Archive for June, 2007
Ask the Gardener – Fungus
June 23rd, 2007 | 
Author: 
Maria asked,
Help! Last year I had a mysterious fungus in my garden that destroyed my green beans, peas, and cucumbers. I sprayed a fungicide but the same this is happening this year! What am I doing wrong?
Maria,
Without a bit more info, I can’t be sure what kind of fungus you have, but I’ll take a guess: Are the plants shriveling up at the base as young seedlings? If so, the fungus is called damping off and can be avoided by planting seeds that are treated with a fungicide. Of course, this means you aren’t growing organic veggies. This fungus stays in the ground for several years, so if you do want to go organic, you’ll need to plant in a different area next year.
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My Garden Buddy
I wish I could convince this little girl to move inside. She was an outdoor kitten belonging to my neighbor and after he died, I kind of inherited her. She’s soo sweet and calm outside, but if I take her in, she panics and throws herself against the doors and windows until I let her back out. She lives on my back porch (and has a cat house to sleep in) but I still worry about her.
She spends hours wandering around the gardens with me or perching on my shoulder and staring at flowers and flying things. Cats are great gardeners – she doesn’t dig huge holes or run off with my gardening tools like my dogs do.
Sandcastles – A Fun Summer Break From Gardening
Sometimes, no matter how much I love my garden, there are days when it is just too hot to go out and work in my flower beds. At times like these, I need a diversion. Here’s a really fun and easy one that is perfect for doing with the kids – Sandcastles.
We actually made a couple of these ecards and sent them to everyone in the family. It only takes a few seconds to figure out how it works and the kids had no trouble manipulating the different pieces to make their castle. This is one I made – the only thing it is missing is a flower garden in the front yard…You can also paint the sand different colors, wash part of your sand castle away and add beach toys and other things to the scene. I went with a sea gull and a star fish as accessories, but I think I should have included a little flag at the very least. The good news is, I can go back and build another one without driving two hours to the beach. Hey, and when I’m done, there won’t be any sand to wash from between my fingers and toes. (Although that may not actually be a plus. I like walking barefoot on the beach, especially when the sand looks this white and clean.) By the way, if you really love your sandcastle, you can use it as computer wallpaper, too.
Daisies Brighten Any Day
Aren’t they the happiest little flowers? Just wild daisies in my butterfly/wildflower area, but they are so jolly. I love the way these flowers brighten partial shade and attract bees and butterflies.
June Garden Fest
Welcome to the June 2007 edition of garden fest. As you enjoy the beauty of your garden, please remember to be safe. Lyme disease, West Nile Virus and other nasty things are lurking.
Doug Green presents Can You Hold It Down a Little? posted at Doug Green’s Garden, saying, “Grumpy garden writer flashed by oriole”
Maureen presents An English Garden posted at Empty Nest, saying, “My mother learnt gardening by trial and error and always had a beautiful garden”
Garden Hints
Karen Shanley presents Planting by the Moon posted at Karen Shanley.
Josh presents Grow Blackberries Right in Your Backyard posted at Gillingham Farms, saying, “Plant your own blackberries with better results and complete knowledge.”
Josh presents Blackberry Health Effects posted at Gillingham Farms.
Kevin Hendrix presents Hummingbird Feeder Pest Solutions posted at Kevin Hendrix.
Josh presents Blackberry Types and Varieties posted at Gillingham Farms, saying, “There are generally few differences in the cultural needs of the many varieties of blackberries. Varieties differ in fruit size, flavor, and appearance. Types and varieties also ripen at different times, however, all types are self pollination, so only one cultivar or variety is needed for fruit production….”
Debra Moorhead presents What Gardening Has Taught Me About Life posted at Debra Moorhead.com.
Herman van Bon & Yvonne de Wit presents Landscaping a rockery posted at Soekershof; the scientific backup, saying, “Soekershof; the scientific backup is a blog operated by Soekershof Walkabout, Mazes & Botanical Gardens in South Africa. Originally targetted on the customers of the own nursery by its launch in the beginning of May 2007 it serves nowadays many succulent lovers from around the globe.”
Garden Memories
Doug Green presents >Gardening and Life Lessons posted at Doug Green’s Garden, saying, “An interesting way to relearn a lesson”
Garden Woes
Riversider presents Save Penwortham Allotments – Stop Riverworks posted at Save The Ribble.
Gardening Brags
Becca presents The Sunshine State posted at Unplugging the “Stuff” Machine, saying, “Here are my lovely gardening first fruits! Ain’t they nice??”
Misc.
Irina presents Surrounded by Beauty posted at The IgNoble Experiment, a.k.a. Live Dangerously!.
Vera Nadine presents Tending the Glorious Garden posted at Vera Nadine – Discovering true hope through the magic of spirit, saying, “A celebration of the joy that planning your garden can bring. It’s a spiritual high!”
Mark Cutler presents Mark Cutler Design: Outdoor Rooms posted at Mark Cutler Design, saying, “I thought you might enjoy this article about Outdoor Rooms. With summer upon us, it gives some handy tips about outdoor living.”
Sue presents Plant update: bedding plants, figs, oranges posted at This is Cyprus.
:: Suzanne :: presents :: adventures in daily living ::: garden posted at :: adventures in daily living ::, saying, “garden photography”
andrea presents Beautiful Butterflies, Bees, Bugs: posted at Andrea’s Buzzing About…, saying, “The latest story from the garden insect photography page is titled, “Crush, Kill, Destroy!”
Several days ago I noticed that I had a couple of green peach aphids on some cabbagey plants. Did I pull out the insecticide? No, I waited a few days and returned with my camera to witness the inevitable carnage, because aphids are the McDinners of a number of beneficial predators, not just ladybird beetles, but also syrphid flies, lacewings, and most fearsome of all, the parasitoids! (Story comes with photographs and scientific names.)”
mark cutler presents 5 Books I Love about Gardens posted at Mark Cutler Design, saying, “Here is an article I wrote about some of my favorite Garden Books”
:: Suzanne :: presents Sunday Garden Tour posted at :: adventures in daily living ::.
Jeremy Hitchcock presents WTTF: Welcome to the Future » Archive » Weapons of Mass Harvesting posted at WTTF: Welcome to the Future, saying, “When gardening and politics collide. Feel free to use however you’d like. Thanks!”
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