Weed Appreciation Day is March 28 and in recognition of this important day, I’m writing about the common dandelion. The dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, is a cool season perennial, having some of the first leaves to develop in early spring. Leaves can be used in salads and are high in potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamins…
Author: grobigred
Cool Season and Warm Season Vegetables
Cool season vegetables are those that grow best during the cooler growing conditions of spring. In some cases, a light frost will actually enhance their flavor. Cool season vegetables can be planted/sown as soon as the ground can be worked in early to mid April. The really terrific thing about cool season vegetables is that…
Women of Horticulture
In honor of International Women’s Day, which was March 8, I’m blogging today about women in horticulture that I admire. Peg Conley has been and continues to be a Douglas-Sarpy Master Gardener since 1979. Her signature contribution is the gardening knowledge she has imparted to the citizens of Nebraska in her 39 years as a…
Feeding Birds and Vole Damage—How They Relate
Nothing beats the beauty and movement of our backyard birds, especially during the winter months when our landscapes lack color. One important thing to keep in mind, however, is that the bird seed dropped beneath bird feeders can attract voles. Voles are granivores, meaning grains are their main food source. Since the bird seed in…
Plants With Heart-Shaped Leaves
Nothing says “I love you” like a plant! Why not a houseplant with heart-shaped leaves for your main squeeze on Valentine’s Day? After all, roses aren’t the only romantic gift. Give the gift of romance and healthy air, all at the same time! The chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) has wonderful drooping spikes of muted red…
My Favorite Gardening Books
In recognition of February as National Library Lovers’ Month, I’m going to share my favorite gardening books with you. The Undaunted Garden—Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty by Lauren Springer (ISBN 1-55591-115-3) has everything a gardener wants—colorful pictures of great gardens, a directory of tough plants (also with great pictures), and Springer’s straightforward narrative. The single best…
National Plan Vacation Day–Include A Botanical Garden!
It’s National Plan Vacation Day! In recognition of a gardener’s favorite vacation site–the botanical garden–we’re running this article that appeared in the December 2017 Master Gardener newsletter Roots & Shoots from Master Gardener Connie Lowndes. Enjoy! Horticulture Traveling on a Dime: Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Pass by Connie Lowndes, Master Gardener We love our Nebraska Statewide Arboretum…