Archive for January, 2007
Gearing up for Spring
January 31st, 2007 | 
Author: Tomorrow is February 1st, which means it is time for me to start checking my seed starting equipment and making sure I have everything I need to begin sowing some of the slower growing plants. I didn’t get to work on Winter sowing at all this year. (Planting coldhardy seeds in containers and leaving them outside all Winter.) Maybe I’ll have things better organized next year.
It is also a good time to start shining up rusty tools and reviewing last year’s garden notes so I can place an order for some fill in the blank spot shrubs and perennials.
Posted in 
Book Review – 75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden
If your vegetable garden is your pride and joy, you may want to take a look at Jack Staub’s book, 75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden. This book is worth buying just for the lovely watercolor illustrations, which are done by Ellen Buchert. However, the information about each plant is just as well done. Each of the 75 plants has it’s own section. It begins with a quote about the plant or a short historical tidbit and goes on to give a history of the plant’s origins. Growing instructions and cooking information finish off each section.
Staub has written about each plant in such an easy to read and interesting manner that I enjoyed reading about even those vegetables that I don’t plan to grow and I now have a rather alarmingly large list of new plants to try in next year’s garden. In fact, the lovely illustrations have inspired me to add a few of these vegetables to my plans for next year’s flower borders, as well.
75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden is sure to please even the most jaded vegetable grower. This book is so nicely done that it makes an ideal gift for plant lovers, expecially when it is tucked into a basket with a few vegetable seed packets and a good pair of gardening gloves. I give this lovely little book five out of five sunflowers.
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book $8.9 Revised to suit the busy schedules and health-conscious attitudes of today’s cooks, this edition features recipes for more than 1,200 tasty appetizers, entrees, salads, and desserts, including ethnic and regional dishes. New to this edition is an … |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes (Spiral) $14.67 Description not available. |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Diabetic Recipes (Spiral) $14.22 This is a Better Home and Gardens must have cook book for diabetics. It offers over 350 recipes that are sure to get your juices flowing. From appetizers to main courses this book has is all, including 32 full-color photos and is easy to read. |
|
|
Western Garden Book $22.84 Thoroughly revised and updated, this valuable gardening handbook for Western gardeners describes more than eight thousand plants and varieties that can be grown in twenty-four specific climates. |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Hardcover) $19.57 255 characters or less! |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Loose-leaf) $19.57 An all-new section showcases 100 winning recipes and contest favorites from Better Homes and Gardens Prize Tested Recipe Contest and Your Best Recipe Contest. |
|
|
Jerry Baker’s Giant Book of Garden Solutions $13.43 Description not available. |
|
|
The Tree Identification Book $15.22 A new method for the practical identification and recognition of trees — and an important supplement to existing botanical m |
|
|
C & T Publishing Aunt Millie’s Garden Quilt Book $14.82 Aunt Millie’s Garden guides you in making extraordinary quiltsBlock-of-the-month quilt lets you go at your own paceBook teaches using your scraps for all the bright and cheery applique design |
|
|
Marijuana Horticulture $19.57 Description not available. |
|
|
Toro Gardening Tools Collection … |
|
|
Black & Decker GH600 Grass Hog 14-Inch 5 amp Electric String Trimmer and Edger $38.52 Every home lawn enthusiast needs a reliable trimmer. When it comes to performance in the front or back yard, the Grass Hog 14-inch automatic feed string trimmer and edger provides what you need. This tool is powered by a 4.8 Amp electric motor that spins the line at 9,500 rpm and gives you a 14-inch cutting swath. An Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) system eliminates the need to bump the trimmer against… |
|
|
Black & Decker HH2450 Hedge Hog 24-Inch 3.3 amp Electric Dual-Action Hedge Trimmer $67.97 Features a 3.3A motor with inline design which allows user’s hands to be closer to the trimmer’s center of gravity for better balance and blade control. Soft grip handle for comfort. 24″ dual action, precision ground shearing blade for less vibration and… |
|
|
Hand Tools for the Lawn & Garden [VHS] $0.99 … |
|
|
