The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Are you chomping at the bit to get started with the vegetable garden? Don’t be too anxious. When was the last time you did a soil test of your vegetable garden soil? If you haven’t had it done for several years, this is a good time to do it. The...

Birds have different niches in which each family of birds needs shelter and food. The key to developing great habitats for birds is to have a diversity of specific plants for the types of birds that visit your yard. It doesn’t require scrapping w...

Part 1: Holiday cactus Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus or Easter Cactus? Which is which? There are subtle differences in the margins of the leaves. One feature that stands out with Easter Cactus is their flowers represent more of a star shape — t...

What practical garden tasks need to be done in fall? Well, here is one that does not have to be done: raking leaves. Use your mower to break up the leaves and feed the soil and give nutrients to the grass. If you like a nice green spring lawn, then...

As I travel the Golden Plains Area, I see mistakes that potentially end up contributing to the death of the new tree that was purchased. These are only some of the biggest mistakes. • Before even purchasing a tree do some homework and learn what type...

Are you interested in attracting bats? They seem to have a bad reputation. They have some great benefits. According to Bat Conservation International a colony of 150 big brown bats can protect local farmers from up to 18 million or more rootworms...

No one ever thinks it will happen to them. Recently, we had a beautiful Plant Select Garden in Washington County Fairgrounds. But one day, someone who worked for the county came along spraying a nearby area and turned the garden into a brown...

The Turf Replacement Program was a bill into law in December of 2022. The second application cycle started as of July 1 through Aug. 31. There has been some mixed messaging about this Turf Replacement Program. First, who is eligible to apply: local g...

Cottonwoods are fast growing trees in Populus genus. These trees are hardy to zones two through nine. Cottonwood trees produce cotton every other year. They preserve their resources. There is a cottonwood fluff produced around the seed which are...

Want to water less? Want to mow less? Then here are some newer options of turf grass for you to try. Just how much water does buffalo grass need to survive? How much water does Kentucky Blue grass need to survive? These figures might surprise you....

During these times of increased rates for our utilities, come and join us to learn more about watering and designing your landscape to utilize water more efficiently. The water conservation program will be held on April 8 in Yuma at the Orphanage fro...

Did you know who coined the term "Nativar"? Allan Armitage, author of Armitage's Garden Perennials, horticulturist and professor at Georgia University coined the term "nativar" "to show customers that the industry was offering what they wanted:...

What is mindfulness? How do we practice it? According to Kabet-Zinn the effects of mindfulness are an “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.” Practicing taking walks through your yard or...

Here are the new introductions that you can purchase for your gardens in 2023. These are the plants that did well during their trial period and were chosen to be a Plant Select Plant. Ultra Violet Salvia or Salvia ‘Ultra Violet’ PP 21,411 is mor...

Why does a walnut produce a chemical, juglone or hydrox juglone? This is a naturally occurring chemical that is a defense mechanism protecting the walnut tree from surrounding plants. What happens to the surrounding plants? It stunts the growth of...

Trees and shrubs still require water during fall and winter. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, soil that stays most stays warmer in the fall and winter. If the trees and shrubs have cells filled with water, then this helps protect them from wint...

Ips pini, or the Engraver Beetles are insects that develop in pines and spruces. Ips are everywhere in the United States. They are attracted to pines and spruces under stress from drought, root injury, disease or defoliation. These insects are not...

Trees are a major part of our landscapes. They can make a town memorable in a negative way or memorable in a positive way. Trees can brand a community. They are worth a monetary value for the air they clean, the erosion they can stop, the cooling...

High and dry gardens are needed now more than ever. What are they? A high and dry garden demonstrates which plants can survive on natural precipitation. There is a high and dry garden located in the northeast corner of the Washington County...

Lilacs evoke the sweet smell of spring. These shrubs were brought to this country in the 17-century called Blew (blue) Pipeflower, for its hollow stems and grown in English gardens according to https://www.thetreecenter.com/the-story-of-lilacs/. In...

Here are the new and exciting selections for Plant Select this year. Every year Plant Select picks plants from their trial that are proven to withstand our extreme weather conditions. If you are ever interested in purchasing any of the selections,...

The holidays are over and winter finally arrived this season. Are you missing your roses about now? Looking ahead to the coming growing season, are you hoping the same thing I am hoping? That your roses make it through these harsh wind chills accompa...

Little Bluestem is the most widely distributed native grass in the United States according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Now its cultivated varieties have been chosen as the Perennial Plant of 2022. For our western region,...

If you happen to be gifted a beautiful amaryllis, poinsettia or paperwhites, do you know how to care for them? Where to properly place them in your home? Here is some helpful advice for you. Amaryllis are gaining in popularity even over poinsettias....

Driving around our small rural towns you will notice a yellow shrub rose. This yellow shrub rose has many names such as Pioneer Rose, Oregon Trail Rose, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Yellow Hogg's Rose and Yellow Sweet Brier. Some of the locals here...