New Cold Hardy Trees for South Dakota (Zone 4) for 2025:
For trees, the Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Snow Sentinel’ (Himalayan Birch) stands out with its striking white peeling bark and narrow upright growth habit, adding winter interest to any landscape.
Another great ornamental option is the Malus ‘Northfire’ (Flowering Crabapple), a small tree with bright red blooms and persistent tiny fruits, making it beautiful and disease-resistant.
If you’re looking for a stunning shade tree, the Acer saccharum ‘Arctic Gold’ (Sugar Maple) offers golden-orange fall foliage and is perfect for adding vibrant autumn colors.
For evergreen lovers, the Picea glauca ‘Twilight Sentinel’ (White Spruce) is a compact conifer with bluish-green foliage and an upright growth habit, ideal for windbreaks, screens, or as a specimen tree.
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Lastly, the Sorbus aucuparia ‘Ruby Cascade’ (Mountain Ash) provides year-round interest with its ruby-red berries that persist into winter and its elegant, lacy foliage.
In the night sky this week you can see all 4 of the bright planets around 8 PM. Venus in the southwest, dimmer Saturn to the left side of Venus, Jupiter high in the east, and red Mars in the northeast.
Venus shines in the southwest for several hours before setting. As the second brightest object in the night sky, it reigns supreme. Then look opposite in the sky and you see Jupiter in the northeast shining brightly. It is the third brightest object in the night sky after Venus and the Moon.
Saturn shines prominently in the southwest in Aquarius below Venus but is much fainter. If you have a telescope, this is your chance to marvel at its famous rings. The rings will disappear on March 23 due to their tilt to be viewed edge-on. On January 30th Thursday, the thin crescent moon appears a little below Saturn.
Jupiter is hanging out between the horns of Taurus the Bull next to the orange star Aldebaran (the eye of the bull). It is up in the east when it gets dark and overhead around 10 PM. Jupiter is very bright and relatively close to Earth. The giant gas planet is overhead around midnight.
Mars rising early in the night in Cancer near the bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini in the northeast. You cannot miss it, due to its red color. The red-orange planet is high in the east around 10 PM.
The rising of Orion, Canis Major, and Canis Minor is one of the most magical sights in the winter sky. It starts with Orion, the Hunter, making his grand entrance. You’ll spot his famous belt—three bright stars lined up perfectly in a row. Above the belt is Betelgeuse, a huge red star that has a warm, reddish glow, while below it is Rigel, a brilliant blue-white star that shines like a diamond. Orion is hard to miss and is often the first constellation people recognize in the winter.
Not far behind Orion comes Canis Major, the “Greater Dog.” This constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Sirius steals the show with its intense, bluish-white sparkle. It’s like the sky’s spotlight! In mythology, Canis Major is one of Orion’s loyal hunting dogs, always by his side as he roams the celestial hunting grounds.
Trailing after is Canis Minor, the “Lesser Dog.” It’s a smaller constellation, but it has Procyon, a bright, cheerful-looking star. Even though Canis Minor doesn’t have as many standout stars as Canis Major, it still plays an important role in completing the picture. You can find it a bit to the northeast of Orion, lining up neatly with Sirius and the Hunter’s belt.
When all three rise together, they create an incredible scene. They’re part of what’s called the Winter Triangle, a big pattern of bright stars that lights up the winter night sky. It’s like a natural showcase of some of the most dazzling stars in the heavens, and once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to forget.
Enjoy this stunning celestial lineup throughout the week of January 24! The universe has quite a spectacle in store for us.
Making butter at home is surprisingly simple and really satisfying! All you need is some heavy cream—and maybe a pinch of salt if you want salted butter. Start by pouring the cream into a mixing bowl, blender, or food processor.
If you want a workout and have an old butter churn use this. Just don’t fill it up too much because the cream will expand as you whip it. Now, whip the cream at medium-high speed. At first, it’ll turn into whipped cream (which is already pretty tempting to stop at!), but keep going. After a few minutes, you’ll see it separate into a liquid (buttermilk) and solid butter. That’s when you know it’s ready.
Once it separates, you’ll need to strain it. Just pour the whole thing through a strainer or cheesecloth to collect the buttermilk. By the way, you can totally save that buttermilk for baking—it’s great for pancakes or biscuits! Now, take the butter and rinse it under cold water. Gently knead it with your hands or a spatula while rinsing until the water runs clear. This step is important because it removes any leftover buttermilk, which helps your butter stay fresh longer.
Here’s the fun part: flavoring! If you like salted butter, sprinkle in a pinch of salt and mix it in. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add herbs, garlic, or even a touch of honey for something extra special. Once you’re happy with it, shape your butter into a ball or press it into a container. Pop it in the fridge, and it’ll keep for about a week or two—or freeze it if you want to save it for later.
And that’s it! You’ve made your own butter without the coloring and preservatives. It’s fresh, delicious, and feels like such an accomplishment. Plus, it’s always fun to share with family or friends—they’ll be impressed, I promise!
