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Johnson County K-State Extension

@jocoextension

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Bringing K-State to the Johnson County community since 1917. Classes and resources 👇

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Not all birds migrate south for the winter.
While migration is one way to escape the cold, it can be very dangerous, demanding lots of energy.
Have you noticed that within some animal species, some individuals leave while others stay? This phenomenon is called partial migration and is found throughout the animal kingdom. Check out this fascinating article published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution to learn more about why partial migration is observed.

👉 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00325/full by @jocoextension

🍂 Shorter days, changing schedules! 🌱

As we turn back the clocks and settle into the cooler months, the K-State Johnson County Extension Garden Hotline is moving to its fall and winter hours beginning November 2.

📅 New Hotline Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
🕙 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Have a question about your houseplants, fall cleanup, winterizing your garden or planning for spring? Our horticulture volunteers are here to help!

📧 garden.help@jocogov.org
📞 913-715-7050

You can still call or email outside our regular hours, but please allow extra time for a response.

Please plan ahead for these additional closures:

November 11
November 23–27
December 21–January 8

Thank you for growing with us! 🍁🌿 by @jocoextension

🍂 Leaves in the Street? Here's Why It Matters.
Keep Leaves Out of the Street—and Our Storm Drains! by @jocoextension

🎃 Don't let your Halloween pumpkin go to waste!

When Halloween is over, your pumpkin doesn't have to end up in the trash. There are several ways to give it a second life!

🍂 Find a local composting option. Overland Park and Lenexa have seasonal pumpkin collection programs, and the Kansas City area has additional composting resources and events.

🐔 Feed the chickens! Plain, unpainted pumpkins can be a treat for chickens and some other animals. Check with the animal's caretaker first to make sure the pumpkin is safe and appropriate for them to eat.

🎃 Save the seeds. Roast them for a tasty fall snack or save viable seeds to plant next year.

🌱 Compost it at home. Remove candles, plastic decorations and stickers, cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces, and mix them with dry leaves and other compost materials to help them break down.

Every pumpkin has the potential for a second life!

Learn more about composting from Johnson County K-State Extension:
https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/soil-testing-and-composting/composting/

🍂 Looking for a place to take your pumpkin? A short list.....we are sure there are many more options out there. Add them in the comments if you have intel!

• Overland Park: Drop off unpainted, undecorated pumpkins and gourds at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Nov. 1–25.

• Lenexa: Look for the pumpkin collection dumpster at Little Mill Creek Park, near 79th Street and Cottonwood, Nov. 1–30.

• Kansas City, Missouri: Bring your spent jack-o'-lantern to Pumpkin SMASH at Urbavore Urban Farm on Nov. 15 and help keep pumpkins out of the landfill! https://allevents.in/kansas-city/pumpkin-smash-2026/200030858519937

🏡 Prefer to compost at home? Cut pumpkins into smaller pieces and mix them into your compost pile with dry leaves and other organic materials.

A little seasonal cleanup can help grow something good for the future! 🌱

Always check individual collection guidelines before dropping off pumpkins. Painted, glittered or decorated pumpkins may not be accepted. Never feed animals pumpkins with candles, plastic, paint or other potentially harmful materials. by @jocoextension

🥶🪴 Temperatures are dropping, and your plants don’t have sweaters!
It’s time to start tucking your cold-sensitive plants into the comfort of your home. 🏡🌿 Don’t wait until the first cold snap! Moving plants indoors is best done gradually, giving them time to acclimate to changes in light, temperature and humidity.
A little preparation now can help your leafy friends adjust to their new surroundings and stay healthy throughout the winter.
🌱 Not sure how to make the transition? K-State Extension offers tips to help you successfully bring your plants indoors.

Scan the QR code to learn more!

Have you started bringing your plants in for the season? Share what you're growing! 🌿 by @jocoextension

🥧 Nothing says homemade holiday goodness quite like a freshly baked pie!

