Nature – Page 3 – Homestead on the Range

Smooth Brome

This cool-season grass can be a boon in the pasture or a bane in a wildlife planting.

Kentucky Bluegrass

In cool, moist climates, few plants make better forage or turf than Kentucky bluegrass.

Silver Bluestem

Attractive ornamental or pesky pasture invader? Silver bluestem excels in both roles.

Benjamin Franklin, Storm Chaser

This Founding Father was also the father of tornado pursuit.

Little Bluestem

Its wide distribution and importance to the prairie ecosystem have made little bluestem the state grass of Kansas.

Big Bluestem

The legendary native grass of the tallgrass prairie is more than a quality forage.

Foxtail Barley

Foxtail barley may be a native grass, and it may be attractive, but it poses serious health risks to pets and livestock.

Parts of a Grass Plant: A Glossary

Brush up on your knowledge of grass parts, from auricle to tiller.

As wet weather sets in, it’s handy to have access to tools for tracking rapidly changing weather conditions. One resource we’ve made good use of is the WunderMap from Weather Underground. The WunderMap is an impressive compilation of data from the National Weather Service, trained spotters, law enforcement officials, and citizen scientists. With the clickContinue reading “WunderMap”

Osage Orange Firewood: A Few Cautions

A quick glance at the heating properties of Osage orange may suggest that this tree is the world’s best firewood (if you don’t mind battling thorns and sharpening chainsaw blades frequently). After all, this dense wood is the hottest-burning firewood east of the Rocky Mountains, producing as much as 32.6 million BTUs per cord accordingContinue reading “Osage Orange Firewood: A Few Cautions”