Gardeners Supply

“B&Q ditches gardening expert for Titchmarsh” plus 3 more

2010-05-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

“B&Q ditches gardening expert for Titchmarsh” plus 3 more

B&Q ditches gardening expert for Titchmarsh
Long weekend heralds gardening season
Her beau's gardening gene finally germinates
Gardening Tips

B&Q ditches gardening expert for Titchmarsh

Posted: 23 May 2010 07:12 AM PDT

B&Q has ditched books by the world's best selling gardening expert in favour of a range by Alan Titchmarsh.

Long weekend heralds gardening season

Posted: 23 May 2010 06:34 AM PDT

TYLER KULA The Observer Gardeners galore buzzed through greenhouses in and around Sarnia over the Victoria Day long weekend, the unofficial opening of gardening season. "Traditionally this is our busiest weekend," said John DeGroot, owner of DeGroot's Nurseries on London Line. Annuals and [...]

Her beau's gardening gene finally germinates

Posted: 23 May 2010 02:13 AM PDT

The Englishman has, at long last, discovered the joys and perils of gardening.

Gardening Tips

Posted: 23 May 2010 01:57 AM PDT

The title of this weeks column is taken from the soundtrack of the Broadway musical Camelot and refers to all the amorous activity that seems to commence every year at this time. The problem with May is that there are just too many fun things to do outside and not enough time to do them all. This is particularly true for sportspeople who like to hunt, fish, watch birds, hike and garden. May 1 ...

“Saginaw Township starts gardening season with 'Garden Party'” plus 3 more

2010-05-22T11:08:00.001-07:00

“Saginaw Township starts gardening season with 'Garden Party'” plus 3 more

Saginaw Township starts gardening season with 'Garden Party'
Green Space: Gardening 101 Dig it right the first time
Not your grandmothers gardening any more
Container gardening offers lots of possibilities

Saginaw Township starts gardening season with 'Garden Party'

Posted: 22 May 2010 10:59 AM PDT

A theme wasnt necessary for Saturday's Second Annual Garden Party on North Center, but Jeanie Johnson had one for her garden.

Green Space: Gardening 101 Dig it right the first time

Posted: 22 May 2010 10:02 AM PDT

There are some tricks to digging that will improve your chances of gardening success.

Not your grandmothers gardening any more

Posted: 22 May 2010 06:05 AM PDT

Younger enthusiasts are picking vegetables over flowers

Container gardening offers lots of possibilities

Posted: 21 May 2010 09:08 PM PDT

Whether you are short on space, looking for ways to accentuate your house, porch or deck, or just enjoy their mobility, growing plants in containers is a rewarding gardening adventure.

“Pensioner rescued by RAF helicopter after falling 80ft from cliff-top home while gardening” plus 3 more

2010-05-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

“Pensioner rescued by RAF helicopter after falling 80ft from cliff-top home while gardening” plus 3 more

Pensioner rescued by RAF helicopter after falling 80ft from cliff-top home while gardening
Youngsters get hands-on gardening experience at Cesar Chavez Library
Learning from gardening flops
Wanted: Your gardening tips

Pensioner rescued by RAF helicopter after falling 80ft from cliff-top home while gardening

Posted: 21 May 2010 08:38 AM PDT

Kate Nicoll, 66, was found on jagged rocks below by two teenagers who were skimming stones on the shore and heard her desperate cries.

Youngsters get hands-on gardening experience at Cesar Chavez Library

Posted: 21 May 2010 05:13 AM PDT

Valerie Henderson, library clerk at the Steinbeck Library branch, Thursday afternoon helps Naomi Nolasco, 5, plant a marigold in a pot at the Cesar Chavez Library branch. Henderson, who has worked in the past as a horticulturalist, had 30 children in the beginning gardening program at the library.

Learning from gardening flops

Posted: 21 May 2010 04:06 AM PDT

Over the past 30 years, I have committed every grievous error of gardening.

Wanted: Your gardening tips

Posted: 21 May 2010 12:36 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Still developing your green thumb?

“Gardening week ahead: what to do about foliage pests” plus 3 more

2010-05-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

“Gardening week ahead: what to do about foliage pests” plus 3 more

Gardening week ahead: what to do about foliage pests
Gardening week ahead: how tor grow clematis in containers
Tips from the Gardening Guy
Bellwood Public Library Footnotes: 'Gardening' May 25; book sale and sign up for summer reading June 5

Gardening week ahead: what to do about foliage pests

Posted: 20 May 2010 07:53 AM PDT

Sawfly can attack your foliage plants from now until autumn unless vigilance and the careful use of appropriate insecticides are employed.

Gardening week ahead: how tor grow clematis in containers

Posted: 20 May 2010 07:52 AM PDT

Simple and concise advice and information of the types of clematis one can grow at this time of the year.

Tips from the Gardening Guy

Posted: 20 May 2010 05:14 AM PDT

Henry Homeyer, the Gardening Guy, spoke to a full house of interested gardeners at the Merrimack Library on May 5 about how to create a 10- by 12-foot vegetable garden and maintain it in less than 15 minutes a day.

Bellwood Public Library Footnotes: 'Gardening' May 25; book sale and sign up for summer reading June 5

Posted: 20 May 2010 03:30 AM PDT

When folks think of the Bellwood Public Library, at 600 Bohland Ave., in Bellwood, they often think of the building. But it's really the staff that make the Bellwood Library special.

“Gardening With Dora” plus 3 more

2010-05-19T11:18:00.001-07:00

“Gardening With Dora” plus 3 more

Gardening With Dora
Home Help: Container gardening for beauty and bounty
Growing Together at Luton school's gardening event
Gardening tips, Relay for Life and more!

Gardening With Dora

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:06 AM PDT

Home Help: Container gardening for beauty and bounty

Posted: 19 May 2010 08:26 AM PDT

Garden Guide: Container gardens pretty, practical �� Container gardening is a great alternative for people who don't have the time or space for a full garden or flowerbed. �� Often, however, container gardeners may feel they have to choose between beauty and practicality. When you can only plant so many containers, what do you fill them with -- flowers or veggies?��

Growing Together at Luton school's gardening event

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:22 AM PDT

Project involves parents and pupils

Gardening tips, Relay for Life and more!

Posted: 19 May 2010 02:10 AM PDT

In the May issue of Livingston Home, find out how to bring out your inner green thumb with our easy gardening tips. Also, check out of guide to becoming a DIY master and a spotlight on Brighton's Relay for Life event this month.

“Gardening on a dime: Help the earth and your wallet” plus 3 more

2010-05-18T11:02:00.001-07:00

“Gardening on a dime: Help the earth and your wallet” plus 3 more

Gardening on a dime: Help the earth and your wallet
Home Depot profit tops Street; outlook raised
Gardening glut: Chillies where berries should've been
Home Depot profit tops Wall Street view

Gardening on a dime: Help the earth and your wallet

Posted: 18 May 2010 09:06 AM PDT

Garden season doesn't have to be costly. If you head out to a retail store and buy everything all at once, it will add up quickly. But if you do some careful planning and are patient and creative, you can enjoy a beautiful garden on a shoestring budget.

Home Depot profit tops Street; outlook raised

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:38 AM PDT

Home Depot Inc's quarterly profit beat Wall Street estimates as the top U.S. home-improvement chain benefited from strong demand for gardening products and energy-efficient appliances, prompting it to boost its full-year outlook.

Gardening glut: Chillies where berries should've been

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:37 AM PDT

In my vegetable gardening career I have been relatively glut-free... until now.

Home Depot profit tops Wall Street view

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:15 AM PDT

Top home-improvement chain Home Depot Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, boosted by demand for gardening products and energy-efficient appliances.

“U.P. Gardening Tip - May 17, 2010” plus 3 more

2010-05-17T11:05:00.001-07:00

“U.P. Gardening Tip - May 17, 2010” plus 3 more

U.P. Gardening Tip - May 17, 2010
Lowe's profit tops estimates
Community gardening scheme begins
Family speak out after gardening grandad was shot

U.P. Gardening Tip - May 17, 2010

Posted: 17 May 2010 07:56 AM PDT

MARQUETTE -- A hardy Midwest grape vine is now available! Of all things, it is aptly named the Marquette Grape. The University of Minnesota Botanical Dept. had studied viticulture and experimented on a red grape variety from a cross made in 1989. In 2006, the new Marquette Grape was introduced.

Lowe's profit tops estimates

Posted: 17 May 2010 04:21 AM PDT

No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday, boosted by strong demand for energy-efficient appliances and gardening products.

Community gardening scheme begins

Posted: 17 May 2010 03:33 AM PDT

Essex County Council starts a scheme to create new orchards and allotments across the county.

Family speak out after gardening grandad was shot

Posted: 17 May 2010 03:10 AM PDT

The family of a granddad who has been left with a bullet lodged in his brain have told how they thought he was going to die. Peter Hesford, a father of six and granddad of three, collapsed as he was gardening outside his house on Grindley Avenue, Chorlton, at 6pm on April 19.

“Staplegrove pupils gardening scheme” plus 3 more

2010-05-16T11:04:00.001-07:00

“Staplegrove pupils gardening scheme” plus 3 more

Staplegrove pupils gardening scheme
Sun brightens gardening day
Practise green gardening
Wanted: Your gardening tips

Staplegrove pupils gardening scheme

Posted: 16 May 2010 07:15 AM PDT

GREEN-fingered pupils at Staplegrove Primary School are working hard in their garden to plant and grow many different fruits and vegetables this year.

Sun brightens gardening day

Posted: 16 May 2010 06:20 AM PDT

Children and adults join hands to work a community plot in northeast Omaha.

Practise green gardening

Posted: 16 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT

Reducing the use of gas-powered tools will help minimize the carbon output of your garden.

Wanted: Your gardening tips

Posted: 16 May 2010 12:09 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Still developing your green thumb?

