It’s often easy to forget about the Kansas River. If we drive over the bridge, we might notice whether the water level is high or low, whether there are sandbars or accumulations of driftwood, and speculate on whether the water is generating power via the dam. The river is there, but it ...

Where are you from? Lawrence, Kan., of course. But why Lawrence, of all the names our city could have? Turns out, it all goes back to Mass. ­Massachusetts, that is. Lawrence, Mass., is named after Abbott Lawrence, who was the uncle of Amos Adams Lawrence. The Lawrences were a distinguished, ...

I’m sure most of us have heard of the mint julep, a bourbon-based cocktail associated with the American South and the Kentucky Derby. During the Civil War and up until 1920s, the mint julep was the drink of choice and Tom Bullock made one of the best around. Born in 1872, Bullock was the son ...

The bitter cold that accompanied recent winter storms in the Lawrence area will likely have long-lasting effects on certain trees and landscape plantings. And while many gardeners think the silver lining of the cold is a decrease in insect and mite populations, the actual effect is difficult ...

One of Lawrence’s most famous artists is Stan Herd. Originally born in Protection, he’s done crop and earthwork art around the world, and his ingenious use of nature has delighted viewers. It has always seemed appropriate to me that he is following in the footsteps of Adam Rohe, an ...

English ivy, Virginia creeper and other perennial vines are sometimes found growing up the trunks of trees in landscapes and wooded areas. They are more obvious in winter months than other times of year because of the lack of greenery on affected trees. Most experts recommend removing vines ...