Print edition: 
Frosty forecast — We keep dodging bullets, but the forecast shows a dip into the lower 30s next week, as of this writing. I hope it spares the tender new geranium and impatiens buds and all the glorious roses growing in my yard and all over town. Let's keep 'em blooming as long as we can.
Gardeners, stop your pruners — I've heard reports of gardeners going after clematis and roses and who knows what with the pruning shears lately. Remember that pruning encourages growth, something we don't want to do now. That growth will be killed in a freeze.
"Though light pruning and/or removal of dead wood is fine this time of year, severe pruning should be left until spring," Ward Upham of K-State says. "Keep in mind that even light pruning of spring-blooming shrubs such as lilac and forsythia will reduce flowers for next year. We normally recommend that spring-bloomers be pruned after flowering."
Roses whose canes are so tall that they would be whipped around in the winter wind can be cut down a little after the roses have gone dormant. Right now, they are still growing, and many are looking gorgeous.
Here's more from Upham:
"Shrubs differ in how severely they can be cut back. Junipers do not break bud from within the plant and therefore should be trimmed lightly if you wish to keep the full shape. Overgrown junipers should be removed. On the other hand, there are certain shrubs that can be pruned back severely during the spring. Rejuvenation is the most severe type of pruning and may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes. All stems are cut back to 3- to 5-inch stubs. This works well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, Russian almond, little leaf mock orange, shrub roses and flowering quince. Just remember that spring is the correct time to do this, not now."
Rabbit protection — Rabbits may begin to nibble on newly planted trees and shrubs this time of year, Upham says. He recommends protecting the plants with cylinders of 1-inch mesh, chicken wire or a similar barrier that is at least 2 feet tall. Plastic tree wraps and liquid rabbit repellents sprayed on the plants are other options that he mentions.
Chaplin Nature Center talk — Shawn Silliman, manager of the Chaplin Nature Center, a few miles west of Arkansas City and about an hour from Wichita, will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about the natural diversity of the center with its prairies, creek, river and riparian forest, and its coming educational programs. The lunchtime lecture will be from 12:15 to 1 p.m. The lecture is included in Botanica admission.
Grape-vine wreath seminar — Three local floral-design experts will lead a seminar on designing a grape-vine wreath from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Extension Center, 21st and Ridge Road. For $25, you will decorate a wreath with fresh flower material that can be changed out for other seasonal decor throughout the year. To register, e-mail wichitagardenshow@sbcglobal.net or call the Wichita Garden Show office at 316-946-0883.
Rose/food drive — Donate six pantry food items or $6 to the Kansas Food Bank and receive six free roses during the annual Rio Roses food drive at local flower shops. You can make the exchange today and Sunday at Brown's Botanicals, 7722 Maple, and through Nov. 30 at the gift shops at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis and -St. Joseph.
Vienna Teng adds second concert — After her first concert at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston sold out, Vienna Teng agreed to do a second one, this Friday, between her Lawrence and Hesston dates. It will be at 8 p.m. as part of the Prairie Window Concert Series at the arboretum. Teng performs what she calls "chamber folk" — pop songs with depth. (To hear her perform, go to www.viennateng.com.) Tickets are $17 adults, $10 for children. Reserve tickets by calling 620-327-8127.
Global horticulture conference — Oklahoma State University will have its first-ever global horticulture conference on Dec. 2 in Norman, Okla. Presenters will address horticulture and agriculture in countries from Senegal to Afghanistan to Costa Rica to Japan and also will discuss cultural issues surrounding horticulture around the world. Registration is limited to 90 people. Registration by Nov. 21 costs $75, or $125 after. For more information, call Stephanie at 405-744-5404 or e-mail stephanie.larimer@okstate.edu.
Wreath Festival — The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum will be decked out for Christmas and open for holiday shopping during the annual Wreath Festival on Thursday and Friday. The festival will feature decorated wreaths and holiday gifts, decorations and baked goods for sale to benefit the museum, which is at 204 S. Main. Admission to the festival is free. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days for $12. For group lunch reservations of six or more, call 316-265-9314.