“A recipe for successful container gardening” plus 3 more

2010-05-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

“A recipe for successful container gardening” plus 3 more

A recipe for successful container gardening
Top 10 gardening mistakes
Dig into gardening season: Cool Stuff
Gardening Tips

A recipe for successful container gardening

Posted: 15 May 2010 09:53 AM PDT

"Im putting everything in containers. So said Virginia Rainey, garden club member extraordinaire, in speaking of the gardening season.

Top 10 gardening mistakes

Posted: 15 May 2010 08:36 AM PDT

Digging up flowers instead of weeds. Drowning the tulips. Readers reveal their growing woes and garden design pros plot out the solutions.

Dig into gardening season: Cool Stuff

Posted: 15 May 2010 08:10 AM PDT

Garden with panache using these cool tools.

Gardening Tips

Posted: 15 May 2010 05:39 AM PDT

It was 28 degrees with a dusting of snow on the morning of May 9 at my house. The wind was blowing at about 30 mph producing a wind chill in the teens. Mother Nature seemed to be playing games with all the Moms on Mothers Day! Eight days earlier the temperature was 90. On the plus side, the cool (cold) temperatures will prolong the bloom of many spring bulbs as well as trees and shrubs that we ...

“Hoop house construction will support gardening” plus 3 more

2010-05-14T11:23:00.001-07:00

“Hoop house construction will support gardening” plus 3 more

Hoop house construction will support gardening
Wanted: Your gardening tips
Gardening Q&A
Organic Gardening magazine keeps up with changing audience

Hoop house construction will support gardening

Posted: 14 May 2010 07:36 AM PDT

NEGAUNEE - What used to be an unused patch of grass behind the Negaunee High School is turning out to be a useful tool for high school students and possibly other area gardeners. In an effort that combined industrial arts classes, biology classes and school service groups, Negaunee is now home to a hoop house - a type of unheated greenhous.

Wanted: Your gardening tips

Posted: 14 May 2010 12:22 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Still developing your green thumb?

Gardening Q&A

Posted: 13 May 2010 09:09 PM PDT

Q:Tiny round seeds have been raining down from my oak trees during the past week. Where are they coming from? Answer: The tiny round things you are seeing arent seeds. While they are falling from your oaks, they are actually the egg cases of an insect called a gall midge. This tiny wasplike insect lays its eggs on the back of the leaves. Once the eggs hatch, the casing drops from the tree ...

Organic Gardening magazine keeps up with changing audience

Posted: 13 May 2010 02:21 PM PDT

J.I. Rodale started Organic Gardening magazine 67 years ago with the determination to take organic gardening to the mainstream. Recent changes in the magazine reflect his success.

“Community Workforce Solutions Launches Gardening Program” plus 3 more

2010-05-13T11:27:00.001-07:00

“Community Workforce Solutions Launches Gardening Program” plus 3 more

Community Workforce Solutions Launches Gardening Program
Get your kids into srping gardening and growing
MOMS: Talking about gardening, crafts and cleaning
Family speak out after gardening grandad was shot

Community Workforce Solutions Launches Gardening Program

Posted: 13 May 2010 10:31 AM PDT

Raleigh , NC Community Workforce Solutions, Inc. (CWS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment, held a special event May 6th to celebrate their newly established gardening program.

Get your kids into srping gardening and growing

Posted: 13 May 2010 07:43 AM PDT

With edible gardening one of the growing trends, families are encouraging their children to get down and dirty. Plant a Row Grow a Row has jumped in with a junior program to ask young people to grow extra for those in need.

MOMS: Talking about gardening, crafts and cleaning

Posted: 13 May 2010 07:32 AM PDT

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Family speak out after gardening grandad was shot

Posted: 13 May 2010 04:15 AM PDT

“Eternal Sun Organic gardening business leases space in Boulder” plus 3 more

2010-05-12T11:14:00.001-07:00

“Eternal Sun Organic gardening business leases space in Boulder” plus 3 more

Eternal Sun Organic gardening business leases space in Boulder
'Veggie U' helps Perrysburg students acquire gardening basics
Local Expert Promotes Easy, G reen Gardening
Gardening expert visits Southwold school

Eternal Sun Organic gardening business leases space in Boulder

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:09 AM PDT

Eternal Sun Organic & Hydroponics Supply, a gardening supplies business, recently leased a 6,000-square-foot space at 3620 Walnut St., a broker involved with the transaction said this week.

'Veggie U' helps Perrysburg students acquire gardening basics

Posted: 12 May 2010 05:58 AM PDT

By JANET ROMAKER BLADE STAFF WRITER During a recent growing-green lesson at Perrysburg's Woodland Elementary School, students were being careful not to squish the squash. Planting and tending to vegetables is just one of the many hands-on activities offered during Veggie U, a five-week science program designed to encourage students, as well as their families, to go green from earth to table ...

Local Expert Promotes Easy, G reen Gardening

Posted: 12 May 2010 05:53 AM PDT

Scott Vesterstein is a passionate gardner and founder of Sydney's Green Gardens. The businesses promotes a greener lifestyle that encourages gardens and fresh, local foods for everybody.

Gardening expert visits Southwold school

Posted: 12 May 2010 05:01 AM PDT

As well as opening the garden, Ms Walkden held a question and answer session with junior school children, and later held workshops in the school garden. She taught the pupils how to plant, water and care for their plants and vegetables correctly.

“Urban gardening may help fill empty lots in city” plus 3 more

2010-05-11T11:37:00.001-07:00

“Urban gardening may help fill empty lots in city” plus 3 more

Urban gardening may help fill empty lots in city
Container gardening yields a variety of vegetables
Gardening inside the box
Backyard Gardening: From Seed To The Table - Part 1

Urban gardening may help fill empty lots in city

Posted: 11 May 2010 09:06 AM PDT

File photoLaura Boland of Jackson rakes dirt at the City of Zion Friendship Garden in Jackson. Boland is a member of Partnership Park Community Gardens, a group that works to promote and cultivate community gardens. Urban gardening can do more...

Container gardening yields a variety of vegetables

Posted: 11 May 2010 07:04 AM PDT

Mention container gardening and most people will automatically think of flowers, but recently, vegetables too have found their way into the world of container gardening.

Gardening inside the box

Posted: 11 May 2010 02:40 AM PDT

There are many benefits to container gardening, says Cathy Staats, Springfield master gardener.

Backyard Gardening: From Seed To The Table - Part 1

Posted: 10 May 2010 02:34 PM PDT

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) - During World War II, Americans were encouraged to plant victory gardens to help with the war effort. Once again, there seems to be a resurgence in backyard gardening.

“Greenhorn gardening: 10 steps to a successful first vegetable garden” plus 3 more

2010-05-10T11:13:00.001-07:00

“Greenhorn gardening: 10 steps to a successful first vegetable garden” plus 3 more

Greenhorn gardening: 10 steps to a successful first vegetable garden
Mystery of grandfather shot while gardening
Straw bale gardening is less work, inexpensive
Mystery of grandfather shot dead while gardening

Greenhorn gardening: 10 steps to a successful first vegetable garden

Posted: 10 May 2010 08:32 AM PDT

How about going to a place where you can relax, enjoy some sun, and get a little exercise and gourmet food? A place even your kids could ?nd interesting? This "spa" need not cost much; in fact, it will save you money.

Mystery of grandfather shot while gardening

Posted: 10 May 2010 07:44 AM PDT

A grandfather has been shot in the eye while gardening in an apparently random attack.

Straw bale gardening is less work, inexpensive

Posted: 10 May 2010 07:27 AM PDT

When I thought about writing this column, I had in mind one of the techniques I have tried lately mulching vegetable gardens with straw. I first tried it after planting my dahlias and cannas in a large area of my former orchard. After they sprouted, I needed something to keep down the weeds and orchard grass and retain moisture in the soil.

Mystery of grandfather shot dead while gardening

Posted: 10 May 2010 06:48 AM PDT

A grandfather who was struck in the head by a bullet while he was gardening has no idea why he was shot, police said today.

“GARDENING COLUMN: She has excuses to be in her garden” plus 3 more

2010-05-09T11:21:00.001-07:00

“GARDENING COLUMN: She has excuses to be in her garden” plus 3 more

GARDENING COLUMN: She has excuses to be in her garden
Secret Garden owners have all the answers when it comes to container gardening - Sun, 09 May 2010 PST
Gardening with the masters: Help stop the invasion of garlic mustard
Feeding body and spirit: Area groups digging into gardening

GARDENING COLUMN: She has excuses to be in her garden

Posted: 09 May 2010 12:32 AM PDT

Such a lush, flower-filled spring! What garden maintenance excuse do you need to be out working in your garden? Hmm... How about "everything!"?

Secret Garden owners have all the answers when it comes to container gardening - Sun, 09 May 2010 PST

Posted: 09 May 2010 12:17 AM PDT

Want to perk up your front porch? How about adding some drama to your deck? There is no easier way to do this than with attractively planted containers. A local gardener who knows all about this is Dee Peck who, along with her husband, Ed, owns the Secret Garden & Greenhouse in Spokane Valley.

Gardening with the masters: Help stop the invasion of garlic mustard

Posted: 08 May 2010 09:38 PM PDT

This column was prepared by Lake County Master Gardener Sandy Woodthorpe.

Feeding body and spirit: Area groups digging into gardening

Posted: 08 May 2010 05:51 PM PDT

By DAVID YONKE BLADE RELIGION EDITOR Local faith communities might be reaping a bumper crop this fall, literally, with visions of produce and vegetables growing in abundance. Woody and Judy Trautman, who cofounded the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio in 2003, are working hard to get as many churches, temples, synagogues, and mosques in the Toledo area to start gardening. In addition to 16 ...

“Gardening: Longer days mean more outdoor opportunities” plus 3 more

2010-05-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

“Gardening: Longer days mean more outdoor opportunities” plus 3 more

Gardening: Longer days mean more outdoor opportunities
Kapiti landscaper selected for Gardening World Cup
Feeding body and spirit: Area groups digging into gardening
Akron, Iowa residents eligible for gardening project

Gardening: Longer days mean more outdoor opportunities

Posted: 08 May 2010 06:24 AM PDT

The warm and sunny weather of May makes it ideal for gardening, and after the short days of winter, it's fun to work in the yard again. In case you need a few ideas of things to do outside, here are some suggestions.

