Kansas Country Living March 2020 by American MainStreet Publications

You Have a Voice at YOUR

CO-OP — attend annual meeting to use it.

CO N N E C T | E N G AG E | E L E C T

MARCH F E AT U R E S

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook. D E PA RT M E N T S

12 | Show and Tell

4 |

Demonstration gardens showcase plants and sustainable gardening techniques appropriate to local areas and provide learning opportunities for home gardeners and landscape professionals.

6 |

22 | Big Ideas, Little Gardens While the physics of time and space dictate that big harvests naturally come from big gardens, there are alternative ways to raise impressive passels of veggies — it is simply a matter of making less do more.

8 | 10 |

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

You can hear and smell spring A RO U N D K A N S A S

Marching into spring festivities CO M M E N TA RY

Things can get done in D.C. E N E RGY W I S E

Energy efficient landscaping tips Landscaping plans can reduce energy use.

18 |

YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

A lost art of garden design

Pincushion gardens showcase tidy patterns.

24 |

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

The sunny ways of citrus

Add a dose of vitamin C and bright flavor.

26 | 28 |

M A R K E T P L AC E

Barns, buildings and chicks SAFETY

Safety and the 2020 census

It’s quick, easy and safe to participate.

29 |

M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Seasonal spring dishes Rev up your taste buds for March.

ON THE COVER

This “Whoopsidaisy” iris grows in one of the specialty beds at Reno County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden. The bed showcases more than 50 iris varieties, some dating back to the 1850s.

SPR IN FORWAGR D Demonst rat Take a field ion Garde ns trip to cultiv ate plans Big Ideas, Small Spa Add veggies ces to

MARCH 2020 | BROUG HT TO YOU BY ROLLIN G

P H O T O B Y PA M PA U L S E N , C O U N T Y E X T E N S I O N A G E N T, H O R T I C U LT U R E , K - S TAT E R E S E A R C H & E X T E N S I O N - R E N O C O U N T Y.

MARCH 2020

HILLS ELECTR IC

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

(ISSN 0091-9586) MARCH 2020 VOL. 70, NO. 3 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2020 WWW.KEC.COOP

Treat Spring Fever with Good Dose of Gardening Articles

Bruce Graham

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes

Director of Communications, Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Shaylee Arpin

Multimedia Communications Specialist

the high-pitched chirp outside my bedroom window. “Fairly optimistic bird,” I thought to myself. It’s 29 degrees, we are expecting several inches of a gentle and beautifully quiet snowfall and this bird is singing like spring just arrived. Silly bird must have heard the reports from York, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2 and Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of an early spring. Call me a nonbeliever. Between 2010 and 2019, Phil’s predictions were only correct 40% of the time, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. That’s on par with the Farmers’ Almanac, which for snow predictions is right only 40% of the time, but for winter outlook temperatures it’s correct about 50% of the time. I think I’ll stick with my aging body and its aches to predict what the upcoming weather will be — or step outside — and prepare accordingly. If it’s cloudy, I’ll pack an umbrella. Frost means a jacket or coat. And steam rising from the cement indicates we are in store for a hot one. Spring is certainly is the air, though. You can smell the gradual change of the

PA M PA U L S E N , R E N O C O U N T Y E X T E N S I O N

THE SNOW WAS GENTLY FALLING when I first heard

This butterfly milkweed grows in one of the specialty gardens at Reno County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden.

season as early bloomers pierce the soil, as optimistic as the singing bird and hoping to escape a sudden Kansas deep freeze before blooming in April. If you are coming down with a case of spring fever and eager to feel the garden dirt between your fingers, this issue will give you a good dose of gardening medicine to help you wait out the weather until it’s time to plant your vegetables, flowers, herbs and landscaping plants. From demonstration gardens to Victorian pincushion beds, spring planting fever begins on Page 12. KCL

Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Terry Hobbs

President

Craig Kostman

Vice President

Teresa Miller Secretary

Kirk Thompson

Treasurer

You receive Kansas C ountry Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: 4 Rivers, Lebo Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DS&O, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington Tri-County, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.58 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554. Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

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THROUGH MARCH 8 High School Art

Show, Logan. V iew local students’ artwork. Dane G. Hansen Museum, 110 W. Main, 785-689-4846. THROUGH MARCH 28 Youth Art Month, Ellsworth. F eatured artwork from Ellsworth County students. Ellsworth Area Art Center, 223 N. Douglas Ave. MARCH 2-31 Parade of Quilts, Yoder. S oak in the quilting tradition of the Amish community during their 20th annual parade of quilts. Grab a parade route brochure for a selfguided tour. 620-465-2220, YoderKansas.com. MARCH 2 Republic County Youth

Entrepreneurship Challenge, Scandia. Youth from across the county are invited to discover what it takes to become a business owner. P ike Valley High School, 785-527-5524, mainstreet@nckcn.com. MARCH 3 Community All Gospel Jam,

Sedan. Enjoy, play and sing along. Light appetizers at 8 p.m. Begins at 6:30 p.m. 1224 E. Main St., 417-499-4110. MARCH 5 Kiwanis Pancake Feed, Great Bend. J oin the fun at the annual pancake feed with proceeds serving children and members in the community. 4-7 p.m. Great Bend Expo I. MARCH 5-8 Toes in the Water, Concordia. C reate a Toes in the Water Quilt. From Thursday 5 p.m. through Sunday 1 p.m. Manna House of Prayer, 323 E. Fifth St. MARCH 6 Cattlemen’s Day, Manhattan.

iscussion of opportunities in global meat D markets. Weber Hall, 1424 Claflin Road, 785532-1267, KSUBeef.org. MARCH 6-8 Equifest of Kansas, Salina.

A ll breed horse fair and expo. Tony’s Pizza Event Center & Salina Co. Expo Center, equifestofks.com.

MARCH 7 Acoustic Eidolon Concert,

Waterville. E njoy a matched concert of a cello and guitar by one talented couple. Kansas Historic Opera House, 785-363-2525. MARCH 7-20 Children’s Art Month Open House, Fredonia. W inning artwork from

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

Fredonia and Altoona K-6 grades on exhibit 9-11 a.m. Fredonia Arts Council, 320 N. Seventh St. MARCH 7 Dance Party, Garden City. ance from 7-10 p.m. and potluck dinner at D 6:30 p.m. Eagles Lodge, search Country Dancing in Southwest Kansas on Facebook. MARCH 7 Flat Track Races, Great Bend. I ndoor motorcycle and cart races, gates open at 2 p.m., practice at 3 p.m., races at 6 p.m. Expo II Arena at Great Bend Expo Complex. MARCH 7 If These Walls Could Talk:

Kansas Murals, Courtland. L ed by muralist Dave Loewenstein, exploring history through the lens of community art. 3 p.m. Courtland Arts Council, 421 Main St. MARCH 7 Library Concert Series,

operating layouts, vendors with trains for sale, show trains and concessions. Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibition Building, 409 Lake Ave., 620-271-4306. MARCH 14 Dilly & Doc Pop Up Market,

Great Bend. A wonderful day of shopping local vintage, handcrafted and direct sales. Live music, special beverages and original goods available. 1119 Main St. MARCH 14 Antiques Appraisal Fair,

Garden City. I n the style of the show “Antiques Road Show” with live entertainment. Event raises funds for Finney County Historical Museum. Finney County 4-H Building, 409 Lake Ave. MARCH 15 Celtic Angels Ireland,

Belleville. E njoy the musical works of KJ Bowers. Admission is free and concert begins at 2 p.m. Belleville Public Library.

