![Flowering dogwood. Photo by Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20220502-dogwood-1.jpg?itok=OFs9WSyW)
Dogwood: Nature's little showoff
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Few spring scenes are as spectacular as the annual display provided by dogwood trees in the Ozark woodlands,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.Inconspicuous for most of the year, these diminutive denizens of our forests outdo their towering neighbors with spectacular exhibitions of color before most other species leaf out, Trinklein says.
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Weekly Garden Hour resumes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As growing season begins, University of Missouri Extension’s weekly Garden Hour returns to its noon slot on Wednesdays. MU Extension specialists address lawn, garden, disease and insect questions during the free hourlong virtual sessions.Listeners receive a weather report from MU Extension climatologist Pat Guinan and hear brief sessions on timely gardening topics, says MU Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg.
![Easter lily. Photo by UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20220414-easter-lily-1.jpg?itok=u4Mw3fPq)
After the bloom fades, Easter lily can see new life
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Easter lily used for spring decorations can provide beauty and fragrance for another season.After blooming ends, plant Easter lilies outside as soon as the ground can be worked, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Jennifer Schutter. The following year, they will bloom in June and have a sweet fragrance.
![Bells of Ireland. Photo by Margaret Straw.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20220310-boi-2.jpg?itok=AwaB_8KT)
Bells of Ireland: A St. Patrick's Day favorite
COLUMBIA, Mo. – St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate Irish culture and everything green, including leprechauns and shamrocks. While shamrock is a well-known symbol of good luck, another interesting plant associated with good fortune is bells of Ireland, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.
Planting seeds of thought for choosing seeds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As winter sets in, gardeners thumb through seed catalogs in anticipation of next year’s gardens.But not all seed sources are created equal, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Katie Kammler.Choose a reputable source known for disease-free seed, high germination rates and good results, says Kammler. Consider the variety selection, seed treatments and organic versus non-organic.
![The poinsettia's small flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves called bracts. Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Poinsettia-ARS.jpg?itok=4QUlsea4)
Poinsettia: America’s No. 1 potted flower is relative newbie to the holidays
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Poinsettia is America’s most popular flowering plant, with annual sales approaching $200 million. Despite its close association with the Christmas season, however, it’s a relative newcomer as holiday home decor, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
![A compost pile encourages natural decomposition of organic materials.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/g06956figure01.jpg?itok=-c9AiH3R)
'Leaf' it to nature for compost and nutrients
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves. But leaves left on lawns can pack down into a tight mat, preventing sunlight from reaching the grass, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Leaves also trap and hold moisture, which increases the potential for disease.However, tree leaves can be a valuable asset to gardeners who want to start a compost pile or add nutrients to lawns,…
![Jonathan apples harvested in early September in Missouri. Photo courtesy of Michele Warmund.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210909-ha-1.jpg?itok=VJIjQl3y)
Heirloom apples are ripe for the picking
COLUMBIA, Mo. – September is prime apple picking time in the lower Midwestern states.Not only are new cultivars available in stores during September, but many heirloom apple cultivars are at their peak in farm markets and U-pick operations, says Michele Warmund, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
![A vertical split in a Mountain Merit tomato appeared following heavy rainfall after a droughty period.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210903-tsplit-1.jpg?itok=s31dzfLg)
Conditions are right now for cracking, splitting tomatoes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners might notice that their tomatoes are cracking or splitting now.“This is a common problem when there are widely varying soil moisture conditions, especially during the hot, dry days of late summer,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
![Amanda Quinn’s cut flower farm sells bouquets to farmers markets, directly to customers and to florists. She recently hosted a tour of her farm, which uses a drip irrigation system recommended by University of Missouri Extension specialist Dan Downing. Ph](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210901-ff-2.jpg?itok=hkzDoKad)
Budding flower business benefits from drip irrigation
HUNTSVILLE, Mo. – When Amanda Quinn quadrupled the growing space at her Randolph County flower farm, she didn’t want to quadruple the time spent watering flowers.Quinn, owner of “bloom: Cut Flower Farm,” contacted University of Missouri Extension specialist Dan Downing for advice about drip irrigation systems. She had attended an MU Extension demonstration of a drip irrigation system last year at a flower farm in La Plata.
![Bok choy, a type of Chinese cabbage. Photo by JS, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210826-cc-1.jpg?itok=iBNL1-Pj)
Cool-loving Chinese cabbage grows well in Missouri autumns
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The warm, sunny days and cool nights of fall in Missouri provide ideal growing conditions for cool-season vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.“The Chinese cabbage group, which includes napa and bok choy, grows best under short days with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees,” Trinklein said.
![Monarda didyma. Photo by H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210819-monarda-1.jpg?itok=6MSrDFu8)
Perennial of the Year steeped in American patriotism
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When American colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in 1773 as a political protest, they faced a dilemma. What could they use to make tea, since the continued drinking of British tea would be deemed unpatriotic?
![The Enns Entomology Museum on the MU campus houses the Ozark woodland swallowtail collection of J. Richard Heitzman, who discovered the elusive butterfly in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Kelly McGowan.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210812-ows-2.jpg?itok=W0d0g1QT)
MU Extension horticulturist searches for rare Ozark butterfly
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan is on the hunt for the elusive Ozark woodland swallowtail, a pollinator unique to the Ozark region of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.