Kapiti landscaper selected for Gardening World Cup

Posted: 08 May 2010 06:24 AM PDT

Kapiti landscaper designer Ben Hoyle has been invited to exhibit at an international garden show for the second time.

Feeding body and spirit: Area groups digging into gardening

Posted: 08 May 2010 04:36 AM PDT

Akron, Iowa residents eligible for gardening project

Posted: 07 May 2010 06:06 PM PDT

AKRON, Iowa (KTIV) -- Spring may have you thinking about gardening and folks in Akron, Iowa can get free container gardening supplies. Folks who sign up will receive a gardening container, soil and vegetable

“Tips For The Gardening Mom” plus 3 more

2010-05-07T11:49:00.001-07:00

“Tips For The Gardening Mom” plus 3 more

Tips For The Gardening Mom
Gardening grows in popularity
Gardening Seminar May 14
National Gardening Mission being intensified in Jharkhand

Tips For The Gardening Mom

Posted: 07 May 2010 11:22 AM PDT

Gardening expert Peter Bowden of Hewitt's offers tips for feeding landscape. Gardening expert Peter Bowden with berry-growing tips. Peter Bowden from Hewitt's has what you need to know to get ready for Easter.

Gardening grows in popularity

Posted: 07 May 2010 06:35 AM PDT

The owner of a local garden center says the recession-motivated boom in home gardening has continued into this season, with fruit trees and vegetable plant sales remaining high.

Gardening Seminar May 14

Posted: 07 May 2010 04:52 AM PDT

RACINE The seventh annual Gardening Seminar of the NehemiahProject will feature Melinda Myers at 6 p.m. May 14 at Fellowshipof Christian Believers, 703 Washington Ave.

National Gardening Mission being intensified in Jharkhand

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:46 AM PDT

Masratu (Jharkhand), May 7 : Tomato growers in Jharkhand are being provided with additional facilities under the National Gardening Mission for increasing production and getting better returns from their yield.

“Gardening classifieds are growing” plus 3 more

2010-05-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

“Gardening classifieds are growing” plus 3 more

Gardening classifieds are growing
Gardening book plagiarism claim
Health Tip: Gardening Ergonomics - Picking the Right Tools
Gardening book recalled after plagiarism claim

Gardening classifieds are growing

Posted: 06 May 2010 10:41 AM PDT

Three young men have taken their passion for gardening and created Canadas first online gardening classifieds, cropcricket.com.

Gardening book plagiarism claim

Posted: 06 May 2010 10:13 AM PDT

A Taranaki gardening guru has uncovered another case of alleged plagiarism involving a book released by publishing house Penguin Books.

Health Tip: Gardening Ergonomics - Picking the Right Tools

Posted: 06 May 2010 06:41 AM PDT

Choosing an ergonomic tool can help gardening enthusiasts significantly reduce discomfort and fatigue and reduce injuries according to Occupational Therapist Dr. Paula Kramer at University of the Sciences.

Gardening book recalled after plagiarism claim

Posted: 06 May 2010 05:11 AM PDT

A gardening book is being pulled from the shelves by its publisher following allegations of plagiarism.

“Gardening now runs in the family” plus 3 more

2010-05-05T11:04:00.001-07:00

“Gardening now runs in the family” plus 3 more

Gardening now runs in the family
Julie Miller: Gardening is learning
Gardening from the inside out
Share your gardening tips

Gardening now runs in the family

Posted: 05 May 2010 08:20 AM PDT

Ive always been interesting in gardening.

Julie Miller: Gardening is learning

Posted: 05 May 2010 05:01 AM PDT

The Blade will feature a gardener each week during the growing season. If you'd like to be considered for this feature, contact Tahree Lane at tlane@theblade.com, 419-724-6075, or www.facebook.com/peachweekender. Name: Julie Miller, biology field station assistant, living in Millbury and temporarily at Put-in-Bay. Garden specs: Two-to-four ...

Gardening from the inside out

Posted: 04 May 2010 11:50 PM PDT

Andover Township According to Lois J. de Vries, who runs Cultivating the Inner Gardener, 90 percent of todays gardening advice leaves the most crucial component of any garden out of the picture the gardener.

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 04 May 2010 11:42 PM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

“MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA employees to learn children's gardening lessons” plus 3 more

2010-05-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

“MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA employees to learn children's gardening lessons” plus 3 more

MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA employees to learn children's gardening lessons
Foes, backers of urban gardening dig in
Allstar Products Group Expands Gardening Division; Unveils New Topsy Turvy(R) Line at National Hardware Show
Share your gardening tips

MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA employees to learn children's gardening lessons

Posted: 04 May 2010 10:07 AM PDT

Who: Fresh from learning Master Gardener skills, about 60 USDA employees now will delve into Junior Master Gardening curriculum with that program's national leaders, Lisa Whittlesey and Randy Seagraves from Texas AgriLife Extension Service. After this fun and unusual hands-on training, the USDA employees will be set to lead children's gardening programs in D.C. and the surrounding areas.When: 9 ...

Foes, backers of urban gardening dig in

Posted: 04 May 2010 09:02 AM PDT

Sure, its tomatoes and cucumbers now, but whats next straw hats and funnel cakes? Thats a chief reason that Center Planning and Development, an umbrella group of south Kansas City neighborhood groups, is coming out hard against the citys urban agriculture plan.

Allstar Products Group Expands Gardening Division; Unveils New Topsy Turvy(R) Line at National Hardware Show

Posted: 04 May 2010 05:30 AM PDT

Allstar Products Group , a leading direct response and consumer products company, reveals its new line of Topsy Turvy® gardening products at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas . � Known for its cutting edge approach to gardening, the Topsy Turvy® brand now offers a variety of new planters and accessories to aid consumers throughout the growing process. �

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 04 May 2010 12:03 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

“Water Wise Gardening and Drip Irrigation Class Offered by North Plains Groundwater Conservation District” plus 3 more

2010-05-03T11:04:00.001-07:00

“Water Wise Gardening and Drip Irrigation Class Offered by North Plains Groundwater Conservation District” plus 3 more

Water Wise Gardening and Drip Irrigation Class Offered by North Plains Groundwater Conservation District
Gardening season underway despite winter storm Play Video
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk
Organic and sustainable gardening class at Denville library

Water Wise Gardening and Drip Irrigation Class Offered by North Plains Groundwater Conservation District

Posted: 03 May 2010 09:59 AM PDT

Are you interested in learning more about beautiful, low water use plants for your landscape? Would you be interested in learning about how to install a drip irrigation system for your landscape that would save you time and money?

Gardening season underway despite winter storm Play Video

Posted: 03 May 2010 08:26 AM PDT

Spring is here, which means it's usually a great time to plant a garden, but unpredictable weather like last week's snow storm can be a setback. Alice Smith, who lives in Forest Grove, says she wasn't able to plant her carrots, but all the extra water will help the rest of her garden.

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 03 May 2010 06:08 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

Organic and sustainable gardening class at Denville library

Posted: 03 May 2010 01:19 AM PDT

DENVILLE -- Tina MarieYotka will teach a free class in organic and sustainable gardening at 7 p.m. on May 6 at the Denville Public Library, 121 Diamond Spring Road.

“Twin sisters share love of gardening” plus 3 more

2010-05-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

“Twin sisters share love of gardening” plus 3 more

Twin sisters share love of gardening
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk
Workshops feature gardening, lawn tips
Gardening from the inside out

Twin sisters share love of gardening

Posted: 02 May 2010 11:17 AM PDT

LYNNWOOD They both studied art as young women, both married electronics engineers, both have a passion for gardening and oftentimes they wear the same color on the same day.

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 02 May 2010 05:08 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

Workshops feature gardening, lawn tips

Posted: 02 May 2010 01:36 AM PDT

By Dennis Sherer, Staff Writer A series of workshops offered this month by the Lauderdale County Extension System is aimed at Shoals residents who want to learn how to grow or mow. Topics for the workshops, which begin May 11, include gardening basics and lawn care and maintenance.

Gardening from the inside out

Posted: 01 May 2010 11:50 PM PDT

“Growing an online gardening service” plus 3 more

2010-05-01T11:01:00.001-07:00

“Growing an online gardening service” plus 3 more

Growing an online gardening service
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk
Mayfest will feature free gardening classes
Twin sisters share love of gardening

Growing an online gardening service

Posted: 01 May 2010 10:54 AM PDT

Like many people who own a garden, allotment or even window box, Nicola Gammon had problems with plants.

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 01 May 2010 08:08 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

Mayfest will feature free gardening classes

Posted: 01 May 2010 07:54 AM PDT

St. Andrews will have free gardening classes during its Mayfest on Saturday.

Twin sisters share love of gardening

Posted: 01 May 2010 03:35 AM PDT

LYNNWOOD They both studied art as young women, both married electronics engineers, both have a passion for gardening and oftentimes they wear the same color on the same day.

“Mayfest will feature free gardening classes” plus 3 more

2010-04-30T11:25:00.001-07:00

“Mayfest will feature free gardening classes” plus 3 more

Mayfest will feature free gardening classes
Month of May offers many gardening classes from composting to landscaping
Great ponds and other good water gardening ideas
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Mayfest will feature free gardening classes

Posted: 30 Apr 2010 09:40 AM PDT

St. Andrews will have free gardening classes during its Mayfest on Saturday.

Month of May offers many gardening classes from composting to landscaping

Posted: 30 Apr 2010 08:29 AM PDT

The Alachua County Extension Office has a variety of classes being offered for May of 2010. The programs are offered by Wendy Wilber, environmental horticulture agent, and will discuss composting, gardening and landscaping.

Great ponds and other good water gardening ideas

Posted: 30 Apr 2010 06:16 AM PDT

Water gardening ideas that anyone can use.

