(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Flowers on 2008-01-14, 22:54:22

I think this must be the first time I've ever made it to Garden Blogger's Bloom Day on time. Ok...you can stop cheering now!

Anyway, here's a few of my bloomin' plants as they settle into summer survival mode;

Anigozanthos - Kangaroo Paw

This was the only surviving Kangaroo Paw from a seedling tray of eight that we bought last year. Not only did it survive but it's flowered on-and-off for the past few months. However, it has grown enough to divide ...yet!

Osteospermum ecklonis 'Nasinga Purple' - African Daisy

I am absolutely fascinated with the way this osteospermum's blooms pipe at the end their petals. It's a similar look to the Gaillardia "Fanfare" and is quite unique.

Alyogyne hakeifolia - Native Hibiscus

We have two versions of this plant; the Purple flowered and the Cream flowered. Yet, the purple variety seems to be far more photogenic.

Lantana camara - Yellow Lantana

We really wanted a prostrate yellow lantana but couldn't find one so we went with this shrub version. However, as it's located beneath our Grevillea "Austral Gold" it doesn't get much say in the matter and hugs the ground beautifully.

Unknown Groundcover

This ground cover - not sure of its name - has become a great filler in the garden. It covers every unfilled spot and even tries to take on some of the bigger plants for scarce soil.

Lavatera maritima- Australian Hollyhock or Tree Mallow

You may remember when I pruned this lavatera back earlier in the year. It's made a fine recovery and is now starting to show off its fitness with a few flowers.

(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from the Old Farmer's Almanac))

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 20:00:00

Can you tell me the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

(Via An Iowa Garden)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 18:55:00

The words Pinellia and prolific seem to go together; the two pinellias I've recently shown (tripartita and petatisecta) are quite frisky to near invasive respectively, and P. ternata is recommended only if you have a gravel driveway you want converted to foliage. However, then there is the other side of the coin; Pinellia cordata, which is sometimes called "miniature dragon". It is demure to the point of delicacy, being considered borderline hardy in zone 5, and borderline difficult everywhere.
It is a small little rambler, but apparently rambles off into oblivion as often as not, from what I read about other gardeners' experiences. My little plant pictured above has hung around for six or seven years, never getting much bigger, though I do now have a second plant that I grew from planting one of the leaf bulbils (you can see a leaf bulbil just forming at the base of the leaf in the top picture). Cordata is only about six inches tall, but its leaves are the cream of the Pinellia world; they have silver patterning on the green upper surface, and the backs of the leaves are purple; when the leaves are first unfurling, these purple backs are held up to view and are quite striking. The little "jack" like reproductive structures have extraordinarily long "tails", and they have a faint, fruity smell. I've seen it described as ripe bananas, bubble gum, pineapple and lemon; I'd describe it as Juicy Fruit gum.
There is a named cultivar available commercially, labeled Yamazaki; it has somewhat larger and well-patterned leaves, but I get the impression it may be slightly less hardy. I wouldn't be surprised though, if some of the cordatas that are lost are due to the fact that it is quite late to emerge every spring. I know in my garden, every spring I think, "Well, the cordata must finally be a goner" when it fails to appear in spring (I have it planted next to a clump of yellow ladyslippers and a cyclamen hederifolium). Then a few weeks later, I happen by, and there it is, creeping about the other plants in a very shy manner; in late spring then, it's tiny little floral structures arise.
I would think zone 5 (I'm 5a) is about as far north as I'd try this one, and it really needs a nice little shady spot, with loose rich soil all to itself, with special attention to not accidentally digging it up when it doesn't appear right away in the spring. It's certainly not a landscape plant, but it registers a bonafide 10 on the cute-o-meter.

(Via An Iowa Garden)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 18:55:00

