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Horticulture 2025 Newsletter No. 04

By
Guest Columnist
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KSU horticulture

1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton Plant Science Center
Manhattan, KS 66506 (785) 532-6173

Online access: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/

Horticulture Newsletter – Kansas State University
The Horticulture Newsletter page from Kansas State University offers valuable insights and resources for gardeners and horticulture enthusiasts. It features articles on plant care, pest management, and seasonal gardening tips, as well as updates on horticultural research and community gardening initiatives. Subscribers can access past newsletters, providing a wealth of information to enhance …
hnr.k-state.edu

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Garden Spotlight
Send in your garden stories! Last year our Hort Newsletter featured six different gardeners/garden programs.

We love learning about our fellow Kansas gardeners and want to feature your home/community/school garden in our newsletter so we can all grow together.

Email [email protected] to find out more.

Harvey County Home and Garden Show “Birds and Blooms”
March 22 (8:00AM-5:00 PM) – March 23 (Noon-5:00 PM)
Hosted at the 13-acre Dyck Arboretum, the 2025 Harvey County Home and Garden Show has great food, vendors and an amazing speaker line-up addressing this year’s theme “Birds and Blooms”. For just $1 admission you can spend the weekend enjoying the scenery while getting a great education as you prepare for the growing season.
“Birds and Blooms” Speaker Schedule 2025

Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo
March 29, 2025 (9:00AM – 2:00PM)
A free family and earth-friendly event. Explore and discover sustainable options for your home and garden through expert advice and educational seminars. Plus, a native plant sale and door prizes. Visit: johnson.k-state.edu or call (913)715-7050 for more information

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
Establishing a Native Prairie Stand at Home
(K-State Garden Hour March, 2025)
Learn how to establish a native prairie habitat at home and the benefits of creating this beautiful ecosystem.
GARDEN CALENDAR
Planting
asparagus
crowns
mid-March to mid-April
beets
seed
late-March to early-April
bok choy
seed/transplant
late-March to early-April
broccoli
transplant
late-March to early-April
cabbage
transplant
late-March to early-April
carrots
seed
late-March to early-April
cauliflower
transplant
late-March to early-April
chicories
seed/transplant
late-March to early-April
collards
seed/transplant
late-March to early-April
kale
fennel
kohlrabi
lettuce
seed/transplant
seed
seed
seed
mid-March
mid-March to early-April mid-March to early-April
mid-March to early-April
leeks
transplant
mid-March
mustard
seed
late-March to early-April
onion
parsnips
peas
sets/plants
seed
seed
mid-to late-March
mid-March to early-April
mid-March
potatoes
seed
mid-March to early-April
radish
rhubarb
seed
crowns
mid- to late-March
March to April
rutabaga
seed
mid- to late-March
spinach
seed
mid- to late-March
Swiss chard
seed/transplant
late-March to early-April
turnip
seed
mid- to late-March
Pruning
Ornamental Grasses
Blackberries and Raspberries
Deciduous trees
Summer-Flowering/Non-Flowering Shrubs
Scouting
Iris Leaf Spot
Apply fungicide for Peach Leaf Curl prior to bud swell
Pear Rust
Turfgrass
Cool season grasses:
Control broadleaf weeds
Aerate lawn now through April
Warm season grasses
Control broadleaf weeds

VEGETABLES
Asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable harvested in the spring. Begin with healthy, disease resistant crowns and plant from mid-March through mid-April. Crowns should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart with the crown buds seven to eight inches below the soil surface. Once established, asparagus is fairly hardy to stress but it does require full sun and well-drained soil.

During year one, do not harvest asparagus spears. Each year after, harvest regularly before the spears reach 10 inches tall. Snap the spears at about ½ to ¾ inch above the soil surface. Stop harvesting after 6-7 weeks when the spears only reach the diameter of a pencil or smaller. Store the harvested spears in the refrigerator and use soon after harvest.

Asparagus should be fertilized in early spring and weed regularly to reduce competition.

