Peppers, a highlight in any garden are one of the easiest plants to grow. Bringing a rainbow of colors, a plethora of shapes and different degrees of heat to your table, peppers are an attractive addition to any garden or container. It’s easy to value these plants for looks and flavor alone, but the pepper is a nutritional powerhouse as
Read moreTheir Babies Eat Your Aphids Photos and Text by Tom Schroeder When I say the word “Fly”, you probably do not imagine brightly colored, harmless Flower Flies feeding on flowers in your garden. Their larvae spend the night voraciously eating aphids on your garden plants while you sleep. By modifying a few gardening practices, you can encourage this natural pest
Read moreNot far from several bars at Westport in Kansas City is an oakleaf hydrangea that I have admired for many years. No doubt, it has received substantial abuse from late night revelers wandering back to their cars after hours of fun. Yet, this plant is always beautiful with huge flowers in the summer, gorgeous fall foliage and attractive bark in
Read moreMaking your own nectar couldn’t be easier. In a few easy steps, you can bring these nectar-loving birds to your feeder. Materials: 1/4 cup of refined white sugar 1 cup boiling water bowl spoon Important: Don’t use honey; it can promote dangerous fungal growth. Organic, natural and raw sugars contain levels of iron that could be harmful. Plain white table
Read moreA campaign to register a million public and private gardens and landscapes to support pollinators. The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC) is a nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. We will move millions of individuals, kids and families outdoors and
Read moreBy Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension horticulture agent Spring explodes with color, making this season one of the best times of the year here in Kansas City. Bright, colorful blooms fill our senses and remind us of the renewal that spring brings. Unfortunately, this colorful display does not last long. The end of a shrub’s flowering cycle triggers the time
Read moreEasy and Tasty Basil Basil likes the warmth of full sun to grow best. Lift transplants carefully by the leaves instead of the stem. Set outdoors only after soil and air temperatures are warm. One chilly night can set plants back. Sweet green basil can be dried, frozen in ice cubes, or used fresh. Blended with pine nuts, oil and cheese, this
Read moreGrowing Tall Bearded Iris and Memories in Kansas City If you are reading this magazine, then you probably already have much experience with Tall Bearded iris. Maybe like me, a friend gave you a fan of leaves with a small bulb on the bottom and said, “plant this, it’s purple.” Hopefully, you took their advice and discovered just how rewarding growing
Read moreWhile carrots are one of the top 10 most economically important vegetable crops in the world, they also are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in home gardens – and for good reason. Carrots are delicious, nutritious, versatile, and with just a little bit of know-how, this root crop is easy to grow. It is “root” to tell
Read moreWould you rather spend every weekend mowing, or enjoy a leisurely landscape? Take back your weekends by planting with a blue thumb, for cleaner water. When you landscape with native plants, your yard will need less mowing, fertilizers and pesticides. And native plants use less water, so they’re good for your wallet and the environment. Learn more at http://marc.org/Environment/Water-Resources/Landscaping-and-Lawn-Care/Native-Plants
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