Posted on: 10 April, 2005
Author: Jenny Harker
Every year I plant the cosmos variety ?Versailles? by seed, as well as ?Seashell?, ?Sonata?, and ?Psycho?, in my garden (Cosmos bipannutus, Hardy to Zone 5). And every year my cosmos reach six feet or more in height, four feet in diameter, and drip with so many flowers it takes me hours to deadhead. Want the same results in your garden? Read on: The cosmos thrives in drought conditions. But complete neglect will kill it while too much of the opposite will produce, as my frustrated neighbor calls it, ?straggly weeds?. Here are my rules for growing towering Cosmos:1.Choose a...
Posted on: 09 April, 2005
Author: Lee Dobbins
Perennials are wonderful because, they bloom year after year. Sometimes, I forget that I even have them planted and then they spring up to my surprise and delight! I like to add some zip to my garden with flowers that are orange in color. They add a vibrant touch and the brilliant colors attract birds and insects. Heres some of my favorite orange perennials:Butterfly Weed This flowers in summer and can get as high as three feet. It has compact clusters of flowers and as the name implies, it does attract butterflies! Day Lily I see this beautiful...
Posted on: 03 April, 2005
Author: Kathy Burns-Millyard
Hummingbirds feed off of plants and a few insects, but because of the speed which their wings flutter when they're in flight, they tend to burn a heck of a lot of energy. They need to eat about every 15 minutes! You can help by providing Humming Bird Food, known as Hummingbird Nectar, in your yard or garden. There's no reason to buy it from the store either, because it's just simple sugar and water. And it's easy too: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. That's it. So, if you wanted to make 4 cups of Hummingbird Nectar, you'd...
Posted on: 26 March, 2005
Author: Gerry Fung
So youve decided to build your very own backyard water garden. You are in the process of actively planning out your design, and youre visualizing the end-result. But have you paused to consider what kind of pond construction you will be using? Do you know what kind of pond constructions exist? The majority of garden ponds utilize one of two types of constructions: a preformed shell, or a pond liner. Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome and difficult to transport. For example, a typical preformed pond kit would come in a box that is 60 x...
Posted on: 24 March, 2005
Author: Abigail Baker
A rose is a rose is rose - and there are few things in the garden more beautiful. There are 5 secrets I want to share that will help you to grow healthy roses. 1. Sunshine: Plan to put your rose bush in a spot where it will get as much sun at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. 2. Water: Drops of water on the leaves can cause burning, and lead to black spot disease so always water from underneath, soaking the earth until it is damp but not soggy. It is better to water thoroughly once a...
Posted on: 20 March, 2005
Author: Linda Paquette
Its a well known fact that the marigold flower is one of the favorites in the home garden, but as well as an attractive and useful bedding plant, the marigold has enjoyed continued use for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes as well. 1.The most common types of marigold are the wild marsh marigold, the tall African marigold, and the robust French marigold. African and French cultivars frequently are hybrid to sustain longer bloom and soften their pungent aroma. The resulting plant is called a triploid marigold, which is commonly called the mule marigold because of its poor ability to produce...
Posted on: 18 March, 2005
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
To have a snake or two in the garden is good. Non-poisonoussnakes, such as the common garter snakes, are beneficialcreatures because they eat pest insects, mosquito larvae,slugs, snails, crickets, rats, mice, voles and even othersnakes which may be poisonous. But if you really don't want snakes in your yard and gardenhere are a few tips to eliminate them without hurting orkilling them. Keep the lawn neatly cut and clean. Be careful using weedeaters because the sting from the fast moving string cankill them. Snakes need cover for protection. Dont leave wood or brushpiles sit in one spot for more than...
Posted on: 18 March, 2005
Author: Jeff Pozniak
Just like most things in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If purple blooms put a smile on your face, then you should most definitely use plants with purple blooms. The same is true for any color you find pleasing. There are different disciplines to pull from when trying to decide on color choices, but those disciplines speak in generalities; your own personal experiences mold your tastes into something unique, something your own, something a text or curriculum cant possibly pinpoint. That being said, one of the disciplines I like to pull from often, especially when it...
Posted on: 17 March, 2005
Author: Gordon Goh
The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no accident if you planned your garden carefully. The adult butterfly flitters from flower to flower - sipping nectar from many flowers in your gardens, while other adult butterflies search for areas to lay their larvae. It is good to take note that the butterfly garden is going to differ from other areas of your garden. Your natural instincts will be to kill off pests, larvae and creatures in the garden, but in the butterfly garden your best results are noticed when you use organic gardening: Which means no chemicals at...
Posted on: 17 March, 2005
Author: Linda Paquette
To grow healthy food, you literally have to start at rock bottom. No matter what youre growing, from chickpeas to chickens, the truth is that you are what they eat! Its no secret that all life begins with the soil. Although it may look like dirt to the naked eye, organically rich soil is a living, breathing community of microorganisms. These little denizens of the dirt are born, grow, breed, give birth and die leaving an estate of nutrition-filled remains to the soil. While they live, many of these little critters feed on undesirable elements like harmful bacteria. Every year,...