FRUIT
Strawberries
From mid-March through early-April it’s strawberry planting time in Kansas. As long as the soil is ready to be worked (not frozen or saturated) you can plant. If your soil hasn’t been tested for a few years, it is best to have that done to inform your fertilization practices. Strawberry plants can be purchased from a reputable garden center.
https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf598.pdf

If you have existing strawberry plantings and they are covered from the winter protection, wait to uncover them until the soil is about 40 degrees F. Measure the soil temperature several inches down at the center of the strawberry bed. Once the soil temperature is warm enough, remove the top layer of straw to allow new growth to emerge. Leave the bottom layer in place so the berries will develop on top and won’t have to rest in the soil.

TURF
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a summer annual. It germinates in spring and dies in the fall. It has a different texture and color than turfgrass creating a non-uniform lawn. It also sets seeds and can spread throughout the landscape. Lawns that are not well maintained are prime targets for crabgrass invasion.

It is easiest to control crabgrass before it germinates using preemergence. May 1 is typically when crabgrass is expected to germinate throughout much of Kansas, but this does vary depending on location and weather patterns. Many homeowners use signals from nature to determine preemergence timing.

A common guideline is to apply crabgrass preemergent when redbuds are in full bloom. While this is an indicator, it’s not going to provide 100% accuracy since microclimates exist within each landscape. In warmer areas of the landscape, crabgrass is likely to germinate earlier.

Soil temperature is a useful indicator to predict crabgrass germination. Using the K-State Mesonet you can access the average soil temperature at a two-inch depth over the past seven days. When the daily average is 55 degrees F for about five days, research suggests this is the time to apply crabgrass preemergence.
https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/common-pest-problems/documents/Crabgrass.pdf

Why Weeds Invade Lawns
Instead of combatting weeds all season, take a proactive approach to prevent weeds. Here are some common reasons why weeds invade lawns.
Improper Mowing: Mowing too low and too infrequently thins the turf, allowing weeds to get started.
Improper Watering: Frequent watering encourages weed seed germination, disease, thatch, and a shallow-rooted turf that is less competitive with weeds for soil moisture and nutrients.
Improper Fertilizing: Fertilizing too much, too little or at the wrong time may benefit weeds more than grass.
Insect and Disease Injury: Weeds rapidly invade lawns that are thinned by insects and diseases.
Compacted Soil: Soil compaction is a hidden stress on the turfgrass root system. The grass is unable to compete effectively with weeds.
Excessive Wear: Turf areas used for recreation and sports are subjected to wear and compaction.
Wrong Kind of Grass: The wrong kind of grass for the location will gradually decline and be invaded by weeds.
Environmental Stress: Weeds often take over a lawn after it has been weakened and thinned from weather-related stress.
Thatch: Excessive thatch causes shallow-rooted grass and contributes to insect and disease problems.
https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2385.pdf

Turf Substitutes
Though a thick, healthy lawn can be a beautiful part of the landscape, if you’re ready for change there are several alternatives to traditional turf. Japanese spurge, English ivy and periwinkle are three ground covers that are good options for an alternative lawn.

Certain ground covers perform well in compacted soils that are unsuitable for a traditional lawn. Areas with little sunlight may not be conducive to growing turf but can be a great environment for perennials. Keep in mind that it may take more time to establish a thick groundcover lawn, and it won’t tolerate heavy foot traffic but once established it will be less maintenance and can stand up to weeds. Here are a few ground cover options to consider:
Bugleweed (Ajuga spp.)
Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Creeping lily-turf (Liriope spicata)
Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
Pollinator lawns are designed to provide sustenance for bees and other pollinators by combining turfgrass with flowering ornamentals. Though aesthetically this option lacks the uniformity of a manicured lawn, pollinator lawns require less irrigation, fertilization, mowing and weeding once established. It is important to select turfgrass species that are compatible with the flowering plants and to choose ornamentals that fit the growing conditions.

Here are some plants to consider for a pollinator lawn:
Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens)
Self-heal (Prunella vulagris spp. lanceolata)
Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox spp. arcticus)
Common violets (Viola sororia)
Dandelions

When selecting a turf substitute beware of invasive growth habits. Lily of the valley and goutweed are two groundcovers that can be problematic if not managed.

MISCELLANEOUS
Right Plant in the Right Place
If you’re starting new plants in your lawn and garden this spring think ahead. Choosing the right plant to fill voids in the landscape is essential success.

