Johnson County K-State Extension

Johnson County K-State Extension Our Extension agents provide scientific, unbiased, research-based information to help you. Content that is excessively long or repetitive is subject to removal.

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🌿 Take a Virtual Road Trip Through Johnson County’s Demonstration Gardens!Love gardens but don’t always have the time, e...
08/26/2026

🌿 Take a Virtual Road Trip Through Johnson County’s Demonstration Gardens!

Love gardens but don’t always have the time, energy or opportunity to visit them in person? Want to avoid bugs and humidity? This free virtual tour brings Johnson County’s TEN amazing demonstration gardens right to you!

🏡 From the comfort of your home, you can explore these beautiful gardens, gather ideas, and learn more about gardens you can visit in person.

No driving required on this tour, just sit back, relax and get inspired! 🌻

Registration is required for this free virtual program. Plan your virtual road trip and discover the demonstration gardens waiting for you right here in Johnson County.

👉 Register to take the tour! https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/jcprd/activity/search/detail/52165?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Fall migration is underway—and the story of the Prothonotary Warbler is moving with it. 🍂💛Back in June, we shared what c...
08/25/2026

Fall migration is underway—and the story of the Prothonotary Warbler is moving with it. 🍂💛

Back in June, we shared what can happen when volunteers, researchers, conservation organizations, birders, photographers, youth groups and community partners work together toward a common goal.

Johnson County K-State Extension Master Naturalists are one part of that larger network, contributing trained volunteers who monitor nest boxes, collect observations, and support research alongside partners across the region.

A few months later, there is even more to the story.

This summer, researchers with Pittsburg State University and their partners continued using tiny geolocators to uncover where Prothonotary Warblers go when they leave Kansas.

The story of Hydrogen, the geolocator research, and the broader conservation partnership is featured by the Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City, with a closer look at the people and organizations helping piece together the mysteries of Prothonotary Warbler migration:
https://burroughs.org/prothonotary_warbler_project/

A recent KCUR 89.3/Kansas News Service story also highlights the research and growing effort to understand these remarkable birds:
https://www.kcur.org/2026-08-18/how-kansas-became-one-of-the-new-breeding-grounds-for-a-bright-yellow-warbler

What we find most exciting isn't just the technology or the migration maps. It's the community behind the discoveries.

Nest boxes. Observations. Banding. Research. Photography. Habitat. Volunteers. Students. Audubon chapters. Extension Master Naturalists. Citizen scientists. Researchers. Each contributes a piece of the puzzle—and together, those pieces are helping reveal a story that stretches far beyond Kansas.

The Prothonotary Warblers have left our region for the season, but their journeys continue, and so does the research.

And the story isn't over. There is still much more to learn about where these birds travel, the routes they take, and what brings them back. We'll keep following the research and sharing new discoveries as this remarkable story unfolds.

That's the magic of collaborative conservation. 💛

Photo credit: Melissa Streczywilk — Prothonotary Warbler with federal leg bands at Wyandotte County Park Lake, 2024.

Did you find an insect in or around your home that you'd like more information on? We're here to help! Bring your myster...
08/25/2026

Did you find an insect in or around your home that you'd like more information on? We're here to help! Bring your mystery specimen into our office on 11811 S. Sunset Drive in Olathe, KS. We're open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Or give us a call at 913-715-7000. Let us help you discover more!

🌱 Have a plant in your garden that has clearly decided it wants to take over?Or maybe you’ve got a perennial that’s gett...
08/24/2026

🌱 Have a plant in your garden that has clearly decided it wants to take over?

Or maybe you’ve got a perennial that’s getting crowded, a bed that needs rearranging, or a favorite plant you’d love to share with a friend.

Late summer is a good time to take a look at your garden and start thinking about what needs a little renewal before next season.

Join K-State Garden Hour on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from noon to 1 p.m. with this virtual webinar for “Garden Renewal: How to Divide and Transplant Like a Pro.”

Learn the timing, tools and techniques for dividing and moving plants successfully so your garden can come back stronger and healthier next season.

And yes, you might even learn how to turn one favorite plant into several. 🌿🌿🌿

Free webinar * Registration required * Sessions are recorded
Register here: https://events.k-state.edu/event/k-state-garden-hour-webinar-garden-renewal-how-to-divide-and-transplant-like-a-pro?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Kansas+State+University+Events

Plan now for a healthier lawn this fall! 🌾🌾🌾August is an excellent time to start planning fall lawn renovation projects,...
08/24/2026

Plan now for a healthier lawn this fall! 🌾🌾🌾

August is an excellent time to start planning fall lawn renovation projects, such as aerating and overseeding.