Secrets of Flower Arranging [VHS] $17.99 Los Angeles flower designer Zsuzsa (pronounced Zúsa) Cziraky skillfully and artistically demonstrates and explains the fun and enjoyment of flower arranging. We learn when and how to use the tools of the trade – among them an oasis, a pin frog, silica gel, chicken wire, and assorted containers. With these tools, Zsuzsa creates a symmetrical, balanced flower arrangement while attending to form, co… |
|
|
Yardworks:Lawn Power Tools [VHS] $2.26 … |
|
|
Green Thumb Guide to Garden Design $2.80 This informative DVD is jam packed with easy to follow tips & expert advice for gardeners of every level. Hosts Peter Seabrook & Anne Swithinbank demonstrate how to turn a bare earth plot into a lush, beautiful garden! Peter & Anne include everything from planning & selecting the right tools to soil preparation, laying a new lawn, planting & more! 6 Exciting Chapters!… |
|
|
The ABCs of Pruning DVD $24.99 The ABC’s of Pruning is a must for every homeowner with a lawn, garden or other landscaping. With simple time-saving techniques, Landscape Designer Hugh Perry takes the mystique out of pruning. Here is all the information you need to beautify and protect your landscape investment. In just 30 engaging minutes, Hugh demonstrates how to trim trees, thin shrubs, salvage overgrown landscapes and more. … |
|
|
Mitigator Sting & Bite Treatment Scrub (1 Ounce Tube) $3.25 Skin Protectant: Relieves Itching Fast!Don’t Scratch! Scrub with Mitigator.Use on most insect stings and bites.Questions? 1-800-869-6096. For more information visit mitigator.net…. |
|
|
Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool $7.87 WINDEX OUTDOOR ALL-IN-ONE STARTER KIT *Streak-free shine in about 1/2 the time *Water activated pad contains Windex cleaner *Includes: 1 cleaning head, 1- handle, 4 -1′ pole sections 1- cleaning pad *Cleans up to 20 windows *Threaded end handle can be utilized for second story… |
Book Review – the Edible Flower Garden
I was pleasantly surprised by Rosalind Creasya’s book, The Edible Flower Garden. This book is much more than a list of edible flowers and a few recipes. It is a book for people who love flowers, but it is also a book for those who have a passion for cooking. Additionally, this book is filled with lovely photos.
The first section of the book, Edible Flower Gardens, discusses how to grow edible flowers and includes a very useful section on identifying and avoiding poisonous plants.
The second, section of the book, Encyclopedia of Edible Flowers, is the largest. This section is very well done. Each plant is clearly photographed to make identification easy. There is a how to grow and how to use section for each plant, as well. Although this encyclopedia does not list every edible flower, it is extensive enough to give the beginner a good start.
The final section of The Edible Flower Garden is Favorite Flower Recipes. The recipes are accompanied by mouth watering photos. I personally loved the recipe for Lavender Shortbreads.
An appendix with basic gardening information and a section on pest control finishes off the book.
If you want to find out more about edible flowers, don’t miss this book. I give The Edible Flower Garden 5 out of 5 Sunflowers.
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book $8.9 Revised to suit the busy schedules and health-conscious attitudes of today’s cooks, this edition features recipes for more than 1,200 tasty appetizers, entrees, salads, and desserts, including ethnic and regional dishes. New to this edition is an … |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes (Spiral) $14.67 Description not available. |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Diabetic Recipes (Spiral) $14.22 This is a Better Home and Gardens must have cook book for diabetics. It offers over 350 recipes that are sure to get your juices flowing. From appetizers to main courses this book has is all, including 32 full-color photos and is easy to read. |
|
|
Western Garden Book $22.84 Thoroughly revised and updated, this valuable gardening handbook for Western gardeners describes more than eight thousand plants and varieties that can be grown in twenty-four specific climates. |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Hardcover) $19.57 255 characters or less! |
|
|
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Loose-leaf) $19.57 An all-new section showcases 100 winning recipes and contest favorites from Better Homes and Gardens Prize Tested Recipe Contest and Your Best Recipe Contest. |
|
|
Jerry Baker’s Giant Book of Garden Solutions $13.43 Description not available. |
|
|
The Tree Identification Book $15.22 A new method for the practical identification and recognition of trees — and an important supplement to existing botanical m |
|
|
C & T Publishing Aunt Millie’s Garden Quilt Book $14.82 Aunt Millie’s Garden guides you in making extraordinary quiltsBlock-of-the-month quilt lets you go at your own paceBook teaches using your scraps for all the bright and cheery applique design |