Know the water needs of the plant and the water availability of your landscape. Understand the growth characteristics of the plant including height and spread at maturity, rate of growth, thorns/fruiting habit, etc. Determine if those qualities will fit within the space you have available. A small, young tree may look nice planted in front of your home, but as it grows will it block your view out the window? Will this still be a desirable location? Likewise, a thorny bush planted next to a sidewalk may be fine when the shrub is small, but as it grows and approaches the sidewalk it may become a hazard requiring regular pruning to contain it.

As you shop for new additions to the landscape keep these points in mind. Informed decisions early in the landscaping process will save you time and money.

QUESTION of the WEEK

“Am I too late to plant potatoes?”
In Kansas the ideal planting time for potatoes ranges from beginning to late March and even into April. If you have seed potatoes to plant, go ahead and get them in the ground within the next two weeks for the best harvest.

Be sure you are using loose soil with good drainage. Provide consistent water and keep up with weeding. Side-dress the rows with nitrogen or an all-purpose fertilizer per label recommendations.

Contributors:
Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor and Horticulture Extension Specialist
Kansas Garden Guide

Division of Horticulture
1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6173

For questions or further information, contact your local extension agency.
This newsletter is also available on the World Wide Web at:
http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html

The web version includes color images that illustrate subjects discussed. To subscribe to this newsletter electronically, send an e-mail message to [email protected] listing your e-mail address in the message.
Brand names appearing in this newsletter are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.
K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact Extension Horticulture at (785) 532-6173.

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French Onion Soup

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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Before we know it we’ll be preparing Easter Dinner. Here in the Ozark Mountains all the jonquils are in full bloom, and the Spring is definitely in the air. The heavy sweaters are getting tucked away while their lighter cousins take center stage. I realize there could still be weather surprises ahead, but it’s worth the risk as we embrace the season of new growth and beginnings.

While there are still a few cool days ahead let’s grab one more soup for the season. French onion soup has been a favorite of mine since I was a young girl. Another reason for presenting it today is the idea of sweet Vidalia’s caramelized into this delicious recipe. It won’t be too long before the first sliced Vidalia will be making their way onto a delicious hamburger!

I am beginning to salivate just a bit as I think about a piece of crusty baguette pressed into a bowl, and the top covered with cheese. Slid under a broiler until it’s lightly browned it becomes a succulent meal. To accompany, how about thin strips of beef with a cream cheese spread upon the extra baguette bread. You see the beef au jus can go into your soup and the beef can go into the open faced Sammie’s.

The only difficult chore will be slicing all those onions! There are many ways to approach the issue. Here is how I attack this little situation I wear gloves when slicing up the onions, and I wear onion goggles while I chop. You will be surprised how many onions are needed when making an onion soup.

This coming weekend I’ll be hitting the road back to Lewistown, Missouri, as I complete a few final steps, on my parents’ home. I also have the privilege of speaking to a women’s group in Hannibal, while I’m there. Looks like the weather is going to be in my favor.

Let’s dive into the simple recipe. Next week I hope to bring you a new Tzatziki recipe.

Simply yours, The Covered Dish.

French Onion Soup

6 tablespoons salted butter

6 medium/large sweet onion or 3 lbs.

½ teaspoon salt*

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon thyme leaves

1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 cup chardonnay wine

2 heaping tablespoons flour

48 ounces beef stock

3 bay leaves

1 ½ teaspoons extra hot grated horseradish

Swiss & Gouda Cheese

Baguette bread, cut into 1-2 inch chunks

*If you are using commercial stock it is very likely this additional salt will not be needed.

Slice onions horizontally into thin slices. In a large skillet or stockpot melt the butter and begin cooking the onion. Stir in the salt, sugar, pepper, thyme and Worcestershire sauce allowing the onions to caramelize. This takes about 20-25 minutes.

Now add 1 cup of the dry white wine and reduce down until the onions are dry. Work the flour into the onions, take about 10-12 minutes to cook off the flour taste, like a roux.

