Page 22 - Home & Garden

I think I may have some sort of innate connection to honey bees due to the Winnie the Pooh décor that hung in my room as a child. Now as an adult I find myself deeply interested in the beekeeping process. Could this be related to Pooh Bear as well? Today was the first day I've checked the hive since Al and I did a queen inspection a couple days after introducing the colony to the N40 hive. And after today's N40 hive inspection I'm now even more amazed at what these little bees can accomplish.   Going out today Jake and I (yes, Jake, the kid who is deathly afraid and allergic to bees) were hoping that the frames would be mostly filled with brood, pollen, and honey. This would indicate that it is time to add another box for our bee buddies to start mass producing honey. That was our hope, but of course I didn't know what to expect...

Joy Taves is a Master Gardener from Great Falls, MT and is especially interested in perennial plants. Two of her favorites, and two best suited to be grown in Montana, are the coneflower (Echinacea) and coral bells (Heuchara). These plants are hardy to zone 3 (or 4 for coral bells) and are deer resistant: part of the reason Joy enjoys them so much.  They naturally attract songbirds and other birds into the garden. While birds are pretty to look at, they also help naturally manage pests in the garden. Visit our Home & Garden department for inspiration and savings. "I look for perennials that will provide color for long periods of time. The coral bell foliage provides beautiful color from spring through the first fall frost. The coneflower blooms most of the summer." Joy was kind enough to shed some insight on how to properly manage p...

I'm not sure when exactly the transformation occurred, but at some point in my life socks went from being something that "required a thank you card" to "the must have item of the holidays." The reasons that drove such a transformation are highly debated, but regardless of how it happened, wrapping my feet in soft fluffy products rivals most of the other gifts that make their way down the chimney. If you are in the market for some summer socks, then we've got a wide selection right here.  The Smartwool Hiking Medium Crew Sock My most recent sock purchase was the Smartwool Hiking Medium Crew. I don't think it is necessary for me to divulge my "opening a new sock for the first time routine," just know that 1: I have such a routine, and 2: If you have not developed such a custom, I encourage you to do so. Upon completing said tradition, the...

Growing Blueberries in Montana: Where Passion Meets Brains Growing sweet potatoes, blueberries and kiwi in Great Falls, Montana... seem impossible? Not for Charles Bocock, Great Falls resident and flora manipulator extraordinaire. Looking for a selection of gardening tools and supplies? Look no further. This interview was effectively a cram session on everything from heat units needed to maximize growing season, to the microbiology of reducing germination time (the example Mr. Bocock threw out was corn seeds from 14 days to 4). It was immediately apparent that this man's passion for growing plants in MT was somewhat consuming. "I have a degree in biology and chemistry and my wife is an MD and a PhD in microbiology," enough knowledge to power a university department, and me, Jake and Tracie with only two hours, a few cameras and a yellow ...

A common theme I have found in the interviews I have conducted about gardening is the belief that bugs are good. For an outsider, someone with no gardening experience, this seems counter intuitive, and my attitude going into this was, "See bug; kill bug." Healthy Ground, Healthy Garden However, when you interview Master Gardeners and there is some common ground, you tend to listen. I interviewed Master Gardener Hattie Lewis at the North 40 location in Great Falls, MT. Hattie is on the board of city parks. When Hattie sat down with me, I was struck by how closely her bug lecture confirmed the same topic that Joy covered. 1. 95% of all bugs are good bugs! 2. Don't know if a bug is good or bad? Grab it and take it to the local extension office for classification! 3. "If you eliminate good bugs, you open your garden up to bad things the b...

Now that I've confirmed Mike and Reese aren't in the Bee Mafia and the bees have been transplanted into their new hive, it's time to check on the Queen. After all, everything revolves around her (this is the story of my life with a 4 year old who thinks she is a Princess Elsa). The main reason to check on the hive a couple days after introducing the colony to their new home is to make sure 1) that she and the colony are there, and 2) to see if they have started to build and acclimate to their new home. We also want to remove the cage that the queen was in when we first introduced the colony. We transplanted our bees May 1st and went to check on them May 4th. After a quick visual inspection we could see lots of bees moving in and out of the hive some were even bringing in pollen, a really good sign! Lifting the lid the hive was teaming wi...

New bee hive set up in Great Falls, MT. May 2015 You know that weird feeling you get when watching a tense part of a movie, or a YouTube video you know isn't going to end well? Yeah, that feeling where you want to yell at the guy jumping his bike off the house and into the kiddie pool? That's the feeling I had the other day when I willingly walked up to a swarm of bees, picked them up and put them in my truck. Pretty sure I haven't been that nervous since 1988 when I went to my first day of Mrs. Grogan's Kindergarten class. New bee hive set up in Great Falls, MT. May 2015 At first, handling bees seemed like a sketchy sort of business. With less than 24 hours' notice, we met a couple of random guys in a parking lot. They introduced themselves as Mike and Reese, whether or not that was their real name is still in question. Off to the side...

As beginning beekeepers, I imagine you all have many questions and concerns. One thing I have come across is this: you can only read and watch so much--you need to get out and "do!" In hopes to give you all a great head start into the bee game, we're going through the process ourselves with some of our local Great Falls, Montana customers: I'm fascinated by what bees can accomplish. This fascination drove me to a point where I said, "I want to have bees." Now I'm to the point where I want to catch wild bees. After a lot of research this winter, I found out that saying is really true: you can only learn so much from reading. So after exhausting my data plan searching bee videos on YouTube and browsing various beekeeping websites, I had to talk to a human about this new adventure I was planning to undertake. Long story short running out ...

Many people pair the word warmth with wool, however when it comes to Merino Wool there is a lot more to the equation then warmth. The women's Floral Scroll sock is a perfect example of how warmth and breathability come together to complement one another and regulate the temperature of your feet. Being that it's spring, it is important to have a sock that not only keeps your feet warm but also keeps them cool and dry. These socks are made in the United States and are constructed with merino wool, nylon, and elastane blends. These socks aren't your typical outdoor sock. With a fun floral design, this lightweight sock is bound to meet your needs. PLUS if for any reason your Smartwool product does not preform to your satisfaction, you may return it for a replacement, which makes for a carefree buying experience. With this sock being only $9...

If you've been lucky enough to live during spring in the Northwest, then wherever you go you know how to look for those flashes of bright green and red, to listen for the hovering buzz barely heard over the breeze. What's the best practice for keeping these moveable colors at your feeders year round? Find out below. Get Prepped Early Expect the hummingbirds to come back to us here in the Northwest from mid-April to mid-May. Have your hummingbird feeders set up and ready for the return of the birds so they know early on where they can get the goods (this being nectar in the Stokes Select® hummingbird feeder, of course). In Washington you might even get lucky and keep Anna's Hummingbird through the winter. Here is a starter kit feeder you might use to bring you more hummingbirds. Double Down on Attraction Set up your Stokes Select® hummi...

I walk several miles every day between my job as an inventory specialist at North 40 Outfitters in Omak, coaching soccer, working around the house or off playing with the family. It's an active lifestyle and though sometimes a little tiring, it sure is rewarding. And what makes it more so? Nothing like a good pair of comfortable, sturdy socks. Fox River socks are made in Osage, Iowa and you can feel the American difference the minute you get them on the Westerner is designed to be worn with western style boots and give that added comfort of a great sock (perfect for my job and comfortable enough for the soccer field). I have been using the thicker winter socks from Fox River for some time now and have really been impressed by how comfortable they are and how well they are made. They keep my feet dry and wick sweat well, plus the cush...