warm

Boundary-pushing bees

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu A common eastern bumble bee queen in Winona on March 3, 2024. Photo: Danielle Hudson It is easy to see that this has been an unusually warm winter in Minnesota. Skis and sleds barely had a chance to get dusted off. People started...

Weeds get spring fever too

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Models suggest that significant cold has passed, things are starting to green up and soil is warming. While this warm winter causing growers stress about what diseases and insects will do this spring, this early spring can provide rare...

How will this warm winter affect my plants?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu How will this unusually warm winter affect my garden, lawn, trees and shrubs? Will pests be a bigger problem? Can I still prune my fruit trees? Plant dormancy is affected by day length and temperature. Plants slowly start moving into...

Will this winter warmup cause sap to flow?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Colleagues across Extension have been receiving calls and emails about this warmer weather, wondering how it might affect everything from the soil to drought to syrup tapping. I have reports from people who have tapped trees that the sap...

Warm winter and pests

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu How will this warmer winter weather affect the survival of pests like emerald ash borer (EAB)? Emerald ash borers generally have a one-year life cycle that can extend to two years in a vigorously growing ash tree. EAB larvae live under...

Warm up with a rich, chocolate beverage

Nothing beats sipping a hot, soothing beverage after a day of choosing the perfect Christmas tree or lobbing snowballs in the backyard. Teas, hot toddies, coffees, and mulled ciders certainly can fit the bill, but a mug of rich hot chocolate is a holiday season staple. Hot chocolate can be whipped...