Clik here to view.
Five Surprises from our Prairie Garden
I know it is cliché to say I have been busy, but I have been busy. We are all busy these days. It seems that is just a fact of life. You are not living if you are not busy doing something or going...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Power of Many
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~ Helen Keller Consider the power of one vs. the power of many. The power of one may at first seem insignificant. However, with persistence,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In Awe of Insects
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Six Lessons I Learned from the Farm
Over the past several months, I have been reflecting on my time growing up on our farm and how those experiences prepared me for the work at the arboretum. It is a privilege not everyone has the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Osage Orange: A Historical Living Fence
It is so common around this part of the country that we take it for granted, but the Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) is a very special tree, valuable to both farmer and wildlife, and integral to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Three Reasons I Am Intrigued by the Monarch Migration
Last week (late September) the Monarchs began to congregate in the arboretum. There are hundreds of them hanging from the branches in the hedgerow of our amphitheater. They are pooling here until the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five Surprises from our Prairie Garden
I know it is cliché to say I have been busy, but I have been busy. We are all busy these days. It seems that is just a fact of life. You are not living if you are not busy doing something or going...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Power of Many
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~ Helen Keller Consider the power of one vs. the power of many. The power of one may at first seem insignificant. However, with persistence,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In Awe of Insects
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Six Lessons I Learned from the Farm
Over the past several months, I have been reflecting on my time growing up on our farm and how those experiences prepared me for the work at the arboretum. It is a privilege not everyone has the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Have You Ever Wondered What The Tallgrass Prairie Was Really Like?
In late September, I was at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City, KS. It was a great experience. The Flint Hills were in bloom with wildflowers and the grasses were adorned in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five Reasons to Love Kansas in Autumn
Last weekend, my family was invited to a get together out in a friend’s pasture. It was away from any civilization, quiet and cool. As we sat around the bonfire and visited, I was reminded why this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sandhill Crane Migration – A Kansas Spectacle
Quivira Birds at Sunset – November 2008 “High horns, low horns, silence, and finally a pandemonium of trumpets, rattles, croaks , and cries that almost shakes the bog with its nearness, but without...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Not-So-Sweet Smells of Fall
Fall is a wonderful time to be the Arboretum grounds keeper – watering duties slow down, weeds are relenting, and I can wear my favorite sweaters to work. Brisk mornings and the coppery hue of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Four Ways to Highlight Elements of Your Natural Landscape.
Many people come to the Luminary Walk each year and enjoy the prairie landscape illuminated by Christmas lights. It is amazing how a few lights can make the natural landscape come to life at night....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pine Cone Botany For Beginners
The start of December means the start of “pre-Christmas”: the time of year when gifting stress sets in and your friends keep posting pinterest-worthy photos of their DIY holiday decorations. Who has...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Year in the Life of the Dyck Arboretum
For me, December is often a natural time to look back at what I’ve accomplished over the past year and what I am dreaming about doing in the coming year. It’s an annual practice, loosely based off of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Winter Solstice: Enjoying the Dark
Today is the Winter Solstice. I enjoy this time of dark mornings and evenings, appreciate seeing sunsets through my office window, and savor the slower pace that seems to be more prevalent this time of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Loss of Honey Bees
We are hearing a lot in the news about the loss of honey bees, which we know is a potential threat to our food systems. But before I address this topic further, allow me to say a bit about insect...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Three Ways To Connect With The Natural World
There is something healing about being outside. I am not a scientist or a psychologist, but a short walk in the great outdoors does wonders for my physical and mental well-being. The problem is that...
View Article