Add beef stock to the onion mixture along with the bay leaves, stirring to smooth and slightly thicken. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the grated horseradish. If you are fearful the horseradish will make it hot, put in only 1 teaspoon, stir well and sample. Then when you are convinced it is not hot, put in a chunk of baguette bread into the bottom of a soup bowl and then ladle the soup over it. Using Swiss only or both Swiss and Gouda, layer cheese across the top of the bowl. Sit your bowls on a jelly roll pan, inside a 350 degree oven and allow the cheese to totally melt across the top, you can even switch to broil at the end for the punch of color. I prefer this route, because I don’t want the cheese too dark.

This will be 5-6 main course servings. If you want an easier approach on the bread and cheese you can put the bread under a broiler with the cheese arranged on top. Cook until the cheese is melted and then float on top of the soup. This avoids the cheese baking onto the soup tureens while it is melting, and easier cleanup.

As noted in the column, the soup freezes well.

“Learning to Perceive: Visual Thinking Strategies in Medical Education”

By
Guest Columnist
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0

Effective medical diagnosis depends not just on looking, but on truly perceiving. Recognizing this, many medical training programs have adopted Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) discussions about art to enhance students skills in nuanced observation, inference, and communication. In 2004, Harvard Medical School pioneered use of VTS within medical education to refine the diagnostic and interpersonal skills of future healthcare professionals. Now, VTS is embraced in over 30 medical schools.

Through inquiry-based, participant-centered VTS discussions about art, medical students learn to slow down, look carefully, analyze details, and refine their diagnostic reasoning. During the exercise, participants focus on an artwork while discussing their observations. The facilitator begins with: “s going on here?” Seeks evidence by asking: “ do you see that makes you say that?” Then, spurs the participants with: “ more can we find?” The facilitator remains neutral, paraphrases comments, and points to the artwork to guide discussion. Without authoritative guidance, participants explore multiple interpretations freely. The conversation often lasts 20 minutes per artwork. (Conversely, most museum visitors spend 30 seconds or less with a piece.)

A 2020 study at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, along with others, found that students who participated in VTS showed significantly improved observational abilities compared to peers who had not engaged with the program. By examining and discussing artwork through VTS, participants sharpen their ability to notice small but significant details and interpret ambiguous visual information, a process that mirrors patient assessments, where attentiveness and contextual understanding are key. For example, learning to analyze visual cues that might indicate emotions may enhance healthcare professionals abilities to interpret patients nonverbal cues, leading to more compassionate and attentive interactions.

VTS discussions engage participants in collaborative analysis, fostering both clear articulation of observations and active listening to others perspectives. A systematic review of studies regarding VTS in medical education, published in BMC Medical Education (2023), found that engaging in VTS improved medical students observation skills and enhanced their abilities to express their findings concisely and confidently. Further, VTS participants also support their interpretations with evidence—a critical skill in patient care, where diagnoses must be explained with clarity and justification. The structured discussion format of VTS also encourages strong communication, as well as cooperative analytical skills, which are essential for collaborative work within healthcare teams.

Attuning to a patients needs requires careful observation, but diagnosing complex cases also demands the ability to navigate uncertainty. Patients may present with overlapping or unclear symptoms, and medical professionals must carefully weigh multiple possibilities. VTS trains students to tolerate ambiguity by prompting them to analyze complex images without immediate resolution. Further, the process fosters active listening to alternative interpretations offered by others, often leading participants

to refine their own thoughts. This practice fosters adaptability, allowing future medical professionals to confidently refine their assessments rather than defaulting to initial impressions.

By engaging with works of art in VTS discussions, medical students and practitioners develop sharper attention to detail, improved communications, and increased empathy. Ideally, this reflective approach extends into clinical practice, allowing healthcare providers to take a more holistic view of their patients, ask insightful questions, thoroughly evaluate symptoms before reaching a diagnosis, and communicate thoughtfully with patients and families.

If you would like to learn more about Visual Thinking Strategies and potential partnerships, contact your local art museum.

