Bearded Iris – How Did They Get That Name? Bearded irises are perennial, and they are both bulbous types and rhizomes. All iris are native to the Northern Hemisphere from Europe to Asia. Iris flowers consist of three upright petals called standards and three drooping petals called sepals. Bearded Iris earned that name because of … Read more
This past Saturday, the 23rd, was the Fall Equinox—the first official autumn day—in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, they’re just starting spring! The word “equinox” comes from the Greek word aequus meaning equal, and nox, meaning night. On the equinox, the days and nights are approximately the same length. On the equinox, the … Read more
So we try to feed the caterpillars AND the butterflies. What else can we do to make our yards a wildlife-friendly place? Creating a Wildlife Friendly Yard Whenever possible, we can incorporate native plants into our landscape. After all, these are the plants that wildlife expects to be here. Our ecosystem is based on what … Read more
Did you know that Labor Day is considered the NFL’s unofficial kick-off? Over 94% of the time, the first NFL game of the season is the Thursday after Labor Day. In September of 1882, the Unions of New York decided to hold a parade to celebrate their members. Over 20,000 workers showed up, sacrificing a … Read more
August is National Peach Month, so here are a few interesting facts about them: Some Interesting Facts The botanical name is Prunus persica, which translates to Persian Plum. Ancient Romans called them Persian Apples. The French translated this to peche, leading to the English peach version. Peaches are native to China, considered a symbol of … Read more
Want to Grow Something Fun and Different? How About Bonsai Are you thinking about growing something fun and different? Bonsai is a great option to consider. Let’s Look at the Ancient Oriental Art of Bonsai Bonsai is from the Japanese word bon, meaning container, and sai, meaning planting, so a planting in a container. The … Read more
Now is the perfect time to begin thinking about what you will do with your vegetable garden this fall and winter. Will you let your summer veggies go until the frost gets them? If so, then keep a couple of things in mind. Be sure you pull up those veggies when they’re done. Debris left … Read more
Tomorrow, August 8th, is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. Yes, really. What to Do With All That Zucchini Zucchini seems to be the one vegetable I often do have an overabundance of. So what can I do with it? While I don’t sneak it onto my neighbor’s porch, I offer them … Read more
July has been a challenge. On the one hand, with the excess rain and humidity, I kept a close eye out for fungal problems. I sprayed my squash plants with a half-strength neem oil solution once as a preventative for powdery mildew, figuring it was only a matter of time before it showed up. So … Read more
Ever gone to pick a tomato and found it’s not what you expected? Well, the tomatoes are ripening, so here’s what to look for: Tomato Problems Blossom End Rot These are black lesions at the bottom of the fruit. A calcium deficiency causes it—but it might not be due to a lack of calcium in … Read more
