I want to integrate decorative grasses into my landscape, but have been hesitant to do so for fear of an invasive takeover. I live in the country, where thugs quickly make themselves at home. So, I've spent several weeks poring over grass guru Rick Darke's latest book, "The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes" (Timber Press, $59.95).
When touting their latest garden releases, publishers often include the word "definitive," but it is a descriptive I rarely use. However, in my opinion, this book fits the bill. . ..
Late April and all of May are good times to plant trees. I live on 20 acres of trees, yet we plant a few new ones each year. Yardeners just flat out need to plant millions of trees throughout America. . . .
I'm thrilled to announce that on April 4, 2008 Susan Wittig Albert will be a guest author on my blog to promote the release of her latest book, Nightshade.
Susan is a nationally-recognized speaker on the history and lore of herbs. . . .
reBlogged
to books
Posted by Crafty Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2008-03-07, 18:57:51
You update your wardrobe every now and then with the latest fashions, and you play around with decorating schemes to reflect your mood, so why not change up your garden a little bit with new plant varieties? Every year, plant breeders reveal new varieties—and the results are dazzling. . .
reBlogged
to plants
Posted by Katie Reblogged by Old Roses to plants on 2008-03-07, 18:57:29
"A regional gardening calender for the month of March can give you general tips on what to plant and what to wait for, but spring in the garden is unpredictable...
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to gardening
on Mar 7, 2008, 1:02AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2008-03-07, 18:55:21
At this time of year, landscaping enthusiasts in cold climates are desperate to see plants growing outside -- any plants at all. Why, I'd be glad to see even a...
reBlogged
to weeds
on Mar 6, 2008, 12:49AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to weeds on 2008-03-07, 18:55:14
The "Florida weave" method of trellising tomatoes, as practiced by ECHO gardens. These look like determinant tomatoes, and the system looks to work well. But I wouldn't think about this method for indeterminant tomatoes, which get in excess of ten feet here.
I'm loving the weather inside the house where flowers are blooming! My 'Apple Blossom' amaryllis (Hippeastrum) that I've had for two years is finally blooming for the first time. The blooms are HUGE! The flower stalk is one of the taller ones I've had, too. . ..
reBlogged
to amaryllis
Posted by Kylee Reblogged by Old Roses to amaryllis on 2008-03-07, 18:54:58
Here is the online link to this week's The List: Top Home & Garden Events on page 23 of today's print edition in the Washington Examiner. You can find the Examiner in the many red street-boxes around town. I saved a screen capture of the listing as a JPG and posted it here -- which you can now click on to read at 100%. . .
I've found that my houseplants do a lot better since I got an indoor fountain. During the winter when the heat is on, my house gets pretty dry. And as my house plants have shown me in the past, they don't like it when it's dry. . . .
reBlogged
to ponds
Posted by Anthony Reblogged by Old Roses to ponds on 2008-03-07, 18:54:08
The Blue Tit looks like Zorro with his black mask on, sitting on the new feeder watching me from yesterday. I have worked today for 13 hours and will again tomorrow.Mum sent me a card with some more seeds in it! I have seeds to plant, a greenhouse to construct, and an allotment to dig over!Once work is done that is.
reBlogged
to birds
Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2008-03-07, 18:53:47
Crazy weather here! First we had a record-breaking heat wave last week (it was 92!) and now it's snowing in north Texas and we're heading for a freeze here tonight in the central part of the state, too. I'm so glad I didn't put out those tomato plants just yet. Our average last frost date is around March 20th, but at this rate, who knows. . .
I've just planted the newest major addition to my back yard--a weeping Santa Rosa plum tree. I've planted it at the back west corner of my lot, where I think it will look great once it fills out. . . .
reBlogged
to trees
Posted by Claire Splan Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2008-03-07, 18:52:43
I have been having one of those weeks that really tests my resilience. You may have noticed my posts have not been on schedule. Life has been quite challenging all week, coming to a horrible culmination yesterday. I’ll write more tomorrow. . . .
reBlogged
to gardens
on Mar 6, 2008, 5:26PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardens on 2008-03-07, 18:52:12
Do you love plants, gardens, and garden-making? Do you get a kick out of helping people make good plant choices for their gardens? Bloomtown Nursery is looking for a hort-head to join our team. We???re located in NE Portland at...
reBlogged
to nursery
Posted by Darcy Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery on 2008-03-07, 18:51:42
I took this little video with my digital camera. If you look closely, about 16 seconds in you can see a few deer running in the background.
Snow came down heavy for several hours, but then started to melt away. Temperatures are still above freezing now.
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to weather
on Mar 6, 2008, 9:40PM
Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-03-07, 18:51:28
Here's are the photos I promised you. If you can get to Hicks Nurseries in Westbury (100 Jericho Tpke.), this year's show is worth a visit. It runs through March 9.