McPherson. C elebrate cherished Irish heritage through Irish dance, music and song beginning at 7:30 p.m. McPherson Opera House, 620-241-1952, mcphersonoperahouse.org.

MARCH 9-13 Meet the Makers, Manhattan. A rtists and fabricators of all kinds will display talents from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Flint Hills Discovery Center, 315 S. Third St., 785587-2726, flinthillsdiscovery.org.

MARCH 15-21 Rock-a-Thon, Cuba. A weeklong event with kolaches, jaternice, pivo, meals, crafts and family entertainment. 7293603, search Cuba Rock-a-Thon on Facebook.

MARCH 11 Made in China, Garden City.

E xplore the history of Chinese Porcelain, learn how to identify genuine pieces. Noon. Finney County Historical Museum, 403 S. Fourth St. MARCH 11 Thriving Across Generations:

Succession Planning in Rural Kansas, Hays. F rom 5:30-9 p.m. Fort Hays State University Memorial Union, 700 College Drive, 785-628-9430, northwest.k-state.edu/events/ thriving_across_generations/index.html. MARCH 12 Ladies Night Out, Great

Bend. E xperience a shopping night for the girls with drinks, snacks and pampering! Downtown Great Bend. MARCH 13-14 Saga of the Prospectors Daughter: A Play, Fredonia. T ake in a night at the theater watching Fredonia High School students. 7 p.m. curtain. Fredonia High School, 916 Robinson St.

MARCH 15 Spaghetti Dinner, Concordia.

I ncludes raffle, silent auction and bake sale. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, 785-243-2113 ext. 1225, agilliland@csjkansas.org. MARCH 15 St. Patrick’s Day Concert,

Morganville. C elebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Community Chamber Orchestra, a dance performance and more. Begins at 4 p.m. Morganville School, 307 Main, 785-926-4725, baclark@twinvalley.net. MARCH 16-29 Ida Stover-Eisenhower

Memorial Quilt Show, Abilene. A ntique quilts. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Dickinson County Historical Society, 412 S. Campbell. MARCH 17 2020 Census Planning, Garden City. G arden City planner Melissa DoughertyO’Hara will explain efforts to ensure the community is accurately counted. 7 p.m. Finney County Historical Museum, 403 S. Fourth St.

MARCH 14-15 Boot Hill Model Railroad

Train Show, Garden City. S how includes

Continued on page 17

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C O M M E N TA RY

Things Can Get Done in D.C. by the lack of civility and cooperation in Congress. It has created gridlock, division and feuds that damage the spirit and ability of good leaders who truly want to make a difference for our state and our nation. But things can get done in D.C. — and as a member of an electric cooperative, you are a recent beneficiary. Back in 2017, Congress created a problem for electric co-ops when it made changes to the tax code that inadvertently put co-ops’ federal tax-exempt status at risk if they received certain funds. Co-ops pay state and local taxes, franchise fees, sales taxes, property taxes and many other levies but are exempt from federal income tax as long as they comply with the “85-15 rule.” That rule is an accepted and long-standing IRS standard that limits the amount of income a co-op can receive from non-members to 15% of its annual revenue. Unfortunately, the 2017 tax act revision counted any grants a cooperative might receive as unrelated income which could have triggered a federal tax obligation beginning in 2020. Examples of those grants could be to develop rural broadband or recover from a major storm. Because of their notfor-profit status, impacted co-ops may have been forced to raise electric rates to cover the tax bill. While we didn’t have any co-ops in Kansas that would have faced such a tax obligation this year, many were affected across the country. Knowing, however, that Kansas cooperatives would be just one FEMA-qualifying ice storm or tornado away from a big tax bill, every member of our Kansas congressional delegation took proactive steps to endorse legislation to fix the problem. Senators Roberts and Moran as well as Representatives Davids, Estes, Marshall and Watkins all answered the cooperative call to co-sponsor the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands Act of 2019 or RURAL Act. There is a big distance between cosponsoring a bill and passage — a chasm which is rarely bridged — but shortly after midnight on Dec. 17, congressional leaders met behind closed doors to negotiate a last-minute budget deal that would prevent a government shutdown.

I THINK WE ARE ALL FRUSTRATED

Bruce Graham

Knowing, however, that Kansas cooperatives would be just one FEMAqualifying ice storm or tornado away from a big tax bill, every member of our Kansas congressional delegation took proactive steps to endorse legislation to fix the problem. 8

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

BY B R U C E G R A H A M

It was touch-and-go until the last minute but when it came time for congressional leaders to decide which of more than 100 tax-clarifying provisions would be included in the funding package, the RURAL Act was one of the few to make the cut. While the victory was clinched in that latenight meeting of lawmakers, the moment was only possible because of intense and coordinated lobbying by electric cooperatives and our grassroots. “What got done in the end was really driven by what we did starting at the beginning of the year,” said Louis Finkel, senior vice president, government relations, for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “Before we began lobbying on the RURAL Act, we were meeting with more than 100 new members of the House and Senate in Co-op 101 sessions to explain what co-ops are: that we are not-for-profit and that we serve the communities where we live. That conversation was the precursor to pass the bill.” As Congress entered its August recess, Kansas cooperatives were part of a national campaignstyle approach to pass the bill, including media outreach and communications from co-op CEOs, directors, employees and consumer-members to tell our elected officials what was at stake. Kansas cooperatives produced videos and posted them to social media, made calls to our delegation offices, and were part of nearly 28,000 messages of support sent to Congress. In the end, more than two-thirds of the House and more than half of the Senate were co-sponsors. Our electric cooperatives are deeply connected to the communities and region they serve and are focused on energy needs today and into the future. Providing our consumer-members with safe, reliable and affordable power will always be our highest priority and advocacy is often necessary to meet that goal. The RURAL Act shows what can be done when we lock arms and work together toward a common and important goal. Thank you to the Kansas congressional delegation for your support and this success on behalf of our electric cooperative consumer-members. KCL BRUCE GRAHAM is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas

Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.

