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Interesting Facts for Gardeners

Old Fashioned Gardening

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Cottage gardens and English borders are examples of "Old Fashioned Gardening". Why say that? I think it has to do with the amount of work one is prepared to do, the need for intensive gardening techniques, and the result of an abundant all season show. It is common in more modern landscapes and lifestyles to have goals of work reduction, ease of maintenance, and simplicity in design. Compare … [Read more...] about Old Fashioned Gardening

Discussion on What Versailles May Teach a Modern Homeowner

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I found the following video fascinating. It covers many topics of interest to modern homeowners and gardeners, foodies and historians. I want to take some of the quotes- there were so many! The simplest, most zenlike is that there is no garden without the gardener. Watch the video... which topic struck you as one to think about? https://youtu.be/fC19JpKmsXI In discussing the present … [Read more...] about Discussion on What Versailles May Teach a Modern Homeowner

Spring Fever Struck

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Daffodils always bring Spring's message All my life I've heard the phrase, "Spring Fever", but oddly enough I don't think I ever properly knew the meaning of it.  I had the impression that it meant some kind of seasonal frenzy, a result of people becoming feverish to get on with the business of the new season of growing, spring cleaning, and activities like that. It turns out that it is … [Read more...] about Spring Fever Struck

Garden Hints and Tips #457

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I just made that number up, but not the helpful garden tip!Buy lots of Bounce Dryer Sheets.The Garden Professors shared this nugget:Entomologist Dr. Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University and his group were intrigued by Master Gardener anecdotes of dryer sheets repelling mosquitoes, though no research had been done. Could your common Bounce sheet also repel other pests? And, to take it a step … [Read more...] about Garden Hints and Tips #457

Garden Fashion – New Trend

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You may not think about it that way, but gardening is as much a fashion victim as home interiors. Who has avocado green appliances any more? And who admits to little circles of flowers in the front yard? Point made. Large scale landscaping follows the same track on a bigger scale, and probably over a longer time span.Sometimes we need change, something to keep our surrounding fresh, and sometimes … [Read more...] about Garden Fashion – New Trend

Nomenclature to just keep us on our toes.

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Symphyotrichum... three guesses what old flower that new designation labels. Give up? Asters. Just plain old new world asters like the "aster novae-angliae". Profiled here, properly, I'm afraid I used the old name when I wrote about asters in September. While researching for writing I also discovered that the autumn clematis had another name change, as well. It is C. ternifolia, now. To trace it … [Read more...] about Nomenclature to just keep us on our toes.

Diatoms

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I happened upon a most amazing picture. Who knew that diatoms were such a lovely lot? Organic gardeners know that diatomaceous earth is useful for insect control, but I was surprised at its uses. There are food grade and pool grade, the latter being poisonous, but the food grade is good for worming, and to get rid fo fleas. I didn't know that! Precautions of not being downwind of it, as it is … [Read more...] about Diatoms

Helping Your Honeybees

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Scientific American had an article on "Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Bees" which follows the pathways of bee demise and the various theories surrounding why the bees and their colonies collapse wholesale. At the end is this statement:simple changes in agricultural practices such as breaking up monocultures with hedgerows could help restore balance in honeybees' diets, while providing … [Read more...] about Helping Your Honeybees

Garden Conversations

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We've got a good conversation going in When I buy a plant....I think it is something to keep posting about and letting it fully develop in 2009. Especially as we gt into our growing season here in the North. We could talk about what we like or don't like in the years offerings... and find out how customers, nurseries, and suppliers can help support each other for that win-win situation of better … [Read more...] about Garden Conversations

Symbols of Plenty

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Earlier in the season I posted some pictures of gourds from a roadside stand. It seems like gourds are an icon of harvest and their colors and wildly varied shapes lend themselves to crafts and decorations.They are not hard to grow, my mother used to plant some in her postcard patch of garden and we had our own harvestings in October for little cornucopias, etc. at Thanksgiving time. I think every … [Read more...] about Symbols of Plenty