Wine and Roses
Roses are everywhere in this garden. You’ll see new and old varieties of carpet and knockout roses, some of our most popular and carefree roses. This garden features a sophisticated array of burgundy, pink and silver flowers and foliage. Annuals and perennials will be chosen from plant series named Merlot, Chardonnay and Symphony. Enjoy the song “The Days of Wine and Roses” while taking in this garden. . . .
reBlogged
to shows
Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to shows on 2008-03-07, 18:51:18
I thoroughly enjoyed Pollan's writing - so much so that I deleted my name off the library wait list for The Omnivore's Dilemma (number 157) and shelled out the coin for my own copy. . . .
reBlogged
to books
on Mar 6, 2008, 1:56PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2008-03-07, 18:48:08
Even with daylight savings time beginning a short few days a way, this image I took at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden a few days ago seems pertinent to current gardening circumstances - garden not quite open yet. For some reason that day, gates seemed particularly interesting- the gate to the native plant garden was intriguing and deserved a peep and the main gates which I've not noticed before are a lovely rendering of leaves.
It wasn't all bad news, the witch hazel was flowering and the crocus had broken through.
ECHO is developing some smallish, quick-to-bear macademia trees. The trees are beautiful, about twenty feet tall. You can see the flowers and small, immature fruits.
St. Augustine, Florida, is a pretty place. Walking around there reminds me of all the history that's been forgotten: Florida has really the longest recorded history of any state in the Union, that four flags (French, Spanish, English and American) have flown over Florida, that the Spaniards were really the discoverers and conquerors of North America. The city should be congratulated for enforcing strict building codes in the historic district, and for preserving/restoring much of the area. It's an architectural treasure, though a bit of a superficial one. . . .
Even though we're forecast to have a very cool week (highs in the 60s... in March! That's been rare the past few years...), I decided to transplant and seed some of my plants for the summer season before heading to work today.... Very briefly. ..
We would like to introduce our blog readers to a new blog about garden and horticulture in a Mediterranean climate. The blogger in this instance is chaiselongewho has written this guest blog by way of introduction.
A Mediterranean garden in the Languedoc
I grew up in Mediterranean countries, in North Africa and in Turkey, among olive trees, eucalyptus, oleanders and hillsides covered in thyme and rosemary. . . .
reBlogged
to gardens
Posted by Colin & Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardens on 2008-03-07, 18:44:16
Papayas are so big! At least the ones we grow or buy here in Honduras are. We can't hope to finish one while it is still fresh, even though we've been using a lot lately in our homemade yogurt.
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to fruit
on Mar 6, 2008, 5:32PM
Posted by La Gringa Reblogged by Old Roses to fruit on 2008-03-07, 18:43:26
It’s starting to snow. I’ll try to get a picture later. My internet is likely to go down any minute. We connect via satellite and rain, and especially snow or sleet, doesn’t play well with a satellite connection.
This is actually the second snow this week. A cold [...]
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to weather
on Mar 6, 2008, 12:16PM
Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-03-07, 06:27:25
This morning I took a slight detour from my commute routine to check the tree pits along Cortelyou Road for blooming Crocuses. I was rewarded:
It may not look like much, but this is only one of the 400 Crocuses neighborhood volunteers planted...
Seeds, soil, seedlings and pots, pots, pots everywhere. Now is the time of the year that I occupy most of the windowsills in our house and the veranda I place an extra table for all my babies. This year I have promised my self to take it easy……and that promise is so dreadfully hard to keep. In this cold climate you simply have to start early indoors with vegetables like chillies, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, physalis etcetera.
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to seeds
Posted by Tyra in Vaxholm Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds on 2008-03-07, 06:25:20
I know I am feeling better when I start multi-tasking again. At this very moment I am prepping to co-host the morning show for the River Radio, 94.9 fm, in Boise tomorrow morning. Regular man, Ken Bass, is out for a few days for surgery. Not to worry, Ken, my friend, you can keep your day job. I have NO INTENTION of getting up at 4:45 am on a regular basis. No sir. . ..
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to shows
on Mar 5, 2008, 8:40PM
Posted by Mary Ann Reblogged by Old Roses to shows on 2008-03-07, 06:24:03
In this video, Bentley “The Compost Guy” Christie is being interviewed by GreenerBusiness about compost. I recently discovered his blog and have been glued to his Bokashi updates. I've been meaning to try Bokashi for a while now but couldn't really find any good instructions until I found The Compost Guy blog.
In the video he discusses starting compost, worm composting and Bokashi. If you're like me and starved for any form of gardening and sick of the cold weather and snow, then it's definitely worth a view.
reBlogged
to compost
Posted by Anthony Reblogged by Old Roses to compost on 2008-03-07, 06:21:46
This is a Growing Challenge update to report that I have nothing to report. It's still too soon for me to start any seeds so I'm just sitting tight and waiting. I'll probably start some peas this week but they aren't one of my Growing Challenge seeds so that doesn't count. . . .
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to pests
Posted by Anthony Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2008-03-07, 06:21:27
via A Caribbean Garden on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