Before getting started, take time to evaluate your lawn and identify areas that need attention. Thin or bare patches may benefit from overseeding, while compacted soil may benefit from aeration to improve root growth and water movement. Fall’s cooler temperatures and increased moisture create the ideal conditions for new grass establishment.

August is also a good time to check for grubs - which can damage turf by feeding on grass roots.

Signs of grub activity include thinning patches of grass, turf that lifts easily from the soil, or increased activity from animals digging in the lawn. If you suspect grubs, reach out to the Johnson County Extension Master Gardener Hotline to discuss appropriate management options based on the severity of the issue.

https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/gardening-hotline/

Building a healthy, resilient lawn through proper timing, soil care, and good growing conditions can naturally reduce w**d pressure and pest problems over time!

The secret to next year’s strawberries starts now! 🍓🍓🍓For perennial strawberry plants, August is an important time to fe...
08/24/2026

The secret to next year’s strawberries starts now! 🍓🍓🍓

For perennial strawberry plants, August is an important time to fertilize as plants develop flower buds for next year’s crop. Applying fertilizer after harvest helps replenish nutrients and supports strong flower and fruit production in the coming season.

Just remember, too much fertilizer can encourage lush leaf growth while reducing fruit production. Apply nutrients according to soil test recommendations and follow fertilizer label instructions to provide plants with what they need without overfeeding.

A little late-summer feeding can help your strawberry patch produce a stronger harvest in the year to come!
More information on strawberries in the comments below. 👇

Look closely, are you seeing more of these little beauties in your yards? Fall migration is happening! Before heading so...
08/23/2026

Look closely, are you seeing more of these little beauties in your yards? Fall migration is happening! Before heading south, this little traveler has some refueling to do. ❤️🐦

Late summer and early fall are peak migration time for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as they fuel up for their journeys south. Native flowers like this Cardinal Flower provide an important source of nectar along the way.

You may be seeing more hummingbird activity right now as these tiny travelers prepare for the next leg of their journey.

🌿 Want to see more? Get outside and watch your flowers, feeders and favorite birding spots. You never know who might be passing through.

🔎 Track migration: BirdCast offers migration forecasts and predicted peak migration nights. https://birdcast.org/

🐦 Record what you see: eBird observations help researchers and conservationists understand bird movements. https://ebird.org/home?continue

And remember: the hummingbirds aren't the only ones moving. Fall migration is bringing birds of all kinds through the Kansas City region.

Keep watching. Migration is happening all around us. 🍂
Tell us what your favorite hummingbird flower/plant is in the comments! (This hummingbird is nectaring on Cardinal Lobelia, or Lobelia cardinalis. This perennial plant likes moist garden areas, stream edges and rain gardens and can bloom from July-September.)

🌎 Ready to take your brain on a trip around the world?You won’t need a passport for this journey! ✈️ WITS Workout: The W...
08/23/2026

🌎 Ready to take your brain on a trip around the world?

You won’t need a passport for this journey! ✈️ WITS Workout: The World Over uses travel-themed activities, cultural discoveries and engaging challenges to take participants on a fun journey around the globe—all while exploring an important part of brain health: managing stress.

Come learn practical strategies for handling stress, keeping your mind engaged and supporting your mental well-being—because taking care of your brain is important wherever life takes you. 🌍🧠

Join us September 14 for this fun, interactive WITS Workout for adults 55+. No travel experience required—just bring your curiosity!

Register here: https://www.gardnerkansas.gov/business_detail_T18_R99.php

When Mom asked her two young boys whether they wanted to go to the playground or the garden first, they chose the garden...
08/23/2026

When Mom asked her two young boys whether they wanted to go to the playground or the garden first, they chose the garden! 🌻
While they explored, our Master Gardeners helped Mom with her tomato questions.
Have a gardening question? Our Extension Master Gardeners are at West Flanders Park in City of Shawnee, KS Government each Thursday morning in the growing season and would love to help!

Address

11811 S Sunset Drive, Ste 1500
Olathe, KS
66061

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19137157000

Website

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