawn alternatives, discover the many groundcover options that can be grown in sun, shade, or the areas in between. Join Kenneth Dodson, Wildcat District Horticulture Agent, discusses benefits and challenges when converting traditional lawn and landscape areas into ground covers. Register at https://www.
Tree Planting 101 Thurs, Oct 8, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Leavenworth County Master Gardener, Crystal Miles will discuss selecting the right tree for the right place and the advantages of planting trees in the fall. How to select a quality tree, planting, watering and mulching. And Best Management Practices for long term maintenance and survival. FREE. For more information contact the Leavenworth County K-State extension office at 913-364-5700.
Greenhouses, Cold Frames & Hot Houses, Oh My! Thurs, Oct 15, 7p; at Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Leavenworth County Master Gardeners, Donna and Ernie May will discuss the construction and uses of cold frames, hotbeds and green houses. Learn the basics of how and where to build each of these season extension structures. Meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, the Leavenworth County K-State extension office at 913-364-5700. Fall Floral Arranging Oct 23, 24 & 25 at 10a; at Paula’s Petals, 33607 E 199th St, Pleasant Hill, MO. $35 fee. Register online at www.paulas-petals.com; 816-929-0522 AND Oct 23 & 24 at 6p; $35 fee. Extension Garden Steward Program A one-day or 5-week training model on gardening skills to support a healthier environment. Classes are FREE, open to the public, 18 yrs or older. If you are 55+ and live in Clay, Jackson, or Platte county, consider becoming a volunteer! Volunteers play a key role in supporting this program as an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteer. Volunteers assist during class by helping with set up and tear down of classroom, supporting hands-on activities, entering assessment results, and recruiting participants from their community. As a thank you, you will receive a FREE soil test after volunteering for 6+ hours. Upcoming classes: Oct 17—Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, 9:30a-3:30p; Oct 24—Watkins Woolen Mill, 9:30a-3:30p; Nov 21—Lake Lodge at Swope Park, 9a-3p. 5-week Course: Oct 23— Nov 20 (Fridays): John Knox Village, 9:30-11:30a. More info: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/extension-garden-steward/americorps-senior-volunteers. Contact Damian Fluharty, https:// extension.missouri.edu/people/damian-fluharty List garden events, club meetings, plant sales, and more for FREE! Send details to: elizabeth@kcgmag.com. Deadline for the November issue is October7.
The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
17
GARDEN CALENDAR October list of what to do in the garden.
LAWN
• Mowing heights for bluegrass and tall fescue in the fall is 2 ½ to 3 inches. • Core aerate to help loosen heavy clay soils and break down thatch. • Fertilize now if not already done so once this fall. • Control dandelions, henbit, and chickweed in the fall. Treat as needed. • Sharpen the mower blade after every 10 hours of use to get a clean cut. • Rake leaves off of lawn as they fall to avoid winter suffocation of turf. Leaves can be relocated to garden beds or tree rings. • Mulch mow leaves back into lawn if leaf debris won’t cover the surface.
FLOWERS
• Plant tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowering bulbs. • Clean up faded annuals. • Remove and discard all diseased plants and leaves. • Trim perennial stems just below the flower head. Looks tidy while also leaving habitat for overwintering insects. • Plant bulbs in pots to force winter blooming. • Dig tender bulbs such as gladiolas and cannas. Store in a cool, dry place over the winter. • Update your garden journal with successes and failures while fresh in your mind. • Take advantage of fall sales and plant new perennials. • Divide overgrown perennials.
TREES AND SHRUBS
• Plant new trees and shrubs. • Water establishing plants during dry spells. • Transplant seedlings of trees and shrubs once dormant. • Prune damaged and dead wood from trees and shrubs. • Wrap the bases of young trees and shrubs to protect them from rabbits and winter sun scald. • Rake leaves and compost or use as garden mulch. • Remove tree stakes if in place longer than one year.
VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
• Store unused seeds in a cool, dry location. • Pick up and discard fallen fruit to reduce disease and insects for next year. • Plant garlic in the fall to get a jump over spring-planted garlic. • Dig sweet potatoes before the first frost and cure them for 1-2 weeks in a warm location, then store them for winter. • Harvest and roast peanuts. • Harvest apples and pears. Store for winter use. • Store winter squash and pumpkins in a cool, dry place. • Remove all plant debris from garden areas before tilling. • Till garden soil to help control insects and diseases next spring. • Test soil and add stronger soil amendments as determined by a soil test recommendation.