The words Pinellia and prolific seem to go together; the two pinellias I've recently shown (tripartita and petatisecta) are quite frisky to near invasive respectively, and P. ternata is recommended only if you have a gravel driveway you want converted to foliage. However, then there is the other side of the coin; Pinellia cordata, which is sometimes called "miniature dragon". It is demure to the point of delicacy, being considered borderline hardy in zone 5, and borderline difficult everywhere.
It is a small little rambler, but apparently rambles off into oblivion as often as not, from what I read about other gardeners' experiences. My little plant pictured above has hung around for six or seven years, never getting much bigger, though I do now have a second plant that I grew from planting one of the leaf bulbils (you can see a leaf bulbil just forming at the base of the leaf in the top picture). Cordata is only about six inches tall, but its leaves are the cream of the Pinellia world; they have silver patterning on the green upper surface, and the backs of the leaves are purple; when the leaves are first unfurling, these purple backs are held up to view and are quite striking. The little "jack" like reproductive structures have extraordinarily long "tails", and they have a faint, fruity smell. I've seen it described as ripe bananas, bubble gum, pineapple and lemon; I'd describe it as Juicy Fruit gum.
There is a named cultivar available commercially, labeled Yamazaki; it has somewhat larger and well-patterned leaves, but I get the impression it may be slightly less hardy. I wouldn't be surprised though, if some of the cordatas that are lost are due to the fact that it is quite late to emerge every spring. I know in my garden, every spring I think, "Well, the cordata must finally be a goner" when it fails to appear in spring (I have it planted next to a clump of yellow ladyslippers and a cyclamen hederifolium). Then a few weeks later, I happen by, and there it is, creeping about the other plants in a very shy manner; in late spring then, it's tiny little floral structures arise.
I would think zone 5 (I'm 5a) is about as far north as I'd try this one, and it really needs a nice little shady spot, with loose rich soil all to itself, with special attention to not accidentally digging it up when it doesn't appear right away in the spring. It's certainly not a landscape plant, but it registers a bonafide 10 on the cute-o-meter.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to Little Osa, Michigan, Mr. Hyper, Winter, food, girlgonegardening, holidays, houseplants, pets, photos, rabbits, weather, white on 2008-01-14, 17:58:00

25*, feels like 14*, 83% humidity, W 12 mph wind, light snow As you can see, our weather is back to normal seasonal winter crud. I was afraid my outside plants would start thinking that it was time to grow which would be disasterous. Yesterday I took the first step in raising my own meat here at GGG. Mr. Hyper and I drove up into Michigan to rescue a bunny that was heading for freezer camp with

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to California, The Foothills on 2008-01-14, 16:02:53

Returning to work last Friday we had no idea that the weather had gotten so bad while we we’re gone. In southern California we kept hearing about the approaching storm. While in Riverside the wind did pick up but not that bad. It was interesting that while we were in Santa Barbara it did rain one night but by morning it was clear.

So when we got to the nursery we we’re surprised to hear the power had been out four days. The wind was a 50 year record! Trees were down all over northern California and in the foothills power remained out for some as long as seven days. We had power at the nursery but it was weird. Some things worked, others didn’t. Lights glowed at half their strength. PG&E said we had lost our negative wire when the trees blew against the power pole. This is a dangerous situation that Monica and I had no idea about. They cut the power to the store, fixed the pole, and got us power, all in the dark! One guy in a boom truck with a chain saw and lights got the job done. Our utility deserves credit for their hard work. Just a couple of miles from here a utility repairman was electrocuted trying to get the power back on.

The clean up will take days but we are glad we didn’t loose any large trees like Alden Lane Nursery did. That nursery, located a couple of hours from here in Livermore lost one of, if not “the” signature oak tree of the nursery, which had stood for centuries. I have been to Alden Lane and met owner Jackie Courtright and she must be devastated at the loss. Here is a link to their website and I assume the tree mentioned is the one in the picture. What a storm!

This next week we should receive our bare root fruit trees. While I don’t like the physical part of dealing with them (as I get older my back “talks” to me more) I do like having something new and fresh to get the season rolling. We will plant up half of the trees right away for spring sales and sell the rest “bare root”. I wish bare root season was a growing side of the business but as people become less knowledgeable about gardening many don’t even realize there is a bare root season. Customers want fruit trees when they are shopping in spring, hence the reason we pot half of them up. We may start potting up a greater percentage in the future if sales dictate it.

We are having our fruit tree pruning workshop this Saturday from 11 to noon. It is in the event tent, which I am amazed didn’t blow over. We’ll have coffee, hot chocolate and tea. See you there.

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 14:43:25

It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's a--Boxelder Beetle? They are in the air, on your trees, on your house, in your house, and now in your hair. Yep, you have a bad case of the Boxelder Beetles.

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 14:41:31

One of the problems with global warming is that no one, including the crocuses, is quite sure when spring begins. I love spring and I await it's arrival every year hoping that it will be earlier than it was the previous year. I check to see if the snowdrops are peeking out from the soil, or perhaps a daffodil has broken through( not likely.)

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 13:59:59

Winter survival for backyard birds not only depends on a place to live, but also a place that provides food, water and a safe haven from predators. Here are some hints to help you find comfort knowing that you have helped your feathered friends.

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-14, 13:40:25

Organic gardening information is not so hard to come by since it has become trendy. Garden centers offer organic compost, soils and seeds on a regular basis, and most will be happy to offer you advice as well.