New Blog Aims to Help Kansas Gardeners Learn about Flowers That Thrive

OLATHE, Kan. – Short, dark winter days have many gardeners dreaming about spring and the chance to try out new flowers in the landscape. In order to help gardeners find varieties that work best in Kansas, Kansas State University scientists launched a new blog Prarie Star Flowers Blog and Facebook page.

Prairie Star is a collection of annual flower varieties tested by K-State to determine those that are best suited for the challenging prairie climate. The list includes flowers that exhibited superior performance for two or more years in bedding plant research trials in Olathe, Wichita, Hays and Colby.

“All varieties on the list grow well across the state, east to west and north to south,” said Alan Stevens, horticulture specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

“Growing flowers in Kansas is not like growing them in Florida or California or Illinois,” said Stevens, who is director of K-State’s Horticulture Research and Extension Center in Olathe. “Everything on the list has not only endured, but thrived in the sometimes harsh Kansas growing conditions.”

Plants are rated for vigor, which he defined as how fast and strong they grow and how much substance they have. They are also rated on floriferousness – the overall visual impact of the flower and foliage display.

The varieties include such names as Petunia Surfinia Wild Plum, Canna South Pacific Scarlet and Marigold Hero Series.

“In starting this blog, we wanted to give people a way to learn about flowers that can be grown successfully in Kansas, as well a way to interact with us,” Stevens said.

Source: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/new_blog022613.aspx

Hummingbird program - Feb. 28

Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent for 31 years, will speak on some of his favorite species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, during a meeting of the Sperry-Galligar Audubon at 7 p.m. Thursday in room 102, Yates Hall, Pittsburg State University.

http://www.morningsun.net/newsnow/x766872115/PATRICKS-PEOPLE-Chuck-Otte-will-speak-Thursday-on-the-ruby-throated-hummingbird

Gardeners needed for radio program

I'm writing to you from KRPS public radio. We're doing a series of stories on gardening, and we would love to interview one or more of your Garden Club members for our series. We would cover a wide variety of topics and would come back to you as sources throughout the series. Please let me know if anyone is interested in participating in these stories. --Liz Reid, 620-235-4283.

New plants for 2013 presented by Arnold's Greenhouse - Feb. 26

The Bourbon Co Master Gardeners would like to invite you to a special program presented by Rita Arnold, from Arnold's Greenhouse in LeRoy, Kansas, on February 26, at 7:00 at the Community Christian Church, Robison Hall. The address is 1919 Horton, right across the street from Fort Scott Community College. Rita is going to be introducing new annual varieties for 2013. This program is open to the public.

Gardening Q&A - Feb. 12

Gardening expert Jacob Weber will be speaking at the Pittsburg Public Library on Tuesday, February 12 at 6:30 PM. He will be answering gardening questions and it will be quite informal. So start jotting down your gardening questions to ask Jacob! This event is open to the public.