Articles written by Gerri Makay
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 53
Tree Talk: Blossoms and butterflies
Summer is winding down and it's time to take notice of the things that represent Nature's summer-best before they're gone for the season. Right outside my office window is a display of purple...
Tree Talk: Return of the Elms
American elm is North Dakota's state tree. Elms were a natural choice for planting in communities and windbreaks because it is one of our tough native species. It is these tree canopies that, with their beautiful vase-shape, form leafy "tunnels" alon...
Tree Talk: Honeylocust - A sweet tree
If you are looking for something a little different to grace the landscape of your yard, consider planting a honeylocust tree–specifically, 'Northern Acclaim' thornless honeylocust. While the...
Tree Talk: Lovely lindens
Thanks to another grant from the N.D. Forest Service, the city of New Rockford is home to dozens of new trees. Participating homeowners planted seven different types of trees in June, and lindens were among the favorites. American linden, also known...
Tree Talk: Let's visit the orchard
While apples are the favorite backyard fruit grown in North Dakota, a surprisingly wide variety of fruits can grow and produce abundant harvests in the northern plains. Since 2006, the Northern Hardy...
Tree Talk: Thunder and fireworks
It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without fireworks! The first official celebration occurred on July 4, 1777 – one year after the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence – with a...
Tree Talk: What's the buzz about pollinators
The last full week of June is named as "National Pollinator Week." Don't worry if you missed it – there are reasons to celebrate pollinators all year long! Pollinators include bees, insects, birds a...
Tree Talk: It's raining leaves and seeds, oh my!
We've needed moisture here in the Great Plains. We've prayed and hoped for rain, and now we're getting it – in some places, more than enough. But during the last couple of weeks, what's dropping...
Tree Talk: Trees are not tomatoes!
Well, that seems obvious. But there is a point to this statement and we'll get to that. We've been through a long winter and gardeners have long waited to get their hands into the soil. Tomatoes are...
Tree Talk: ABC's of Planting Trees
Tree planting can take place anytime during the growing season. With the cool, rainy season we are experiencing, now is a great time to get some trees in the ground! Trees provide shade, wildlife...
Tree Talk: A day to remember
Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. This is a time for celebrating graduations, the end of the school year and family get-togethers. But at the root of this weekend holiday is the...
Tree Talk: Kids + Trees = Arbor Day!
Communities across North Dakota celebrate Arbor Day as a sure sign of Spring! The state's official designated Arbor Day is the first Friday in May – but communities can celebrate Arbor Day whenever...
The Blizzard of April 2022
As we pick up the pieces following North Dakota's most recent blizzard, just how does this storm compare to others across the northern plains that have made the record books? (Note: this article was...
Tree Talk: It's sugaring time
Maple syrup is not typically thought of as synonymous with North Dakota. Snow, yes. Cold, yes. But maple syrup? First of all, you need sugar maple trees, right? Usually, but we like to "do what you...
Tree Talk: Wearing o' the Green
Don't look now, but March 1st marked the meteorological beginning of spring. When I was a kid, spring clearly started on March 21 (the vernal equinox – when the sun and the equator celebrate a secre...
Tree Talk: Spring fever
How are you feeling? This week a local television news reporter proclaimed February 2022 as “the longest shortest month, ever!” It’s enough to make even the toughest North Dakotan sick. Sick with cabin fever. Hang on – with a little luck and...
Tree Talk: George and the cherry tree (& other Presidential tales)
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 hatchet for his sixth birthday and...
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: Nature's winter palette
It's been a long winter. We've had our fair share of cold, snow, and even unseasonable rain, turning roads and streets into treacherous icy sheets. Look outside and your eyes are met with a sea of...
Tree Talk: It's Groundhog Day. Again
Nearly every month of the year has its holidays – some of them to celebrate joyous religious occasions, others to commemorate historical landmarks. And then, some are just plain whimsical....
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: 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 we have arrived. The local weather reports warn us to protect our bodily extremities (our head, hands and feet) from exposure, risking the chance of frostbite. With the harsh temperatu...
Tree Talk: Jan. 3, 2022
Happy New Year! If you are someone who feels compelled to make New Year’s Resolutions, here are some painless resolutions to make you happier and healthier: Become a PLANT owner. We are months away from tending plants in our flower beds and...
Tree Talk: History of the Nativity
The Christ Child in the manger and other pictures of the story of Bethlehem have been used in church services from the first century. But the crib in its present form, and its use outside the church...