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E N E R GY W I S E

Energy Efficient Landscaping Tips

BY PAT K E E G A N A N D B R A D T H I E S S E N

told us that if our landscaping is done right, it can help lower our home’s monthly energy bill. What choices can we make that will reduce our home energy use? – Jason and Kit D E AR JASO N AN D KIT: Your friend is right. The decisions you make about your home’s landscaping can help you stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. With summer just around the corner, let’s start by looking at how strategic planting can help cool your home. Deciduous trees can help keep your home cool in summer by blocking the Direct sunlight hitting windows sun and help warm it by allowing sunlight in during winter. is a major contributor to overheating your home during summer months. By If you live in a colder climate, planting deciduplanting trees that block sunlight, you can improve ous trees that lose their leaves in fall will shield comfort and reduce your air conditioning energy your windows in summer and allow sunlight in use. If the trees eventually grow tall enough to during winter to help warm your home. A simple shield your roof, that’s even better. approach that can deliver some shade the first year The most important windows to shade are the is to plant a “living wall” of vines grown on a trellis ones facing west, followed by windows that face next to your home. east. Morning and evening sunlight hits the home One cooling strategy is to make sure your air more directly than mid-day sunlight. Also, an eave conditioning compressor has some plants near on the south side of your home can help shade it. Just make sure the plants aren’t too close. The your windows during mid-day sun. compressor should have a 5-foot space above it and a 2- to 3-foot gap all the way around so that it gets enough air Evergreen trees movement to do its job. There are two other factors to consider that are important in some areas Low shrubs of Kansas and across the country:

N W

Deciduous trees

Cool evening breezes

PLANT FOR EFFICIENCY This is an example of a landscaping plan that can reduce energy use for summer cooling and for winter heating.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

WATER IS BECOMING MORE PRECIOUS AND MORE EXPENSIVE.

When you pay your water bill, much of that cost is for the energy required to pump water to your home, or perhaps you have your own well. Either way, reducing water use saves you money and reduces energy use.

IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA SUSCEPTIBLE TO WILDFIRES, YOU

Continued on page 20

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BY M E L I N DA SCHNYDER

Kansas’ demonstration gardens are great resources for homeowners

PA M PA U L S E N , R E N O C O U N T Y E X T E N S I O N

AS A HORTICULTURE AGENT for K-State Research and Extension, Pam Paulsen oversees the horticulture program for extension in central Kansas’ Reno County. That means working with the county’s master gardener program and answering questions from quite a few homeowners, who often want to know how to care for different plants, and what kind of fertilizing and water they need. “Mostly people want to know what does well in our area,” she said. “It’s great to have the garden where people can go see what you’re talking about. Our master gardeners are diligent that everything in the garden is labeled, and it’s really easy for a homeowner to go out there and take notes.” The garden in Reno County is one of many demonstration gardens across Kansas that showcase plants appropriate to their locations and provide learning opportunities for home gardeners on design, planting and maintenance practices. If you haven’t yet been to a demonstration garden, what you’ll see will vary county by county. “What’s nice is that each of the area’s demonstration gardens has something unique to offer,” said Matthew McKernan, a horticulture agent for K-State Research and Extension – Sedgwick County. Generally, the gardens are free to explore and open to the public every day during daylight hours. Most rely on master gardener organizations to plan, plant and maintain the gardens. That includes labeling so visitors can identify what they might want

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

Though the garden has excelled, Paulsen admits, ‘We kill all kinds of stuff, too ... .’

Reno County: A Unique College Campus Setting

In a unique partnership, the Reno County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden fills about three-quarters of an acre in the center of the Hutchinson Community College campus. It started in 2012 in a spot on campus that had once been a roadway and was most recently a turf area. It’s now one of the state’s most stunning demonstration gardens. It’s a highlight of any campus visit and locals have even changed their walking routes to get a frequent view of the garden. Besides being a great place to spend time, the garden tells a great “if it can grow here, you can grow it at home” story.

“It was horrible, hard, miserable soil,” Paulsen said, “and I was sure nothing was going to survive when we first planted. It was to the point that one of our guys went home and brought back a mini jackhammer with a shovel bit on it so we could dig. Honestly, I’m surprised anything has survived there much less done really well.” Reno County Extension Master Gardeners volunteer time for planning, planting and maintaining, while the college offers the land along with manpower for bigger projects like moving mulch or constructing a retaining wall. The gardens are arranged in a dozen specialized areas. Along with annuals and perennials suited for the area, there are some distinctive plantings: a border of heirloom iris dating back to the 1850s, a cutting bed added in 2019 for flowers to cut for bouquets, and raised vegetable beds that have recently included peanuts and hops. “With some of our space we like to share what’s recommended for our area and with some we want to show the unusual,” Paulsen said. An important area here and at many of the demonstration gardens is annual trials, where the master gardeners can evaluate how a new variety handles Kansas and give feedback to the grower. Though the garden has excelled, Paulsen admits, “We kill all kinds of stuff, too. We experiment, from the trials to a local garden center or nursery asking us to try something new to our master gardener volunteers finding an interesting, new plant that they want to try. Some do really well and some we might struggle with.”

PA M PA U L S E N , R E N O C O U N T Y E X T E N S I O N

to grow at home. The gardens’ focus is on trees, ornamental plants or vegetables known to do well in Kansas or, in some cases, being tested to see how they perform. K-State Research and Extension is short for Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. The organization is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas, from agriculture to health to lawn and garden topics. The Extension’s master gardener program allows gardeners to donate time in return for horticultural training. Some of this donated time goes toward a community’s demonstration gardens, an important way local county extension agents meet the need for horticultural information. Work on the gardens is already in progress this year, including planning and some early plantings happening this month. The majority of the planting work happens later in the spring and the gardens are often looking their best from about mid-June until mid-September. Here’s a look at three such demonstration gardens that vary in size, scope and location. Consider a road trip to visit one of these sites or check with your local extension office for options closer to home. Some gardens host workshops and events, from guided walks to live music and gardener talks.

Native goldenrod blooms brightly in the Prairie Garden at the Reno County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Hutchinson Community College. MARCH 2020

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OTHERS GARDENS & ARBORETUMS TO SEE THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN INCLUSIVE LIST AS THERE IS NOT ONE S O U R C E F O R A L L T H E D E M O N S T R AT I O N G A R D E N S I N T H E S TAT E . I F YO U K N OW O F A D D I T I O N A L G A R D E N S N OT M E N T I O N E D H E R E , P L E A S E L E T U S K N O W AT E D I T O R @ K A N S A S C O U N T R Y L I V I N G . C O M .

M AT T H E W M C K E R N A N

Here are other K-State Research and Extension demonstration gardens in Kansas. To get details about options in your area, check with your local horticulture agent; there’s a list of county and district offices at ksre.k-state.edu. The best way to keep informed on events and news is by following the Facebook pages of these extension offices and their affiliated master gardener groups.

DAYLILY SEDGWICK CO.