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 30 Apr 2010 05:10 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

“City Provides More Access To Community Gardening” plus 3 more

2010-04-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

“City Provides More Access To Community Gardening” plus 3 more

City Provides More Access To Community Gardening
Tips on raised bed gardening
Gardening Workshop
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

City Provides More Access To Community Gardening

Posted: 29 Apr 2010 09:43 AM PDT

In urban areas such as Long Beach, where land is at a premium, finding a place to garden can be difficult. Over the years, community gardens have cropped up throughout the city, but many of them have waiting lists.

Tips on raised bed gardening

Posted: 29 Apr 2010 09:25 AM PDT

Raised beds are without doubt the first step toward having a more productive home garden ... and more control over the quality of your family's fresh food.

Gardening Workshop

Posted: 29 Apr 2010 06:26 AM PDT

Gardening Workshop

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 29 Apr 2010 01:23 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

“Kids in Argentina learn to grow their own food” plus 3 more

2010-04-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

“Kids in Argentina learn to grow their own food” plus 3 more

Kids in Argentina learn to grow their own food
Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk
Share your gardening tips
Zakta Showcases Best Online Gardening Information

Kids in Argentina learn to grow their own food

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 09:33 AM PDT

On his knees in the soggy soil, 9-year-old Alexis Ocampo digs deep into the earth, his small gardening rake separating dirt from rocks. "Look, I found a worm!" he shrieks.

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 04:52 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:27 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

Zakta Showcases Best Online Gardening Information

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Zakta users have put together a collection of "Best of the Web" guides to help anyone, from beginners to old-timers, with getting started on their gardening this year.

“Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk” plus 3 more

2010-04-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

“Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk” plus 3 more

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk
The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?
Share your gardening tips
Practical meets pretty: Container gardening for beauty and bounty

Milan Library Corner: Square Foot Gardening topic of talk

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 04:40 AM PDT

Barbara Gardinier, chairwoman of the Milan Beautification Committee and Master Gardener, will be at the Milan Public Library 6:30 p.m. May 13, to teach the concepts of Square Foot Gardening.

The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 04:03 AM PDT

Joanna Fortnam looks behind the scenes at the latest attempt at gardening for TV

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 01:29 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

Practical meets pretty: Container gardening for beauty and bounty

Posted: 26 Apr 2010 11:26 PM PDT

(ARA) - Container gardening is a great alternative for people who don't have the time or space for a full garden or flowerbed. Often, however, container gardeners may feel they have to choose between beauty and practicality.

“BodySmart gardening event to be held at Farmington public library” plus 3 more

2010-04-26T11:28:00.001-07:00

“BodySmart gardening event to be held at Farmington public library” plus 3 more

BodySmart gardening event to be held at Farmington public library
Extension telenet to cover gardening in shady areas
Community gardening kicks off in northern Chapel Hill
City Provides More Access To Community Gardening

BodySmart gardening event to be held at Farmington public library

Posted: 26 Apr 2010 10:28 AM PDT

Gardening is the number one hobby in America. Just about anyone with a home participates in it. Unfortunately, gardening can become more difficult. Many people blame it on aging, but it could be the tools we use and the way we use them, weather factors, and the typical aches and pains associated with any type of physical activity.

Extension telenet to cover gardening in shady areas

Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:58 AM PDT

University of Illinois Extension-Fulton County will offer Dont Fear the Shade Garden at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. Dont let a shady area keep you from having a beautiful garden. With the variety of plants available, hostas are no longer the last resort for that shady area in your yard. Kari Houle, Horticulture Educator, will discuss the variety of plants that can be included in the shade ...

Community gardening kicks off in northern Chapel Hill

Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:54 AM PDT

More than 125 people attended a ribbon cutting this weekend for HOPE Gardens, a different kind of community gardening space on Homestead Road in northern Chapel Hill.

City Provides More Access To Community Gardening

Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:28 AM PDT

“Southern Gardening: Purple coneflowers are ideal for gardens” plus 2 more

2010-04-25T11:11:00.001-07:00

“Southern Gardening: Purple coneflowers are ideal for gardens” plus 2 more

Southern Gardening: Purple coneflowers are ideal for gardens
Gardening experts: Tomato blight a thing of the past
Gardening, Urban Farming Tips And More At Union Square

Southern Gardening: Purple coneflowers are ideal for gardens

Posted: 25 Apr 2010 07:53 AM PDT

Purple coneflowers are native plants that look great in the prairie as well as in formal designs. Coneflowers such as this Bright Star are perfect plants for the garden.

Gardening experts: Tomato blight a thing of the past

Posted: 25 Apr 2010 02:12 AM PDT

BALLSTON A tomato blight that decimated Northeast crops last year should be a thing of the past, local gardening experts say.

Gardening, Urban Farming Tips And More At Union Square

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 11:22 AM PDT

� � � � The New York Restoration Project is holding its NYC Grows event at Union Square tomorrow. NYC Grows will give people the opportunity to learn more about gardening, urban farming, organic cooking and more through demonstrations and activities. And Woolly Pockets which makes recycled gardening containers for indoor and outdoor usehas put up a Living Green Wall of edible plants and lush ...

“Build an A-Frame Vegetable Trellis for Small Footprint Gardening [Gardening]” plus 3 more

2010-04-24T11:19:00.001-07:00

“Build an A-Frame Vegetable Trellis for Small Footprint Gardening [Gardening]” plus 3 more

Build an A-Frame Vegetable Trellis for Small Footprint Gardening [Gardening]
Master Gardener offers May gardening tips
Learn about low-cost gardening Monday
Too early to think about gardening?

Build an A-Frame Vegetable Trellis for Small Footprint Gardening [Gardening]

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 08:14 AM PDT

# gardening If you'd like to grow climbing vegetables in a small space, this simple DIY vegetable trellis is an excellent compliment to a small garden. More��

Master Gardener offers May gardening tips

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 01:46 AM PDT

Things I like about the Shore in May: Watching the first lettuces come up; the spring comedy at North Street Playhouse; the fabulous weather; getting back out on the screened porch; the start of the blue crab season.

Learn about low-cost gardening Monday

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 06:05 PM PDT

A free class on "Food Gardening for Next to Nothing" will beheld from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Helens Elementary School,431 27th Ave., Longview. Master gardener Glen Andresen will sharetips and tricks for growing a natural, low-cost, low-maintenancefood garden. Learn what to plant, when to plant and where toplant.

Too early to think about gardening?

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 03:27 PM PDT

Spring is in full swing and you might be thinking about gardening.

“The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?” plus 3 more

2010-04-23T11:10:00.001-07:00

“The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?” plus 3 more

The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?
Most vegetables are suitable for container gardening
Alex Pasternack: Adam Dell's SharedEarth.com: Could Urban Gardening 2.0 Rewire Our Society?
Spring gardening: Get an early start

The Landscape Man: is this the reality of gardening?

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 10:32 AM PDT

Joanna Fortnam looks behind the scenes at the latest attempt at gardening for TV

Most vegetables are suitable for container gardening

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 10:00 AM PDT

In response to a reader's inquiry about container vegetable gardening, Jessica Walliser provides a list of supplies and suggestions to make the task enjoyable and successful.

Alex Pasternack: Adam Dell's SharedEarth.com: Could Urban Gardening 2.0 Rewire Our Society?

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 09:50 AM PDT

Sharecropping may have gone out of style in the United States nearly a century ago, but entrepreneur Adam Dell (yup, Michael's brother) is hoping to...

Spring gardening: Get an early start

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:48 AM PDT

So what if you feel like you've been buried in snow this winter? When it comes to your garden, it's time to think spring.

“Gardening season is on!” plus 3 more

2010-04-22T11:13:00.001-07:00

“Gardening season is on!” plus 3 more

Gardening season is on!
Practical meets pretty: Container gardening for beauty and bounty
Bath: Gardening workshop to be May 8
Share your gardening tips

Gardening season is on!

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:40 AM PDT

Saturday in Jackson was a beautiful spring day, perfect for enjoying the new life of emerging plants and the beautiful blooms bursting with brilliant colors and potent fragrance. The heat of gardening fever was fanned by the Second Annual Seed & Plant Swap & Sale held as a community event on the grounds of the historic Jackson Presbyterian Church.

Practical meets pretty: Container gardening for beauty and bounty

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:49 AM PDT

Bath: Gardening workshop to be May 8

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 01:16 AM PDT

Gardening with the Masters spring workshop will be from 2 to 4 p.m. May 8 at Northern Electric Auditorium in Bath....

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 12:58 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

“Garden news from here and there: Epimediums, window gardening and digging in at the White House” plus 3 more

2010-04-21T11:35:00.001-07:00

“Garden news from here and there: Epimediums, window gardening and digging in at the White House” plus 3 more

Garden news from here and there: Epimediums, window gardening and digging in at the White House
Share your gardening tips
Learn something new this gardening season
Teenager 'attacked with gardening tool' in brawl

Garden news from here and there: Epimediums, window gardening and digging in at the White House

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 11:29 AM PDT

Window gardening proves anyone, anywhere, can grow vegetables; epimediums are the most versatile of plants; Michelle Obama replants the First Garden (OK, we just call it that).

Share your gardening tips

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:38 AM PDT

Do you keep a garden? Do you have gardening advice you'd like to share?

Learn something new this gardening season

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:25 AM PDT

The Corporation of Delta is hosting a series of free gardening workshops this spring and summer for Delta residents. others also read...

Teenager 'attacked with gardening tool' in brawl

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:13 AM PDT

A TEENAGER�suffered head injuries�in a fight between two gangs in Addlestone last week.

“Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley”

2010-03-07T03:14:00.001-08:00

“Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley”

Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley

Posted: 15 Feb 2010 03:43 PM PST

POSTED: 5:41 pm EST February 15, 2010
UPDATED: 6:33 pm EST February 15, 2010

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“Go To A Flower Show - PerishableNews (press release)”

2010-03-04T03:10:00.001-08:00

“Go To A Flower Show - PerishableNews (press release)”

Go To A Flower Show - PerishableNews (press release)

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:44 PM PST

by Charlie Nardozzi, The Examiner
Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 4:38PM EST

I recently returned from the granddaddy of all indoor flower shows, the Philadelphia Flower Show. I was speaking about my new book Vegetable Gardening for Dummies on behalf of the Gardener's Supply Company. It was a packed house and the show was amazing. The theme of the show is Passport to the World and it features more than 30 show gardens from countries such as India, China, Singapore, Netherlands, Brazil, and South Africa. The artistic expression and breath of flowers that were forced into bloom was amazing. Just to see colors and greenery this time of year was a treat!

