Wichita gardener’s almanac for Nov. 28
Bringing home the Christmas tree — If you’re planning to buy a fresh, cut Christmas tree from a garden center or a tree lot, pick it out and buy it as soon as possible and bring it home, even if you don’t plan to put it up in the house immediately. You can put it in a bucket of water on the north side of the house, where it will stay fresher longer than on the lot. When you get the tree home, cut about 1 inch off the trunk and place the trunk in warm water. Check the water level often to be sure the base is always in water, including when it’s in the Christmas tree stand in the house.
For the freshest tree possible, cut one at a Christmas tree farm. You can find a list of those in the area from the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association at kctga.com. Or buy a potted evergreen at a garden center to plant in your yard after Christmas. Plan to bring it indoors for only a few days at Christmas, letting it acclimate in the garage before and after, and preparing the planting hole ahead of time.
Garden events
Illuminations — Botanica’s Christmas lights display runs through Dec. 31 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas) through Dec. 31. Hours for Illuminations are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8, $7 for members, $6 for ages 3 to 12; children under 3 get in free. Advance tickets can be purchased at Botanica or QuikTrip. More info: botanica.org.
Luminary Walk — Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston will have its Luminary Walk with candles and lights, roasted marshmallows at bonfires, entertainment, stories and refreshments from 5:30 to 8 p.m. this Saturday and Dec. 4 and 5. Admission is $5; $4 for members, seniors and college students; and $2 for ages 3 to 15. Children under 3 get in free.
The performers’ schedule: Dave Anderson on hammered dulcimer, 7 p.m. Saturday; McPherson Brass Quintet, 6 p.m. Dec. 4 and Jessie Roth Hartke on flute at 7 p.m. Dec. 4; and the Konza Ringers handbell ensemble, 7 p.m. Dec. 5.
The Arboretum gift shop will have a holiday open house from 3 to 8 p.m. this Saturday. More info: dyckarboretum.org.
Christmas-swag workshop — Mary Buffo of Savoy Gardens will lead a make-it-take-it workshop for putting together a Christmas swag featuring fresh greens from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 in the community room at Kechi City Hall. The cost is $30, which includes materials. To register for the event sponsored by the Kechi Arts Council, call 316-744-9288.
Prairie Window Concert — Folk-country singer-songwriter Mark Erelli will perform a Prairie Window Concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston. It will be in the Prairie Pavilion overlooking the lake. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children plus tax; call 620-327-8127, dyckarboretum.org. Appetizers from Morning Harvest Farm will be for sale during intermission.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Nov. 28."