– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Humans are infected through the bites of immature black legged ticks calls nymphs.

It is becoming common knowledge that Lyme disease cases are on the rise in Ohio and that Lyme disease is transferred to people through the black-legged tick (A.K.A.- deer tick). It makes sense, given that the preferred habitat of this tick is the habitat occurring throughout Southeast Ohio- forested areas with leaf-litter coverage, grassy forest edges, and other areas with low-lying vegetation where wildlife are common. At this point, the black-legged tick is distributed through nearly every county in the state and poses a significant health risk to Ohioans.

Over the past week, another member of my immediate family has begun treatment for Lyme disease. The issue is prevalent and could present for any of us at any time. Even with the best prevention techniques and Continue reading Reminders to be Vigilant for Lyme Disease →

Can you tell a termite from a winged ant?

Packed into this issue:

• Distinguishing termites and ants
• Connie’s Corner
• Thanks to Lancaster Greenhouse
• Learning Never Ends’ needs
• Thank you Pam and Neil Jarvis and Louise Smith
• Field guide available
• Helping Hands in the Garden—projects
• Wagnalls gets ZooBrew
• MGV Project Leaders
• 2024 MG training highlights
• Song bird and pollinator gardens of Ag Center
• Corn reproduction
• Controlling slugs
• Available MG materials
• Best time to water
• Garden tasks for June
• Importance of sun protection
• Garden designs for disability and aging
• Featured Book: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
• Local foods programs and food preservation
• In/Around the Garden
• Featured events and event calendar

Find the entire newsletter linked here in a PDF printable format.

Spring!

In this issue:

• Brown stink bugs in the home
• Connie’s Corner; A Message from our MG Coordinator
• All American selections
• Growing degree days
• Edimentals in the garden
• Vernal pools
• Cold weather and the Japanese beetle
• Yerba maté (part 3)
• Seeing the first greenhouse open sign in spring
• Featured Books
• In/Around the Garden; Featured events and event calendar

Find the entire newsletter linked here in PDF.

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Don’t forget native grasses and flowers.

This week we continue the quest for native plants to enhance Ohio landscapes and will focus on how to incorporate native grasses and flowers that are appealing to both people and animals. Whether you manage acres of meadows or a few square feet in a garden bed, the addition of native grasses and flowers will be beneficial to your environment. Along with adding interest to the appearance of the landscape, natives increase the functionality of the landscape by providing benefits to the environment.

Native grasses and flowers are already adapted to our climate, soils, insects, and often thrive with less water and fertilizer than other introduced species. Areas that are often seen as “challenging” such as chronically wet, chronically dry, or sloped areas are often sites where native grasses and flowers can be established and need little follow-up care. Many native plants can be left to stand in the landscape through the winter for interest and as overwintering sites for native insects. Occasional removal of Continue reading Native Grasses and Flowers for Ohio Landscapes →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Once you have a plan, its time to select your plants.

Once you have a basic outline of the environmental conditions of your landscape and defined goals of what services you want the landscape to provide, it is time to begin researching plants that will deliver results. In this week’s article, we will focus on native trees and shrubs.

Most people don’t think of trees as flowering plants, but they are actually some of the earliest spring-blooming plants in Ohio! Tree blooms are some of the earliest nectar and pollen sources for Ohio bees. Adding native flowering trees and shrubs to your landscape can be an excellent way to provide long-term benefits to the wildlife in your ecosystem.

Some tree species to consider that are native and provide wildlife benefits include Continue reading Native Trees & Shrubs for Ohio Landscapes →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Before selecting plants consider the goals for your native plants.

Interest in utilizing native plants in residential landscapes is on the rise and OSU Extension encourages the practice of considering native plant choices for landscape plants when they fit the site conditions and goals of the grower. Native plants in Ohio settings would be plants that were documented to have been present across the state prior to European colonization. These plants are adapted to local conditions, pressures, and threats. As a result, they typically require fewer inputs to thrive than introduced species.

Native trees, shrubs, flowers, legumes, and grasses are all options for incorporation in landscapes. Over the next few weeks, this article will cover some of the considerations for each category of plants and suggested plants for use in Southeast Ohio. The first thing we will cover is understanding Continue reading Utilizing Natives in the Landscape →

Are you ‘winterized?’

In this issue:

• Best defense against animal damage
• A Message from our MG Coordinator
• Community food drive a success
• Learning Never Ends project
• MG Newsletter win awards
• Sherman House update
• Seasonal Holiday spending tips
• Winter recipes for potato soup and bird suet
• Featured Book: Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries by Cynthia Riggs
• Ohio Plant Hardiness Map & All about the new U.S. Plant Hardiness Map
• Yerba Maté (part 2)
• Forcing bulbs in winter
• In/Around the Garden

Find the entire newsletter linked here in PDF.

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

A fresh tree can draw up 2 qts or more water on the first day in the tree stand.

Bringing the outdoors in as decoration is a popular tradition this time of year. For some, décor that looks like real plant material is a must and for others, real is the only way to go. I respect both options but given the choice, I will go for real evergreen material for our tree, wreaths, swags, and garlands. If you like to keep it real for the holidays like I do, keep on reading.

There is something special about a live tree at Christmas. Most are pleasantly fragrant, each is unique, and a wide variety of choices are available to suit your preferences. When selecting a tree for your home here are some helpful tips that you can keep in mind for a Continue reading Keeping it Real for the Holidays →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Check out this easy recipe for suet!

If you are looking an activity to do with conservation in mind, check out this super simple recipe for songbird suet that we made recently at a Deerassic’s Wild Wednesday session. It has just three ingredients and can be easily adapted for making batches big or small.

Easy Suet for a Crowd

Ingredients Continue reading Easy Suet for a Crowd →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Some mice are more tolerable than others!

If you are opening your home for company this Thanksgiving, you are probably doing some tidying up and rearranging in your home this week. I hope your company brings you joy and I wish you safe travels everywhere you go.

Often during these tidying up times, we find that we have had some unwelcome company visiting our homes as the weather gets cooler.

The moment of alarm and disgust when you discover that a rodent has been visiting your living space is fairly common in the month of November. Even if you have a brand-new home and are an immaculate housekeeper, rodents may still find a way to sneak inside and Continue reading Unwelcome Company →