So, what's a cabin fevered Vermonter to do? You could hop a flight to Philadelphia. The show goes through March 7th. Or visit one of the closer shows. The Boston Flower and Garden Show is back! After a one-year hiatus, the show will be held from March 24 to 28, 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center. The theme this year is a Feast for Your Senses, with show gardens, exhibits, and talks throughout the 5-day run.

Even closer to home is the Gorgeous Gardens and Green Living Show hosted by the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association. The show is held on Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14th, at the Riley Rink in Manchester, Vermont. It features display gardens and talks on horticulture, agriculture, and sustainable homes and gardens by local and national gardeners, such as Julie Moir Meservy.

To read the rest of this story please go to: The Examiner

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“Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

2010-03-03T03:08:00.001-08:00

“Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com

Posted: 28 Feb 2010 03:06 AM PST

Although snow blanketed Vermont last week, a working group of the Burlington Board of Health is about to issue this call: Wanted — two Burlington property owners willing this spring to swear off the stew of manmade chemicals many people feed their lawns to keep them as weed- and pest-free as AstroTurf.

Abandoning pesticides won't mean going it alone. The two property owners will be part of the "Truly Healthy Lawn Lab," a two-year Board of Health project to demonstrate chemical-free routes to growing grass.

The Lawn Lab — along with a recent, abortive attempt to toughen the Burlington's pesticide ordinance — reflects a growing concern in some circles that lawn chemicals, singly or together, can affect human health, particularly children's health.

"There is so much evidence that chemicals in the environment are affecting our long-term health," said Jean Markey-Duncan, a New North End resident and one of those who pressed the Board of Health to address lawn pesticide use. "Pesticides have been linked to cancer, to Parkinson's disease, to autism and attention deficit disorder.

"Do we want to take a chance we are wrong about this?"

Americans spread an estimated 70 million pounds of pesticides on their lawns each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That's 10 times more per acre than farmers use on their crops.

Although the toxic ingredients in weedkillers and pesticides must be registered with the EPA, that stamp does not mean lawn chemicals are safe, critics say. By definition, pesticides are toxic to some forms of life. Fresh concerns about the cumulative effects of environmental chemicals have arisen in recent years.

Critics cite examples like diazinon, once the most widely used lawn pesticide in the country. In 2000 the EPA ordered the phase-out of the insecticide, citing evidence it could affect the nervous system.

Last year, the agency ordered pesticide manufacturers to test 67 chemicals — including glyphosate, imidacloprid, 2,4-d and others used in lawn care — to determine whether they interfere with the action of hormones that regulate metabolism, reproduction and growth in humans and animals.

Pesticide manufacturers and lawn-care companies defend the safety of their products.

"In many cases, our approval standards for lawn-care products we use are even tougher than the government," said Heather Wilson, a spokesperson for TruGreen-ChemLawn, a national lawn-care service that operates in Vermont.

Not all homeowners are reassured.

"There are so many chemicals in our environment, it is just prudent to eliminate unnecessary ones," Markey-Duncan said.

And that's the point, she and others say: Routine use of lawn chemicals isn't necessary.

"You can have a really nice lawn without total reliance on herbicides and insecticides," said Sid Bosworth, University of Vermont Extension agronomist, turf expert and Lawn Lab's technical advisor.

The Board of Health's pesticide education working group believes Lawn Lab will prove Bosworth right.

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“Maintaining your plants using self-watering window boxes, drip systems - Washington Post”

2010-03-02T03:05:00.001-08:00

“Maintaining your plants using self-watering window boxes, drip systems - Washington Post”

Maintaining your plants using self-watering window boxes, drip systems - Washington Post

Posted: 03 Feb 2010 06:57 AM PST

Fairfax

A: Keeping a window box going at a second home on the Eastern Shore will be difficult given the heat and winds. To solve the watering issue, you might use so-called self-watering boxes, which have a reservoir that needs filling only periodically. Gardener's Supply Co. (http://www.gardeners.com) sells one about two feet long that stores five quarts of water. Customers have commented on the company's Web site that they've been able to go a week or more without irrigating.

If you expect to be at the house less frequently, you can install a drip watering system with electronic controls, including a sensor so the system shuts off in the rain. Home centers and garden-supply companies sell drip-irrigation kits sized for specific numbers of pots, which work well when planters are clustered. To irrigate window boxes, you'd probably need to rig your own system using tubing that you buy by the reel or foot.

A third alternative is to use plants that can go long periods without watering, such as succulents. Plants suitable for non-irrigated green roofs, especially low-growing sedums, work especially well. Taller sedums suitable for perennial beds, such as Autumn Joy, are probably too floppy. Emory Knoll Farms, a nursery in Street, Md., that specializes in plants for green roofs, has a list of especially good choices on its Web site (http://www.greenroofplants.com). "Green Roof Plants," a 2006 Timber Press book written by the nursery's owners, Ed and Lucie Snodgrass, shows an even wider array.

Cliff Lowe at Lowe's Bayshore Nursery & Garden Center (http://www.lowesbayshore.com) in Stevensville, Md., suggests incorporating ice plants, which have almost neon-red or pink flowers.

All of these plants need fast-draining soil, so add some gravel into the potting mix. Even though the plants can go for long periods without watering once established, they still need care at first. You should consider starting them at home in relatively large pots and move them into the window boxes once they are established. (Just make sure the initial soil depth isn't more than what the window boxes offer.) Or plan an extended stay at the cottage early in the season. What a great excuse.

Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@washpost.com. Please put "How To" in the subject line and tell us where you live.

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“Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

2010-02-28T03:15:00.001-08:00

“Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

Campaign targets lawn weedkillers, pesticides - BurlingtonFreePress.com

Posted: 28 Feb 2010 03:06 AM PST

"Do we want to take a chance we are wrong about this?"

Pesticide manufacturers and lawn-care companies defend the safety of their products.

Not all homeowners are reassured.

"There are so many chemicals in our environment, it is just prudent to eliminate unnecessary ones," Markey-Duncan said.

And that's the point, she and others say: Routine use of lawn chemicals isn't necessary.

"You can have a really nice lawn without total reliance on herbicides and insecticides," said Sid Bosworth, University of Vermont Extension agronomist, turf expert and Lawn Lab's technical advisor.

The Board of Health's pesticide education working group believes Lawn Lab will prove Bosworth right.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

“Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)” plus 3 more

2010-02-27T03:11:00.001-08:00

“Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)” plus 3 more

Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)
Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News
The Kitchen Garden Planner - Epicurious (blog)
Maintaining your plants using self-watering window boxes, drip systems - Washington Post

Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)

Posted: 24 Feb 2010 12:59 PM PST

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We've been talking about planting vegetable gardens in raised beds here on Garden Variety and I guess I thought you would build them of wood.

Maybe not.

Gardener's Supply catalog has, new this year, raised beds made from strips of galvanized sheet metal.

Since farmers use the material for watering troughs and outbuildings, it makes sense to use it to form the sides of raised beds.

Photo courtesy of Gardener's Supply

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Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:18 PM PST

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Dallas Home Improvement Centers

Dallas Home Improvement Services

Dallas Handyman Services

Dallas Garden Centers

“In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin” plus 3 more

2010-02-26T03:05:00.001-08:00

“In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin” plus 3 more

In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin
Gardening column: Dig into gardening quiz, see how much you know - News Sentinel
RI County Extension horticulture programs - Quad-Cities Online
Sowing seed for safety - The News Journal

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In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:58 PM PST

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When The Gardenator plants flower or vegetable seeds, he uses a great compact system from Lee Valley Garden Supply they call the Self Watering Seed Starter kit.

It has a water reservoir on the bottom, a flat tray covered with a felt material that acts as a wick and then a container with 24 holes in it the size of seedling pots. The large openings in the seedling "pots" sit on the felt and soak up just the right amount of moisture to grow the seeds. You never have to water from above, which can be difficult to do without harming delicate seedlings.

Moisten the peat thoroughly before sowing seeds but not so it drips water when squeezed. Check it out, at leevalley.com, click the "Garden" tab, and click on "seed starting" and then the "self-watering" photo.

The growing medium, which I make myself, is made up of 3 parts, milled sphagnum peat moss, 2 parts perlite and 1 part vermiculite. This provides an inert, sterile growing medium without a lot of chemicals you find in some store-bought types. Moisten the peat thoroughly before sowing seeds but not so it drips water when squeezed.

Don't confuse sphagnum moss with sphagnum peat moss. Sphagnum moss is used in the floral industry to line wire baskets and make wreaths. It's the living moss that grows on top of a sphagnum bog. Sphagnum peat moss is used as a soil conditioner by gardeners. It's the dead vegetative material that accumulates in the lower levels of a sphagnum bog. This material could be many hundreds of years old. Harvesters of horticultural peat moss remove the top few inches of the live sphagnum moss before harvesting the peat from the lower levels of the bog. In Europe and Canada, peat is formed in bricks and burned for heating and cooking.

Misinformation

There is much misinformation about using renewable plant resources. If traced back, it sometimes leads to obscure, unreliable and unscientific sources, which keep getting quoted and re-quoted until eventually being considered indisputable truth. One of these is the use of "non-renewable" peat resources.

Managed wisely, peat is a good renewable resource. You will however, find quotes that peat moss is a "non-renewable" resource that is being "used up." A single bog can be harvested for 15 to 50 years before being left for restoration. Until recently, peat bogs were left to regenerate on their own. The industry claims it found ways to restore bogs in five to eight years.

There are more than 270 million acres of peat lands in Canada, which is 25 percent of the world's supply. Of that, less than one-acre in 6,000 is harvested.

