Dig This!

  Make notes for next year, plants/gardening tasks to do again, to move, to do new, to don't do again, for future Take cuttings & gather seed Dig up unwanted plants, divide iris, move lilies, & shrubs Cut back overgrown perennials, some shrubs, that bloom late summer Pull out annuals after frost---leave grasses, crepe myrtles Harvest & pull out vegetables Clean up weeds & the seedlings Plant fall bulbs in October Add mulch & protect under perennials Clean tools For the October 15th Swap Meet: Collect seeds. Prep & pot perennials, house plants, shrubs. Will need containers, tools, gloves. See post dated September 18th for more details.   Submitted by bcrock, list by blappin.   

Marlie Cooper and her mom Trish were winners of the  Reno County Extension's Master Gardener's doorprize @ Reno County Farmers market Saturday September 17th. RCEMG members demonstrated how to's in salad making. Buy your produce @Reno County Farmers Market and make your lunches for the week!   Look for the Reno County Extension Master Gardeners again Saturday October 15th at the Farmer's Market. They will host a Perennial Plant SWAP , (no annuals, please, it is too late in the season to be of benefit). Bring a perennial plant and exchange it for something different that appeals to your gardener's instincts. Please label your plant/s and provide a description of its color, size, soil, watering and sun vs shade requirements. Include flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs. In addition, there will a Seed Exchange which does include both annual and perennial varieties. Please  label your seed packets. Questions, call the Extension office ...

This is a Clematis Vine growing in a protected patio area   What I love best about home gardening is that it allows us the opportunity to show our creativity. Folks that use the things they have on hand and re-purpose items into something beautiful and that have thoughtful design are often thinking about a better way. The following are photos I've taken of some interesting things gardeners have done in their own yards. Simple things we all can do to make a less desirable spot in our yards more interesting and desirable. Enjoy.... This is an old sewing machine base  made into a useful table with a beautiful mosiac top.   Quotes are fun to add.   Gardening.......... Make it Fun!!   Photos submitted by phughes

The joys of gardening! I have watched this butterfly come thru it's metamorphosis on my deck! On the parsley I saw a few small black caterpillars eating my parsley. Should have taken a picture then. Each day they grew a bit. In my research apparently they go thru 4 instar stages. I wondered where the caterpillars went... Then on the siding of the house right by the potted plants on the deck, my husband and I noticed a rather sick looking caterpillar- this was the pre-pupa stage. The next day in its place was a chrysalis hanging by a thin thread. Wow!  I watched everyday...worried the Kansas winds would make it fall away. For two weeks it hung there. Then the color of the shell started changing...it was thinning and getting darker. This is the signs of the late pupa stage. You can actually see the blue hues and yellow spots inside!  Well the next morning I awoke and found a beautiful adult butterfly! I missed the emerging process but wat...