A Walk in a Peony GardenHere in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon the spring days are inching their way into summer. What better time to visit a local commercial peony garden to take in the sight of these wonderful plants in bloom.
Refurbishing a Sedum ChairGarden projects incorporating sedum and sempervivum need occasional maintenance to continue looking good.
A Low-Water-Use Sedum Accent GardenIf you live in an area where water costs are high, you might consider making an "accent" garden using various sedums.
Don't Toss Those Old Tomato Seeds Before Their Time!Tomato seeds can stay viable for many years. Just reseal the packet, place in a ziplock sandwich bag and store in the refrigerator crisper. I have had good germination on tomato seeds that were 10+ years old. As you can see, it is also useful to keep track of the number of remaining seeds in the packets from season to season. Without reopening the packet you will have the information at hand to know when to reorder seeds.
Quest for the Tastiest TomatoesAvid gardeners everywhere love to talk about their favorite tomato varieties. But how do you know which tomatoes you would like the most, especially if you are a beginning gardener?
Tango Patterned LiliesSpots, dots, speckles, freckles, all on steroids. This describes in a nutshell the markings on tango patterned lilies.
Removing Lily Pollen StainsIt's bound to happen. We are out in the garden enjoying our flowers, perhaps leaning in a bit to sniff the lilies or scrunching in closer for that perfect photograph. Later we find smears of lily pollen on our clothing.
Lilies for the GardenHybrid lilies (genus Lilium) are sorted into eight divisions that are based on their genetic background. The most common and readily available lilies for the garden are from Division I, Asiatic hybrids; Division VI, Trumpet hybrids; Division VII, Oriental hybrids; and Division VIII, Interspecific or hybrids that don't fit into any of the other seven divisions.
Japanese IrisesThe cultivation of Iris ensata was first noted in literature more than five hundred years ago in Japan. Native to eastern China, Siberia, Korea, and throughout Japan, they are found growing in damp areas near streams, ponds, lakes, and marshes. The selective breeding of the species that commenced in the 1800s produced the foundation of the modern Japanese iris. Colors and color patterns have been greatly enhanced over the years.
