Wednesday – April 8, 2015
Cheesemaking class this Saturday
Spring brings flowers and leaves and lots of fresh green grass to increase milk flow. It’s a time of year when homesteaders suddenly found themselves with lots of rich, creamy milk from their dairy cows and goats. It’s a great time of year to start to make cheese.Yarb Tales – Underground Stems
In the spring landscape our eyes are awed by the blooms of underground stems. Yes, jonquil, daffodil, iris, bloodroot and violet flowers all arise from bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes which are botanically designated as stems.
The stem is the axis of the plant—it has the ability to produce all of the other organs. A germinating seed produces the embryo-stem (caulicle), from this the root descends and the stem ascends. The ascending stem bears leaves. There are various stems that also live underground.
Bloodroots, irises and violets bloom above their rhizomes. The fleshy parts are creeping stems that run along or just under the soil surface, striking roots. These have obvious sections consisting of a succession of joints or nodes.
Bulbs include the jonquils, daffodils and tulips and store nutrients in fat, subterranean parts. Gladiolus, crocus and cyclamen are corms. The main stems of these plants are tuberous rather than branching.
Tubers are thickened rootstocks that have buds (eyes) on the sides. The buds produce roots for absorbing nutrient solution, stems and leaves for photosynthesis and finally, stems that bear leaves and flowers. Daylilies and Jerusalem artichokes are examples of flowers with tubers.
Knowing about bulbs, rhizomes and tubers is good for gardeners who want to increase the flowers in their gardens. Each of these categories of plants can and should be divided every three to five years for the health of the stands and to increase spring color. Simply wait until the plants have finished blooming and the leaves begin to yellow. That is the optimum time to dig and divide the plants. For now, revel in the colors of renewal and start digging in compost for new beds of color next year!
Date Changed for May Concert with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Long time veterans of the folk music scene, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will perform their own blend of traditional folk music on fiddle and guitar in a Feature Concert on Saturday, May 9 (not May 8 as previously posted) at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
Equally talented as interpreters of standards and creating their own music, fans of film will recognize one of Jay’s tunes called “Ashokan Farewell” which was featured in the Ken Burns film, The Civil War.
Call 870 269 3851 for more information or to purchase a 2015 Season Pass or click here to
This Week’s Skillet Restaurant Specials
April 7-13, 2015Performing this Week
April 7 – 11, 2015
Daytime Musicians -Uncle Dave & Friends
Friday, April 10
Noon Program – Jeanette Larson – Spinning Yarns
Daytime Musicians – Glover Family
Saturday, April 11
Noon Program – Jeanette Larson – Spinning Yarns
Daytime Musician – Whoa Mule!
Schedule Subject to Change
Loco Ropes
