Spring and summer flowers have outdone themselves this year! It has been a delight to bring fresh flowers into the house to enjoy for an extended period. Some of the flowers will even dry on their own, extending their beauty for two or more y…
For those of you who have not experienced tiny black flying insects that resemble houseflies, they are primitive flies but much, much smaller than the housefly. This is your introduction to the pesky fungus gnat. There are numerous gnat speci…
A cool, shady yard is a welcome place to relax in the summer; it also can be boring, utilitarian, and not an asset to the home. Color has a great influence on how we feel. Add color to the yard, and it becomes attractive and energizing; space…
As long as there have been gardeners who have planted, tended fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals for their families, they have had to fight the deer who have been given a free meal forever. The deer have been so grateful that they keep retur…
McCracken County Sheriff Ryan Norman confirmed Thursday that there is an active investigation into the alleged fraud of renter assistance funds at Lone Oak Manor — a complex that offers subsidized housing for low-income families.
The WWI poem “In Flanders Field†lamented the dead and ended with a note about the poppies. Poppies were the first plant to return to the disturbed fields.
The flowers that were once very popular are today often referred to as old-fashioned, and are gaining popularity once more. One reason is the increase in gardening. For many, it is family stories and events associated with a favorite hand-me-down through several generations, easy to grow, or…
There is a saying ‘buy the best as you can afford as it will pay you in the long run.’ Cheap trowels, pruners and spades don’t last, and are generally harder to use. The same is true for soil that is appropriate for plants. Seeds and transplants require the right nourishment, texture and moi…
Roses are considered the queen of the garden, but come the first Saturday in May, the flowers are known for the “Garland of Roses†presented to the Kentucky Derby winning racehorse.
The early spring blooms created a blanket of color throughout the yard. They are being replaced with blooming shrubs that are as beautiful and dramatic as spring blooms. My favorite is whichever is in bloom and is fragrant. Over the last three years, the weather has damaged many shrubs. Shru…
Spring continues to bloom ahead of schedule due to unseasonably warm weather. Among the dramatic blooming shrubs is a deciduous hybrid of centuries old Japanese azalea. Introduced in 1937 at the Chelsea Show, Exbury azaleas are known for their vivid, large, fragrant clusters of up to 30 trum…
Peonies are gorgeous flowers. This year, they are in full bloom three to four weeks earlier than normal, with all the early-spring flowers. There is a difference this year: the usually bright, rich-pink petals are very pale or white.
Root crops grow better when planted during the dark moon, when water levels are lower. Above-ground plants grow better when set a few days before the full moon, when moisture and light are higher.
Among this year's trends is the "Cottage Garden." It has always been a place of relaxation and whimsy, with flowers of all heights and sizes intermingled in an explosion of color.
Anne Townsend connects local communities, producers, and landowners with research-based knowledge and practical resources while leading hands-on initiatives such as community gardens, conservation efforts, and environmental education programs.
For more than a decade, the 4-H Teen Teachers program has helped young people across southern Illinois grow from students into confident leaders while inspiring the next generation along the way.
Late winter and early spring are natural times for gardeners to begin thinking about the growing season ahead. While garden beds may still be dormant outdoors, many growers are already preparing by starting seeds indoors.
The Cattle Outreach and Workforce Facility is a nearly $5 million proposed facility for the University of Tennessee at Martin, which will include a larger space for modern agriculture lessons and access to cattle reproductive technology.
It is hard to imagine what the people of Israel were thinking during the final years of Egyptian bondage. They had been there so long that they had adopted the gods of the Egyptians. When Moses first arrived to take them out, they did not bel…
If a person is going to think about peace on earth at all, it will be at this time of year. I know people (and I am one of them) who pray daily for peace on earth. It is not a prayer of futility; it is a prayer of faith. It is a constant remi…
