“Wow!” I said as I pulled a huge carrot out of the ground. “Now that’s a carrot!” My daughter and I harvested our raised bed gardens the other day. The gardens are about 3 feet tall with ample room for vegetables to grow. I appreciate not needing to bend or use a shovel. Some of ...

As the seasons change, we adjust our gardening tasks and plantings to match. Animals also make changes this time of year, often changing their eating habits and dining locations. These adjustments can impact your gardens. Reduce the risk of damage by starting in fall to protect your landscape ...

Each year, families make the pilgrimage to the pumpkin patch to purchase the perfect specimen for carving jack-o’-lanterns. How did this Halloween tradition originate? A long and interesting history on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean underlies this tradition. According to Irish folklore, ...

“Do you want to go see the cows?” my grandpa asked me when I was a young child. Well, of course, I did. I was halfway out to the barn by the time he finished his sentence. I especially enjoyed interacting with the calves that licked my hands with their silky smooth tongues. I wanted ...

Have you noticed the bright shade of blue that is painting majesty above the golden harvest in early evening? It is easiest to distinguish right before twilight bids night—her evening shade of bold midnight blue. This bright shade of blue at some moment is 19-4052 Classic Blue which is ...

One day I was writing my “Prairie Fare” column at my desk when the phone rang. The gentleman identified himself as a retired lawyer and mentioned the topic of a recent column I had written. He had read it in his local paper. I missed the part about him being a “retired” ...

The gardening season is pretty much done for this year. It is time to put away all the cute yard ornaments, clean up and store tools, and do the last few garden maintenance items. A couple things you might not think of – make sure to have hoses drained before it freezes and have flower pots ...

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 ...