Articles written by Gerri Makay
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 78
For the Trees: Tracing the roots of Arbor Day
"Finally, the month of May has arrived in North Dakota! And with that, many communities across the state will be celebrating Arbor Day. The entire month of May is Arbor Month in North Dakota." Arbor...
Tree Talk: Forget the snow - Let's get gardening!
As we gaze at the massive piles of snow, it appears that winter in North Dakota is never-ending! Rest assured, spring is around the corner. And with spring, the annual NDSU Extension-sponsored “Spring Fever Garden Forums” are here! Mark your...
Tree Talk: When Irish eyes are smiling
Are you seeing green? March 1st marked the meteorological beginning of spring. When I was a kid, spring clearly started on March 21st (the vernal equinox – when the sun and the equator celebrate a secret handshake), a much more likely date for...
Tree Talk: Presidential tales & trees
The story of George Washington and the cherry tree tells of the time the young future President of the United States chopped down his father's favorite tree. As the story goes, George had received a...
Tree Talk: The Sweetest Holiday
Just when you may have reached a milestone in dominating your New Year's resolution to cut out sugar, Valentine's Day appears on the calendar. There are ways around it – you can celebrate with a...
Tree Talk: An apple a day
Breakfast is often stated as the most important meal of the day. On a cold morning, a warm bowl of creamy oatmeal flavored with cooked apple and brown sugar really hits the spot! That is, if you are...
Tree Talk: It's Groundhog Day
Nearly every month of the year has its holidays – some of them to celebrate joyous religious occasions, others to commemorate historical figures or events. And then, some are just plain whimsical. G...
Tree Talk: Snow, salt and soils
Snow, salt and soil: Not a recipe for the latest trendy dish. But it could be a recipe for tragedy on your turf and trees. As cold and snowy weather sets in many of us focus on safety precautions, as...
Tree Talk: Backyard feathered friends
Birdwatching has grown to be one of the most popular hobbies in the U.S. North Dakota is noted as a birdwatcher's paradise, with wide-open spaces featuring habitats that range from grasslands to...
Tree Talk: Winter is here
WINTER. If this season is defined by cold, snowy weather – then it arrived nearly two months ago, long before the astronomical calendar-date of winter's start on December 21. Local weather reports...
Tree Talk: Happy New Year!
If you are someone who feels compelled to make New Year's Resolutions, here are some simple resolutions to make you happier and healthier – and they are easier than losing some weight: Become a...
Tree Talk: Finding solace in the season
The annual holiday season is intended to be a time for giving thanks and spreading cheer. Song lyrics tell us it's the happiest time of the year. But for many, even in a normal year, the...
Tree Talk: Holiday plant traditions
In addition to Christmas trees, there are other plants that have become traditional during the Holiday Season. The Christmas cactus is native to the coastal mountains of Brazil, found in lush...
Tree Talk: The perfect Christmas tree
One of the most iconic images of the holiday season, Christmas trees started as a German tradition and were introduced in the U.S. by German settlers. Live Christmas trees have been sold commercially...
Tree Talk: The quiet of Advent
There is Thanksgiving, and there is Christmas. But there is an entire season that fills the weeks between, a time meant for quiet anticipation and preparation for the Nativity. The Christmas tree is...
Tree Talk: Time to give thanks
Thanksgiving, for many, is the favorite holiday of the year! Food takes center-stage as tables are graced with savory and colorful sides of sweet potatoes, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy,...
Tree Talk: Dodging the deer
In North Dakota, November is celebrated for a number of holidays including Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and another that is steeped in tradition – Opening Day of Deer Season. More than 57,000...
Tree Talk: Veterans and Veteran trees
Veterans Day is observed on November 11 – to commemorate the end of WWI at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. The day honors (and justly so) all of America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country,...
Tree Talk: Going batty
"They're creepy and they're kooky – mysterious and spooky - they're all together ooky..." Halloween is filled with images of things gloomy and cryptic: black cats and cauldrons, skeletons and spiders, broomsticks and bats. Bats? Of course! They...
Tree Talk: Creating vibrant North Dakota communities
North Dakota's Main Street Initiative was outlined six years ago as an effort to help revitalize communities across the state. Community leaders are inspired with a vision of "safe, healthy cities with vibrant, walkable main streets and downtowns to...
Tree Talk: Leave the leaves
It is part of the Autumn Ritual: Harvest the last of the vegetables and clean up the garden. Mow the yard, one last time before winter. Rake/mow/blow the leaves – but what to do with all these leave...
Tree Talk: Smoke gets in your eyes
October is Fire Prevention Month and local Fire Departments do an excellent job of outreach to homeowners, reminding us to replace the batteries in our smoke detectors and to take care with outside...
Tree Talk: All about firewood
There's something about sitting around an evening campfire, reminiscing about the day of hiking or hunting or simply spending time with family and friends. Any type of wood will do, just so it's...
Tree Talk: Falling Needles and Leaves
Many people pick fall as their favorite season of the year. We welcome the cooler temperatures, the occasional much-needed rain with a little thunder mixed in, and the cheers of football season! Fall colors exhibited by deciduous trees and...
Tree Talk: Fall tree tasks
One of the sure signs of autumn is fall foliage in the landscape as woody plants prepare for winter. Here are some things that you can do to prepare your trees for the long dormant season: 1. PLANT. Fall is a great time to plant trees. While...