I have large tomatoes, plenty of them...that is not the trouble. Hornworms. and cracking, those are the troubles. Right now, I am picking the fruits just turning red and ripening them on my window. Hornworms are officially called Manduca quinquemaculata. As caterpillars they are voracious pests, munching through incredible amounts of your tomato harvest. How To Prevent Hornworms? Till … [Read more...] about Tomato Troubles
August
August Lilies
Lilies are one of the main joys of August, if you ask me. These are not the blooms of the Asian lilies that come earlier in the season, but those lushly fragrant Oriental lilies and the tall spires of Trumpet and Aurelian strains.These are opulent flowers, luxurious in color, form and perfume.If you don't have the late season lilies blooming in your garden, the time to order them is now, … [Read more...] about August Lilies
August is time to divide and plant perennials
Butterfly within the Lilac BranchesEvery year, August feels too hot and dry to be digging and planting, but late August is an especially good time to give new perennials a start in the garden. The trouble with this time of year is mainly the hot sticky weather for the gardener, and it is often too dry for the plants. That means attention to watering is usually necessary. Yes, you can wait until … [Read more...] about August is time to divide and plant perennials
Garden update: August 2009
Last few days of the month mean a garden update is in order. In some ways the garden is an ogre again, but in a Shrek sort of way.Walking around the garden and putting in two bits worth of work this last week... here are my observations:The month has had dips and hills of temperature change, and right now it is cooler and we have had plenty of rain. It made the weeding much easier, so we cleaned … [Read more...] about Garden update: August 2009
Flowering Kale
Kale For Sale It's time to think of the autumn phase of the garden already. When we picture autumn we picture the trees ablaze with color, at least here in the Midwest, and in the Northeast of the USA. Other players on the stage, perhaps with a supporting role, but many of them bring lots of color and add to the tapestry of of the season... and one of those is in the cabbage … [Read more...] about Flowering Kale
Peonies in my Garden
I grow the herbaceous type of peony, both the types with single and double blooms. I love their fragrance and the delicate satin texture of their petals. They have good looking foliage on round bush-like plants, and for lots of people they say "Spring has truly arrived". Their blooms are so full and opulent, alone in a vase they are magnificent, mixed with other flowers they hold center stage. … [Read more...] about Peonies in my Garden
Hot, Hazy, Lazy August
That is what it is like here, the heat finally made it in conjunction with the thunderstorms, and we are steaming. The grass is growing and I might make it out there early tomorrow to mow ( if it doesn't rain again) but there is no way I am going to melt away in this heat. What survives -survives. Trying to be one of the surviviors here....Not that I am complaining- my part of Ohio went relatively … [Read more...] about Hot, Hazy, Lazy August
Garden Update August 22
It seems a bit soggy here, but we don't have the heavy rains that they have suffered in other parts of Ohio. Usually, because of the high water table, if we get lots of rain there is ponding, but we are not experiencing that. The weatherman says that because the ground was dry the rain sheeted off into the waterways. Likely so.All is green and I have tomatoes but they are still green - no sun, no … [Read more...] about Garden Update August 22
Dividing Daylilies
Multiply Your DayliliesDividing daylilies is the best way to create more plants for the garden. Daylilies are both beautiful and practical perennials. Their beauty is obvious, aided by hybridizers who have increased the characteristics of height , color, flower form, and even length of blooming season. Practical because they are so hardy, disease free, and tolerant of many difficult … [Read more...] about Dividing Daylilies
The Last of August Blooming
August is fading, it's farewell lost on whispering wind while the Labor Day weekend is flashed on the screen of our minds. People are busy with their new school years and have already said their goodbyes to summer, the last of August is simply a tags end sale of afterthoughts. But there are blooms and beauties, anyway.As I took my morning walk today I passed the chicory blooms along the roadside; … [Read more...] about The Last of August Blooming
August Gardening: Ten Suggestions
Yes, it is hot, and no one feels like doing much gardening in the dog days of summer, but here are ten suggestions for your gardening efforts. Remember that August is a good time to weed, and get things ready for fall season planting. September is an important time to plant perennials so they can get established during the late September and October times of moderate … [Read more...] about August Gardening: Ten Suggestions