Iowa State University Extension

This November, I was elected to the Iowa State University Extension Council for West Pottawattamie County. As an Iowa State University graduate, I am very honored to hold this position and proud to support the Extension Office’s efforts. Since then, I’ve had a lot of people ask me what ISU Extension does, so I thought…

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Six Favorite Garden Centers in Omaha/Council Bluffs

If you have the winter blues, you must visit a local garden center. It’s the only place that feels like summer in the dead of winter. After extensive research, these are my top six favorite nurseries or garden centers in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area in alphabetical order. Whether you are in Council Bluffs or out in…

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The Ultimate Gift Guide for Gardeners

Most gardeners love it when the seed catalogs start to arrive in our mailboxes, showcasing all of the newest tools and most unique new seed varieties. It’s a season for reflection on the last year – what worked and didn’t, what you want to grow again and what you vow never to try again (eggplant…

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Six Holiday Plants That Make Great Gifts

This holiday season, consider giving a beautiful seasonal plant as a gift to one of your friends, coworkers or family members. They provide great indoor color, freshness and delight all season long. Here are six great holiday plants to give this year. Poinsettia Cyclamen Dracenia Norfolk Island Pine Paperwhites Amaryllis First up is a classic…

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Cyclamen in the Conservatory

The Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory at Lauritzen Gardens is a sight to see this time of year and all year, being one place that feels like summer forever. Right now the model train weaves through the “cold” front room in the conservatory with splashes of pink and red cyclamen stealing the show. Cyclamen The trick…

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Fa, la, la, la, la…

How about this tree to bring out a little Christmas spirit for us gardeners? This tropical beauty made up of bromeliads and ferns is stacked 15′ high and is located at Mulhalls in Omaha, NE. It’s a colorful site and one tree that needs no ornaments. “Bromeliads are native to Central and South America and…

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Poinsettia Care Guide

The most popular houseplant this time of year is the Euphorbia pulcherrima or poinsettia. They come in a variety of colors and sizes and are relatively easy to care for. They are one of the most popular potted flowers in the United States. Plant Care Poinsettias prefer a sunny location away from cold drafts or…

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Christmas at Lauritzen Gardens

The holiday season has arrived at Lauritzen Gardens! Their beautiful displays of poinsettias, Norfolk Island Pine, Christmas trees and dozens of miniature Omaha landmarks, features the theme of The Year of the Bird. “Thousands of poinsettias bursting with rich, vibrant color fill the floral display hall in a glowing tribute to the holidays during the…

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Let it Snow

We received around seven inches of snow last weekend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. It’s makes for some beautiful scenes around the farm. I’m sure we will have a white Christmas this year as it’s only two weeks away! I loved the way the sunset sunlight was hitting the tops of…

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Christmas at Sherbondy’s

We have officially entered the holiday season. One of my favorite events in November is Small Business Saturday. Each year, I try to go to my favorite local businesses searching for as many Christmas gifts as I can find. It is a day that I intentionally shop small every year and gets me in the…

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Raising Ducks Part 4

If you missed Raising Ducks Part 1, 2 or 3, make sure to check them out. In this post I wanted to give an update on all of the things we’ve learned since the last post. Male vs. Female You can now really tell the male from female ducks. The males turned completely gray, have…

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October Snow

We had our first frost and first snow here in southwest Iowa on Sunday, October 14. I wonder how often the first freeze and the first snow coincide? Makes for some ghostly pictures of flowers. They look healthy and colorful but are definitely toast. I’ve been in denial that this was coming but there is…

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Garden Journal 9/5/2018

Vacation. Nine whole days at home on a staycation. Not going to lie, it would be much better if the rain would stop but I am still enjoying the break. I tried to move or cancel all of my commitments this week to truly separate from it all. I’ve done some biking, reading, errands and…

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Flower Arranging Workshop

This week I hosted a flower arranging workshop for my coworkers where I work full time as a Director of Marketing. I pitched the idea of the workshop to our wellness committee as a “mental’ wellness event because I think everyone can use a little extra time for themselves and to learn something new. I…

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Heron Haven

Last Tuesday, the West Pott. Master Gardeners met at Heron Haven in Omaha, NE for our monthly meeting. Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary. The sanctuary features one of the last oxbow wetlands of the Big Papillion Creek and it is within Omaha’s city limits. There is a butterfly garden near the entrance that was…

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Flower Field Update

The zinnias look absolutely amazing right now and I could not stop taking photos the other night. I love the way the flower field looks with the blue coop in the background! Enjoy these beautiful pictures taken in the heat of August. What’s blooming in your cutting garden right now?

Raising Ducks Part 3

If you missed Raising Ducks Part One or Two, make sure to check them out. Otherwise, to catch you up to speed, only two out of six eggs in the incubator hatched. We have been raising two ducks for several weeks now but I knew we should have a bigger flock. Last Sunday, we went…

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Flower Field Update

The flower field didn’t get planted until really late this year so it’s just now finally coming into bloom. Not going to lie, it’s pretty gorgeous out there right now. If you want to start your own cut flower garden, check out this post about my top flowers for cutting. “Happiness radiates like the fragrance from…

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Meet Keeta

As some of you know, we lost our sweet Colby in late winter. As a wire-fox terrier over twelve years old, she lived a full life that included many second chances; jumping out of a moving truck resulting in a broken leg, being viciously attacked by a neighbors dog and many fights with furry farm…

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First Time Outside

Today was our first day outside. We got to check out the grass, meet a hummingbird, look for bugs, splash in the pool and eat floating kale in the water. I bought a short little fence to help me corral them and a new pool today and they both worked great. They go crazy for kale…

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