Select Sources:

Agarwal, G.G., McNulty, M., Santiago, K.M. et al. Impact of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) on the Analysis of Clinical Images: A Pre-Post Study of VTS in First-Year Medical Students. J Med Humanit 41, 561–572 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-020-09652-4

Cerqueira, A.R., Alves, A.S., Monteiro-Soares, M. et al. Visual Thinking Strategies in medical education: a systematic review. BMC Med Educ 23, 536 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04470-3

Rezaei S, Childress A, Kaul B, Rosales KM, Newell A, Rose S. Using Visual Arts Education and Reflective Practice to Increase Empathy and Perspective Taking in Medical Students. MedEdPORTAL. 2023;19:11346. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11346

Donna Merkt is a certified VTS facilitator and has practiced VTS for more than 15 years, during which she’s led VTS conversations with thousands of students and adults, and trained numerous educators and medical professionals to use the method. She currently serves as director of the South Dakota Art Museum at South Dakota State University. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Threads. Prairie Doc Programming includes On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show (most Thursdays at 7pm streaming on Facebook), 2 podcasts, and a Radio program (on SDPB), providing health information based on science, built on trust.

Wheat Scoop: Kansas Wheat Leadership Program offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of wheat

By
Guest Columnist
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0
Kansas Wheat

For the audio version, visit kswheat.com.

Ever wonder what happens to the bushels of wheat delivered to the local elevator? Or about what it took to produce the latest and greatest wheat varieties? The 2025 Kansas Wheat Leadership Program did more than simply answer these questions; the program provided a behind-the-scenes look at the complex, interconnected world of wheat from breeding programs to flour milling to grain quality.

 

“Farmers focus on growing their seed, harvesting their crop and finding the best basis when marketing their grain,” said Shayna DeGroot, Kansas Wheat director of membership and government affairs. “The Kansas Wheat Leadership Program intends to show participants what goes into everything before and after they purchase their seed – essentially an overview of the whole wheat industry.”

 

Attendees this year ranged from young wheat farmers to a social media blogger/farm wife to agribusiness professionals. This year’s program took place in Manhattan at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center on March 5 and 6. The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas sponsored the event, making it free for all attendees. All were left with a new appreciation for the journey a kernel of wheat undertakes from seed development to the final loaf on the shelf at the grocery store.

 

“There are so many factors to the process that farmers are often unaware of, like what quality characteristics millers are looking for and encouraging the industry to target,” DeGroot said. “We hope this gives them a better insight into what it takes to get a seed to their farm to grow and what happens with their kernels after they send them to the elevator.”

 

The first morning kicked off with a Wheat 101 presentation by Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations, followed by a tour of the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center. Asif Mohammad, chief scientist with Heartland Plant Innovations, conducted a hands-on demonstration of wheat emasculation — the process by which scientists remove the upper part of a wheat floret to better facilitate pollination. This process is an important part of developing double haploids — HPI’s technical specialty that substantially reduces the time and cost of developing new wheat varieties.

 

After lunch, leadership program participants received more technical information, including the “birds and the bees” of wheat breeding from K-State wheat breeder Allan Fritz. Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin shared insights on global wheat supply and demand while DeGroot discussed farm policy issues related to the wheat industry. Switching back to wheat breeding, Romulo Lollato, K-State associate professor of wheat and forage production, provided information on how yield and protein are set in a wheat crop.

 

Finally, Marsha Boswell, Kansas Wheat vice president of communications, rounded out the day by imparting the importance of sharing the farmers’ story and discussing the consumer-focused site EatWheat.org.

 

Day two of the program focused on wheat milling, with an introduction to the topic given by Shawn Thiele, associate director and the flour milling and grain processing specialist for the International Grains Program Institute (IGP), followed by a tour of K-State’s Hal Ross Flour Mill. Kathy Brower, lab manager of Grain Craft​’s Innovation & Quality Lab, located in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, discussed the process that takes grain to flour.

 

After two days, attendees left with a much larger appreciation for all of the steps in the wheat supply chain beyond their operations and how much support Kansas wheat farmers provide through their checkoff dollars to keep the pipeline running efficiently and effectively.

 

“The best compliment I got from an attendee this year was how he never knew so many people were working in so many different areas to help advance technology for farmers in the many facets of the wheat industry,” DeGroot said.

 

If you are interested in participating in the 2026 Kansas Wheat Leadership Program, please e-mail Shayna DeGroot at [email protected]. But even before next year’s program, visit https://kswheat.com/kawg to join KAWG and keep on top of the latest developments and opportunities in the Kansas wheat industry.

 

###

Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat.

