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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

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Brooklyn Park, MN
Limiting erosion around pond from Brooklyn Park MN
Minnesota resident, wants to find plant limit erosion from pond?
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Maple Grove , MN
Replacing river birch from Maple Grove MN
How soon after taking out a river birch clump tree and grinding the stump would we be able to plant a new birch clump?
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Coon Rapids, MN
Leaf drop from maple tree in Minnesota
I have about a 30 ft maple tree in my yard, last fall I trimmed it pretty good because the branches were getting low where you could not walk under it or get grass to grow. This is the 2nd time in abo...
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Golden Valley, MN
Control of invasive non-native Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
What can I do to control garlic mustard that has moved into my wild area and what should I plant to combat this aggressive plant? Ostrich ferns, Pagoda dogwoods and emerald hemlocks have been recommen...
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Blaine, MN
How to get rid of plants spreading fluffy seeds
I live in Blaine, MN next to a Lake. The "buffer zones" next to the lake are filled with native grasses, weeds & wildflowers. We are trying to identify a plant that blooms July with lavender flowe...
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Minneapolis, MN
I have a plant with plantlets on its leaves. What is it?
Pardon my inexperience. I received a plant as a gift, that is quite similar to aloe, yet smaller. It "bloomed" with tiny paired leaves sprouting from each of the serrations along the larger leav...
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Minneapolis, MN
Yucca Blossoming in Minneapolis MN
I have 4 yr old yucca that sent out a five foot spike with flowers! I live in Minneapolis; is this unusual ?
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Minneapolis, MN
Bee-friendly bush with small yellow flowers in Minnesota
I was up north in Minnesota and saw a bee friendly bush with small yellow flowers clustered so they looked like small (4"-6") flocked Christmas trees. Any ideas? Thanks!
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Minneapolis, MN
What is wrong with cultivars of native plants?
What is wrong with cultivars of native plants? My state native plant society won't allow cultivars at their annual sale, and the native plant nursery from which I order only offers the species. But a...
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Minneapolis, MN
Plants adding calcium to soil
Hi, I am looking for a resource to help determine the functions of native plants. For instance, nitrogen fixing can be found in Indigo, Lead plant, lupines. Are there other plants that add back cal...
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Minneapolis, MN
Want to identify a shrub with golden to orangish berries in Minneapolis MN.
Tall shrub or maybe tree with small berries golden to orangish color. The berries are not in large clumps but more twos and threes. Leaves are opposite each other, smooth edges and sort of elliptica...
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minneapolis, MN
Weeds from neighbor's yard are a problem.
Our neighbor has let his front yard go wild. Many of these native wild plants are very invasive. How can I stop their spreading into our yard? There are too many to try & keep up with pulling them as ...
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Ramsey, MN
Getting rid of sandburs in horse pasture in Minnesota
How do I get rid of sandburs in my horse pasture?
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North Oaks, MN
Native plants both deer resistant and good for erosion from North Oaks MN
We have several partially sunny areas on hills that are prone to both deer and erosion. Our goal is to reduce runoff in an effort to preserve the watershed that provides tap water to many citizens of ...
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Richfield, MN
Houseplant identification.
Please help me identify a houseplant that flowers a yellow flower at the base of plant. Its leaves are narrow, pointed and green on the topside and burgundy with small hairs on the underside of the l...
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Saint Paul, MN
Host plants for Painted Lady Butterflies (Vanessa cardui)
I am looking for host plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly that I can plant in my school's (I am a teacher) native plant/butterfly garden. As part of the curriculum, each Fall our 2nd graders study ...
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Saint Paul, MN
Tree for St Paul MN
Need deciduous faster growing shade tree, more taproot style (few/no surface bulging roots--had to cut down large silver maple), few/no fatal pests, tolerant of cold (MN), preferably able to take vari...
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St. Paul, MN
Information on wildflower programs in cities and states
I am moving to a new town in a few weeks and am interested in starting a program to beautify the community using wildflowers. I've been interested in this for quite some time, but the opportunity ha...
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St. Paul, MN
Riverbank Plants for Minnesota
I would like to stablize a steep riverbank slope along the Upper Mississippi in St. Cloud MN. The slopes are almost 1:1. We are using an open cell concrete matt in which we are going to plant native...
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St. Paul , MN
Possibility of growing plants in St. Peter Sandstone
Can you grow plants or native plants in St. Peter Sandstone or amend it?
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St. Paul, MN
Bee-attracting vine for shade from St. Paul MN
I need a vine for shade that attracts bees. I am in Minnesota, zone 4a. Thanks
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