New peat develops faster than what is harvested according to an issue paper titled "Canadian Peat Harvesting and the Environment," published by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada). I have a problem believing that. While it's growing, a peat bog performs important functions:

Acts as a filter.
Acts as a water collection basin.
Accumulates carbon.
Provides habitat for flora and fauna.

Peat moss can be used as a mulch, but since it will make the soil more acidic, its best used for High Bush Blueberry, Japanese Andromeda, Azalea, Balsam Fir, Dogwood, Holly, Gardenia, Magnolia, Oak, Spruce, Viburnum, Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel, to name a just a few. If too thick, it will form a crust that is difficult for water to penetrate.

Richard E, Palazzo, "The Gardenator," is a Certified Advanced Master Gardener. E-mail him at thegardenator@lycos.com

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Gardening column: Dig into gardening quiz, see how much you know - News Sentinel

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 09:08 PM PST

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Last night I attended a meeting that included Extension educators, Master Gardeners and other people in the know about gardening and farming. When this happens, I always find out how much I have to learn. As a "fun" exercise, the educators gave everyone at the various tables a quiz.

Quizzes and I have never been friends — I freeze and my mind goes blank, but this time I was sure I would know the answers. So much for overconfidence and bravado! Once again I was brought low and discovered a lesson in humility.

Here are a few of the simple trick questions so you'll have an idea of what happened — and let me just say in my defense, I didn't get all of them wrong:

♦True or false? Rabbits have been eating lettuce in Connie's vegetable garden. One of her neighbors told her that spreading mothballs in the garden would take care of her rabbit problem. Should Connie spread mothballs in the garden? To my credit, I answered this one correctly and drew a big confident circle around false.

I can hear you wondering, "Why not use mothballs?" Mothballs contain a hydrocarbon called naphthalene, which is a carcinogen and is harmful to mammals and humans. This historically has been used to repel insects, especially moths in wool clothing, and it should be used only in a well-ventilated area around humans and pets. By the way, it has been tried on rabbits and they don't mind it at all. Fencing is about your only solution to keeping rabbits out of the lettuce.

♦Q: Julie found caterpillars on her broccoli. What environmentally friendly product can she use to take care of them? There were four items mentioned and I chose the wrong one. The really safe one to use is Dipel (Bt), which you can purchase from most garden centers.

♦True or false? Captain Jack's Bug Brew contains an active ingredient that allows one to control insects on fruit crops and will allow one to eat the product the next day without worrying about pesticide residues.

I missed this one big time and said false. I wrongly thought something with a name like that was a concoction that wouldn't do anyone any good. So — what is the main ingredient in Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew that works magic on fruit loving insects and other pests? It's Spinosad.

Explanation: Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew contains Spinosad (spin-OH-sid), a naturally occurring soil-dwelling bacterium collected on a Caribbean island from an abandoned rum distillery in 1982.

The product kills bagworms, borers, beetles, caterpillars, codling moth, gypsy moth, loopers, leaf miners, spider mites, tent caterpillars, thrips and more. It is made for organic gardening and safe for indoor gardening. You can purchase it online at: www.greennationgardens.com for $20 for a 16-ounce supply.

♦Q: The most pounds of active ingredient per acre are applied by: a. Farmers, b. Golf courses, c. Landscape/turf professionals, and d. Homeowners.

I circled b. Golf courses and then found out it was d. Homeowners. What does this say about homeowners overusing fertilizers and weedkillers on the lawn and landscape?

I know many of us think that if a little will do the job, a whole lot more will do it better. Unfortunately, that isn't how it works — so we waste money and product when a much lesser amount would have taken care of the problem. I guess "read the label" and "follow directions" are good advice after all.

Jane Ford is an Advanced Master Gardener. E-mail questions to features@news-sentinel.com.

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RI County Extension horticulture programs - Quad-Cities Online

Posted: 24 Feb 2010 01:52 PM PST

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Press release submitted by University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County

Rock Island County Extension Horticulture Classes & Events for March 2010

University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County has many programs that will get area gardeners and enthusiasts ready for the spring planting season! From the Homegrown Challenge Vegetable Bootcamp on March 14 to a telenet on morel mushrooms, there is something for all interest areas! Unless noted, the classes will take place at Rock Island County Extension, 321 West 2nd Ave., Milan, IL. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programming and employment. For more information, call (309) 756-9978.

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Home Grown Challenge Vegetable Gardening Boot Camp, Sun, March 14, Noon - 5:00 p.m., Milan Community Center

University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County wants to help you to take your food production gardening to the next level. There are many common problems producers face in growing popular vegetable and fruit crops. Local experts will give sound advice on how you can maximize your vegetable crops for the spring, summer and fall gardens along with fruits of all kind.

The program begins with a keynote address by Dr. Michael Woods entitled "Extending Your Possibilities" with the focus on garden layout and square foot gardening. Following his keynote address, participants will rotate between three 45 minute interactive presentations on Spring Gardens, Summer Gardens, and Fall Gardens with each session covering the various products of that season, planting, harvesting, varieties, and common struggles. The final session participants will choose from presentations on the topics of: Herbs, Preservation, or Fruit & Fruit Trees. Gardening vendors will also be present. The fee is $15 per person. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978. Support for this program is provided in part by a grant from The Mel McKay Charitable Trust and Radish Magazine.

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Horticulture Brown Bag Lunch Series, February 4 - March 25

Get a touch of gardening spirit this winter during the Horticulture Brown Bag luncheon weekly series at Rock Island Extension, 321 West 2nd Ave., Milan.. Bring a lunch to enjoy as you hear programs covering an array of gardening topics. February 25: Spring Wild Flowers; March 3: Indoor Air Quality; March 11: Good Guys Bad Guys; March 18: Edible Flowers; March 25: African Violets. Come for a 20 minute lecture, Q & A and fellowship. Programs are led by Rock Island County Master Gardeners. The fee is $5 per person, $3 for Rock Island County Master Gardeners. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

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Winter Gardening Teleconference Series

The Four Seasons Gardening, a 12-session program presented by University of Illinois Extension, includes a wide array of gardening and landscaping topics. The cost to attend the teleconferences is $5 for the general public and $1 for Rock Island County Master Gardeners. The seminar features a color slide presentation accompanied by the voice of the instructor as people from all over the state participate. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978. Upcoming programs include:

· The Elusive Morel March 9 at 1 p.m. or March 11 at 7 p.m.

This program will cover the basics of mushroom classification and identification, with an emphasis on the various species of morels and the non-morel look-alikes. Tips for hunting the morel mushroom will be discussed, as well as safety in the woods and hunting etiquette–making this program especially useful to the novice morel hunter.

· A Gardener's Guide to Plant Propagation March 23 at 1 p.m. or March 25 at 7 p.m.

Propagation simply means to reproduce or make new plants. There are many ways to "make more plants." This session will focus on a variety of propagation techniques and try to take away some of the mystery so that you succeed. Soon, you may have more plants than you thought possible.

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Master Composting Program begins March 25 at Quad City Botanical Center

Become a Rock Island County Master Composter! The Master Composter Program is designed to extend composting information to the public through volunteers who have successfully completed a comprehensive training program. This educational program is made available through the University of Illinois Extension – Rock Island County. Participants will learn about backyard composting, structures; ingredients for successful composting; the biology & physiology of compost; composting methods, aerobic & anaerobic composting; composting with worms; composting bin constructing, and much more.

There will be seven classes which will take place on Thursday, March 25, 5:30 - 7 pm; Saturday March 27, 10 am - Noon; Thursday April 8, 5:30 - 7 pm; Saturday April 10, 10 am - Noon; Thursday May 6, 5:30 - 7:00 pm; (Compost Demo Site Construction TBD); Thursday, May 20, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. The classes will be held at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL.

Registration fee includes a compost starting kit and manual for all participants. Fee Options $75 +10 hrs service ($50 will be refunded upon completion of service hours). or $125 No service hours. Master Composters volunteer service will be in the form of approved educational outreach through the Rock Island County Extension Unit. This can be done in a variety of ways such as giving workshops at schools, community centers, staffing a booth a community fair, maintaining a compost demonstration site or writing a news release for a paper. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

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Horticulture Spring Series Begins March 23rd

Beginning March 23 – April 27, the Rock Island County Master Gardener's annual Spring Series Gardening Lectures for home horticulture will take place for six consecutive Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm. at the Extension office in Milan. The cost is $5 per program, $3 for RICO Master Gardeners or for six weeks:$25 public/ $15 RICO Master Gardeners. Preregistration is strongly encouraged.

· March 23rd – Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds.

Learn how proper site selection and plant choices, including lots of native plants, are important to insure the success of the garden, both in terms of plant performance and attracting our winged friends. Ray Wolfe, Scott County Master Gardener will describe butterflies and hummingbirds found in northwest Illinois and the plants they love.

· March 30th – Green Gardening

Cathy LaFrenz, a.k.a. the effervescent Miss Effie, will share her ideas on green gardening...from decorating your garden with salvaged items to rain water conservation, composting and green insect control. You are guaranteed to learn a few things about sprucing up your garden, saving the environment and battling pests as well as having a laugh or two along the way.

· April 6th – Seed Starting

Have you ever wanted to start some of your garden plants from seed but never knew where to start? This class will introduce you to the basics of seed starting to help give you a jump-start on the new gardening season. Kari Houle, Unit Educator Horticulture for the University of Illinois Extension in Knox County will show you how fun and easy starting seeds can be.

· April 13th – Protecting Our Rivers

Tammy Becker, Programs Manager for Living Lands & Waters will talk about the Mississippi River and the changes it has seen in the last 150 years. She'll cover how what started as a one man project has developed into paid staff of several dedicated people and thousands of volunteers each year with highlights on what you can do to take responsibility for a cleaner river environment.

· April 20th – Go Wild, Go Native!

Marilyn Andress, Education Coordinator for the Rock Island County Soil and Water Conservation District will present information on using native plants to create "Wild Places" around your home and community. Topics to be covered include: Local ecology, site assessment for your garden, plant selections and ideas for types of gardens. Marilyn's passion for the environment is evident in her family acreage, by Illinois City, where she and her family are restoring their 76 acres to native prairie, wetlands & forest.

