Interest in indoor plants has increased steadily in the U.S. over the last several years, and a few specific plants and types of plants are stealing the show. One of these plant groups is Monstera. Basic types of Monstera are widely available, but rare forms sell for hundreds or thousands of ...

Charles and Agatha are truly winning October, despite the circumstances. They’ve been sunbathing, wining and dining, camping out and playing in the leaves. One might even say they are living their best lives – if not for the fact that they are dead. Every Oct. 1, Lawrence resident Kelly ...

Freezing temperatures will likely arrive over the next few weeks in northeast Kansas, but the gardening season continues for vigilant gardeners who are interested in prolonging the harvest. How do these gardeners keep vegetables growing into fall and winter? Only certain crops are suitable for ...

Why do some trees display brilliant fall color while others drop their leaves without a show? Fall color in leaves of deciduous trees is determined by genetics, site conditions and weather. Here in Kansas, weather and site conditions can be especially limiting and make the extent of each ...

The 16th annual Kaw Valley Farm Tour will be held as planned on Oct. 3 and 4. The self-guided tour of local farms is an opportunity to meet farmers, learn about locally produced agricultural products and see ag production practices firsthand. The bulk of the tour is outdoors with plenty of ...

A rural-born husband and city-raised wife say they struck the perfect balance with their self-designed home, located just eight miles south of downtown Lawrence. The home, located on North 1000 Road, has the benefits of country living — a big lot and beautiful scenery — paired with a close ...

There is something about fall, with its cooler temperatures and changing leaves, that seems to lure even the most minimalist of decorators into setting pumpkins on the porch. Perhaps the cheery orange color is hard to resist, or there is something appealing about seeing the fruits of the ...

Fall is a popular time for gardeners to give away plants as they move potted specimens indoors (and run out of space) and divide perennial flowers. Picking up plant freebies is a great way to expand a plant collection, but plants should always be quarantined and/or examined with caution before ...

Sunflowers add a splash of late-summer color to gardens and landscapes, but they are more than just pretty flowers. The seeds produced by these plants are a tasty treat for people and wildlife. Take steps now and in the coming weeks, as the flowers fade, to preserve the seeds for harvest this ...

Writing about successes and failures in the garden is a good way to ensure the successes are repeated and mistakes are avoided. Making notes about the garden, or journaling, can be done any time of year, but late summer — as the garden fades and harvest slows — is an optimal time to make ...

A lath wall transitions the Maletsky household from its antique, original section to its modern, bright addition. Through the spaced wooden panels — once used as a wall’s foundation — one can view the living and dining room of a house originally built in the 1930s. There are wooden ...

There are many kinds of squash, and the best time to harvest each is different. In particular, the winter squash group, which includes acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and other squash with hard mature rinds, can be difficult to know when to pick. Winter squash also has a longer shelf life (and in ...

Late summer is often the time of year when trees that are struggling to survive succumb to environmental stresses and/or pests. They may put on an early show of fall color before dropping their leaves, or they may simply drop their leaves or needles. This happens with trees in natural settings ...

Healthy lawns reduce erosion, require less mowing than weedy ones and are an easy way to cover an expanse of outdoor space. Many people think healthy lawns require a lot of inputs and maintenance, but they really only need a little extra care at certain times of the year. In the Lawrence area, ...

Early August is when crabgrass becomes most noticeable in the Lawrence area, and it is especially prolific this year. The weedy grass grows in spreading clumps and favors curb lines, bare spots in the lawn, landscape beds, gardens and sidewalk cracks. Now is the time to control it or make plans ...

Avid users of the Levee Trail, Steve and April Evans used to look at empty plots of land next to the path while hiking or biking and think, “Gee, it would be nice to live close to the levee.” Now, the couple lives on a once-empty plot in a contemporary home that was finished in the fall of ...

Poison ivy is well known for the reactions most people have from handling or brushing against the plant, but despite its notoriety, many people also find it hard to recognize. To add to the confusion, there are mentions of poison oak and poison sumac. Poison ivy is native to Kansas and ...

July is sweet corn season in Kansas. While some gardeners are already enjoying fresh ears of corn from their gardens, many are still waiting for kernels to develop or are battling corn earworms, raccoons and deer. Here are some tips for dealing with these problems and pests. The most common ...

Many Lawrence-area gardeners are taking notice of an interesting and distinctive insect this summer, which appears to have a larger population than usual. The insect is commonly known as a wheel bug or assassin bug (Arilus cristatus), and it benefits plants by feeding on plant pests. Right ...

Knowing the right time to harvest fruits and vegetables from the garden is tricky for some crops, even for experienced gardeners. To complicate it further, some produce can be harvested at different stages or have additional edible parts of the plant than what is traditionally harvested. Follow ...