Autumn Hues of Yellow and Gold

The yellows and golds of autumn bring brightness and warmth to the landscape.  Sitting beneath my ash trees in the fall, the air is awash with a golden glow as the trees appear to be lit from within.  It’s truly magical. Sometimes I think we’re so fixated on the reds of autumn we fail to…

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Indoor Air & Houseplants

Welcome to the most exciting week of the year: National Indoor Plant Week! We often don’t take into consideration the quality of the air we breathe inside our homes.  However, often times the air quality is not what we think it is.  Homes have become more airtight in the quest to improve energy efficiency.  Home…

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It’s Time to Think About Spring-Flowering Bulbs

If you have a fall to-do list, be sure to add “planting spring-flowering bulbs”.  New gardeners are enchanted when they see these harbingers of spring and are sometimes dismayed when they find that the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs is in the fall.  Spring-flowering bulbs pack a punch with their color, size range and adaptability. …

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Peonies

Peonies are one of the longest lived herbaceous perennials.  Some anecdotal evidence reports upwards of 80+ years.  How did your peonies do this year?  Did they flower okay for you or have they started to fizzle in their performance.  Working with clients I have found two major sources for poor peony performance. 1.  planted to…

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Gardeners Beware: Watering Tools

Recently I purchased a gardening wand for watering my garden and container plants.  In tiny lettering along the length of the wand are these words “Note: The brass in this product contains lead. Warning: This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other…

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Shoo fly!

How can you stop those pesky house flies?

National Food Bank Day, September 1, 2017

Happy National Food Bank Day!  Many local food banks appreciate donations of dollars and non-perishable food items, but did you know you can donate extras from your vegetable garden too? The H.O.P.E. Project, Helping Omaha’s People Eat, is a service project run by Nebraska Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas-Sarpy Counties, and provides fresh produce to…

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