Cottonwood District: a Garden in a Brutal Environment

The Cottonwood Extension District formed in 2017 by combining Barton and Ellis counties in the northwestern quadrant of the state. The district works with master gardeners in both counties and maintains a drought tolerant perennial bed along the side of the Ellis County Extension Office on Main Street in downtown Hays as well as large planting pots featuring annuals in front of the office. The gardeners also work with K-State Research and Extension on ornamental and vegetable trials at the Agricultural Research Center, which is on part of the old Fort Hays military reservation. Master gardener Jo Ann Schroller said there has been a demonstration garden at the extension office for many years but in 2019 the group redesigned and planted it from scratch. “We wanted to plant a flower bed using drought tolerant plants with easy to read labels to educate the public on

Central Kansas District This district’s demonstration garden is in Salina and has 12 garden areas.

Douglas County

Johnson County M A R G I E H A M M E R S C H M I D T, C O T T O N W O O D E X T E N S I O N

M AT T H E W M C K E R N A N

Six demonstration gardens: Douglas County Fairgrounds Demonstration Garden, Douglas County Fairgrounds Arboretum, Monarch Watch Pollinator Demonstration Garden and University of Kansas Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden in Lawrence; Baldwin City Demonstration Garden at Tom Swan Park; and Eudora Demonstration Garden. Eight demonstration gardens: Backyard Garden and Garden Gallery in Olathe; Deanna Rose Children MINI ROSES Farmstead, Monet SEDGWICK CO. Garden at Overland Park Arboretum and Wilderness Science Center in Overland Park; Shawnee Town Gardens in Shawnee; Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway; and Wassmer Park in Prairie Village. Continued on page 16

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

PAT T H I B A U LT, C O T T O N W O O D E X T E N S I O N

That’s part of the process that makes the demonstration garden especially valuable to the master gardeners and home gardeners. In case you’re wondering, the peanuts and the hops did great. A local brewery used the hops to brew a small batch of craft beer for the master gardeners.

MARCH 2020

The drought-tolerant perennial bed alongside the Ellis County Extension Office shows gardeners what can grow and look good all summer long.

Master gardeners work on a new droughttolerant perennial bed in Hays in 2019.

wise water practices and what they could grow in our area that would look good all summer,” said Schroller, who has been involved with a local garden club since the 1980s and was employed for 20 years as the horticulturist for the city of Hays. “Our main goal was to make a bed everybody can relate to. They can see it and want that in their yard.” The bed has more than 70 plants and 27 different cultivars, she said, and grabs the attention of passing motorists or folks affiliated with Fort Hays State University, just a few blocks away. The bed is in what Schroller calls a brutal environment: It’s about 80 feet long against the building, gets direct sunlight and is surrounded by materials that put off a lot of heat. Excessive rain last year helped the plantings get established, and Schroller said the garden took off and grew faster than expected. “Ellis County does not sit above the Ogallala Aquifer so we are working very hard in this area to be drought tolerant and conserve water,” said Lauren Fick, the horticulture agent for the Cottonwood District. That’s why showing home gardeners they can grow a vibrant garden in these conditions is especially important at their demonstration garden. “We have a 500-gallon rain barrel with a pump on it and that is how this bed is mainly watered,” Schroller said. “We don’t use much city water at all. Continued on page 16

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Lyon County One garden focused on water-wise plantings is in Emporia.

Post Rock District

M AT T H E W M C K E R N A N

Several demonstration gardens in north-central Kansas, including a herb garden in Beloit, a perennial demonstration garden in Smith Center and vegetable research trials in Lincoln.

Shawnee County

Eight demonstration gardens are in Topeka with one more in the developmental stage: Woodland Garden, Native Plant CACTUS GARDEN SEDGWICK CO. Garden at Cedar Crest, Perennial Garden at Cedar Crest, Prairie Pollinator Garden, Vegetable Demonstration Garden, and Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.

Wyandotte County

PA M PA U L S E N

Four demonstration gardens at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs and a pollinator demonstration garden at Turner Community Garden in Kansas City.

Arboretums

An arboretum is a great option if you’re interested in learning about what trees to plant. The Kansas Forest Service maintains the HISTORIC IRIS RENO CO. five-acre Kansas Forest Service Demonstration Arboretum and Honor Grove west of the K-State campus in Manhattan. You’ll find more than 100 species across the evergreen and deciduous tree collections, a shrub collection and several rare and unusual specimens not typically found in Great Plains communities or homesteads. For a list of Kansas arboretums with marked trees, visit kansasforests.org and click on the tab for community forestry. KCL

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

Continued from page 14

We put a layer of newspaper under the mulch to suppress weeds, and the newspaper breaks down within a year. We mulch with a 3-inch layer of wood chips to conserve the moisture and that helps the plants thrive.”

Sedgwick County: Large Arboretum and 12 Focused Gardens

The Sedgwick County Extension Education Center serves as the headquarters for all The hosta garden at the Sedgwick County Extension K-State Research and ExtenEducation Center includes over 40 varieties of hosta shaded by a drought tolerant Chinese Pistache tree. sion programs in Sedgwick County, and staff there consider the land to be part of the learning the shade-loving annuals and perennials environment. The 24 acres surroundplanted here, like dense shade and heavy ing the facility in northwest Wichita are root competition from nearby trees. considered an arboretum, with more A few other highlights: The ornamenthan 300 planted and labeled trees, and tal grass garden uses nearly two dozen there are 12 display gardens, including varieties to demonstrate the range of a demonstration garden by the county’s sizes and shapes ornamental grasses are master gardeners. available in and to show their drought McKernan, the horticulture agent in tolerance and year-round interest. Sedgwick County, said people looking The great plants of the Great Plains for ideas will come to south-central garden features plants from a Nebraska Kansas from across the state to see the Arboretum program to showcase wide variety of landscape plants and prairie plants with landscape value or trees on the property. other plants that can thrive in a prairie “We’ll host tours of groups from ecosystem and are maintained with areas around the state, especially during minimal water. the summer months,” he said. “We’re People are becoming more water lucky to have a large piece of property conscious so trying to incorporate more so we can offer ideas on a lot of differplantings that can handle the tough ent things they can do in their yard.” conditions of Kansas, like native plants You’ll find examples of traditional and ornamental grasses, are of interplants like roses and day lilies and est to gardeners in the state, McKernan unexpected ideas, too, McKernan said. said. Another trend he sees is paying “People typically don’t think of cactus attention to pollinators. and succulents as a beautiful outdoor “We’re seeing an increasing awarelandscape plant but in the middle of the ness in the community about pollinasummer when that garden is covered in tors and beneficial insects, and trying to flowers, it’s really hard to beat as far as provide for wildlife in our habitats that attractiveness,” he said. are becoming more and more urban,” Besides showing what grows and he said. “People are often very interlooks great in Kansas, the gardens are ested in what they can do to help the meant to share challenges. The shade Monarch butterfly or lesser known polgarden, McKernan said, provides inspilinators. They want to know what they ration on how to tackle issues in your can do in their own backyards to make landscape that you see happening with a difference in their community.” KCL

M AT T H E W M C K E R N A N , S E D G W I C K C O U N T Y E X T E N S I O N

OTHERS GARDENS & ARBORETUMS Continued from page 14

Continued from page 6

MARCH 18 We Kan! Conference, Newton. D esigned to energize and promote forward action for rural communities. 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Meridian Center, 1420 E. Broadway Ct., kansassampler.org/signup/9. MARCH 19-21 3i SHOW, Dodge City.

