Dig This!

I bet you never thought about maple syrup from Kansas .   While Vermont still leads the US in production, it can be and is produced right here in the Land of Oz.   Sap can be collected about two months of the year, February and March, in our State, from Silver and Sugar Maple Trees. In order to collect the sap, the temperature must be above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night.   The sap rises up thru the tree trunk during the day and drops at night.   In order to harvest, a hole is drilled in the trunk and a tap hammered into that hole. Below the tap a bucket is attached to collect the sap and should be collected daily or more often as needed.     The sap is then boiled to reduce the volume and form the syrup.   A general rule is 2 gallon of sap per tree.   50 - 60 gallon of sap will make about one gallon of syrup. There are brothers, teenagers, that tap 400 trees in Cloud and Republic County...think next door to Mankato...and sel

My Lenten Rose has at least 20 blooms! Sure signs of spring!    Come to the "Great Flowers of 2016" program at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, on Tuesday evening, February 23rd, @ 6:30pm .  Free and open to the public. Just call the Reno County Extension office at 620.662.2371 and register for this event. Sponsored by Reno County Extension Master Gardeners.  Be introduced to the newest and best annuals and perennial s for your 2016 garden. Submitted by Crocks 2 Go.