Oak Tree Problems: Kermes Scale
All of us who have oaks really love the shade that these mighty trees give. But we also know that most are slow growing, and have a variety of pests and diseases that affect them each year. The damage from Kermes scale is very noticeable, making our lovely trees stand out in the crowd of […]
Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles first arrived in Northeast Kansas 4 years ago, and now have a strong foothold to the western wilds. Every year their numbers seem to increase, but then, so do the predators that eat them. Since their arrival, I have seen an exponential increase in tachinid flies and wheel bugs. History of Japanese Beetles […]
Controlling Squash Bugs in the Garden
When summer gardening time comes around, my most frequently heard question is: What can I do about squash bugs? Well, let us take a look into the problem and find a solution that will work for most home gardeners. What do we need to know about squash bugs? As we delve into the problem of […]
Attracting Birds – Part 1
I was recently discussing attracting birds with a church member. She was disappointed by the lack of diversity in bird species that visited her yard on a yearly basis. She lives in the country, away from large populations of people, surrounded mostly by crop ground, with a few narrowly wooded ravines and ponds. Even though […]
Flowers for the Kitchen Garden
Kitchen gardens are usually referred to as vegetable gardens. I prefer to call mine the potager garden. Potager is the French word for kitchen garden. This is where you would grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers for use in cooking. Why add flowers? But why should I add flowers to my vegetable garden? Because, adding […]
Garden Planning: Heirloom Vegetables
Pictured above: ‘Amish Paste’ Tomato I have been an heirloom gardener for four years now. You would not call me an expert, just an enthusiast. When I first started growing heirlooms four years ago, I had no idea how it would transform my garden, or my life. If it is not an heirloom, you will […]
Garden Planning: Monarch Waystations
Last spring I went to a conference in Lawrence, KS and was inspired by Dr. Chip Taylor of KU’s biology department. In 2005, Dr. Taylor created a program to develop “Monarch Waystations” across the United States. The goal of the program is to educate the public on the importance of butterflies and their habitats, to […]
