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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 20:00:00

I have containers of plants in my office, and they seem to be attracting gnats. How can I get rid of the gnats without exposing my coworkers to insecticides? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

(Via gardenauthor)

Posted by admin to New humor blog, an invitation on 2008-02-13, 14:36:00

AN ANNOUNCEMENT and INVITATION to visit The Grouse and Chortle - not an old Scottish Inn, but merely what purports to be an amusing, maybe thought-provoking, blog. There are times I just want to 'cut loose' and have fun - more fun than I feel this stuffy old blog can be expected to host. So, I shall burble forth at will and hope that it entertains the reader. The maiden posting has been published, so check it out, as time permits. (Still working on the sidebar details, but it's functional.) ENJOY.......... Deb (aka 'gardenauthor')

©2008 Deb Lambert

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 14:13:21

Watering your garden is a very important function. It needs to be done properly. When watering or irrigating your garden, remember the four 'Golden Rules' of Irrigation: 1) Know where to water, 2) Know how much water to apply, 3) Know how fast you should apply that water; 4)Know how often to water. Weather, soil type and plant type affect the rules of watering. Watering your garden is not as simple as turning on the hose and let it run for a while.

(Via OregonLive.com: Dig in with Kym)

Posted by admin to musings on 2008-02-13, 13:59:34

Sarcococca: One of winter's treasures. One quick thought today: If I could bottle the fragrance of Sarcococca (sweet box), I'd be one happy girl. I wouldn't expect the city of Portland to be subtle enough to have planted this extravagantly...

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 13:31:25

It seems that home composting used to be a thing of the past. Is it picking up in popularity again with the talk of the environmentally friendly phase? See for yourself as you find out the benefits of home composting in your backyard.

(Via grow this)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 13:05:00

“The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree,

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.”

- Robert Frost “Dust of Snow” 1923

Keep an eye on the little things. The freesia growing in the rocks by the old pond are already in bud. Days are getting longer, and hange is in the air. There may be more snow, ice, rain for some gardeners. But, regardless of our climate, something is happening beneath our feet. I can feel it when I stroll through the back yard. Neglected for months, things look scruffy – like your old boyfriend when he needed a haircut. I can still see the potential, but there’s work to be done.

So, I’m getting ready to take on the challenges again. The first days and weeks in the Spring are taken up with cleaning up, digging out, plotting and planning. The seed packets wait patiently in their cool dry box on the porch. But it’s not yet time.

Meanwhile, I wait inside, trying to prepare for the season of hard work. I’m flabby and out of shape. Just trotting out and back to dump kitchen waste and turn the compost, I feel slow and sluggish – my rueful mood darkened by the short trip through the neglected yard.

I'm feeling sluggish and lethargic, but the garden is beginning to come our of hibernation.

Although I don’t have snow, or hemlock trees, or crows trespassing in my yard, I return to the house refreshed by the crisp cool air, my mood improved and my heart softened. I saw my first hyacinth today, shyly appearing in an unexpected place. Did I plant you there?

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 09:45:36

If you decide not to fully take care of your lawn yourself, you will need to find a professionals at a lawn and tree care service to do it for you. There are plenty of services available, so you can find the one that is right for you based on price, reputation, etc.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 09:28:55

Whether your interest lies in growing flowers or vegetables, the Hydroponic Gardening System, is for you. It is an easy to start, low cost and highly productive and personally, a very rewarding recreation or past time, that will show maximum yield, flavour and colours to whatever you grow. Whether you garden for fun, food or for profit, you also get to reap the rewards of hydroponic gardening without breaking the bank.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-13, 09:24:26

Most people who own their own garden do so at least in part, because they want a touch of nature in their backyard, as way of relief from the glass, concrete and asphalt of urban life. Is it possible though, within the confines of a town or suburb plot, to develop a "natural retreat" in a space that is inevitably artificial and manipulated? The short answer has to be negative.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to roses, seeds, trees on 2008-02-13, 08:51:00

19*, feels like 8*, 65% humidity, NW 9 mph wind, fair, FLOOD WARNING I get kind of antsy for baby plants this time of year. Any seeds I put into cold stratification are fair game. So yesterday, I took out from the crisper, a few baggies of seeds and put in a few baggies that have been given warm stratification first--like Japanese maples, Virginia rose, and hellebore. Out came the rugosas and