High Plains Morning

Not many things in life come easy. So when I first learned of a hearty houseplant with glorious blooms that didn't need much attention, I thought it might be a thing of fables.  On today's edition of Growing on the High Plains, I will extol the many benfits of the beautiful bromeliad — and how, not unlike High Plains Public Radio, we can all nurture and grow it with just a little effort and some occastion seed money. 

It's no secret that I like to support my local zoo in Garden City, KS.  For years I've served as an advocate and fundraiser, but my assistance also extends directly to the animals themselves.

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December."

—James M. Barrie, Scottish novelist & playwright

While we think of the impending change of the season, it's certainly time to consider our gardens and how we might ready them for a frost. Today's Growing on the High Plains will provide some advice for winterizing your rose bushes.

Today's Growing on the High Plains revisits the beloved couple of donkey neighbors with which I've become fascinated over the years. (If you need a refresher, here's part one!) Just a general check-in with our jack and jenny, this installment will cover a little bit about the daily life of a High Plains donkey. I'll share some of the burdensome history of these beasts, including their role in centuries-old medical and legal practices.

¡Globalquerque! 2018 will take place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 4th St SW, at Avenida César Chávez). Enjoy musical performances in the intimate courtyard setting of the Fountain Courtyard, the state of the art 692-seat Albuquerque Journal Theatre and dance outside on the Plaza Mayor.

"Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work." —Booker T. Washington 

Many folks take to gardening as a way to relax, focus on nature, and unwind. However, it doesn't take long to realize this hobby can be VERY hard work.

For those who aren't accustomed to its unique landscape, our High Plains home is certainly a sight to see. After a recent visit from East-coast friends, I felt as if I saw the fields of Kansas with new eyes. 

So today's Growing on the High Plains will take a late-summer pause to review some of the spectacular native prairie grasses you might be taking for granted. Did you know that Kansas has the largest contiguous tract of native remnant—or uncultivated—tall grass prairie? I'll detail the different types common to our region, from the short and medium varieties to the towering tall grass favorites. (And living in a state with all three is a pretty rare thing!)

Today on High Plains Morning, we had a VERY full house. Tomorrow (September 1st) in Amarillo, the Yellow City Sounds Music Festival will rock Memorial Park on the main campus of Amarillo College from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m., so we welcomed some of the primary players into the HPPR Studio to tell us all about it.

A big thank you to BJ Barham from American Aquarium for stopping by HPPR Studios in Amarillo for a chat about the new album, their current tour, and all the changes that have led to both. 

Thanks so much to Laurie Howard, Development Director at the Hope & Healing Place, for stopping by HPPR to talk about the "Wings of Hope: Butterfly Release & Remember." 

Today's Growing on the High Plains peels back the petals and puts them right on you plate. That's right, we'll chew on the murky history of eating floral fodder, from its medieval and herbal medicinal roots to its modern application in haute cuisine.

We’re thrilled that folk duo Ben & Emily Roberts, also known as Carolina Story, stopped in the HPPR Studios in Amarillo for a quick hello and a few songs. Their new album, Lay Your Head Down, features 12 original songs they’ve been stewing on for a long, long time. We’re so grateful the universe continued showering them with cosmic signs to keep at it, because this record has it all. They’re playing TONIGHT at the Six Car Pub and Brewery, 6pm.

High Plains Morning wants to thank Jacob Johnson, classical guitarist and lutenist based in the Dallas area, for stopping by the HPPR Studios in Amarillo for a quick chat and performance.

"Maybe seeing the Plains is like seeing an icon: what seems stern and almost empty is merely open, a door into some simple and holy state." —Kathleen Norris 

On today's Growing on the High Plains, I'd like to share a recent field trip I made in April to the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Heston, KS. This natural museum has held a special place in my heart for years, so I wanted to make sure the girls who help me in my garden were also able to experience it firsthand.

High Plains Morning wants to thank Mr. Felipe Esparza, stand-up comedian and actor, for stopping by the station with his buddy and podcast co-host, comedian Rodrigo Torres. We had a blast chatting with you both, and here's hoping you had a great show in Amarillo!

High Plains Morning wants to thank all four of the gentlemen of Che Apalache for stopping into the studio for a live set today. This four-man string band is on tour now throughout the US, and they're playing in Amarillo TONIGHT at Teckla House (2501 Teckla Blvd) in Amarillo, TX). For a full event listing, click here.

Thanks so much to Dave Smith for taking the time to talk to HPPR listeners during High Plains Morning this  

We believe HPPR listeners will love this show as much as we did when we selected it as a new program. We're all going to miss Folk Sampler, but please check out this new show by tuning in after What the Folk? on Saturday nights at 9pm CT. 

"Walk me out in the mornin' dew, my honey." —Grateful Dead

As you know, healthy gardens love to grow (and grow and grow), so it takes a loving hand to keep nature's chaos under control. Today's Growing on the High Plains offers a snippet of wisdom about "deadheading," the process of eliminating dead or spent flowers from living plants. Not only does it refresh and fortify the foliage, it keeps the color poppin' and gives the bushy beauty a blowout.

When it comes to High Plains weather, the only constant is change...and maybe unpredictability. So for those of us tending gardens in this region, the trifecta of odd weather, fickle heat, and apprehensive precipitation are forever a safe bet.

Do I dare to eat a peach? - T.S. Elliott

On today’s Growing on the High Plains, I’ll wax poetic on the glories of this golden tree-ripened delight. Not those items you buy in the store picked green and shipped hundreds of miles, but those found on a backyard tree or roadside stand.

Peach trees thrive in many North American habitats including the high plains. All they need is cold winter weather and luck in avoiding a late freeze. Their relatively fragile blossoms can't take freezing temperatures.

Today on High Plains Morning, we had a full house in the studio thanks to TWO SHOWS happening this Friday in Amarillo. (Scroll down for details!)

On today’s Growing on the High Plains, I’ll introduce you to a pair of donkeys who have captured my heart and brightened my commute along Highway 83 in southwest Kansas. The donkeys share a 15-acre pasture at the intersection of US Route 50, while providing a welcome bright spot where the fabled loneliest road meets the highway to nowhere.