|
|
Marijuana Horticulture $19.57 Description not available. |
|
|
Toro Gardening Tools Collection … |
|
|
Black & Decker GH600 Grass Hog 14-Inch 5 amp Electric String Trimmer and Edger $38.52 Every home lawn enthusiast needs a reliable trimmer. When it comes to performance in the front or back yard, the Grass Hog 14-inch automatic feed string trimmer and edger provides what you need. This tool is powered by a 4.8 Amp electric motor that spins the line at 9,500 rpm and gives you a 14-inch cutting swath. An Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) system eliminates the need to bump the trimmer against… |
|
|
Black & Decker HH2450 Hedge Hog 24-Inch 3.3 amp Electric Dual-Action Hedge Trimmer $67.97 Features a 3.3A motor with inline design which allows user’s hands to be closer to the trimmer’s center of gravity for better balance and blade control. Soft grip handle for comfort. 24″ dual action, precision ground shearing blade for less vibration and… |
|
|
Hand Tools for the Lawn & Garden [VHS] $0.99 … |
|
|
Secrets of Flower Arranging [VHS] $17.99 Los Angeles flower designer Zsuzsa (pronounced Zúsa) Cziraky skillfully and artistically demonstrates and explains the fun and enjoyment of flower arranging. We learn when and how to use the tools of the trade – among them an oasis, a pin frog, silica gel, chicken wire, and assorted containers. With these tools, Zsuzsa creates a symmetrical, balanced flower arrangement while attending to form, co… |
|
|
Yardworks:Lawn Power Tools [VHS] $2.26 … |
|
|
Mitigator Sting & Bite Treatment Scrub (1 Ounce Tube) $3.25 Skin Protectant: Relieves Itching Fast!Don’t Scratch! Scrub with Mitigator.Use on most insect stings and bites.Questions? 1-800-869-6096. For more information visit mitigator.net…. |
|
|
Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool $7.87 WINDEX OUTDOOR ALL-IN-ONE STARTER KIT *Streak-free shine in about 1/2 the time *Water activated pad contains Windex cleaner *Includes: 1 cleaning head, 1- handle, 4 -1′ pole sections 1- cleaning pad *Cleans up to 20 windows *Threaded end handle can be utilized for second story… |
|
|
Roundup 5100720 1-Quart Bonus Size 50-Percent Super Concentrate Weed and Grass Killer $45.95 Consumer label. Broad spectrum, nonselective, systemic weed and grass killer. Translocates through the plant to kill roots and all to control perennial and annual grasses and broadleaf weeds and brush. Biodegradable, will not wash or leach to affect nearb… |
|
|
Green Thumb Guide to Garden Design $2.80 This informative DVD is jam packed with easy to follow tips & expert advice for gardeners of every level. Hosts Peter Seabrook & Anne Swithinbank demonstrate how to turn a bare earth plot into a lush, beautiful garden! Peter & Anne include everything from planning & selecting the right tools to soil preparation, laying a new lawn, planting & more! 6 Exciting Chapters!… |
Book Review – Hydrangeas for American Gardens
Hydrangeas have been a favorite of mine ever since I moved to an old farmhouse in the middle of Baltimore City and saw an old fashioned Mop Head Hydrangea in full, glorious bloom in the back yard. The plant was probably fifty years old and incredibly big and vigorous. This one plant sparked a passion that is still going strong over twenty years later.
Hydrangeas for American Gardens by Michael Dirr is the most comprehensive book available on Hydrangeas. This is not just another pretty coffee table book. If you are interested in Hydrangeas, you will probably frequently refer to the book’s in depth information on Hydrangeas.
The book gives extensive information on many of the cultivars available, but neglects to give extensive zone hardiness information. This oversight is particularly unfortunate, since the book is written for gardens here in the USA, where Texas gardens are in an extremely different climate from Maine gardens. However, the book does note some hardiness information in the descriptions of various cultivars and it also has several lists of plants that are hardy and aren’t hardy below zone 7.
The book begins with the standard information that any good book on a single plant species covers. It discusses taxonomy and nomenclature. However, don’t let this scientific information put you off or make you feel the book will be too difficult to read. You can always move straight to chapter two.
I was pleased to see that chapter two of the book covers the usually neglected climbing hydrangea. I have a special fondness for these quiet, lush vines. Chapters three to ten continue to discuss hydrangea species, with chapter eleven covering some less common varieties. Chapter seven, Hydrangea macrophylla, includes an excellent cultivar chart that allows you to compare cultivars of these popular hydrangeas. A wonderful bonus in this book is the lovely colored pencil drawings scattered throughout these chapters.