HOUSE PLANTS
• Begin long night treatments for poinsettia re-blooming. • Check plants for insects and treat them as needed, especially if they were kept outdoors. • Wash dust from leaves by placing them in a shower or wiping with a damp, soft cloth. • Reduce or stop fertilization over the winter months. • Keep plants away from hot and cold drafts of winter. • Succulent plants will not need as much water once indoors. Water infrequently. •D o not place plants near an open vent, constant hot, dry air will desiccate leaves.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Drain and store garden hoses and sprinklers for winter. Keep them handy in case you need to water during the winter months. • Spruce up the compost pile for winter by adding new materials, watering pile, and turning it over to promote decomposition. • Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools for winter storage. • Till garden soil to help control insects and diseases next spring.
K-State Extension Johnson County recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Markis Hill and Anthony Reardon are the horticulture agents for K-State Extension Johnson County, each specializing in ornamentals and edible crops, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.k-state.edu, or call our Garden Hotline at 913-715-7050.
18
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
T
he 2026 rose growing season is coming to an end. Enjoy the last roses of the year, which are often large and colorful compared to the smaller and faded colors of the blooms in the heat of the summer. But, don’t forget to continue to make sure your roses receive an inch of water a week until frost, especially if fall rains are insufficient. If your roses are prone to being infected with blackspot, you will need to continue your spraying program until frost. Black spot does well in the cool temperatures of the fall, especially if there are fall rains. Insects are usually not a problem in the fall, but severe infestations may
need intervention. The last fertilization should have been in early August, so the fertilizer can be stored in a secure, dry place for the winter. Roses in our area need winter protection, so now is a good time to plan for that after we experience several hard freezes. Roses can be grown for more than their beautiful blooms in the garden or cut flower in a vase. Rose oil and rose water are obtained by distillation and rose absolute is obtained by solvent extraction from both Rosa damascena grown in Bulgaria and Turkey or Rosa centifolia grown in France. Because these roses only bloom in the spring, the
GLENN HODGES Master Rosarian
Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer all your gardening questions.
CASS COUNTY 816-380-8194; Wed, 9am-noon; casscomg@gmail.com DOUGLAS COUNTY 785-843-7058; dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com; Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-4pm GREATER KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AREA 816-833-8733 (TREE); Mon-Fri, 9am-noon; mggkc.hotline@gmail.com JOHNSON COUNTY, KS 913-715-7050; Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; garden.help@jocogov.org JOHNSON COUNTY, MO 660-747-3193; Wed, 9am-noon LEAVENWORTH COUNTY 913-364-5700; Leave a message. A Master Gardener will contact you.
WYANDOTTE COUNTY 913-299-9300; Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm QUESTIONS ABOUT ROSES? Ask a Rose Expert; rosehelp@kcrosesociety.org; www.kansascityrosesociety.org
My favorite rose, ‘Violet Hour’ a mauve, single miniature hybridized by Gail Trimble and introduced in 2016.
Glenn is an Extension Master Gardener in Johnson County, KS, an American Rose Society (ARS) Master Rosarian, and an ARS Accredited Horticulture Judge. He has been growing roses in Lenexa, KS since 1974 and successfully exhibiting roses since 1998.
Hotlines for Gardeners
MIAMI COUNTY & LINN COUNTY 913-294-4306; Apr 1 thru Oct 1; Thurs, 8am-noon
harvest only lasts a month or so. Blooms are harvested and processed on the same day. Rose oil and rose absolute are used in perfumes and cosmetics. Rose water is used in cooking and baking to add rose flavor, for example, to cookies, cakes, candies, and tea. Rose infusion water can be obtained by immersing rose petals from fragrant, unsprayed roses in water. This water can then be used to add rose flavor to foods, such as, butter, cake, cookies, candies, ice cream, and jelly. Rose petals from unsprayed blooms are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried in granola.
Photo by Glenn Hodges.
Rose Report
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The Kansas City Gardener | October 2026
19
Fall Fest at Suburban Join us every weekend* in October!
Fall Garden
Saturdays & Sundays • 11a-3p *Excludes Saturday, October 31st
Enjoy free activities* the whole family will love while you dream up your fall garden. It’s the perfect way to add a little extra fun to your visit! Visit suburbanlg.com/fallfest for more info.
Favorites Refresh your landscape for fall with a vibrant selection of ornamental vegetables, colorful mums, pansies, and other cool-weather annuals.
*Activities vary by location
Now haunting the aisles
Spooky Decor Get your home ready for Halloween with a spirited selection of spooky décor for both indoors and out.
105th & Roe (913) 649-8700 20
October 2026 | kcgmag.com
S U B U R B A N LG . C O M
K-7 & Prairie Star Pkwy (913) 897-5100
135th & Wornall (816) 942-2921