JUST OWN IT
I’m not sure when I first visited Ward-Meade Park. It may have been when I was a kid... I have memories of several city parks from back in my youth. If it wasn’t all the way back then, it was for sure during my early years here at the garden store. That would have been back when …
DAFFODILS, JACK FROST & GREENHOUSES
Overall, the weather this past month has been pretty outstanding! It has certainly felt a lot more like spring than it’s felt like winter...but we’re definitely not out of the winter season yet. That doesn’t mean we can't still do things in our garden. Just don’t start planting your tomatoes yet! Instead, focus outdoor gardening activities on things like …
DONKEYS IN BIKINIS
Although the island was different, it had everything we remembered from our honeymoon trip...beautiful beaches, endless sunshine, crashing waves...and lots of island cocktails. It was just like our first beach encounter, with one big difference... donkeys. Yes, I said donkeys! …
NO, I’M NOT A COP
If you’re not familiar with the 1977 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, just think “cop car” from the late ’70s. Mine came from my granddad. He had bought it new, back in 1977, but now it was 1985 and he was ready for something else. So was I.
LET THE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN!
The New Year is always about change. Lose weight, get in shape, spend less time on your phone, spend more time in a book... all kinds of new plans get made this time of year. Well, we’ve got a new plan over here at the garden center, too, and it’s a big one.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride… again!
Well, it’s the last issue of the year and it’s hard to believe another season has passed. I hope you’ve had a good one. This past growing season came with a lot of the usual challenges: excessive wind, late cold snaps, prolonged heat, early cold snaps, and periods of drought. Welcome to gardening in Kansas! …
Santa’s got his groove on!
The evening would start with a table full of appetizers and lots of hot spiced cider. It progressed from there to the dining room for a massive Christmas dinner and eventually, when the table had been cleared and the food was all put away, we opened presents.
Turkey, Pumpkin Pie and... Caliche?
I’ve got a collection of tools I consider essential for my gardening activities. I’m sure my wife thinks I have too many...but I’m pretty sure I don’t. In fact, I’m quite certain, I have just the right amount! I have everything a passionate gardener could ever need...at least I thought I did...until last week.
A LATE FALL HARVEST
I snuck over to a friend’s house the other day with one mission on my mind... to harvest some persimmons. My target was a small persimmon tree in his side yard. For the last few weeks, it’s been showing off an abundant crop of beautiful orange fruits, just hanging from branches like they were ornaments on a Christmas tree. They were just begging to be picked!
Piles and Piles of Produce
The piles of produce on the kitchen counter tell the story. The summer garden harvest is over. Unless you are lucky enough to be growing in grow tunnels, the hard freezes earlier this week put an end to the tender summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. It was sad to see—I had been enjoying of the biggest harvests in recent seasons. But, honestly, I’m ready for the break!
Brewmeisters and Possum Apples
I used to make my own beer. It was a long time ago—back in my late college/early career years. The beer was never amazing. But, it wasn’t too bad, and it was fun to make. It was really more about the process.
Six Minutes Can Seem Like A Lifetime
Last week, some friends and I were reminiscing about an old movie from our high school days, Vision Quest.
A River Runs Through It
Sometimes you just need to get away. Last week, I got one of those chances.
living and dying in 3/4 time
I don’t remember when I heard my first Jimmy Buffet song, but I do remember when I knew I was a fan.
Not lovin’ the heat
I’m glad we’re through with that [heat]! I am not a big fan of the hot stuff... and that last stretch was brutal!
Not what I planned
It’s looking pretty sad. We’ve got a couple of large potted hydrangeas on my patio that we’ve been enjoying for several years. One blooms raspberry-red late in the spring, and the other blooms pure white starting at the peak of summer.
unexpected opportunity
The storm that blew through a couple of weeks ago did a lot of damage across town. We got hit here at our store, too. It was one of the craziest storms I’d ever been through. It felt like the tornado scene from the Wizard of Oz. All we could do was watch as the wind wreaked havoc on the world outside. Debris was flying everywhere! And, that storm left its mark.
In a pickle
Several years ago, my wife and I decided we needed to start playing pickleball…
plants that attract wildlife
Check out our infographic on what to plant to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