· April 27th – Learning Community Class

Jason Peters and Charles Mahaffey, both Augustana College Professors, will examine local environmental topics from different points of view. Learn about the cooperation between Jim Johansen of Wesley Acres and the college and how these two awesome teachers are inspiring students to think of the food supply and other environmental issues in new ways. Hear updates on Augie Acres, a student-run garden project at Augustana College as wells as other hands-on projects.

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Rock Island County Master Gardeners Host May 6th Bus Trip to the Pella Tulip Festival

Join the Rock Island County Master Gardeners on a fabulous bus trip to the historic Pella, Iowa on Thursday, May 6, 2010 to enjoy the Tulip Festival. The day-trip includes a seat on the motorcoach, reserved seating ticket to the afternoon grandstand show and parade, admission to the historical village and the Vermeer Windmill Tour, the Scholte House Tour, the Pella City tour and a one-day pass on the golf car shuttles. The cost is $65. Reservations must be in by April 16th. The motorcoach will depart at 6:00 a.m. and return home at 8:00 p.m. Meeting location is the southeast corner of the SouthPark Mall parking lot in Moline, IL.

In the city of Pella, there are lots of shops including the Dutch Bakery, Lace Shop, The Klokkenspel, Pella Garden Club's 48th Annual Flower Show at the Scholte Church (Historical Village) and you can order tulip bulbs at the church. There are plenty of places to eat as both lunch and dinner are on your own. Of course there are also hundreds of beautiful tulips in bloom all around the city and many other places and exhibits to see and enjoy. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

Sowing seed for safety - The News Journal

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 12:58 AM PST

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When it comes to edible gardening, nothing spells success like a rough economy.

Last year saw 7 million new gardeners take to their backyards as a source of food, and the trend doesn't show signs of slowing. Seed companies have known this for a long time, watching their sales rise and fall as the economy dictates.

Lately, however, another significant factor has boosted seed sales, particularly among new gardeners.

"Our business has doubled the last two years in a row, and so far this year, it's up 25 to 30 percent over last year," says Jerry Orton, a consultant for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Missouri. "We attribute some of this not just to the economy, but to people becoming more aware of food safety."

Baker Creek, whose 29-year-old boss, Jere Gettle, started the company at age 17, is one of several seed companies to concentrate on heirloom, organic, open-pollinated, and/or non-genetically modified seed.

Like Seeds of Change, a certified organic seed company, and Seed Savers Exchange, a membership-based heirloom seed company that also offers a retail catalog, Baker Creek seeks to preserve bio-diversity and offer a safe food source for home gardeners and small farmers.

All three contract with suppliers around the world and are doing a booming business specializing in rare, unusual and incredibly diverse varieties.

Such diversity, while good for consumers, can also cause confusion.

What does it mean to be an heirloom tomato? An organic pea? A non-genetically modified ear of corn?

John Torgrimson, of Seed Savers Exchange, whose members exchange some 13,000 varieties of heirloom seeds each year, says, "Think of something handed down within a family from generation to generation. Heirloom seeds have been in circulation more than 50 years. [They're] open pollinated and nothing has been done to alter [their] genetics."

Open pollinated -- or wind- and insect-pollinated -- plants are hallmarks of heirlooms, unlike the many hybrid varieties available whose pollination has been manipulated to create desired traits in a new plant. Another characteristic of heirlooms is that their seed can be saved and planted from year to year. By preserving heirloom varieties, genetic diversity is encouraged, as is a link to the past.

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“Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)”

2010-02-25T03:07:00.000-08:00

“Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)”

Raised beds of steel? Call Superman - Baltimore Sun (blog)

Posted: 24 Feb 2010 12:59 PM PST

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We've been talking about planting vegetable gardens in raised beds here on Garden Variety and I guess I thought you would build them of wood.

Maybe not.

Gardener's Supply catalog has, new this year, raised beds made from strips of galvanized sheet metal.

Since farmers use the material for watering troughs and outbuildings, it makes sense to use it to form the sides of raised beds.

Photo courtesy of Gardener's Supply

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“The Kitchen Garden Planner - Epicurious (blog)”

2010-02-24T03:31:00.001-08:00

“The Kitchen Garden Planner - Epicurious (blog)”

The Kitchen Garden Planner - Epicurious (blog)

Posted: 23 Feb 2010 06:24 AM PST

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I imagine graph paper was once very popular for plotting a garden. What tools are you now using to plan your outdoor garden?

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“How to make your garden grow: Seeds vs. seedlings - Providence Journal”

2010-02-20T03:19:00.001-08:00

“How to make your garden grow: Seeds vs. seedlings - Providence Journal”

How to make your garden grow: Seeds vs. seedlings - Providence Journal

Posted: 19 Feb 2010 08:49 AM PST

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Seedlings save work, but growing plants from seed is satisfying and cheaper; plastic spoons, above, make good plant markers.

MCT / CHIAKI KAWAJIRI

Seeds or seedlings?

Those eager to join the vegetable gardening revolution this season have a decision to make.

Are you going to grow your vegetables from seed? Or will you buy seedlings from your local garden center or a farmers' market?

If you are going to grow your own seedlings, it is just about time to get started. The advantages include savings, pride and choice. You can grow exactly what you want, in the numbers you want and you don't have to count on somebody else's idea of variety.

Though seedlings can be pretty inexpensive, selling for a dollar or two, you can buy a packet of perhaps 50 seeds — and a measure of personal satisfaction — for the same amount.

Buying seedlings saves a lot of work, and it can save a lot of disappointment. There are any number of reasons why the seeds you plant won't germinate or won't thrive.

However, unless your garden center buys its seedlings from a dependable local grower, you run the risk of importing diseases from another part of the country. That appears to be how late blight made its way up the East Coast last summer and decimated so many tomato crops.

Most local garden centers are stepping it up when it comes to vegetable variety.

If you want something more exotic, start looking for plant sales in late May organized by garden clubs and organizations that are interested in biodiversity, or just looking for something unusual. These include the Master Gardener's plant sale at the East Farm Spring Festival, Southside Community Land Trust's Rare and Unusual Plant Sale and many others.

A vegetable garden takes a lot of energy to maintain. For many people, it may be wiser to buy a small number of plants in the kinds of vegetables, herbs and ornamentals they enjoy and can maintain than have a large number of straggly plants from seed and be overwhelmed.

But if you are dying to grow Black Pear tomatoes or White Lightning eggplant, you might have to start from seed.

Susan Iglehart of Glyndon, Md., who will start about 20,000 seeds this spring in more than 100 flower and vegetable varieties, says that if you try to start seeds in a sunny window, you are heading for disappointment.

"You can grow a whole garden's worth — hundreds of plants — under a 40-inch fluorescent fixture," she said.

It needs to be suspended on chains, very close to the seed cups so that the plants don't become spindly reaching for the light. The chains allow you to adjust that height as the plants grow. You can buy fancy tiered racks or light tables, but any table will do.

You can buy heating pads to encourage root growth, though that isn't necessary for a beginner, Iglehart said. But a seed-starter kit is a wise purchase.

A seed-starter kit, which includes 48 seed cups, markers and a dome that creates a greenhouse effect, can be purchased from mail-order houses such as Gardener's Supply Co. for about $49.95, and they include a germination mix and irrigation trays to make watering easier.

How many seeds do you plant? If you want just six tomato plants, do you plant six seeds?

"At least double what you want, and the whole pack if you can," said Iglehart. "That way, you will have your choice of the sturdiest seedlings, and you can give the rest away to friends." Seeds tend not to germinate very well the second year anyway.

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“Seed starting: more details - Baltimore Sun (blog)”

2010-02-19T03:22:00.001-08:00

“Seed starting: more details - Baltimore Sun (blog)”

Seed starting: more details - Baltimore Sun (blog)

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST

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Starting your vegetables from seed can be a lot of work, no question. And there are plenty of ways it can go wrong.

But the advantages include variety -- infinite variety -- and a sense of accomplishment.

Check out the column for your first steps in starting seeds. Here is some more advice:

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“Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News”

2010-02-17T03:16:00.001-08:00

“Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News”

Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:18 PM PST

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Dallas Home Improvement Centers

Dallas Home Improvement Services

Dallas Handyman Services

Dallas Garden Centers

“Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley”

2010-02-16T03:23:00.001-08:00

“Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley”

Who's Hiring In Your Area? - WPTZ The Champlain Valley

Posted: 15 Feb 2010 03:43 PM PST

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POSTED: 5:41 pm EST February 15, 2010
UPDATED: 6:33 pm EST February 15, 2010

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“Catalogs offer fascinating garden tools - Anchorage Daily News”

2010-02-13T03:18:00.001-08:00

“Catalogs offer fascinating garden tools - Anchorage Daily News”

Catalogs offer fascinating garden tools - Anchorage Daily News

Posted: 21 Jan 2010 01:26 AM PST

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Some gardeners really get into gardening tools and gadgets. It shouldn't come as any surprise to the rest of us that there are catalogs and Web-o-logs that specialize in gardening tools. These are really winter reading material. Not only will you be amazed by what is available, a good tool catalog can stimulate gardening thoughts in the middle of winter.

Garden calendar (1/20/10)

Christmas tree recyling: It is over. Do not spoil the program by taking trees to the now closed collection areas.

Sweat Peas: Order, buy and start. Pinch the outer covering with a nail clipper, soak in water for 24 hours and plant in good soil. Pinch back when they get three sets of leaves to two sets.

Seed Racks: They are up and they are dangerous. Only buy what you need, not what you desire.

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Let's start with Lee Valley Company. These folks have a standard display at many home and garden shows around the country, and it is always fun to touch their offerings instead of just looking at them in a catalog. Still, they have a great gardening "tab" on their Web site (leevalley.com), which is fun to go to as well. I never thought of a gadget to connect two bamboo tomato stakes for a longer reach, much less a nifty item that makes three stakes form a teepee without ties. Need to see some different kinds of trowels because of arthritis or want to price a composting thermometer? Check out Lee Valley.