T he show salutes industry, implements and irrigation. Western State Bank Expo, 3ishow.com. MARCH 20 Agri-Business Hiring Event,

Dodge City. F rom 10 a.m.-2 p.m. get assistance with applications, resumes and job matching. Western Kansas Manufacturers Association, 1700 E. Wyatt Earp, 620-227-8082. MARCH 20 Steak Cookoff, Dodge City.

T wenty teams compete in sanctioned cookoff. Begins at 10 a.m. Western State Bank Expo Center, contact Western Kansas Manufacturers Association at 620-227-8082 to enter. MARCH 20-DEC. 31 Upward to Equality:

Kansas Women Fight to Vote Gallery, Topeka. C ommemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and women who made it possible. Kansas Museum of History. MARCH 21 Eagle Radio’s Home and

Garden Expo., Great Bend. P roducts and services by 50 vendors. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St. MARCH 21 Horseshoe Pitchers Tournament, Dodge City. K ansas Horseshoe Pitchers Association hosts sanctioned tournament at 10 a.m. Western State Bank Expo Center, 620-694-9463, kansashpa.com.

artists, meanings and stories behind the state’s rich collection of public murals at 2 p.m. Wilson County Old Iron Club, 10392 Jade Road.

Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m. Sterl Hall, 619 N. Rogers, Eisenhower Park, 785-479-6252.

MARCH 25 The Lettermen, McPherson.

APRIL 1 April Fool’s Day Event, Lucas.

MARCH 27 Family Crisis Center’s Bunco

APRIL 3-4 NCK Farm & Home Expo,

E njoy The Lettermen’s soft, romantic blend of music at 7:30 p.m. McPherson Opera House, 620-241-1952, mcphersonoperahouse.org. Night, Great Bend. G rab your friends for a night full of food, bunco and prizes! 6:30-10:30 p.m. Great Bend Expo Complex. MARCH 28 Flea Market, Syracuse.

B eat the winter blues by treasure hunting! Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 620-384-5433, hamiltoncountyfairgrounds.com. MARCH 28 SRCA Chassi Certification,

Great Bend. K ick off the SRCA drag racing season! srcadragstrip.com. MARCH 28-29 Sunflower Journey Quilt

Show, Abilene. Q uilt demonstrations, vendors, silent auction and door prizes.

C elebrate the quirky art of Lucus. Galleries and studios open with special events. Search Grassroots Art Center on Facebook. Belleville. E xhibitors including home, garden, décor, retail, health-based and more! Friday 4-7 p.m, Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Commercial building at the fairgrounds, 785-527-5524, mainstreet@nckcn.com, bellevilleks.com. APRIL 4 Flint Hills Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation Annual Banquet, Council Grove. D oors open at 4:30 p.m. fhquwf.com. APRIL 4-5 Northern Exposure Steer

& Heifer Show, Belleville. M ore than 100 youth exhibitors expected in 2020. NCK Fairgrounds, 901 O St., 785-527-5524, mainstreet@nckcn.com. KCL

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MARCH 21 ShamrockFest, Fredonia. S ocial

hour at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Auction and live entertainment. Hosted by Fredonia Area Community Foundation. Fredonia VFW Hall. MARCH 21 Young Professionals Casino Night, Great Bend. B arton County Young Professionals are invited to attend. Tickets or tables available, 6-10 p.m. Expo I Building at Great Bend Expo Complex. MARCH 22 If These Walls Could Talk: Kansas Murals, Fredonia. E xplore the

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Consider Creating a Modern-Day Victorian Pincushion Garden BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

IN THE 19TH CENTURY Victorian gardens shifted from native and natural landscapes to the inclusion of more exotic species. This was in part due to the rise in the use of greenhouses, otherwise known as “glasshouses,” making it possible to overwinter non-native species. This prompted travelers to collect and return home with exotic plants to adorn their landscape. Victorian gardens during this time period featured clean planter beds, manicured with rounded borders. The repetitive use of plant species created designs that established continuity and a comforting feel. Symmetrical patterns in formal gardens known as the Parterre-style were common during this time. These planters often had borders formed by stones or hedges and pathways that separated one planter from another. Among the popular exotic plants incorporated into Victorian gardens were those with bold colors or interesting forms such as canna lilies, ornamental grasses, ferns, gladiolas and coleus. These plants were included to bring unique features and intrigue to the gardens while the repetitive planting patterns made the garden into a cohesive and overall soothing experience. Each section of a Victorian landscape was a metaphorical room in a house. Contrary to many American landscapes the lawns were not a feature

in Victorian landscapes. Rather, in regards to the home metaphor, the lawn served as a rug creating a pathway from one garden, or room, to the next. Lawns doubled as the perfect place to host a garden party. One “room” sometimes seen in a Victorian garden is a style known as a pincushion garden. This intricate design of plants is created within a circular planter several feet in diameter. Just a few plant species are used within each pincushion garden and are positioned in such a way to create a manicured pattern resembling pins stuck in a pincushion. Succulents and cacti are common choices for pincushion gardens. Due to their slow, compact growth, the maintenance required is minimal. The lines of the pattern will remain throughout the growing season even as the plants grow. A modern-day pincushion garden can incorporate your own sense of style. Though succulents may have once been the plant of choice for this garden-type, there are a number of other options that could result in a similar experience. Consider the growth habit, color and form as you choose your pincushion garden plants. Plants that spread rapidly will increase the amount of labor you will have to do to keep the garden contained to the defined space. Instead, choose plants that remain compact such as: dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus “Nanus”), dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) and varieties of ferns. In keeping with the gardens of the 19th century, you may also choose plants with bold colors such as: variegated liriope (Liriope muscari “Variegata”), cockscomb (Celosia spp.) and Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum). The planting options are endless and as you create planting designs and patterns, the resulting pincushion garden translates into a living work of art and history lesson. The pincushion garden style is a great addition for the gardener who appreciates attention to detail in an overall low-maintenance garden. KCL

This pincushion garden, featured at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, showcases tidy patterns of succulents in a mounded, circular planter.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

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E N E R GY W I S E

Energy Efficient Landscaping Tips

Continued from page 10

A simple approach that can deliver some shade the first year is to plant a ‘living wall’ of vines grown on a trellis next to your home.

you plant on your property can either increase or decrease the risk of fire reaching your home. Now let’s talk about how landscaping impacts your home’s energy use and comfort in the winter. If you live in a colder climate, a solid wind break can cut harsh winter winds. The best solution for this is a solid row of trees (preferably evergreen) on A row of low landscaping along the house can create a dead air space that the windward side of the home, with provides an extra layer of insulation. shrubs underneath the trees to keep the home can provide more efficiency. By stopping air wind from sneaking through. If you live movement, it can form a dead air space around the in a warmer climate, you would not want a wind home that acts as “bonus” insulation. While you’re barrier as wind flow will help cool your home. at it, you could add some foundation insulation if If you live in a cooler climate that isn’t too you have a home with a basement or if it’s built on humid, planting a row of shrubs a foot from your a slab. In a humid climate, however, leaving several feet of space between landscaping and the home as air flow is necessary to avoid moisture-related home damage. These are just a few ideas to help you get started. I should also note that as with any landscaping projects that require digging, remember to dial 811 to ensure all underground utility lines are properly marked and flagged before you start the work. Happy planting! KCL

A L A N DAV E Y

PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency. Visit: www.collaborativeefficiency. com/energytips.

Deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home can deflect hot summer sun.

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MARCH 2020

LY N N G A L L A G H E R

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BIG (LITTLE) Gardens Growing vegetables in limited spaces

S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y L . A . J A C K S O N | L AY O U T B Y M O R G A N H O L L O W AY

So, if thoughts of producing oodles of fresh, homegrown edibles have you ready to dig in the dirt, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and start a vegetable garden! While the physics of time and space dictate that big harvests naturally come from big gardens, for backyard growers who prefer to pass on the challenges of tending mega-plots through the long, hot summer, or who simply don’t have an abundance of planting areas, there are alternative ways to raise impressive passels of veggies — it is simply a matter of making make less do more.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

L.A. JACKSON

Go to Bed

First, for maximum production from limited growing areas, go with beds, not rows — in other words, place young plants or seeds according to their recommended spacing per plant and forget about distances between rows. Rows of plants looking like tidy lines of soldiers are better for large gardens in order to have paths to walk around, but this isn’t necessary in small beds. Accessibility is, of course, still important, so, while you can stretch ’em as long as Texas, try not to make beds over 4 feet wide — this shortens your reach into the plants and greatly minimizes embarrassing faceflops in the dirt.

A (literal) bed of cabbage taking center stage in a flower garden.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Small Wonders

Size isn’t everything in gardening, especially when it comes to growing backyard edibles. There are many vegetable selections — often tagged with such MARCH 2020

labels as “bush,” “dwarf ” or “patio,” — that are modest in height and girth, but still quite capable of producing impressive crops. The most common big veggie that can be found in smaller sizes is the tomato. There are a ton of cultivars available, but, for starters, give “Tiny Tim,” “Bush Beefsteak” or “Early Wonder” a look. Keep in mind, however, that a majority of these slight-in-stature tomato selections are determinate, meaning they produce all the ’maters they are going to yield in a matter of weeks. Standard vine tomatoes, if kept healthy, typically crank out fruit continually over the long growing season. Want a wider range of veggies in your small garden? Squash, watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, cantaloupes and green beans — all champs at chewing up space in a planting bed — can also be found in compact forms, either as young plants or seeds, at local garden shops in the spring.

Grow Up

Don’t think you have to stick to Munchkin-sized plants. Typical strong growers such as tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and squash can’t be allowed to crawl across small growing spaces, but they can be trellised, staked or caged to grow up rather than out. Even the long, rangy vines of watermelons, pumpkins and cantaloupes can be trained upwards on vertical supports, but to avoid the dreaded drop-and-splat factor, it’s not a bad idea to cradle the

developing fruits in supporting burlap, nylon or cloth slings. Suspension weight and size problems with standard pumpkins are obvious, but there are many cultivars, including “Spookie,” “Jack O’ Lantern” and “Sugar Pie,” that yield smaller, more manageable 6- to 7-pound fruits. Ditto for big ol’ watermelons, but with so-called “icebox” varieties like the popular “Sugar Baby” and its 8- to 10-pound melons available, it is possible to hang ’em high, too. Growing vine crops on erect supports has other advantages besides saving space, starting with making harvesting easier. Also, vertical gardening improves fruit shape and, since beneficial air circulates through the foliage easier, can promote healthier plants.

L.A. JACKSON

is the former editor of Carolina Gardener magazine. L.A. JACKSON

L.A. JACKSON

Small watermelons such as “Sugar Baby” can be trained to grow up, not outwards, in a garden.

low-growing and, for vegetable plants, actually rather good looking. Any of these can be successfully incorporated as accent plants for perennial beds or flower gardens. In addition, root vegetables such as carrots, onions and radishes hide their crops below ground but freely flaunt flowing foliage that can be used to fill in the fronts of border plantings. Many herbs are also great “double-duty” plants. Need examples? Rosemary’s spiky leaves and delightful (as well as edible) bluish-purple flowers make it an appealing addition to any landscape setting. Bronze fennel’s smoky look is a nice touch for container planters, while the rich, dark foliage of purple basil is a horticultural fashion statement waiting to happen. And curly parsley, with its deep emerald leaves, is an ideal alt-ornamental to line the front of a flower bed. One word of caution about interplanting vegetables or herbs with other plants: If you spray any pesticides on neighboring ornamentals, make sure the chemicals are cleared for safe use on edible plants as well. KCL

Beyond the Veggie Patch

Looking for even more growing ground? Limited-space gardening with edibles doesn’t need to be confined to small vegetable plots — in other words, anywhere you have dirt in your yard is a potential planting site. And many veggies can be easily interplanted in the landscape as complements, rather than complications, to existing ornamentals. One popular vegetable that bears the double standard of being both productive and pretty is the pepper. While blocky bell peppers might look a bit clunky in flower beds, there is a wide range of hot peppers that show off longlasting fruits in many sizes, shapes and sizzling colors on relatively compact plants. Like bell peppers, common pudgy eggplants probably won’t qualify as eye candy in an ornamental garden, but there are vibrantly colored fruits of cultivars such as “Fairy Tale,” “Prosperosa” and “Neon” that can also add extra visual sass to sunny flower borders. And okra, which is closely related to the lovely hibiscus, stays true to its family ties with fancy foliage and delicate, hibiscus-like flowers. One particular standout beauty is “Red Burgundy,” an heirloom selection that has been a veggie garden favorite for many years because its gorgeous (and tasty) scarlet pods never fail to turn heads. Other decorative edibles with strong, distinctive profiles such as curly spinach, cabbage, looseleaf lettuce (especially red-tinted varieties like “Red Sails” and “Lolla Rossa”), kale and Swiss chard (look for “Ruby Red” or “Bright Lights”) are

“Tennessee Teardrops” hot peppers, “Red Burgundy” okra and spiky rosemary showing off in a planting bed. MARCH 2020

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Exploring the Sunny Ways of Citrus with living in a rental house in Northern California that included both an orange tree so large it shaded the backyard and a compact, yet fruitful Meyer lemon, which, lacking citrus knowledge, I mistakenly at first called a “minor” lemon. The orange tree was so abundant, I didn’t mind sharing with the squirrels, who dropped peelings from their snacking positions in the leaves and left what appeared to be whole oranges on the ground, completely hollowed with a squirrel face-sized hole in them. The lemon, too, was packed with the ultra juicy, floral-flavored lemons. It was worth gouging myself and dodging flocks of tiny birds that nested in the thorny, hedge-like tree. The indulgence of having a constant supply of fresh tart-sweet citrus had me turning a corner

BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

from which I could never return. I was soon zesting and squeezing with a fervor, making everything from fresh lemonade to cakes flavored with orange rind infused in buttermilk. I still grow Meyer lemons (they have a rare and limited availability in the grocery stores), which are sweeter than the more commonly found Eureka or Lisbon. I even gifted my mother a pair of dwarf Meyer lemon trees, which she kept alive and fruiting in pots she transported Rebecca Howard inside to winter in her sunny dining room. I’ve been accused of putting citrus zest in everything (almost true, but I draw the line where it is incompatible), and while this may seem crazy, if you’ve never had pancakes with ricotta and lemon zest, you should not judge. I do see limitless possibilities with lemons, from squeezing them in warm water I drink every morning (a healthful habit I developed several years ago), to making sweet citrus curd to spread on scones, to adding slices atop salmon I bake in foil packets. Winter to early spring is peak season for lemons, limes, oranges (with varieties ranging from diminutive clementines to plus-sized Sumo) f 1 pound carrots, peeled and thinly sliced f 1/2 tsp. dried thyme and grapefruit. The sunny citrus f 1 medium onion, diced f 1 large orange abound this time of year, but I do f 6 garlic cloves, chopped f 4-1/2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable think many people wonder what to do stock (or chicken stock) f 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled with these sweet-and-sour fruits. f Salt and pepper f 3 Tbs. olive oil or vegetable oil Aside from adding a needed dose f 1/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt f 1 large sprig fresh thyme, of vitamin C to cooking and baking, plus more for garnish citrus adds bright flavor. Just a little Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, garlic and ginger and cook, can sometimes make the difference stirring occasionally, until onion is golden and vegetables are beginning to soften, about 8 between good to great taste. And one minutes. While vegetables are cooking, grate orange to get about 2 tsp. of zest. Juice orange should be open to some unexpected to yield about 1/2 cup of juice. possibilities. A carrot soup I recently Add thyme (fresh and dried, see note), orange zest and stock to sautéed vegetables. Bring to made (I’ve shared the recipe here), a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover the saucepan and cook until carrots are tender, flavored with orange juice and zest, about 20 minutes. Using an immersion blender or, working in batches, a traditional blender or was so tasty it took me by surprise and food processor, puree soup until smooth. Return to the saucepan, add the orange juice and made me a fan. salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat until heated through, about 2 minutes. So, if you’ve got lemons (or limes, Garnish each bowl of soup with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt and a sprinkling of fresh oranges and grapefruit), you can make thyme leaves. Makes 4 servings. lemonade or … NOTE: If you cannot find fresh thyme, using just dried will do. If you cannot find fresh ginger LEMON: Keep a bowl of this versaroot, substitute a small amount (1/4 tsp) of dried ginger when adding the thyme. You can also tile citrus on your counter. For cleangarnish the soup with chopped chives or scallions or additional orange zest. ing alone (cutting boards, microwave, Makes 4 to 6 servings. garlicky hands), they work wonders. I WAS ONCE BLESSED

Carrot-Orange Soup

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

Aside from adding a needed dose of vitamin C to cooking and baking, citrus adds bright flavor.

Try zest of lemon (or lime or orange) to make flavored salts and sugars or spice rubs and dry brines or marinades. Toss chopped potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice and zest and salt and pepper for lemony-roasted potatoes. Lemon adds zip to any seafood or roast chicken, but also to beef dishes (try a squeeze of lemon on steak) or as a finish to a pot of beans. Juice lemons (or other citrus) and freeze the juice in ice cube trays to add to cooking later or to serve as chilling flavors for ice teas, lemonade and punch. LIME: You can put the lime in the coconut, but it also goes well with anything from cherries to watermelon. And have you tried it with roasted corn or corn on the cob? Lime pairs nicely with any Mexican dish. Squeeze some as a bright finish to black bean soup. Lime juice works well with pickles (or other pickled items). Fruit salads can benefit from both lime zest and juice. And if you like lemon bars, try lemon-lime! GRAPEFRUIT: Add segments to spinach salad or mix into yogurt. Grapefruit also pairs well with dishes featuring shrimp or avocado. Add a squeeze of grapefruit juice to homemade salad dressings calling for citrus. Slice peeled grapefruit thinly, drizzle with a simple ginger-sugar syrup and top with vanilla ice cream. Stew chopped fruit and rind (or a mix with oranges) for homemade marmalade. A sweetened grapefruit juice syrup can be frozen and turned into a refreshing granita. ORANGE: Use orange in baking recipes that call for lemon, like pound cake, cheesecake or blueberry muffins. Orange juice and rind make

beautiful salad dressings and glazes for vegetables, like carrots or green beans. Squeeze a little orange over baked or roasted sweet potatoes. Orange also adds a nice flavor to meat sauces, adding real zing to barbecue sauce. KCL REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

MARCH 2020

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SAFETY

Kansans Count: Safety and Census 2020 The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to making the 2020 census quick, easy and safe for all participants. As the counting begins this month, here are some tips to help you stay safe. BETWEEN MARCH 12 AND MARCH 20, INVITATIONS

The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics. You are kept anonymous: The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or anyone else in your home.

to participate in the 2020 census will start arriving in households across the country. The invitation will include instructions on how to respond to the 2020 census online or by phone. By April 1, most households will have received an invitation by mail or delivered by a census taker. If a household does not respond to any of the invitations, a census taker will follow up in person between May 13 and July 31.

Staying Safe at Home

If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 census, you can do the following to verify their identity: f Check to make sure they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. f If you still have questions about their identity,

call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

Bureau Has Legal Duty to Protect Your Information

The Census Bureau is bound by Title 13 of the U.S. Code to keep your information confidential and every U.S. Census Bureau employee takes an oath to protect your personal information for life. Under Title 13, the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business, even to law enforcement agencies. The law ensures that your private data is protected and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics. You are kept anonymous: The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or anyone else in your home.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2020

What Questions WILL NOT be Asked by the Census Bureau?

Phishing is a criminal act in which someone tries to get your information by pretending to be an entity that you trust. Phishing emails often direct you to a website that looks real but is fake — and may be infected with malware (software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client or computer network). It is important to know the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 census. In addition, the Census Bureau will never ask you for: f Your Social Security number f Money or donations f Anything on behalf of a political party f Your bank or credit card account numbers

If someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it’s a scam, and you should not cooperate.

Data Protection and Privacy Program

The Census Bureau’s information technology infrastructure is designed to defend against and contain cyberthreats. The bureau says it continuously refines its approach to identifying, preventing, detecting and responding to threats. “The Census Bureau has successfully tested its data collection systems, has built backup systems to support resilient operations, and is ready to receive responses from all around the country,” said Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, Ph.D. “The 2020 Census is on mission, on schedule and on budget to promote an accurate count,” Dillingham added. “Response is important because statistics from the census are used in distributing hundreds of billions in funding for school lunches, hospitals, roads and much more. ... Your response will impact communities for the next decade.” KCL

MARCH 2020

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Corned Beef Hash

Caramelized Sweet Onion Hummus

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, MARCH 2020

This ain’t your mama’s corned beef hash! Don’t tell her, but we’re positive this one is more delicious.

