Most adults, middle-aged or older, know what poison ivy looks like and steer clear of it. However, if you have never had the misfortune of experiencing the annoyingly itchy rash that poison ivy can cause, you may not have a good understanding of what it looks like.
We have just enjoyed the blooming of a unique native tree. Dotted here and there around the county, the tall trees with large, medium green, heart-shaped leaves and panicles of white flowers get noticed. These are northern catalpas.
Each year, the third week of June is set aside for recognizing the importance of our pollinators. When we think of pollinators, we instantly picture honeybees flitting from flower to flower. But they are so much more than that.
China is currently considered to be the peony capital of the world, with the city of Heze the focus of peony praise. But it wasn’t always so. In the early 20th century, Van Wert, Ohio, held that title. Hybrids created there won national and international awards.
There is no doubt that this has been one of the warmest springs in recent memory. Though there is no guarantee that we will not get a late frost, the last time we had temperatures low enough for one was April 17th, when we dipped to 32 degrees. Our average last frost date generally falls between May 1-10.
Spring is moving right along, and we have come to one of my favorite phases. To be honest, I enjoy every one of them, but I look forward to this particular one because of one thing – redbuds.
The monarch butterflies that were born here in Ohio late last summer and early fall, have spent their winter in the mountains of Central Mexico. As of the first week of March, all of them have left their oyamel fir forest sanctuaries and are headed north.
As our part of the world wakes up from winter’s slumber, we see wonderful signs of it all around us. The plants, animals, birds, and insects make their presence known both visually, and in some cases, audibly. Their behavior changes as they transition into spring.
Here’s a column from Kylee Baumle from March 26, 2018 with some good tips for gardeners.
I don’t know about you, but this winter seemed like it lasted for more than the usual three months to me. The winter was not the worst we have ever had, but the cold, gray days put me in a funk that I find hard to shake until we get the earliest days of spring weather like we did last week.