You might not be thinking about your yard in the middle of winter, but January is a great time to design your landscape! Take some time to draw out your existing flower beds, trees, and shrubs. Then decide what you would like to change or add. K-State Research and Extension has some great resource to help with the planning process.
Information on plants recommended for Kansas can be found at: http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/recommended-plants/index.html
Follow this link for publications on landscaping in Kansas: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/publications/landscaping.html
By: Cassie Homan
Winter weather is not only hard on people but can be a life and death struggle for birds. Though birds also require water and shelter, food is often the resource most lacking during cold weather. Many different bird food mixes are available because various species often prefer different grains. However, there is one seed that has more universal appeal than any other: black oil sunflower. If you are new to the bird-feeding game, make sure there is a high percentage of this seed in your mix. White proso millet is second in popularity and is the favorite of dark-eyed juncos and other sparrows as well as the red-winged blackbird.