Next, I love Rittenhouse (rittenhouse.ca), a Canadian garden, farm and nursery supplier with warehouses in the U.S. They sell almost everything you can think of from watering gardening tools and equipment to dog-shaped wire frames to make topiary displays. I don't confine myself to the Web tab designed for the home gardeners, either. Check out some of the golf course equipment, for example, over in the professional products tab or some of the sprayers in the industrial supply tab. As for pricing, if you are going to buy, make sure to check the U.S. currency flag on the opening page.

You will surely find all sorts of interesting things to consider at Gardener's Supply Company (gardeners.com). I like these folks, in part, because I bought a garden cart from them over 1,000 years ago that is still working hard for me. Their site has a bunch of tools listed in different categories, which makes it a bit easier to navigate than some tool sites. Check out the labor saving devices for some good ideas. I love the clothespin twine cutter that fits in the pocket. It can be seen over in the new tools section.

Kinsman Company (kinsmangarden.com) sells all sorts of gardening things but has a tab for gardening tools on their Web site. Need a sharpener for the mower blades or for those old shears you can't part with? How about "Better than Rocks" -- a great idea to help your deck pots and containers to hold water and provide some aeration while keeping the pots light?

Lilypons Water Gardens (lilypons.com) has been the go-to place for water garden equipment. It is also a great place to spend some time and learn about water features you might consider for your yard. Who knew there was a special sealant to divert water over waterfall rocks? Liners? What is a liner? Spend a half hour here and you will learn what you need for that water garden you have always wanted. You don't have to buy; winter catalog time is for learning too.

I have always wanted to automate the watering around our yard with a drip irrigation system. (My lovely spouse wants me to do so as well). I am going to make sure we both spend some time at Dripworks (dripworksusa.com) Web site. Not only do they have lots of neat systems to look at, but there are educational videos on setting them up.

Felco (felcostore.com) makes pruning tools. Spend a few minutes on their site to see what they have to offer, including how to choose a pruning tool and how to maintain them. Similarly, Fiskars (fiskars.com/content/garden_en_us/Garden/Home) has a bunch of stuff on their U.S. gardening Web page, including their new products. I am looking at their foot aerator, for instance. Both brands are carried in several locations here in Alaska.

While they don't sell to the general public, Growers Supply Company (growerssupplycompany.com) has a whole line of indoor gardening products and tools. Lights, fixtures, growing trays, stands and systems are featured. You can buy anything you see at local outlets.

Finally, the list wouldn't be complete with out a reference to Charley's Greenhouse and Garden (charleysgreenhouse.com). There are lots of tools listed, including, obviously, things needed in greenhouses. There is also a hard copy catalog available.

Again, if there is a catalog you think should be on one of my January lists, let me know. Happy reading in the meantime!

Jeff Lowenfels is a member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame. You can reach him at teamingwithmicrobes.com or by calling 274-5297 during "The Garden Party" radio show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays on KBYR AM-700.

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“Richmond Valentine's dance to benefit victim of train accident - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

2010-02-12T03:22:00.001-08:00

“Richmond Valentine's dance to benefit victim of train accident - BurlingtonFreePress.com”

Richmond Valentine's dance to benefit victim of train accident - BurlingtonFreePress.com

Posted: 11 Feb 2010 03:45 AM PST

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A live dance band, a silent auction and a catered dinner are among the highlights of this year's annual Richmond Valentine's Dance to be held from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

Proceeds from the party will benefit Josh Newton, the town's UPS driver who sustained severe injuries in early December when his truck slid into the path of freight train near Roxbury.

Featured at this year's party will be the "Real Deal Band" and food catered by the Bridge Street Cafe.

Silent auction items include a Mad River Glen season's pass, a year's supply of ice cream from Ben and Jerry's Homemade Inc.., and merchandise from Seventh Generation, Gardener's Supply, John's Shoe Shop North and others.

Advance tickets ($25 for dinner, dessert and dancing; $15 for dancing and dessert) are on sale until Friday at the Bridge Street Cafe, Bridge Street Hair, On the Rise Bakery and the Richmond Corner Market. Call Cathy Aikman at 434-7775.

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“Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News”

2010-02-11T03:15:00.001-08:00

“Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News”

Garden booties keep feet warm, clean during spring chores - Dallas Morning News

Posted: 11 Feb 2010 12:36 AM PST

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Dallas Home Improvement Centers

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“Vegetable garden, Part III: Go with seeds or seedlings? - Baltimore Sun”

2010-02-06T03:05:00.001-08:00

“Vegetable garden, Part III: Go with seeds or seedlings? - Baltimore Sun”

Vegetable garden, Part III: Go with seeds or seedlings? - Baltimore Sun

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 12:28 AM PST

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Susan Reimer On Gardening

January 28, 2010

Seeds or seedlings?

Those eager to join the vegetable gardening revolution this season have a decision to make.

Are you going to grow your vegetables from seed? Or will you purchase seedlings from your local garden center or a farmers' market?

Though seedlings can be pretty inexpensive, selling for a dollar or two, you can purchase a packet of perhaps 50 seeds - and a measure of personal satisfaction - for the same amount.

Buying seedlings saves a lot of work, and it can save a lot of disappointment. There are any number of reasons why the seeds you plant won't germinate or won't thrive.

However, unless your garden center purchases its seedlings from a dependable local grower, you run the risk of importing diseases from another part of the country. That appears to be how late blight made its way up the East Coast last summer and decimated so many tomato crops.

Most local garden centers are stepping it up when it comes to vegetable variety. Valley View Farms in Cockeysville, for example, will carry 35 kinds of tomatoes and 35 kinds of peppers.

But if you are dying to grow Black Pear tomatoes or White Lightning eggplant, you might have to start from seed.

Susan Iglehart of Glyndon, who will start about 20,000 seeds this spring in more than 100 flower and vegetable varieties, says that if you try to start seeds in a sunny window, you are heading for disappointment.

"You can grow a whole garden's worth - hundreds of plants - under a 40-inch fluorescent fixture," she said.

It needs to be suspended on chains, very close to the seed cups so the plants don't become spindly reaching for the light. The chains allow you to adjust that height as the plants grow. You can purchase fancy tiered racks or light tables, but any table will do.

You can buy heating pads to encourage root growth, though that isn't necessary for a beginner, Iglehart said. But a seed-starter kit is a wise purchase.

How many seeds do you plant? If you want just six tomato plants, do you plant six seeds?

"At least double what you want, and the whole pack if you can," said Iglehart. "That way, you will have your choice of the sturdiest seedlings, and you can give the rest away to friends."

Next week: vegetable gardening in containers.

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“Containers make vegetable gardening easier - Baltimore Sun” plus 1 more

2010-02-05T03:15:00.001-08:00

“Containers make vegetable gardening easier - Baltimore Sun” plus 1 more

Containers make vegetable gardening easier - Baltimore Sun

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 06:28 AM PST

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Containers can take 'everything but corn,' blogger says

Susan Reimer On Gardening

February 4, 2010

Containers are the answer for the vegetable gardener short on space or sunlight, or one caught in a tug of war with hungry critters.

"You can grow everything but corn in a container," said Kerry Michaels, who writes about container gardening online at About.com.

Michaels has grown tomato plants in recyclable grocery bags and old laundry baskets and lettuces in yard-sale colanders. But she says the introduction of self-watering containers has made all the difference.

These containers have a reservoir at the base and the soil wicks the water - and fertilizers - up to the roots in a slow, deliberate fashion, eliminating the drought-wet cycles that can stress any plant and cause disease.

"Self-watering changed my life," said Michaels.

That's because a consistent source of moisture might be the toughest part of container gardening. A downpour can flood your container, and pots can dry out quickly on a hot summer day.

Michaels doesn't have many of those warm days where she lives in Maine. But gardening in containers allows her to "chase the sun."

She loads up the wagons her friends and neighbors have learned to give her and drags her "gardens" in and out of the protection of the garage during early summer and in and out of the sunshine later.

I plant lettuces and spinach in containers on my deck because they are semiprotected from the early spring cold and I can move them into the shade when the weather gets hot. Michaels is an organic gardener and prefers organic soil mixes as well as kelp and seaweed and fish emulsion fertilizers that she applies every other week.

"You really do need to feed them like crazy," she said.

Fresh soil and containers cleaned with a mixture of water and vinegar or water and bleach are key, too. Diseases can winter-over in your containers. I plant my tomatoes in containers on my deck, where they are safe from a blight fungus that seems to be in my garden.

Gardener's Supply Co., as well as many local lawn and garden centers, will have the self-watering containers you need to get started on your vegetable container garden. But Michaels uses anything she sees. The larger the better, to maintain soil temperature and retain moisture.

Michaels' biggest surprise in container gardening? "How amazing the potatoes taste when you grow them yourself."

Which she did. In a bag. On top of a picnic bench.

"Containers allow you to control the variables more," she said. "And that includes the critters."

Next week: Vegetable gardening by the square foot

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DMA names Allen interim president, CEO - DM News

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 12:07 AM PST

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The Direct Marketing Association named Robert Allen, former president and CEO of the Vermont Country Store, its interim president and CEO effective February 5.

He will fill the role while the trade group searches for a permanent replacement for John Greco, who resigned as president and CEO last month.

Allen was not available for comment when DMNews contacted the DMA on February 4. He said in a statement that "direct marketing is in the middle of a period of rapid change."

"It will be important to maintain a balance between tried and true methods and new concepts like social media and the digital landscape," he added in the statement.

Allen joined the Vermont Country Store in 1982 as assistant to the president and became president himself in 1994. He also serves as a director for Gardeners Supply, Cuddledown, Susan Sargent Designs, JK Adams, Danforth Pewterers and Kalow Technologies.

"[Allen] has successfully navigated businesses through revolutionary changes in direct marketing and will keep DMA advancing into the 21st century," said Eugene Raitt, DMA board chairman, in a statement. "He is exactly the kind of forward-thinking leader we need."

Ramesh Lakshmi-Ratan, former EVP and COO of the DMA, left the organization September 18. He now leads a division at Pitney Bowes. The DMA did not fill his position.

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