I’ve been busy the last week or two potting some hostas that have gotten a little to big for their spaces, taking a daylily fan or two off some big clumps, digging some monarda (bee balms) and pulmonaria (lungworts) that have gone a little too far astray, and potted up some new lilium bulbs. I […]
Have you noticed? It’s spring! Lawns are green, perennials are popping out, and of course the weeds seem to spring up quickest of all. All of which makes May such a busy month for gardeners. We shake the dirt off any tools we forgot to clean, work the creaks out of our knees and tackle […]
So, you’ve been considering container gardening. Let’s think a bit more specifically about what it takes to create a spectacular pot. You don’t need professional help or specialty plants—Just take a walk down the aisles of your favorite garden center this spring and choose wisely. Plan the structure of your pot. The easiest way is […]
Nothing is so beautiful as Spring— When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush… Gerard Manley Hopkins The weeds have arrived. Are we celebrating their beauty? In my garden they preceded the snowdrops. I’m not sure they ever really left. While weeds compete with desired plants for space and nutrients—and we do battle—you […]
Available for your viewing pleasure and guidance, we now have MULTIPLE perennial plant-dividing workshops on the club website. If you want a non-professional tutorial with your own club officers doing a sometimes-entertaining film, be sure to watch them. They are included in your membership! So far, we have presented hostas, hybridizing daylilies, crossing daylilies and […]
May is a wonderful month because it brings warmth and sunshine into the garden. You are now putting plants into the garden and reaping the rewards with blooms and vegetables. Exercising—Continue exercising so your legs and arms can safely handle the workload. Bulbs—Allow bulb leaves to die naturally so the bulbs receive the sun’s energy […]
This isn’t exactly a job offer, but we do need your help. Today begins our plant sale which takes the place of our annual plant auction. We have NO income for our club; all fund raising was halted by the pandemic and we won’t even have dues since everyone took advantage of the two-years-for-one pricing. […]
It’s spring and weeds are springing! A common gardener’s saying is that a weed is “just a plant growing in the wrong place.” We know there are a number of weeds that are edible or used medicinally such as purslane and dandelions. Nevertheless, we don’t want them in our garden beds. Well, why not? Mostly […]
As the days get warmer, I start dreaming about a summer vacation. Often, my family will pack up and set off in our pop-up camper to stay a few nights in one of our national or state parks. The natural places in our country hold so much beauty! This year we probably won’t be heading […]
“Hardening Off” is the process of allowing plants to adjust from pampered conditions indoors to the harsher conditions outdoors. Seedlings especially need to adjust slowly to the harsh full sun, night temperatures, rains and winds. If you do not allow your plants to adjust slowly, the shock from being placed outdoors all at once may cause […]