![Pam Stenger, president of the Master Gardener chapter in Macon and Shelby counties, delivers fresh seasonal flower bouquets from Rolling Acres Flower Farm through a subscription service. Photo courtesy of Pam Stenger.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210809-stenger-1.jpg?itok=eOAT5qyV)
MU Master Gardener blooms with floral subscription service
CLARENCE, Mo. – Pam Stenger keeps memories of her grandmother’s flower garden alive by offering floral bouquets through a Community Supported Agriculture subscription service.
![Detail from “Watermelons, peaches, pears and other fruit in a landscape” by Italian painter Giovanni Stanchi (1608–1672). From Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210712-w-1.jpg?itok=HixR8y5i)
Watermelon: The food of angels
COLUMBIA, Mo. – July, National Watermelon Month, is the time to celebrate this thirst-quenching, vitamin-rich garden delight.Mark Twain wrote that one who has tasted watermelon “knows what the angels eat.”“Aptly named, watermelon is 92% water,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. It is part of the gourd family, which also includes cucumber, squash, pumpkin and muskmelon.
![Painted leaf poinsettia is a perennial that grows wild in Missouri, especially the southern part of the state. Photo courtesy of Floridaseeds.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210719-fp-1.jpg?itok=Yw5yuDcV)
Celebrate Christmas in July with painted leaf poinsettia
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Plant lovers who can’t wait until December for Christmas poinsettias can celebrate in July. Although not as splashy as its winter relative, painted leaf poinsettia is a mid-year gift, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.
![American gooseberry fruit at the immature stage ready for harvest. Photo by Michele Warmund.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210607-gb-1.jpg?itok=pauDU4UQ)
Gooseberry: Small but mighty
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Gooseberry grows as a small deciduous shrub with edible fruit,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.Gooseberry clubs once popular
![MU Extension, Faith Walk Academy, Monroe County officials, and MU Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners help Faith Walk Academy students learn about gardening and supply food for the community. Participants in the effort include, from left, Sarah Geist,](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210604-mcf-1.jpg?itok=tjsh56vn)
Healthy communities begin with healthy food
PARIS, Mo. – Healthy communities grow in bountiful gardens.A partnership between University of Missouri Extension and groups in the Mark Twain Lake area is teaching people in Monroe County to grow and use fresh produce.
![Pink peony. Credit required: Photo by Oleksandra Deriy, shared under a Creative Commons license (CC-BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210526-pink-peony.jpg?itok=x22X-3YN)
Peonies thrive on neglect, can live more than 100 years
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Peonies serve as the traditional flower of Memorial Day. Their huge, lavish blossoms stand as fragrant sentinels in country cemeteries, conjuring memories of times and people past.In the 1800s, when the holiday was called Decoration Day, peonies were one of the few flowers in bloom in late May and were widely used to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension…
Low temperatures leave plants in the cold
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Winter-hardy perennial flowers likely will survive April’s historic low temperatures across Missouri, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.Their tender annual counterparts, however, may not be so lucky.MU Extension horticulturists across the state answered numerous calls from concerned gardeners about freeze damage to their flowers and flowering shrubs as temperatures dropped into the 20s.
![Master Gardeners work with community volunteers to prepare the gardens for plantings.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210412-stlmg-1.jpg?itok=lyIy8wbf)
From overlooked plot to community hub: Wildwood YMCA gardens
WILDWOOD, Mo. – For Jodi Smedley, being a Master Gardener is about much more than gardening. Through her work with the Wildwood YMCA, Smedley has realized the impact gardening can have on everyday life and the community as a whole.
![Missouri Master Gardener](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/masterGardenerStateConference3-1.jpg?itok=4mJ60dFz)
Master Gardeners do more than garden
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – St. Louis area Master Gardeners may be as well known for their community spirit as for the beautiful and bountiful gardens they tend. “It’s safe to say our volunteers have really helped transform the region,” said Holly Records, St. Louis Master Gardener coordinator with the University of Missouri Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden.
![Before the pandemic, UCP Heartland clients and staff enjoyed a day making birdhouses out of gourds.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210412-stlmg-2.jpg?itok=xIODaX_J)
A masterpiece of inclusion: Ferguson Farmers Market community garden
FERGUSON, Mo. – Many dabble in the art of gardening, but Ron Brown takes its meaning to a new level. One of his masterpieces is the accessible garden he has designed for participants in United Cerebral Palsy Heartland’s day programs.
Patience is lawn owner's friend in March
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Be mellow until the forsythia turns yellow.That’s the advice from University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Lee Miller for applying crabgrass pre-emergent herbicides to lawns.“The forsythia bloom has been used as a phenological indicator on when to apply pre-emergent herbicides and it’s a fairly easy and obvious sign,” he says.
![Cool Wave yellow trailing pansy. Photo courtesy Ball Horticultural Company.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/pansyCoolWave.jpg?itok=R3PDmHke)
Pansy: Not just another pretty face
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing says spring like the shining faces of pansies.But pansies aren’t just for spring, says David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.