Want to learn the secrets to a flaky, delicious pie crust? Join us for Virtual Pie Baking 101 and learn the time-honored skills of making, rolling and handling pie dough.

👩‍🍳 Follow along and bake right in your own kitchen! We'll provide a list of ingredients and supplies ahead of time so you'll be ready to roll.

Give your holiday baking skills a boost and impress your family and friends with a pie made from scratch!

📅 November 6 | $5.00 | 6 PM

👉 Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/cars4k9 by @jocoextension

Still need to review your Medicare coverage for the coming year? There’s still time to get help!

Our final FREE Medicare Open Enrollment Review class is coming up October 30 in Overland Park, and openings are still available. Learn about coverage changes, important considerations and steps you can take to make informed decisions about your Medicare plan.

📅 October 30 | 1 p.m.
📍 Sunset Drive Office Building

🔎 Scan the QR code on the graphic for details, or visit our website to learn more.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed and make the most of your Medicare coverage! by @jocoextension

With the time change comes the perfect reminder to update safety devices, replace filters, prep seasonal gear, and refresh emergency kits. A few simple steps go a long way in keeping your home safe and efficient. ✔️ by @jocoextension

In case you need a fun fact for your Tuesday, in the past 20 years, it has rained on Halloween in Kansas City only 4 times.
Why does it seem like Halloween and rain go hand in hand? Maybe it’s because in the previous 20 years before that, between 1984 to 2004, it rained 10 times.

What will it do this year? by @jocoextension

🍂 Where’s the sweater weather? And where’s the fall color? 🍁

If you’re still waiting for that crisp autumn air to arrive in Johnson County, you’re not alone! While summer-like temperatures may be hanging on, the trees are responding to the shorter days and seasonal changes.

As chlorophyll breaks down, the green fades from leaves, revealing the yellows and oranges that were there all along. Some trees also produce red and purple pigments, adding even more color to the fall landscape. Cool nights and sunny days can help bring out brilliant reds and purples, while adequate moisture throughout the growing season helps keep trees healthy and supports vibrant fall color. Drought stress can cause leaves to turn brown, lose their color or drop early.

🍁 Ready to find some fall color? Explore this real-time fall foliage map for Kansas to see where colors are emerging and plan your next scenic drive or outdoor walk.

🔗 https://www.explorefall.com/states/kansas.html

🌳 Want to learn more about fall color and the trees growing in your landscape? Check out these resources from K-State Extension.

👉 https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/.../trees-shrubs/fall-color/

Take a little time to enjoy the changing season — even if you need a cold drink instead of a warm sweater! 😎🍁

What colors are you seeing in your neighborhood, or where’s your favorite local spot to enjoy fall foliage? Share your sightings with us! by @jocoextension

🪴 Brought your houseplants inside? You may have brought in a few tiny hitchhikers, too!

If the recent cold spell had you moving your houseplants indoors, and now you’re noticing little black bugs flying around your plants, they could be fungus gnats.

These small, dark flies are common around indoor plants, especially when potting soil stays too moist. While the adults can be annoying, their larvae live in the soil, so knowing how to manage them is key to getting the problem under control.

🔎 Ready to send those gnats packing? Our Johnson County K-State Extension resource explains how to identify fungus gnats and what you can do to manage them:

🌱 https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/agent-articles-fact-sheets-and-more/agent-articles/house-plants/fungus-gnats-houseplants.html

🌿 Have questions about your houseplants? The Johnson County K-State Extension Garden Hotline is here to help! Reach out to our horticulture team for research-based guidance on plant pests and other gardening concerns.

Don't let a few tiny bugs take the joy out of your indoor garden! by @jocoextension

Our Extension Master Food Volunteers were busy this morning leading class to help youth build their confidence in the kitchen. Together they whipped up some delicious breakfast options and took home easy recipes to try with their families. Thank you to our incredible volunteers for sharing their time and knowledge to promote healthy habits for the next generation! by @jocoextension