Foraging

“Foraging” refers to the gathering of wild edibles for food to grace our table. Historically, the human race began as hunter-gatherers, gleaning food from what was found, not raised. With the growing interest in fresh and local, there has been a resurgence of interest in foraging for wild edibles.   Morel mushrooms have always had…

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Plant Groundcovers Under Shade Trees

Is the vegetation under your shade tree thin and lifeless?  If so, you may wish to consider planting a groundcover instead of turfgrass.  Periwinkle, English ivy, lamium, pachysandra, some cultivars of coral bells, ajuga, plumbago, euonymous, Virginia creeper and Hall’s honeysuckle are good options to consider.  The bottom line is Right Plant, Right Place, and…

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Where Does Your Garden Grow?

The phase “Right Plant, Right Place” rings true in every outdoor space, certainly for a vegetable garden.  Though each plant has some potential for adaptability, vegetables can generally be divided into 2 groups: a. the sun lovers and b. the ones that prefer full day sun but are adaptable to a few hours of shade…

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Tick Time – Check Yourself!

High tick season in Nebraska is generally April through June, but ticks can be active all year round when temperatures are above freezing. With the arrival of spring and an increased involvement in outdoor activities, Nebraskans must be prepared to practice tick safety to prevent tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are blood feeders and have the potential…

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Veggies – Eat What You Want

Customize your gardening experience.  Think about what produce you and your family enjoy and want to eat and what you might want to use to can or freeze for later use.  In the spirit of “one person, one vote”, consider asking each person in the household to make a plea for vegetables that they like…

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Putting “Earth” in Earth Day

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 to celebrate all things plant, water, and air. What’s not celebrated is that unsung hero—earth—not in reference to our planet, but earth, the stuff we plant in. Otherwise known as soil, dirt, land, and loam, earth supports most plant life on planet Earth. Yet earth is little…

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April is National Safe Digging Month

April is Safe Digging Month   Late April is prime time for starting all sorts of landscaping projects from planting trees, shrubs and lawns to installing brick work and paths.  But, before you dig, it’s SUPER important that you make sure there are no buried communication or utility lines in your digging zone.  Here are…

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The Northern Pecan Tree

April 14 is National Pecan Day. What better way to celebrate the day than planting your very own northern pecan tree, Carya illinoinensis. Native to southern Wisconsin and the northern parts of Illinois and Iowa and extending south to Texas, the northern pecan can handle winter temperatures as low as -35 degrees F. It has…

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