“Bad weather always looks worse through a window.” ~ Tom Lehrer, mathematician (Photo by Trish Steel) This has been a very unusual spring in Missouri. Very low temperatures in April and May, and several inches of snow in May set multiple weather recor

“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway” ~ Michael Pollan, author Starting a garden for the first time can seem daunting. Truth is all it takes is a few simple tools, a little sweat and the desire to see things gro

Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” ~ Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita (Photo by Jon Sullivan) Talk about being all dressed up with nowhere to go…too many Missouri gardeners are watching spring days slip away

“Even the richest soil, if left uncultivated will produce the rankest weeds.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Photo by John Kelley) Clay soil does have many benefits. Its ability to hold nutrients and water make it the most fertile soil type. Clay soil’s probl

Brad Fresenburg mowing tall and letting the clippings fall (Photo by Roger Meissen) As temperatures warm, lawns will begin to green-up and grow. It will soon be time for regular lawn mowing. Before you start-up that mower you’ll need to get it in good w

“you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose…” ~ e.e. cummings (Photo by Eric Hill) Spring – named for the time when plants and animals spring to life after the long, cold winter. If you

This Rolls Missouri farm, near Mark Twain Lake, was one of those hard-hit by the 2012 drought (Photo Linda Geist) Heading into the New Year …much of Missouri was still dry and facing critical soil moisture deficits. Then came late January…February…a

A tree that has suffered damage needs care in order to recover. (Photo by Herzi Pinki) The heavy snow that fell in parts of Missouri this year left a lot of trees with broken and splinter branches. Now that the mountains of snow are melting away, homeowne

Damaged shrubs during the drought of 2012. This was taken at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, MO Last year’s severe drought and heat left the survival of many trees and shrubs in question. Just like you can’t unring a bell, you also can’t uncut a tre

“Now I know a refuge never grows… from a chin in a hand in a thoughtful pose… gotta tend the earth if you want a rose.” ~ Indigo Girls (Photo by Dieter Joel Jagnow) All life depends upon the soil. Life cannot exist without soil and there can be no