By SongofJoy
December 31, 2012
| A Quick Bulb Tip| When planting bulbs, make sure the bottom of the bulb is in direct contact with the bottom of the planting hole. A gap can allow an air pocket to form and possibly cause the bulb to rot.
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By SongofJoy
December 12, 2012
| Value Mistletoe| Mistletoe has often been considered a pest that kills trees as well as degrading and devaluing natural habitat. The plant has now been recognized as an ecological keystone species, playing "a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community" (Wikipedia). |
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By SongofJoy
December 4, 2012
| Glossary: Cleistogamus| Cleistogamus is a Greek word meaning closed mouth. Cleistogamus flowers are small, inconspicuous closed self-pollinating flowers that are additional to and often more fruitful than the open showier flowers on the same plant. Violas and peas are examples of cleistogamus plants. |
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By SongofJoy
November 28, 2012
| Harvesting Juniper Berries| Edible common Juniper berries (Juniperus communis) turn from green to dark blue when ripe and to black when dried. To dry them, pick only ripe blue berries and allow to dry. Crush the dried berries well just before using; flavor will decline quickly when exposed to air. Three or four berries should flavor most dishes without being overpowering. Pregnant women and those with kidney problems should avoid Juniper berries due to their diuretic qualities. |
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By SongofJoy
November 9, 2012
| Cold Weather Gardening Tip| Watering before a predicted freeze helps outoor plants, especially container plants, make it through a hard freeze by allowing the plants to take up moisture before the soil or ground is frozen, preventing water from reaching the root zone. Making sure your outdoor plants have adequate hydration is one of the best ways to protect them from harsh weather.
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By SongofJoy
May 31, 2012
| Seed Bombs| A fun, easy, and environmentally friendly way to plant large or difficult to reach areas is with seed bombs. A typical recipe for seed bombs is: 5 parts dry powdered natural clay, 3 parts dry organic compost,1 part seed,1-2 parts water.
After mixing together all of the dry ingredients, slowly add water to the mixture until the mixture sticks together but isn't too wet or so dry and crumbly that you cannot roll it into balls. Roll into quarter-size balls. Let dry for 48-72 hours. Bombs away! |
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By SongofJoy
May 10, 2012
| Poison Ivy Tip| Need to eradicate poison ivy in your yard this spring? If the leaves are still young and shiny, spray the plant with a solution of 4 tablespoons pure liquid soap (not detergent) mixed in a quart of water. This can kill surrounding vegetation as well so be careful when spraying. And don't handle any parts of the dead plants without gloves and skin protection since the toxic oil (urushiol) can remain active for years in a dead poison ivy plant. |
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By SongofJoy
February 13, 2012
| Toxic (to Pets) Plants| Gardeners love their plants and their pets. Many popular house plants such as Ivy and Philodendron are poisonous to cats. The following list contains a few of the more common house plants toxic to them: Arrowhead Fern, Amaryllis, Anthurium, Avocado, Cactus, Caladium, Chrysanthemum, Creeping Fig, Crocus, Croton, Daffodil, Dieffenbachia, Euphorbias, Fiddleleaf Fig, Holly, Hydrangea, Ivy, Easter Lily (most lilies are highly toxic to cats), Mistletoe, Narcissus, Philodendron, Tomato leaves. |
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By SongofJoy
February 10, 2012
| A Drought-Tolerant Garden| The year 2011 was a violent weather year in the US, with at least 12 weather-related disasters exceeding a billion dollars in damage. Some say it was Earth's most extreme weather year since 1816. Much of the country suffered from record heat and drought . . . and so did the yards and gardens. (1,286 words - Full article) |
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By SongofJoy
January 25, 2012
| Bokashi for the Garden| Bokashi is a Japanese word literally translated as shading off. It has come to denote the process of anaerobic fermentation of organic waste that produces what is known as beneficial and effective microorganisms. The resulting organic material might be likened to probiotics for the soil. (883 words - Full article) |
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By SongofJoy
January 13, 2012
| Keep a Gardening Calendar| January is a good time to start keeping a personal gardening calendar. Use any type of calendar you like, but a wall calendar that already has large, empty blocks of space allotted for each day is ideal to hang where it can easily be seen daily. Hang a pen along with it to jot down notes, garden observations, and reminders for future reference.
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By SongofJoy
December 27, 2011
| Uses for Mesh Bags| Reuse mesh produce bags to store bulbs and tubers. A small plastic nursery pot placed in the bottom of the bag helps keep the mesh extended and makes it easier to insert and remove tubers. The mesh bags are also good for scrubbing birdbaths, garden tools, and other implements without scratching and can be used for stuffing with nesting materials to hang outside for the birds in spring. |
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By SongofJoy
October 10, 2011
| All About Schlumbergera| Winter blooms can be especially enchanting and are very much appreciated by most gardeners. The genus Schlumbergera provides us with beautiful blooms during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and beyond. Let's take a closer look at these plants and learn how to successfully cultivate their beautiful blooming colors. (887 words - Full article) |
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