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, MARCH 2020

Skip the ranch dip and plunge your favorite dippers into hummus, a healthier, lighter alternative.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, M ARCH 2020

summer with lemon cookies. The perfect light end to a great meal.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, M ARCH 2020

The perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day! Try your hand at homemade bread with this easy-to-shape recipe.

Glazed Lemon Cookies Prep your taste buds for the flavors of

Lucky Shamrocks Bread

f 1 ½ tsp. salt f 2 cups milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm f 7 ½ -7 ¾ cups all-purpose flour or bread flour, or 4 cups whole wheat flour plus 3 1/4-3 1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour

Lucky Shamrocks Bread f 2 tsp. active dry yeast f ½ cup lukewarm water (110 F-115 F) f ½ tsp. granulated sugar f ½ cup vegetable shortening or butter f ½ cup granulated sugar f 1 large egg, beaten

In small bowl, dissolve yeast in lukewarm water, stirring in ½ teaspoon sugar. Let stand 5 minutes. In mixer bowl, beat shortening with ½ cup sugar; add egg, salt, cooled milk and dissolved yeast. Stir in flour a little at a time until dough is stiff enough to knead. Knead by hand or with dough hook 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl; cover and let rise until doubled. Punch down dough. Shape as desired. To make 12 shamrocks, roll 1 pound of dough into a 10” x 12” rectangle. Cut into 12 equal strips.

COURTESY NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF BRE ADS

Roll each strip into a 16- to 18-inch rope. Form a loop, leaving 2 inches for the stem. Form a second loop. Loop the remaining dough; tuck and seal the end in the back. Place on greased baking sheets, re-shaping leaves and curving stem. Cover; let rise 20 minutes. Beat together 1 whole egg and 1 tablespoon water; brush on shamrocks. Sprinkle with green sugar. Bake at 400 F, 12 minutes or until golden.

Glazed Lemon Cookies Cookies f 2 cups all-purpose flour f 1/2 cup room temperature, unsalted butter f 1/2 tsp. baking soda f 3/4 cup granulated sugar f 1/2 tsp. salt f 1 egg Glaze f 2 cups powdered sugar f 2 Tbs. fresh lemon zest

f 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

f 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

f 2 Tbs. fresh lemon zest

Caramelized Sweet Onion Hummus

f 1 tsp. salt

f 1/2 cup tahini (toasted

f 1 Tbs. lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)

f 1 whole garlic head f 4 Tbs., plus 1 tsp., extravirgin olive oil, divided

ground sesame seeds)

f 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced f 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas

Heat oven to 350 F.

Cut top of garlic head off and place cut-side down on pan; drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until garlic is soft. Once cool, squeeze garlic from each clove.

In large skillet over medium-high heat, cook onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir onion frequently until slices begin to brown. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until onions are soft and reach medium brown color. Rinse and drain chickpeas; reserve 3 tablespoons liquid.

In food processor, blend chickpeas, reserved liquid, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, salt, remaining olive oil and onions until combined and smooth. Serve with pita bread, veggies or crackers.

f 4 cups cubed potatoes (such as red-

COURTESY FAMI LY FE ATUR ES , NATIONA L O NI ON ASSOCI ATIO N

f 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Corned Beef Hash f 12 ounces cooked corned beef or thickly sliced deli Corned Beef, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

f Fried or poached eggs (optional)

f 2 medium leeks, thinly sliced

skinned, baking or sweet potatoes) f 1-2 Tbs. vegetable oil

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Stir in potatoes, leeks and garlic salt. Cover and cook 12-16 minutes or until potatoes and leeks are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and continue to cook 3-5 minutes or until potatoes begin to brown, stirring occasionally and adding remaining 1 tablespoon oil to prevent sticking, if needed.

f 1 tsp. lemon extract

Heat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

Add corned beef to skillet. Continue to cook 2-3 minutes or until beef is heated through. Serve hash with fried or poached egg, if desired.

COURTESY BEEF, IT ’S WHAT ’S FOR DI NNER

In large bowl, mix butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix well. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and lemon extract; beat until combined. In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly beat dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Beat until combined. Spoon out dough and roll into balls. Place on parchment paper 1 inch apart and lightly press with fingers to slightly flatten dough. Bake 15 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Transfer cookies to wire rack to completely cool.

COURTESY CULINARY.NET, MILK ME ANS MORE

To make glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice until smooth. Dip top sides of cookies into glaze for full coverage.

MARCH 2020

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QUALITY BARNS Looking to build a new office space, hunting lodge, storage barn, or maybe a garage? Sutherlands specializes in complete building packages. We offer the best value in the industry.

R E S I D E N T I A L • AG R I C U LT U R A L • E Q U E S T R I A N • C O M M E R C I A L

Visit us online at sutherlands.com or stop by your local Sutherlands for a FREE QUOTE on your new custom building. ands ANY Sutherl ages building pack ized m can be custo fic ci e to fit your sp needs. 4 Windows g 4 Wainscotin n tio 4 Insula 4 Electrical 4 Porch 4 Overhang r 4 Sliding Doo And More!

BARN OF THE MONTH FINANCING AVAILABLE

6,299

30’ x 30’ Deluxe Suburban Post Frame Barn Package With 6’ Covered Shed

• Engineer designed trusses. • 2x4 roof purlins. • Treated posts. • 45 year painted Metal Sales siding. • Skylights. • Door hardware. • 10’ 4-1/2” sidewall. 7164718 Shown with optional wainscoting

We Use Only The Highest Quality Materials!

PRICES GOOD THROUGH MARCH 31, 2020

VISIT ANY OF OUR KANSAS LOCATIONS OR GO ONLINE sutherlands.com DODGE CITY

1510 Soule St. 620-371-0751

EL DORADO

2850 W. Central Ave 316-322-7788

GREAT BEND 5520 10th St. 620-792-2900

OLATHE

16665 W. 151st. St. 913-782-6666

TOPEKA

2210 NW Tyler St. 785-232-3900

WICHITA FOLLOW US 2263-2273 N. Amidon St. @sutherlands_buildings 316-838-8200

T H A N K YO U ! Thank you for welcoming Kansas Country Living, brought to you by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., into your home each month. Find your electric co-op’s information in the middle of this edition.

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Delivering Energy for Life

Kansas Country Living March 2020

Articles inside

MONTHLY RECIPES

COOKING MY WAY HOME

SAFETY

COMMENTARY

ENERGY WISE

YOUR PLACE IN THE GARDEN

MARKETPLACE

AROUND KANSAS

EDITOR’S LETTER