Of the five senses, the olfactory sense is the most closely related to memory. All of us have experienced the phenomenon of being suddenly and almost magically transported back in time, in the mind’s eye, when a particular scent triggers a reaction within us and we find ourselves in that place that we subconsciously associate […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Prairie Notes 5-20-04
Funny how we sometimes see the value of things. I’ve never heard of someone shopping around for the cheapest doctor or the cheapest hospital — after all, when it comes to our health we want the very best, and hang the cost. But when we go to the supermarket, we want cheap! Most people would […]
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Rhubarb’s best when it’s red
My favorite spring vegetables include lettuce, spinach, asparagus, and rhubarb. One of my favorite meals is a grilled pork chop, a fresh garden salad, creamed asparagus, and a slice of warm rhubarb pie with ice cream. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a cool-season perennial vegetable with thick red, pink, or green petioles (stalks) and large, extravagant […]
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When Lulubelle and Scotty ruled the airwaves
The decade of the 1930s marked the halcyon days of radio. Television was still a novelty, while radio technology had progressed to a high level of sophistication, allowing for not only both live and taped news and entertainment programming to originate from the studios but from remote locations as well. One of the most popular […]
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Earth Talk 5-20-04
Dear Earth Talk: Which are better for the environment, disposable or cloth diapers? — Barbara Fritts, White Lake, Mich. The “disposable versus cloth” debate has raged among environmentalists for years. Non-degradable disposable diapers can sit for decades, even centuries, in landfills and require thousands of tons of plastic and hundreds of thousands of trees to […]
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Earth Talk 5-13-04
Dear Earth Talk: What are some ways to maintain a “green” swimming pool? — Jim Humphey, North Andover, Mass. The primary health and environmental drawbacks to swimming pools are water waste, energy waste, and overuse of chlorine. Chlorine is very irritating to the eyes and skin, and can trigger breathing difficulties by also “stinging” the […]
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The kindest cuts
Selecting the right shrubs and trees is the key to making sure plants don’t overrun your home. But even when plants are selected properly, a plant that was supposed to grow to a certain height may exceed expectations. That’s when it’s time to prune. Proper pruning techniques are essential to ensuring healthy and attractive plants. […]
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Prairie Notes 5-13-04
Our restored prairie is finally coming to life out here at Prairierth Farm. Golden Alexander appeared after a few good spring showers, and the foxglove beardtongue is about ready to show off its little white bell-shaped flowers. Native Americans discovered that plant had medicinal value for “weak heart,” and modern science still uses its essence […]
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Successful container gardening
Many gardeners do not have the space, energy, or time to devote to a flower or vegetable garden, but a container garden can add color to a patio, deck, balcony, or walkway. Some gardeners even incorporate containers into an existing garden as a way to add variety. Anything that will hold soil and plants and […]
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Earth talk 5-6-04
Dear Earth Talk: I want to garden this spring without using chemicals. Are there any safe, non-toxic garden herbicides? — D. Muller, Jackson, Miss. There are now several natural herbicides on the market. One of the most effective natural ingredients is corn gluten meal, a yellow powder that is a waste product of the corn […]
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A passion for rail preserved George Pullman’s legacy
Although today we live in what might be called the post-railroad age, it is impossible to overstate the importance of railroads in the formation of our great nation. Before their appearance in the 1830s, the single, unified United States we think of today existed only in the minds of political thinkers, not in the minds […]
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Prairie Notes 5-6-04
One of the best things about warm weather is setting up the grill and watching the kids play in the yard. Naturally, we want our lawns to look good and be safe places to roll around in — especially if you happen to be young enough to do that without . . . aftereffects. Lawns […]
