AGASTACHE – ALSO KNOWN AS “HUMMINGBIRD MINT” So much is going on with perennials in June. The Perennial Plant Association has designated June as Perennial Gardening Month. The main reason for June being selected as the perennial month is that June is a great month for seeing so many beautiful perennials in bloom. Secondly, June … Read more
As I tiptoed through various gardening groups on Facebook these past few days, I saw several people asking how to kill ants in the yard. So I thought I’d remind us all to what they actually do. (Besides march across our kitchen counters, climb all over our deck furniture, and leave anthills in the middle … Read more
This past Saturday, June 13th, was National Weed Your Garden Day. One of the most important things we can do as a gardener is to keep weeds out of our vegetable and flower beds. Too many weeds can crowd plant roots and force them to compete for water and nutrients. When a plant is “fighting”, … Read more
FATHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY, JUNE 21st. HONORING ALL FATHERS AND FATHERHOOD Just a little history with Father’s Day: First observed in Spokane, Washington in 1910. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to make the 3rd Sunday of June a recognized federal holiday. In 1966, President LBJ issued the first presidential proclamation to make Father’s Day … Read more
Last week, my blog was about feeding the butterfly babies (caterpillars). Now we want to attract the grown-ups. Good Butterfly Attracting Perennials The following is a list of good butterfly-attracting perennials, although there are lots of others. Note: Because butterflies prefer sunny areas, most of their preferred nectar flowers are also sun-lovers. Alliums Asters Bee … Read more
JUNE IS HERE WHICH MEANS SUMMER TO MANY PEOPLE BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF GARDENING CHORES TO KEEP US BUSY OUTSIDE Gardening is the #1 hobby for Americans – now more than ever. I say this because many of us are conflicted about the months of lockdown that have mostly kept us in our homes … Read more
Caterpillars to Butterflies – How to Make the Magic Happen in Your Garden I had a customer, with a packet of milkweed seeds in her hand, ask me how to get rid of the caterpillars that ate these every year. My first reaction was amusement—I was sure she was joking. She wasn’t. I then looked … Read more
This Friday, May 30th, is National Water a Flower Day. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Or maybe it isn’t. Improper watering is probably the number one killer of houseplants—and garden plants, too. We’re so concerned about keeping plants watered, that we often forget they also need air. Yes, plants do breathe! Let Your Plants Breathe … Read more
A common occurrence during the ongoing pandemic is the cancellation or postponement of events, interrupting common traditions and rituals for students and adults alike. BUT NOT GARDENING!! With all my years working in a retail gardening center, I have never spoken to so many families before who are wanting to try doing some vegetable gardening … Read more
Is anything tastier or more essentially “summer” than fresh corn? Because the sugar in corn begins to convert to starch soon after picking, Grandma always said to get the water boiling then go pick the corn, but there are now sugar-enhanced varieties that hold their sweetness for a few days after picking. Still, fresher is … Read more