Livestock show practical joke

By
Milo Yield
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0
Thayne Cozart
Milo Yield

Now’s the time of the year when junior livestock shows are happening all across the U.S. Such shows, be they statewide competitions or local jackpots, are where future livestock industry leaders and breeders are developed.

And, livestock shows can also be a source of humor. And, I’ll relate one such incident of humor that I witnessed decades ago.

The prime players in this little livestock show saga were Myris Snipedown and Dr. Eiken Flert.

Snipedown, was a prominent figure in the agricultural press corps, and a well-known, sly practical jokester.

Eiken was a livestock specialist within the land-grant university system and he’d just earned his PhD degree and it weighed rather heavily on his shoulders. Eiken was also what the ladies call a “hunk” — a well-built, handsome, always-smiling “talker” and a confirmed bachelor in his late 20s.

On the day of the practical joke, Eiken wuz directing activities within the beef show ring at a state-wide junior livestock show. He escorted the show-persons and their steers and heifers into the ring and got them situated in the arena the way the judge wanted. And, he missed no opportunities to impress, or score points with, the young show-ladies leading the animals or their mothers crowded along the sideline rails.

Meanwhile, Myris stood on the sidelines for several hours and watched this he-she thing unfold — and he hatched his practical joke.

When the show came close to reaching its pinnacle with the selection of the grand champion steer, Myris quietly left the show arena and walked a few hundred yards to the show’s headquarters, which had the ability to send public address announcements to any place on the show grounds.

Myris coerced a close friend of his to time the springing of the practical joke perfectly for maximum effect. Then he returned to the arena sidelines and innocently watched his joke unfold.

When the judge had all the breed champion steers lined up in the championship drive, Dr. Flert was doing his level best to entertain all the nearby women.

And then, just before the judge slapped the champion steer on its rump, this announcement boomed into the arena from the public address system: “Attention, Dr. Flert. Attention Dr. Flert. Your wife says to please bring diapers and a box of formula home after the show.”

I’ll let your imagination lead you to your own conclusion about how this practical joke ended, but I assure you, it wuz humorous for everyone but one embarrassed new PhD.

***

The “holy grail” for global energy users is an endless, non-polluting method to generate electrical energy. That’s the purpose of solar, wind, hydro and nuclear electric projects, but none even come close to being the “holy grail.”

However, now I read in a Popular Mechanics online story about the real possibility of geothermal energy becoming a perfect energy source.

Here’s the gist of the story. The inside of the Earth is close to 10,000 degrees F. hot. And it won’t cool down for billions of years. Tapping into that heat by drilling deep into the Earth’s crust would yield a gift of virtually limitless heat energy.

The article says the entire world’s energy needs could be fulfilled for more than 20 million years if we could capture just 0.1 percent of the geothermal bounty lying a few miles beneath our feet.

Now, according to the article, the trick is how to drill a hole in Earth’s crust 12-13 miles deep where the temperature is close to 950 degrees, which is hot enuf to provide a practical source of geothermal energy.

The article sez that regular drilling is not feasible, but a new technique using laser energy beams can vaporize deep-seated rocks and let geothermal energy be harvested. At that point the geothermal heat could spin existing power plant turbines to produce limitless electricity.

I hope this new source of energy proves out. But, a word of caution, if the hole is drilled clear through the Earth to China, the electricity coming to the U.S. will probably carry a reciprocal Chinese tariff.

***

Here’s a little gripe of mine. I work crossword puzzles to keep my old mind exercised. However, recently I wuz getting nowhere with a couple of crosswords — and then I realized that the word clues weren’t for the crossword I wuz working.

That’s irritating and I don’t understand how it happens.

***

A recently lost another good friend. Mrs. Willie Jay, from Mt. Vernon, Mo., known to her friends as Connie, went to her eternal reward. She wuz around 90 years of age and had been married for 70 of them. Hers wuz a happy, productive life. RIP, good friend.

***

Words of wisdom for the week: “Stop doing what you’re doing. Take a deep breath. Then look and listen for the signs of Mother Nature waking up from her long winter’s nap.

The signs are on the tree buds, in the new dandelion emerging, in the robins hopping in the yard, and in the cardinal’s distinctive warbling song carried to your ears by a sun-warmed breeze. Spring is closer to being sprung.”

Have a good ‘un.

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