outdoors

Family-friendly outdoor activities

Children who spend a lot of time outdoors benefit from exposure to nature in myriad ways, some of which may surprise even the most devoted outdoorsmen. According to a 2006 study published in the journal Human Dimensions of Wildlife, fifth graders who attended school at a local prairie wetlands...

Count bumble bees in your backyard until August 2

The Backyard Bumble Bee Count is an iNatualist citizen science project that will help the organizations and agencies committed to conserving the endangered rusty patched bumble bee and all bumble bees. This count is open until August 2, 2020. Anyone with an iNaturalist account can take part in this...

Divide peonies and iris in August

Peonies and iris are long-lived favorite perennials for Minnesota. Peonies can easily outlive their gardeners and may not need to be divided or moved. Iris, especially bearded iris, benefit from regular division and flower better when they are regularly divided. August is a good time to divide...

Sunburn on raspberries, apples, and grapes

White, yellow or brown blotches on fruit raise alarm bells, but they may be sunburn rather than a disease or chemical injury. This article lay out clues to identifying fruit damage as sunburn or another issues. Hot weather, strong sunlight, and low humidity are a recipe for sunburn on fruit crops...

Catch and release for beginning anglers

Fishing is one of the most popular recreational pursuits in North America. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says around 40 million people fish each year. Fishing can be an ideal way to spend time in the great outdoors, and people often bond with family and friends while fishing. As any angler...

Powdery mildew and other mid-season cucurbit management

Midsummer is when we start to see all kinds of problems in cucurbit crops. This article provides a brief overview of potential problems and interventions that growers can address at this point in the season. Disease pressure While there are whole host of pathogens that affect cucurbits this time...

Face Shields Might be a More Comfortable Alternative to Face Masks for Some

Face shield Photo Credit: Dezeen.com The CDC, the WHO, the Minnesota Department of Health and all major public health organizations recommend that all Americans wear face coverings while in public to slow transmission of the COVID-19 illness. Face coverings work by blocking droplets that...

Growing tomatoes — A delicious challenge

“Tomatl”, “poison apple” and “love apple” are all early names for the beloved — and delicious — tomato (Solanum lypersicum). While eaten by the Aztecs in 700 A.D., the British grew this wrangling plant for ornamental purposes. The tomato was considered poisonous because the lead plates used by...

Do’s and don’ts for hot weather gardening

Minnesota gardeners are experiencing a streak of hot weather — 90s during the day, 70s at night. This can make gardening challenging for plants — and gardeners. Here are some do’s and don’ts for gardening and lawn care during hot and humid weather. Apply water to the root zone of plants DO ...

Invasive lily leaf beetle found in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed that the lily leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii, has been identified in Minnesota for the first time. Discovered in St. Paul, a resident noticed an unusual insect on an Asiatic lily and reported it to MDA. MDA staff inspected the area and...