Chapter twelve, Garden Care and Culture, discusses the best growing conditions for these plants. The section on flower color is particularly useful for those people longing for blue flowers on their pink bushes.
If you are interested in growing your own hydrangeas, don’t neglect the propagation advice in chapter thirteen. The information is simple enough for even a beginner to understand.
Chapter fourteen discusses pests and diseases, while fifteen covers a variety of additional information, such as how to cut blossoms. The final chapter covers the future of the hydrangea.
The book ends with a useful appendix of resources for anyone interested in tracking down some of the rarer cultivars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exceptional book. It is a definitive guide for anyone interested in hydrangeas. I give Hydrangeas for American Gardens five out of five sunflowers.
About the book:
Title: Hydrangeas for American Gardens
Author: Michael A. Dirr
Publisher: Timber Press
ISBN: 0-88192-641-8
Price:$29.95
Pages: 236
Worm Farming – Using Vermiculture to Recycle
Why would you want to make a worm farm? Well, vermiculture, as worm farming is called, is a great way to make rich compost. Besides, you can recycle kitchen scraps and newspapers for food and bedding for your worms.
Worm farms are great projects for kids. You can either buy worm farms or make your own. Either way, don’t run out and catch some worms from the yard. They will be too fat and lazy for your farm. You will need to buy red worms from a supplier. If the idea of worms in the house gives you the creepy crawlies, they can spend 3 seasons outdoors, but will need to spend the winter months in a garage or some other shelter where they won’t freeze.
When making your indoor worm farm, make sure the drainage holes in the bottom are big enough for excess water to drain off, but not too big for worms to escape. I had both problems with my first home-made farms. If the water can’t drain off, the worms will drown instead of thriving. If the holes are too large, you will constantly find yourself returning worms to their containers.
Once your drainage holes are drilled, shred newspaper and put it in the bottom of the container until it is several inches deep. Moisten the paper, but do not make it so wet that water is dripping from it. It should be about as wet as a sponge after you wring out the excess water.
Ideally, you should add an inch or so of soil from your yard or garden so that the worms have a nice place to start from. Now, it is time for you to give your worms some scraps. Make sure you only feed grains, fruits, and vegetables. You can add some coffee grounds or tea leaves, but use them sparingly since they are too acidic for worms. If you drink a lot of coffee, you will need to add the shells of hard boiled eggs to the worm farm to make them less acidic. Do not add the eggs themselves to the farm. Also avoid meat and dairy products, which will spoil and create a horrid smelling farm.
Make sure your worms have plenty of fresh air. You can either cover the farm with window screening and keep the lid ajar or drill a few small holes in the lid. Since the worms shouldn’t try to escape unless they are unhappy with the house you’ve provided, you can even just prop the lid up a bit, but I don’t recommend this since stepping on a slimy little worm in bare feet is absolutely disgusting.
If you keep your worms outside, make sure you provide shade in the summer so they don’t cook. Worms need to be under 85 degrees and above freezing to be happy. Keep an eye on the moisture level of the farm. If it gets too dry, make sure you add a bit of water, but do not over-water them or you will have a whole farm of drowned worms. If the bin is too wet, add an inch of dry newspaper pieces and leave the lid cracked a bit so the farm can dry out some.
As your worms settle in, you will get a feel for how much they eat and will be able to feed them the right amount of scraps. Don’t overfeed them, since the food scraps will spoil. As the food is devoured by the hungry worms, worm castings are created. This is a rich source of food for plants, but not ideal for worms. You will need to remove your worm castings and put fresh shredded newspaper in your worm farm when the worms have consumed most of the food you have provided. (If you can’t tell the banana peel is a banana peel anymore, they are ready for a fresh start.)
You can empty the entire farm and pick the worms out and put them back in to the farm on top of fresh bedding. An easier way to change the farm is to feed the worms on one side of the farm for a week so that most of them go over to that side. Change the side without the food and move the worms to that side by putting food on the fresh newspapers for a week. Now, change the second side of the farm.
With just a little maintenance, your worm form will provide a continuous source of rich plant food and you will be helping the environment by recycling scraps that would have gone to the landfill instead. In fact, you can even start a small business selling worms and worm castings to other people.