Master Gardeners working at the Medicinal Garden recently turned an overgrown field into a lush meadow that attracts pollinators and is environmentally friendly. Their intention in reconstructing a meadow is to demonstrate that a prairie-like space can be achieved within a small plot of land, and is a valuable alternative to turf. Gardeners started with... Continue Reading →
A new addition to the Medicinal Garden is an area dedicated to herbs used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Master Gardeners began their work in March sowing seeds like chamomile, calendula, hyssop and a variety of mints in trays to prepare for planting. Seedlings were transplanted in June and the group has been able to... Continue Reading →
Home for the Holidays daylily Master Gardener Laura Ross aims for a garden with seasonal interest. Daffodils and tulips brighten the landscape in spring, and natives take over in the heat of summer. Taking center-stage in June and July is her collection of daylilies with a supporting cast of asiatic lilies, trumpet lilies and martagons. ... Continue Reading →
When did you start gardening? I grew up on a farm. As a child, I was not interested in weeding but I do have a distinct memory of sitting in the pea patch eating peas. At age sixteen, I became interested in medicinal herbs and planted a garden of my own. I’ve always had a... Continue Reading →
When did you start gardening? My maternal grandmother was born in South Africa and lived in Poland before immigrating to the United States in her teens. The women on my mother’s side were medicine women in their villages throughout generations and used herbs for healing. When I was a little girl, I spent summers with... Continue Reading →
Thank you for your interest in local gardens! We are happy to host the Douglas County Extension Master Gardener's Garden Tour and hope you enjoyed your garden visits. Please visit any of our demonstration gardens throughout the year as there is always something new to learn. We host our garden tour in odd numbered years... Continue Reading →
Spring planting is officially underway. We can plant a number of cool-season vegetables right now – seeds of peas, radishes, kale, turnips, beets, lettuce, and potatoes. It’s also time to put transplants of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, leeks and onions in the ground. In fact, the planting season for many of the seeds started in... Continue Reading →
It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day. Are you ready to plant potatoes? I haven’t even gotten my seed potatoes yet. But never fear, March 17 is just a target date, not a brick wall. Some of my strongest childhood memories are of harvesting potatoes. After my dad took the disc through the potato patch my siblings... Continue Reading →
Looking through seed catalogs can be exciting for the avid gardener… and dangerous. Too often I have bought flower or other seeds that I just don’t get around to planting. I also like to buy seeds that I always plant in larger than packet size quantities that can last for two, three and four years... Continue Reading →
What can twenty people accomplish in one hour? Lots! On Saturday, July 25, Master Gardener volunteers arrived at the Medicinal Garden to lend a hand. So much was done in a short time! The garden looks much better with weeds pulled, paths cleared, plants thinned and wood chips spread. When the work was complete, friends... Continue Reading →
Master Gardeners of Douglas County, KS 