Kimberly Toscano
Kimberly Toscano is a freelance writer and horticulturalist with an eye on design. Formally trained in horticulture, environmental science, and entomology, she is interested in all things edible as well as garden design and landscaping for wildlife. Kim takes a holistic approach to gardening and landscaping, working in harmony with the natural environment. This includes organic and sustainable gardening practices, careful management of water, and enhancing biodiversity in the landscape.
Before establishing a career in freelance writing, Kim served as writer and host for Oklahoma Gardening, a weekly PBS television program produced by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. In this role, she shared her expertise through more than 1,000 video segments covering all aspects of gardening, environmental stewardship, and sustainable living. To support her programming, Kim designed over a dozen gardens that were installed at The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, including a formal terrace, an organic vegetable garden, and themed ornamental plantings. Learn more about Kim’s work at www.kimtoscano.com.
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsProtecting Trees From Winter Injury in the Southern Plains
Extreme temperature fluctuations in winter are common on the Southern Plains and can cause damage to young trees. Alternate freezing and thawing of water in the trunk can cause cracks…
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ArticleA Gadget That Takes the Guesswork Out of Watering
While it may seem like a simple tool, I’ve recommended this Mosser Lee Soil Master moisture, light, and pH meter more than any other garden tool. The soil in my…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsPlants That Peak in Winter in the Southern Plains
Richie Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden in Seattle and a leading expert on plants, discusses the often-undervalued appeal of winter gardens: “What many see as a…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsStunning Prairie Natives for the Southern Plains
Many of our favorite ornamental flowers originated from the vast prairies of the Great Plains. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–9), lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata, Zones 4–9), and butterfly weed…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsNative Grasses Shine in the Southern Plains
In the Southern Plains, we live among the remnants of what were once vast prairies. The tallgrass prairies in the eastern Southern Plains give way to the short grasslands in…
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DesignBest Nectar Plants for Butterflies in the Southern Plains
When it comes to butterfly gardening, I’m a big believer in native wildflowers. Butterflies and wildflowers evolved together, depending on one another for survival. I also prefer natives because they…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsPest Control for the Southern Plains: Pine Wilt Disease
There are several pests that attack pine trees (Pinus spp. and cvs., Zones 2–9) in the Southern Plains—from pine needle scale to needle blight to yellow-bellied sapsuckers—but none are as…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsGrowing Tomatoes in the Heat of Summer
It’s the middle of summer. The tomato plants are lush and full. You harvested a great crop in June, but now the plants refuse to produce fruit. What went wrong?…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsOrnamental Edible Shrubs for the Southern Plains
If you’ve ever stopped to appreciate an okra blossom or admire the lush foliage of a pawpaw tree, you’ve noticed that edible plants can be just as beautiful as ornamental…
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Southern Plains Regional ReportsGrowing Hydrangeas in the Southern Plains
With long-lasting blooms and gorgeous foliage, hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) are the heart and soul of the summer garden. But growing hydrangeas in the hot, dry Southern…
