Frost came early this year for some and not so early for others. After a hard frost I cannot wait to get out there a yank all the dead plants out. By now, I am so tired of yard work and knowing I have about two weeks’ worth of work of clean up in the beds, I just dread fall! But wait, there ...

Frost came early this year — much too early for most of us. After a hard frost, our natural tendency may be to put our gardens to bed. But wait a second. We still have a few things we can plant now, including garlic. A little effort now can lead to amazing flavors in your meals next ...

“Mom, we forgot to bring the apple picker,” my older daughter said as we stood on tiptoe next to the tree on a sunny autumn day. An apple narrowly missed bouncing off my head as it dropped out of the tree. Yes, the apple picker would have come in handy. We were trying to reach plump red ...

Hopefully, it is not too late to bring your houseplants in. That cold snap we had over Labor Day weekend really threw a curveball at us. Even though I was warned, there were a few plants that did not get brought in or at least set in the garage. Perhaps, I was in denial. My houseplants ...

“My whips!” I said. “I can’t fee my whips!” I was trying to say, “I can’t feel my lips” but my tongue wasn’t working well. My older daughter had purchased a Trinidad Scorpion pepper for $1.50. She watered and weeded it all summer and was proud of how productive it ...

The summer of 2020 was a great year for growing eggplant in the northern Great Plains. Blessed with abundant heat during the middle of the summer, this tropical plant with origins in India produced bountiful amounts of shiny, purple eggplants. Having mastered the science of growing the plant ...

In the pantheon of North Dakota’s little luxuries, fall brings the best that the state has to offer. The first gem to appear is the harvest moon which is round and sports a vibrant hue of orange and shines brightly on the horizon. Next comes the fall’s high blue heaven often scattered with ...

Parrot tulips are stunning in the garden and dazzling in floral bouquets! When it gets frosty outside, it's time to plant tulips! Nothing can match the bright colors of tulips in springtime. Our garden centers and online stores offer lots of different tulips. Emperor tulips bloom early — ...

Cooler temperatures and warm soil make fall a great time to add trees to your landscape. Make the most of this investment of money and time and give your tree its best chance at survival with proper planting and care. Select a tree suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design and ...

“You’re moving the compost pile?” I asked. I had a note of disbelief in my voice. “Well, yeah,” my husband replied matter-of-factly. End of conversation. About 15 years ago, we moved from our first house to our current one, along with our compost pile and three young ...

It feels like autumn has arrived here, in north central North Dakota. You can feel it in the crispness of the morning air. The days are getting shorter, some of the leaves are starting to show a hint of fall color, and the flowers are beginning to look weathered and tired. Though I am sad to ...

As I meandered around a store recently, I noticed that cleaning supplies were still in short supply. I found one bottle of chlorine bleach on the shelf. According to Nielson research, sales of disinfecting sprays were up 520%, compared with last year, and multipurpose cleaners were up ...

What kitchen fare champions your interest in autumn? As soon as the first cool air of fall rests on our doorstep, we think of deep-dish pies. Their flaky crusts embracing savory meats and a chorus of fresh garden vegetables brings forth a classically alluring meal. Almost everything ...

Come September in North Dakota the weather can really leave you guessing. You never really know when that first frost will happen or even if it may snow. Hoping the frost holds off until later in the month is like a game of roulette, hoping that little ball bouncing around lands on the number ...

When Emerson Eads, director of choral activities at Minot State University, was planning choral activities for his students this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic, he needed to make sure students could sing but also be protected. “To that end, one of the endeavors has been to find and order ...

“Getting old isn’t for sissies.” I heard that from Jack Carter, who was North Dakota State University’s flax breeder for many years. Carter came into the office nearly every day, well into his 80s. He had a great point. Physical demands are tougher as we age. What about trees? Is ...

I was out of town for a couple of days, taking care to follow all the health precautions in place. Wearing masks was required in every retail store and restaurant. Arrows directed us where to walk, and “X” marked the spots for social distancing when paying for our items. I heard a loud ...

Cactus, or cacti (plural) is a family of about 130 genera with somewhere around 2,000 known species. They have made their way into all of our homes at one time or another – whether they lived a fruitful life or died a slow death, that is only for you to know. In general, cacti are some of the ...

The other day I reread a letter sent from a high school friend. It was postmarked June 23, 2019. In the letter, she is telling about springtime events she had enjoyed and how much she was looking forward to summertime gatherings with family and friends. She mentioned that she recently had flown ...

It is getting late in the growing season, but the zucchini is still going strong! I get many calls on what to do with them. NDSU Extension is a great place to start. Find recipes and tips on freezing/preserving zucchini by visiting ...