Jessica Carlson  Otter Tail County Master Gardener Intern  As summer fades and autumn approaches, many gardeners are already planning ahead for spring. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, fall is the best time to plant hardy spring-blooming bulbs in Zone 4A. Planting should be done once soil temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit but before… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The Widow Fistula woke me up in the middle of last night in a dream and asked me: “How come you ain’t visited me?” Meaning, I guess, that she’s feeling kind of ignored. There was a time when I visited with and wrote about all the citizens of Boatville. Her included. One… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I know the distracted driving law has been around for a while now, but can you please talk about it some more?   Answer: Driver distraction or inattention is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 25 percent of all crashes annually. Distracted drivers fail to recognize… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda As the years behind me add up, I’ve become somewhat more aware of those people who are gone now, and what they have left behind them. As in, for example, their name. The best person I can think of is the Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who died in 1792. Of all… Read More

Jessica Carlson  Otter Tail County Master  Gardener Intern  In a growing movement to support pollinators and reduce traditional turf maintenance, Minnesotans are turning their lawns into vibrant, living habitats. A bee lawn is not a weedy free-for-all, nor is it an unkempt patch of clover. It’s a thoughtfully designed blend of turfgrass and low growing flowers… Read More

Garver’s Movie Review Bob Garver I remember being a big fan of the 1976 “Freaky Friday” with Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. Granted, I saw it when I was young enough to not know the tropes of the body-swap comedy, but I still have fond memories. I got a few laughs out of the 2003 update… Read More

Ask A TrooperSgt. Jesse Grabow Question: My husband and I are wondering if it is true that emergency vehicles can change a light from red to green, if they need to proceed through an intersection. Is this true, or is it just a myth that people now believe to be true? Also, if this is… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Master Gardener Intern Minnesota is home to some of the nation’s most inspiring public gardens. Whether you’re seeking structural ideas, bloom combinations, or creative uses of native plants, these destinations offer a visual feast! Make it a day trip, or stop on your way to that vacation destination. So you’ve wandered through flower-lined paths and… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda We had a large family gathering here on the farm some three weeks ago. It was late evening after a supper of great leftovers that had been left over from the gathering. About then, a bat came swooping over our heads. That’s not good. It gets worse. Another flying bat joined the party…. Read More

Henning Happenings Chad Koenen Summer vacation is a great reminder of the simpler things in life. There are family trips, extra time with your kids and a chance to enjoy some additional daylight after work. Summer vacation is also an annual reminder that many of us have no idea what the younger generation is doing… Read More