Dakota Gardener: Finding winter sanctuary in the Como Conservatory

As a gardener, I have had it with this frigid winter. I long to experience lush greenery but it is too early to start my flower seeds. Booking a flight to Florida isn’t in the budget. However, a long weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota, can hit the spot for those seeking to satisfy the chlorophyll

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Dakota Gardener: Brightening up the winter days

It’s official…the winter blues have hit me hard this year. As a native Texan, I never fare well with the winter but usually manage ok until March. If you are in the same boat as me, then a houseplant, or two, or three, may be your new best friend. As I sit in my office

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Dakota Gardener: How to keep your green thumb busy in the winter

Groundhog Day was Feb. 2 and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means another six weeks of winter. I don’t know about you, but this isn’t a shock for me. Most North Dakotans come to expect this prediction. As gardeners in the North, winter can seem to drag on and when we get a couple

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Co-Living Provides Community, Not Just Housing

Noah Tang’s journey from recent divorce to practical solution reveals an approach to the housing crisis that is often overlooked. Living alone in a spacious Victorian house, he transformed his spare rooms into affordable rentals for students and interns. This arrangement not only eased his mortgage concerns but also addressed a growing need for flexible

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Dakota Gardener: Cut flower care

Valentine’s Day, I think, has great timing. The colorful displays of candy, cards and of course, cut flowers provide much-needed color for our eyes. It is the cut flowers that really catch my eye and it’s hard to resist bringing some home. You can do a few things to get the most out of your

Read & Share   sourced from: NDSU Extension Service

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We Need To Crash the Market for Entry-Level Homes

Housing prices are spiraling, and America’s housing crisis is only deepening. The solution might seem like adding massive blocks of new developments, but big doesn’t always mean fast or efficient. Instead, imagine a world where every neighborhood chips in, turning spare bedrooms or backyards into cozy homes. This isn’t just a vision—it’s what Strong Towns

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Dakota Gardener: Great zinnias for the Dakotas

Zinnias are one of the most popular flowers grown in the Dakotas. They are easy to grow, do not need much water and bloom all summer.   Every year I work with over 300 gardeners to test promising varieties. Our team loves to grow zinnias, and we have discovered a new group of varieties that

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Dakota Gardener: Hurry up and wait

Have you started planning your garden for this year? I’ve already seen the ads on social media, and the hardware store has their spring bulbs for sale. Seems a bit early to me, but we should be optimistic. Spring will get here. Have you figured out what trees you’re going to plant this year? My

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January is National Radon Action Month, A Perfect Time to Test

As the chill of January sets in, there’s more to think about than just cranking up the heat. This month marks National Radon Action Month, a vital reminder for North Dakota residents. Radon is a silent, invisible threat lurking in many homes, possibly affecting your health. Alarmingly, over half of North Dakota homes harbor radon

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Dakota Gardener: Providing feedback on the proposed listing of the monarch butterfly as threatened

We take the graceful beauty of the monarch butterfly for granted. This iconic species undertakes one of the world’s greatest migrations from central Mexico to southern Canada and back again each year. Despite its travel endurance, the species is still fragile as reflected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposal to list the

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Dakota Gardener: Setting garden goals for the new year

Welcome to 2025! It is the time of year that we often hear the saying, “New year, new me.” Everyone is setting New Year’s resolutions. Now is a great time for gardeners to reflect on the past growing season and set their resolutions for this year’s growing season. First, if you keep a garden journal

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Dakota Gardener: Time flies

The old saying goes, “Time flies when you are having fun.” It still holds true, even when writing a monthly garden and forestry column. Some would say there isn’t much work involved with writing one article a month. Some writers may write a column every day or every week. For me, it is just right

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Dakota Gardener: Top vegetable varieties in 2024

The first step to growing a great vegetable garden is to select the best varieties. Which varieties grow best in Dakota gardens? The answer is simple. To identify the best varieties for gardeners in the Dakotas, we need to test the varieties in the gardens of the Dakotas.   That’s why we started the North

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Is Your Cat a Psycho? Science Is Working on an Answer

Cats: mysterious, independent, and irresistibly endearing. We share our homes with these curious creatures, but do we truly understand them? Despite their aloof demeanor, cats communicate through subtle cues and behaviors that often go unnoticed. Unlocking the secrets of your feline friend can deepen your bond and bring out their unique personality. Check out this

Read & Share   sourced from: Science Alert

City of Minot Offers Free Holiday Landfill Access and Christmas Tree Disposal Options

The City of Minot will offer free dumping at the City Landfill to its sanitation customers between Dec. 23 and Jan. 4 to help dispose of household waste that could accumulate during the holidays. City of Minot Sanitation Superintendent Josh Kraft said residents receiving City sanitation services can dispose of trash at the landfill free

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West Fargo launches citywide ash tree removal in response to emerald ash borer

It’s coming. Time and nature will guarantee it. It’s an invasive species, the emerald ash borer. West Fargo is taking decisive steps to tackle what’s ahead. This pest feeds on bark, risking the health of the local tree population. To protect the area’s greenery, the city will replace affected trees with native species, boosting biodiversity

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum