tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128079642710228632024-03-27T01:37:59.313-05:00 Dig This!Pam Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564263855432272321noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-25616866329058093132022-05-02T15:19:00.005-05:002022-05-02T15:22:27.403-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49AJ71YD1HdZi4wC8VZHRtbwWvuaQDQvMJRa02S7LnYOkSFE57-jL4g1UvJxRPJp8x0YfaizicUieu7M68kXcGN8i1nSQQPxbXFlxT0WoRuFGBDZ43LXUFYTkz0Hge-diPKzj_CitdZMN9AMtzuXaADfnt178XV5sKgDXEyCVHjR7ymxXy9vrGi7y-A/s792/2022%20sunflower%20poster%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49AJ71YD1HdZi4wC8VZHRtbwWvuaQDQvMJRa02S7LnYOkSFE57-jL4g1UvJxRPJp8x0YfaizicUieu7M68kXcGN8i1nSQQPxbXFlxT0WoRuFGBDZ43LXUFYTkz0Hge-diPKzj_CitdZMN9AMtzuXaADfnt178XV5sKgDXEyCVHjR7ymxXy9vrGi7y-A/w495-h640/2022%20sunflower%20poster%20sm.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-9457987139761678472021-04-14T15:39:00.000-05:002021-04-14T15:39:50.988-05:00Where do they come from?<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Special guest at the Master Gardener meeting on April 12 was Mitzi Alexander from Absolutely Flowers. Her shop in Hutchinson produces beautiful floral arrangements of all kinds, but she doesn’t grow her own flowers. Absolutely Flowers relies on wholesalers to gather and provide all the products she uses in her designs.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The past year has been challenging for all businesses, including the florist sector and cut-flower growers and wholesalers. Because of the pandemic and the resulting economic shut-down, the task of acquiring flowers became difficult. Growers had to deal with curfews and staff shortages. Transportation and shipping were curtailed or shut down. Millions of flowers had to be dumped. </p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">In spite of the difficulties, Absolutely Flowers was one of a few businesses that thrived through the pandemic. She credits her loyal employees and customers who used her floral arrangements to comfort and brighten their lives. </p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">She gave us some insight into where these beautiful flowers come from.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of her roses come from EcoRoses in Ecuador. An important export for the country, roses are produced throughout the year.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dAbTQwU94wY/YHdLkMdp2HI/AAAAAAAAYsI/J84j-Exv7rIn9jRHwhu32xhyva4jBLJaQCLcBGAsYHQ/roses_production_ecuador-e1584673401392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="500" height="305" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dAbTQwU94wY/YHdLkMdp2HI/AAAAAAAAYsI/J84j-Exv7rIn9jRHwhu32xhyva4jBLJaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h305/roses_production_ecuador-e1584673401392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rosaflora based in Ontario, Canada. A producer of gerbera daisies, snapdragons, lisianthus and stephanotis in their 1.9 million square feet of greenhouses.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GqPmjNomkpk/YHdL44yMCrI/AAAAAAAAYsU/8PByr4_GYrIIVc09fVzV8Y-2CFLVAfKbACLcBGAsYHQ/greenhouse-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1301" height="195" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GqPmjNomkpk/YHdL44yMCrI/AAAAAAAAYsU/8PByr4_GYrIIVc09fVzV8Y-2CFLVAfKbACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h195/greenhouse-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Baisch & Skinner, a wholesale floral distributor with an office in Wichita, provides South American carnations, mums and fillers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DgB348a3j2w/YHdSQXtJTXI/AAAAAAAAYtI/zShqUrVDOpMuKkMa1OOLyKta7rO45CFqACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/Collage-650x271x72-op-4_480x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="480" height="166" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DgB348a3j2w/YHdSQXtJTXI/AAAAAAAAYtI/zShqUrVDOpMuKkMa1OOLyKta7rO45CFqACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h166/Collage-650x271x72-op-4_480x480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of the world’s tulips come from Holland. Absolutely Flowers receives 200 tulips a week during the spring season as well as many of their hyacinths, lilies, peonies and orchids.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QCDiR_rYbn4/YHdMH0j_ipI/AAAAAAAAYsY/f20rD4BwSnERYZK4ZDq9OGh62BLJYsvfwCLcBGAsYHQ/netherlands-tulips-tall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QCDiR_rYbn4/YHdMH0j_ipI/AAAAAAAAYsY/f20rD4BwSnERYZK4ZDq9OGh62BLJYsvfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w355-h400/netherlands-tulips-tall.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The California Cut Flower Commission, a conglomerate of 225 growers, ships gerbera daisies, roses and greenery.</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jlhVCvqYeqo/YHdNrMduH_I/AAAAAAAAYsk/Hgogx0gFU6EScspuplGpNqWVBzizFxJhACLcBGAsYHQ/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-14%2Bat%2B2.32.18%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1055" height="268" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jlhVCvqYeqo/YHdNrMduH_I/AAAAAAAAYsk/Hgogx0gFU6EScspuplGpNqWVBzizFxJhACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-14%2Bat%2B2.32.18%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Among her local sources is Sheila’s Garden Market in Galva, and Savoy Gardens in Valley Center. She also buys all her peonies from a private grower in Hutchinson.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Sheila’s Garden Market. A favorite source for ranunculus, lisianthus, snapdragons. Sheila’s cut garden is open to the public in summer.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SLygZm1oNHA/YHdN3y1DsAI/AAAAAAAAYso/_dO4rsmDkvYhTjpZTYGSi_BmPsOIRv3qQCLcBGAsYHQ/ranunculasfeature-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SLygZm1oNHA/YHdN3y1DsAI/AAAAAAAAYso/_dO4rsmDkvYhTjpZTYGSi_BmPsOIRv3qQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/ranunculasfeature-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Savoy Garden’s lisianthus. Find their products at the Wichita Farmer's Market.</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KOgAAgwqfC4/YHdOFZ14EDI/AAAAAAAAYsw/7sewxxCFlboh-tlq4B0EpHxMxPB5RGLzQCLcBGAsYHQ/154717811_1661284667408766_2945530992928807204_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="720" height="209" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KOgAAgwqfC4/YHdOFZ14EDI/AAAAAAAAYsw/7sewxxCFlboh-tlq4B0EpHxMxPB5RGLzQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h209/154717811_1661284667408766_2945530992928807204_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">As an added bonus, Mitzi put together an easy floral arrangement. Her advice for doing your own arrangements:</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">• Cut your flowers in the morning.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">• Use little containers with little openings. (use fewer flowers)</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">• Flowers last best in just water. You can add a capful of 7Up, aspirin or commercial preservative. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">• Make sure there are no leaves left on the flower stems.</p></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lkB2RjWu6ik/YHdOipkELmI/AAAAAAAAYs8/tEjsSuYn0co2gZRPljq8O6pCgfCktcFQQCLcBGAsYHQ/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-12%2Bat%2B12.18.29%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="680" height="306" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lkB2RjWu6ik/YHdOipkELmI/AAAAAAAAYs8/tEjsSuYn0co2gZRPljq8O6pCgfCktcFQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h306/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-12%2Bat%2B12.18.29%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-33075477232347540292021-03-05T14:46:00.002-06:002021-03-05T14:47:45.749-06:00Winter kill in the garden<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: arial;">Is it dead or is it dormant?</span></span></h2>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;">Cold temperatures this winter were hard on humans and plants. Even seasoned gardeners wonder what’s gone for good. The best advice overall is to wait, wait, and wait some more.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">We normally have a few weeks left until the danger of frost has passed. According to a hardiness zone chart for the Hutchinson area, our average last frost occurs during the first few weeks of April. But it hasn’t been an average winter. Coming on the heels of dry weather last fall, have the cold temperatures damaged our gardens?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">The most important thing now is to wait. If you prune a dormant plant right now and warm weather stimulates growth, the new leaves will be highly susceptible if we have another freeze, and it will then die. If you wait until the danger of frost has passed, you will give your dormant plants a fighting chance. Plants that survive might need much longer to recover this year.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">A quick stroll through my garden reveals some plants with more winter damage than other more hardy ones.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ED-u1Goouw/YEKVmZqd3PI/AAAAAAAAYpU/SIdiMZrFdCE3hHmKVxbbE3L84vGCTxI0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s281/fullsizeoutput_249a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="281" height="229" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ED-u1Goouw/YEKVmZqd3PI/AAAAAAAAYpU/SIdiMZrFdCE3hHmKVxbbE3L84vGCTxI0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h229/fullsizeoutput_249a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">This heavenly bamboo was just transplanted to a new spot last year. It did great over the summer but time will tell how well it recovers from the cold.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFpKu-Wef0M/YEKVlHgVgAI/AAAAAAAAYo8/rP2v-aKrO0kDtKfEYHZll5Os9hgBbP6xgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/fullsizeoutput_2495.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFpKu-Wef0M/YEKVlHgVgAI/AAAAAAAAYo8/rP2v-aKrO0kDtKfEYHZll5Os9hgBbP6xgCPcBGAYYCw/s0/fullsizeoutput_2495.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">These Firepower nandinas were cut back to the ground last spring and given a chance to refresh with new growth. There is a little bit of green left at the base but it’s too early to show any new leaves.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-vHM4-vwic/YEKVlO6ZH7I/AAAAAAAAYpc/8cVS0-w1t987OimAHI92Up4QMfZHhpPXQCPcBGAYYCw/s214/fullsizeoutput_2496.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="214" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-vHM4-vwic/YEKVlO6ZH7I/AAAAAAAAYpc/8cVS0-w1t987OimAHI92Up4QMfZHhpPXQCPcBGAYYCw/w320-h277/fullsizeoutput_2496.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">This juniper is showing definite signs of winter kill. I’ll probably wait another month and then snip off the dead parts and it should put on some new growth.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">Salvias range from cold hardy to tender. If you don’t know your variety, the best approach is to cut them back to green wood. Do the same to shrubs and other woody perennials that appear dead. If you don’t see any green, simply cut them back to the ground and be very patient.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2VSc58dWJI/YEKVmN6lQ6I/AAAAAAAAYpo/yLi12JNlNrET95oZciHf-XxYmQ36LPLMACPcBGAYYCw/s320/fullsizeoutput_2499.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2VSc58dWJI/YEKVmN6lQ6I/AAAAAAAAYpo/yLi12JNlNrET95oZciHf-XxYmQ36LPLMACPcBGAYYCw/s0/fullsizeoutput_2499.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">This sago palm usually spends the winter in the garage with no problems. Not this year. However, the center bud is firm so it might survive.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QriP67r8R-E/YEKVl_RKk4I/AAAAAAAAYps/2SO1xjOdwFYhbR2HmsZGmcu_RE8qGXmzACPcBGAYYCw/s250/fullsizeoutput_2498.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="250" height="229" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QriP67r8R-E/YEKVl_RKk4I/AAAAAAAAYps/2SO1xjOdwFYhbR2HmsZGmcu_RE8qGXmzACPcBGAYYCw/w320-h229/fullsizeoutput_2498.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ91xBIopaA/YEKVlwHPtZI/AAAAAAAAYpk/X3-cSx3AiIskmHZaIxMpJvs8SgJyhr5twCPcBGAYYCw/s320/fullsizeoutput_2497.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ91xBIopaA/YEKVlwHPtZI/AAAAAAAAYpk/X3-cSx3AiIskmHZaIxMpJvs8SgJyhr5twCPcBGAYYCw/s0/fullsizeoutput_2497.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">There is good news from the garden, though. Green! Daffodils are emerging and this sedum will never die. </span><p></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;">For the vegetable gardener, the following advice comes from the K-State Horticulture Newsletter from February 23, 2021.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GbjQF4lxG5A/YEKWjjJsmmI/AAAAAAAAYpw/bFq9A1b4evQHIE2HPNL1yf6sVyr0SBiPACLcBGAsYHQ/s360/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.28.51%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="360" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GbjQF4lxG5A/YEKWjjJsmmI/AAAAAAAAYpw/bFq9A1b4evQHIE2HPNL1yf6sVyr0SBiPACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h214/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.28.51%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are tired of winter and hunger for spring, try planting peas as soon as the soil dries and the soil temperature reaches 40 degrees. There are several types fo peas we can plant in Kansas. Probably the most common is the shelling pea and the old standard in this group is Little Marvel. You might also try Green Arrow, Knight, Maestro, Burpeeana or Mr. Big. All of this are early maturing types that allow harvesting a crop before hot weather arrives.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0v6_wVOFU-Q/YEKWjn3eoBI/AAAAAAAAYp4/CFYTRAekinov3IQhZctzJroaZRvmCfSDwCPcBGAYYCw/s370/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.28.59%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0v6_wVOFU-Q/YEKWjn3eoBI/AAAAAAAAYp4/CFYTRAekinov3IQhZctzJroaZRvmCfSDwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.28.59%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial;">Lettuce can be planted directly from seed in late March to early April. Or for earlier maturation, start transplants now.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWE1sTC51Wg/YEKWjjnGjqI/AAAAAAAAYqA/wrOZT1-ziWoT2eIy08VW1lKCyBLWSZRsQCPcBGAYYCw/s375/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.29.11%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWE1sTC51Wg/YEKWjjnGjqI/AAAAAAAAYqA/wrOZT1-ziWoT2eIy08VW1lKCyBLWSZRsQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B1.29.11%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;">One of the most neglected tools for vegetable gardeners is a soil thermometer. Soil temperature is a much better measure of when to plant than air temperature of the calendar. Planting when soil is too cool can cause some seeds to rot and transplants to just sit there.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;"><i>Thanks to:</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial; font-kerning: none;"><i>Diana C. Kirby, the American Statesman</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;"><i>Ward Upham, K-State Horticulture Newsletter</i></span></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-55067039734876782882021-02-04T12:27:00.001-06:002021-02-04T12:27:39.637-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkQY3HoY7YQ/YBw4JKrpg_I/AAAAAAAAYnY/oeFka7MXD8IGe4SL6X-9PWFz-dREFU_vgCPcBGAYYCw/s638/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-02-04%2Bat%2B10.58.42%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="638" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkQY3HoY7YQ/YBw4JKrpg_I/AAAAAAAAYnY/oeFka7MXD8IGe4SL6X-9PWFz-dREFU_vgCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h318/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-02-04%2Bat%2B10.58.42%2BAM.png" width="400" /></a></div><i><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">awaytogarden.com</span></i></p></i><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;">Gardeners who love to travel have no doubt come across gorgeous hellebores or Lenten roses. In moderate climates, these flowering plants are frequently used as foundation or specimen plants.</span></p><p></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Although they are not as commonly seen in Kansas, Lenten roses are deer resistant perennial shade-loving flowers that are among the earliest to bloom in our gardens. Bloom time varies a little with variety and weather conditions, but the flowers generally appear in early March. The foliage remains green year round. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The most common kind of hellebore sold, the Lenten rose type (helleborus x hybridus), was designed to produce large blooms in a range of colors from white to purple. Double Ladies are hellebore plants that produce double-petal blooms.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL1DS2BUFIY/YBw4D92ZjzI/AAAAAAAAYnU/MLoD8pd9rsMEZRu-Q17E1yYhTws_YXRlACPcBGAYYCw/s640/lenten-rose-5286800_640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL1DS2BUFIY/YBw4D92ZjzI/AAAAAAAAYnU/MLoD8pd9rsMEZRu-Q17E1yYhTws_YXRlACPcBGAYYCw/w400-h265/lenten-rose-5286800_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">pixabay.com</span></i></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Look for hellebores in garden centers over the next few months. Selecting a plant when it is flowering ensures getting a mature plant and a variety with pleasing blossoms. Small hellebores will flower between two and three years after transplanting. If you purchase a larger plant in flower, it is not uncommon for the plant to take a year off after being transplanted in your garden.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Hellebores grow best in partially shaded locations with well-drained soil but, given time, they will acclimate themselves to many soil types. They tolerate full shade but produce fewer flowers with lower light conditions. They require more water until they are established, then only over extended dry periods.</span></p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNZJRjhoCI/YBw5fCgNlFI/AAAAAAAAYng/VwQW-Z3qZb4Dqb3oiHQvDvk9NM6FmYKSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1030/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-02-04%2Bat%2B12.12.45%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1030" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNZJRjhoCI/YBw5fCgNlFI/AAAAAAAAYng/VwQW-Z3qZb4Dqb3oiHQvDvk9NM6FmYKSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h299/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-02-04%2Bat%2B12.12.45%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Nodding flowers of a Hellebore plant. georgeweigel.net</i></span></div><p></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-kerning: none;">Lenten rose plants can top out at about 3 feet across, at perhaps 25 years old. Unlike many perennials, they don’t die out in the center and rarely need dividing. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Once Helleborus plants are established they do not need a great deal of maintenance. Think of them as you would peonies: nothing needed aside from an annual cleanup and a bit of compost. Cut back old foliage before bloom time, ideally inn the late autumn or early winter, to avoid cutting the emerging flower stems. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><i>Thanks to: </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><i>Jennifer Smith, former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. </i></span></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><i>Judith Knott Taylor, “Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide”</i></span></p>
<p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><i>Margaret Roach, Awaytogarden.com</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><i>Gardening Know How - </i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; direction: ltr; font-kerning: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i>https://www.gardeningknowhow.com</i></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; direction: ltr; font-kerning: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i>georgeweigel.net</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-14007860215083680872021-01-06T10:22:00.000-06:002021-01-06T10:22:25.651-06:00It's that time of year....<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's that time of year....<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">for seed and plant catalogs. </span></span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7z6wY96Zcw/X_DiATwUY-I/AAAAAAAAYlw/hs_tk70gVPA16RF3Wi5b8JruFCW7Ar9NQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1140/fullsizeoutput_2491.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1140" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7z6wY96Zcw/X_DiATwUY-I/AAAAAAAAYlw/hs_tk70gVPA16RF3Wi5b8JruFCW7Ar9NQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h250/fullsizeoutput_2491.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You can pore over seed catalogs for months or just head to the garden center in spring to buy what wows you. Either way, you have plenty of options for planning and planting your garden. That includes surfing the internet during these cold winter days.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The year 2020 was an unprecedented boom for gardening. The pandemic created an immense interest and desire to garden and it is expected that a large percentage of new gardeners will continue to dig in the dirt. People have discovered the therapeutic and relaxing hobby of gardening helps them to forget all the negativity going on around them. The downside to this trend is that seeds and plants sold out online and in stores before Easter in 2020. <i>So start early!</i></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many companies have gone to online sales and provide their catalogs in digital format only. If you don’t receive all your favorite catalogs in the mail, here are a few of our Master Gardener's favorites. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Burpee Seed Company</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.burpee.com" target="_blank">Burpee Seed</a> is one of the most well-know seed companies in the country. They will still mail a copy of their catalog or you can browse through their online version. Their website holds an interesting history of their company and its founder.</span></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YK2ZYh0D_EI/X_DWseDk_BI/AAAAAAAAYjI/lWWRiltFxWwzVAL1u352VrNbnQ6oUmnvACLcBGAsYHQ/s673/burpee%2B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YK2ZYh0D_EI/X_DWseDk_BI/AAAAAAAAYjI/lWWRiltFxWwzVAL1u352VrNbnQ6oUmnvACLcBGAsYHQ/w270-h320/burpee%2B.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Park Seed</b></span></span></p>
<p style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://parkseed.com" target="_blank">Park Seed</a> is one of America's oldest and largest mail-order seed and plant companies, the Geo. W. Park Seed Company, was founded in 1868 by 15-year-old George W. Park in Pennsylvania who sold seeds he had harvested from his backyard garden. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: center;">Today it is an online-based retailer of live plants, seeds and seed starting supplies. </span></p><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQu4KFPPqQ8/X_DZm98B1gI/AAAAAAAAYjo/SdrL5_frBMEUxryWzuRSLFlywEx-ipVMACLcBGAsYHQ/s538/parkseed.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="538" height="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQu4KFPPqQ8/X_DZm98B1gI/AAAAAAAAYjo/SdrL5_frBMEUxryWzuRSLFlywEx-ipVMACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h162/parkseed.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Select Seeds</b></span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.selectseeds.com" target="_blank">Select Seeds - Antique Flowers</a> offers gardeners a fabulous selection of unique, high-quality flower seeds and plants, specializing in old-fashioned fragrant flowers, flowering vines, and rare annuals and perennials. Many antique flowers are hard-to-find heirlooms, passed from one generation to another. The goal of Select Seeds is to make certain every generation can enjoy the blossoms that were grown yesterday and long before that.</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyo0KEkIwcU/X_DaXWDjlfI/AAAAAAAAYj8/c03xCQ1EBOsS1KyoLkdm_mElJ61sGZy2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1199/selectcorn.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1199" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyo0KEkIwcU/X_DaXWDjlfI/AAAAAAAAYj8/c03xCQ1EBOsS1KyoLkdm_mElJ61sGZy2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h214/selectcorn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Botanical Interests</b></span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7); font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.botanicalinterests.com" target="_blank">Botanical Interests</a> seeks to inspire and educate the gardener in you. Since 1995 they have been supplying gardeners with the highest quality seed in the most beautiful and informative seed packets on the market. Their unique seed packet includes art, garden history, landscape ideas, organic gardening know-how, recipes, fun facts, and of course, high-quality seed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gItPQv5L8NM/X_DcIivsoVI/AAAAAAAAYkc/dJYWRLDGk30NISR4FRrZSIG-D1t19ePNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/botanical.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gItPQv5L8NM/X_DcIivsoVI/AAAAAAAAYkc/dJYWRLDGk30NISR4FRrZSIG-D1t19ePNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/botanical.jpg" /></a></div>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bustani Plant Farm</b></span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">A specialty nursery located in Stillwater, OK, <a href="https://www.bustaniplantfarm.com" target="_blank">Bustani Plant Farm</a>'s </span><span style="color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica;">motto is ‘Grow Something Different’, but just being different isn’t nearly enough reason for them to grow and offer a plant. Only those that perform well in their garden trials make the grade. In particular, plants that perform well in the heat of summer rate high.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpaRClHUtcU/X_Dcu0QIIwI/AAAAAAAAYkk/odNNIzhKUOoZXyrbCv5VhUseWMtVeYkmACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/lions%2Bears.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpaRClHUtcU/X_Dcu0QIIwI/AAAAAAAAYkk/odNNIzhKUOoZXyrbCv5VhUseWMtVeYkmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/lions%2Bears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bluestone Perennials</b></span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.bluestoneperennials.com" target="_blank">Bluestone Perennials</a> is an online source for more than 1,000 varieties of perennials, shrubs, mums and ornamental grasses, 150 of them new for 2021. Their website features a plant finder to search by color, soil condition, bloom time, etc. Watch for their discount sales.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYU-tpd25gM/X_DdoIBJWSI/AAAAAAAAYkw/yTLY_if71hUbfQkIssiOMSfNNIr7k4iSACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/BUBL_0_buddleia_blue_chip_jr_pw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYU-tpd25gM/X_DdoIBJWSI/AAAAAAAAYkw/yTLY_if71hUbfQkIssiOMSfNNIr7k4iSACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BUBL_0_buddleia_blue_chip_jr_pw.jpg" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Seed Savers Exchange</span></b></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.seedsavers.org" target="_blank">Seed Savers</a> was founded in Missouri in 1975 to save heirloom tomatoes and morning glories brought from Bavaria by a grandfather. Now based in Iowa, Seed Savers has 13,000 members interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds for 20,000 plant varieties.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYNcOePwML4/X_DeBC8pAHI/AAAAAAAAYk4/p2UZWCdE-8Y0DB8DX7lANbrtgkN5pV6QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/seedsavertomato.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYNcOePwML4/X_DeBC8pAHI/AAAAAAAAYk4/p2UZWCdE-8Y0DB8DX7lANbrtgkN5pV6QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/seedsavertomato.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></b><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ball Seed</span></b></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.ballseed.com" target="_blank">Ball Seed</a> sells only wholesale but their online catalog is beautiful.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtD2XI2-zvE/X_DenMUS_KI/AAAAAAAAYlA/Fc9xANmaCMAF51HsJzNe6mmzV6SYULQwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s372/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-02%2Bat%2B2.20.01%2BPM.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtD2XI2-zvE/X_DenMUS_KI/AAAAAAAAYlA/Fc9xANmaCMAF51HsJzNe6mmzV6SYULQwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-02%2Bat%2B2.20.01%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><p></p></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Enjoy</span>!<br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-58259622869798631182020-12-22T16:29:00.001-06:002020-12-22T16:30:37.698-06:00Christmas Plants<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYuT2pwBVws/X-JtcCndBhI/AAAAAAAAYhk/uFZWpB3C-Wgasnvw-PUOWVaDToNMw2McwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/nature-1906853_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYuT2pwBVws/X-JtcCndBhI/AAAAAAAAYhk/uFZWpB3C-Wgasnvw-PUOWVaDToNMw2McwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/nature-1906853_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Poinsettias are absolutely everywhere during the holidays, and for good reason! They're beautiful, festive, and easy to take care of.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: arial;"> With proper care poinsettias should retain their beautiful color throughout the holidays. </span></p><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
Poinsettia plants should not be exposed to cold temperatures. They are best placed in a paper plant sleeve to protect the plant from the cold as well as to prevent them from breaking. If temperatures are well below freezing, all parts of the plant should be protected from the cold. Be sure to remove wrapping as soon as possible after bringing indoors. Remove wrapping from the bottom up to avoid damaging your plant. </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
Choose an indoor location out of direct heat, cold drafts, and sunlight. Your poinsettia will not do well if placed in a busy entryway where doors are constantly opening. Be sure to keep your poinsettia away from windows because direct sunlight and cool temperatures can cause the foliage to wilt or drop. Cooler temperatures will prolong the bract color. </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check the soil daily and water when dry. If the pot is wrapped in foil or sits in a decorative container, remove it prior to watering. Be sure that your poinsettia never stands in water. If a poinsettia is kept as a gift plant, it is not necessary to fertilize or mist it. </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most poinsettias are discarded after blooming is finished; however, if it will be kept as a houseplant, prune the plant down to approximately half its height, no lower than 6 inches. After new growth begins, a well-balanced fertilizer should be applied at least once during the active growing season. Plants can be placed outside in the summer in a partly shaded location, after all danger of frost. If plants grow too tall and leggy, they can be pinched back to encourage bushier growth. Poinsettias should be returned indoors before the threat of frost. </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
Encouraging a poinsettia to rebloom will require the plant to be placed where it will receive 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day starting in October for approximately 10 weeks. This can be accomplished by placing the plant in a closet or an unused room that will not receive light of any kind during the evening. During the day, the plant will need to be moved to a bright and sunny location. </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus?</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n7j0bPGoes/X-JtefpVOHI/AAAAAAAAYhw/gRjRD4NAfWgnVMhjtn_rt-ZDg0VsyUBJACPcBGAYYCw/s1280/cactus-673937_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1280" height="390" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n7j0bPGoes/X-JtefpVOHI/AAAAAAAAYhw/gRjRD4NAfWgnVMhjtn_rt-ZDg0VsyUBJACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h390/cactus-673937_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; color: #282f2f; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you have a Christmas cactus that starts blooming in November, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #282f2f; font-family: arial;">it might not be the plant you think it is. Here's how to find out.</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="background-color: white; color: #282f2f; font-family: arial;"> </span></div><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas cacti and Thanksgiving cacti belong to the same botanical genus, <i>Schlumbergera</i>. It’s easy for even the well-trained eye to mistake them for the same plant. Both grow wild in the mountains of southeastern Brazil, so they prefer things on the cool and shady side, unlike the cacti found in desert habitats. This is partly why they make such easy-care houseplants, though they do need more regular watering than a desert cactus would.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They are also beautiful, especially when in bloom. These plants feature pink, red, white, or yellow flowers on their flattened, spineless, segmented green stems (they technically don’t have leaves.) Though these cacti have similar-looking flowers and stems, each of these features offers clues to help you distinguish a Christmas and a Thanksgiving cactus from one another.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsbZ5OJ9EX8/X-Jwwsba5WI/AAAAAAAAYiI/gIl-0W4JaDccSvVRE59Nhshl84PRZLHUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s702/Thanksgiving-Christmas-or-Easter-Cactus2-1-702x628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="702" height="573" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsbZ5OJ9EX8/X-Jwwsba5WI/AAAAAAAAYiI/gIl-0W4JaDccSvVRE59Nhshl84PRZLHUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h573/Thanksgiving-Christmas-or-Easter-Cactus2-1-702x628.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanksgiving cactus can be identified by the pointy “teeth” on the sides of each stem segment. These teeth are soft, not sharp, and can vary in size, but are almost always visible on the plant to some degree. The stem segments of a Christmas cactus lack pointed teeth, with more scalloped or rounded edges<i>.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another way to tell which sort of cactus you have is to look carefully at the flowers, which can bloom anytime in the fall or early winter. Sticking out from each blossom, the cluster of long, thin anthers will be tipped with pollen. If the color of the pollen is yellow, you more than likely have a Thanksgiving cactus, and if it's pink, you've got a Christmas cactus.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When figuring out which one of these cacti you have growing in your house, consider the age of your plant for some hints. In recent years, all sorts of new varieties have been produced with characteristics that blur the differences between the two species. These are what you're more likely to find for sale nowadays, instead of the original species-type plants. So if your plant is a young one from a garden center or grocery store, chances are it's a major mishmash between Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti, and maybe a few other related species.</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And no matter which one it is, it will likely reward you with exotic-looking blooms </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">for a long time during the colder months of the year.</span></span></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">Sources: Content: Derek Carwood, BHG.com; Chicago Botanic Garden</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">Images: Angelina Ho, Pixabay; Priceless Joy, Pixabay; iastate.edu.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-91945090359772593552020-11-19T09:36:00.000-06:002020-11-19T09:36:00.492-06:00Hawai'i, I wish I was there<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Hawai’i, I wish I was there. Sandy beaches and palm trees. <i>(Sigh.)</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-6k_QJ-lNA/X7WqTxS60XI/AAAAAAAAYfY/tOpVCb5qayAU2DUCuTK8gyi3edT2g-iLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-18%2Bat%2B5.10.55%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-6k_QJ-lNA/X7WqTxS60XI/AAAAAAAAYfY/tOpVCb5qayAU2DUCuTK8gyi3edT2g-iLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h256/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-18%2Bat%2B5.10.55%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">The guest speaker at the November meeting of RCEMG was Dr. Ted Radovich of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. While he was talking and showing pictures of the lush greenery with verdant mountains in the background, we sat here in cold, windy Kansas dreaming about sandy beaches and palm trees </span><i style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">(at least I was.)</i></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbYSG7jIU7I/X7WqZI-np_I/AAAAAAAAYfo/D8uLvrXtiFwboNpVJ_JD-_5h9wv-i6mMgCPcBGAYYCw/s400/Theodore-Radovich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbYSG7jIU7I/X7WqZI-np_I/AAAAAAAAYfo/D8uLvrXtiFwboNpVJ_JD-_5h9wv-i6mMgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Theodore-Radovich.jpg" /></a></div>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here in Kansas we tend to think of Hawai’i as a tropical paradise. Dr. Radovich, from his perspective of agricultural systems, showed us the more practical side of the islands. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born and raised on O’ahu, Dr. Radovich is an extension specialist in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. He leads the sustainable and organic farming systems laboratory and oversees a small plot of organic land. His current state-wide program is focused on understanding how crop yield and quality can be optimized in agricultural systems that reduce reliance on conventional chemical fertilizers and increase use of ecological farming practices. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRWUfqYIIII/X7WqilEeMJI/AAAAAAAAYfs/u91xrseBwY079Qp7Cm_NxKMAlhQ03CRwwCPcBGAYYCw/s794/il_794xN.2510115775_p0xb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRWUfqYIIII/X7WqilEeMJI/AAAAAAAAYfs/u91xrseBwY079Qp7Cm_NxKMAlhQ03CRwwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/il_794xN.2510115775_p0xb.jpg" /></a></div>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He began by showing his test plot of Moringa trees, a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree with high nutritional value. It is considered to be a superfood because its fresh leaves contain the essential amino acids that our bodies need. It is reported that the level of vitamin C in the leaves is seven times more than that found in oranges. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. For centuries, the young seed pods and leaves have been eaten as a vegetable. It can also be used for water purification and hand washing.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In his tests, he is looking for a tree that can be grown for a heavy fruit set and high protein level, as well as for its ornamental red bark.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6KFXvH7Xv8/X7WqM76gBMI/AAAAAAAAYfo/3w8Mw4C-ZTUcyjtg8ckrpZS5J4xrG6ydgCPcBGAYYCw/s500/colocasia_maui_gold_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6KFXvH7Xv8/X7WqM76gBMI/AAAAAAAAYfo/3w8Mw4C-ZTUcyjtg8ckrpZS5J4xrG6ydgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/colocasia_maui_gold_2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of his research is done on taro plants, known primarily as the basis for poi, a native Hawaiian staple. While taro used to be widely grown, it has now become a luxury item and is very expensive. Here in Kansas we know taro as elephant ears that are grown ornamentally. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In his search for high value crops for local agriculture, he grows breadfruit - a very important staple throughout the world, tumeric - another traditional Hawaiian crop, and sugar cane. His laboratory includes an aquaponics area, growing bok choy with the help of tilapia and catfish. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-PFkj-GXDY/X7Wqc9qyOGI/AAAAAAAAYfg/QtLEhCgthV8hK9MJmlDxLNTc4BgRZBCIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s265/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="265" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-PFkj-GXDY/X7Wqc9qyOGI/AAAAAAAAYfg/QtLEhCgthV8hK9MJmlDxLNTc4BgRZBCIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h286/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Interestly, a well-known Kansas gardener’s crop, heirloom tomatoes, have not been successfully grown in Hawai’i. Their tomatoes are plagued by pests and diseases. <i>(That’s meant to make you feel better about gardening here but I’m not sure it’s a good trade-off for sandy beaches and palm trees.)</i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Thanks to Dr. Ted Radovich, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and </i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><i>Darde Gamayo, Big Island now.com. </i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-84186078720452655762020-10-24T13:01:00.000-05:002020-10-24T13:01:12.616-05:00The Fall Garden: To Clean or Not to Clean<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tnykb1A8Jo/X5RjobjKTDI/AAAAAAAAYeM/L_f9A3pumh4aecZzuqx-hYC_jOHFv5NvwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/crabapple%2Bmargaret%2Broach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tnykb1A8Jo/X5RjobjKTDI/AAAAAAAAYeM/L_f9A3pumh4aecZzuqx-hYC_jOHFv5NvwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/crabapple%2Bmargaret%2Broach.jpg" width="640" /></a><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Faded plants left standing all winter can play a critical role in the overwintering of beneficial insects, as well as birds and mammals. These plants may contain seed or fruit , or offer hiding places during the off-season. </i><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; text-align: center;">Image: Margaret Roach</i></p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When to clean up the garden in the fall?</span></span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #414141; font-family: arial;">The best time to start your fall garden preparation is after the first few freezing nights have killed back much of the flowers and foliage on the plants. Freezing temperatures are a trigger for perennials that it’s time to begin the process of going dormant for the winter. But don't start cutting back your plants too early, it could trigger new growth on the plants, and you don’t want to do that in the fall.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fall flower bed cleanup chores you can skip</span></h4><div><p style="color: #414141; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>Leave the foliage on your plants –</b> Dead plant material is a wonderful place for beneficial insects to hibernate during the winter. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #333333;"> Litter is a critical habitat for various insects and other anthropods, like bumblebees that provide pollination services. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Cleaning flower beds of all the plant material in the fall means you could be destroying all of those good bugs. </span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Leave some flowers in your garden –</b> Flowers like coneflowers and sunflowers have seeds that feed the birds and other wildlife through the winter. Many types of flowers also add wonderful <span style="caret-color: rgb(143, 184, 14);">winter interest </span>to the garden. So you can continue to enjoy your gardens even when they’re covered by snow.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>Don’t cut everything back<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span>– </b>Cut back earliest spring perennials, like peonies, spring bulbs and irises. Also deadhead plants like rudbeckias, columbine and liatris to avoid spreading seeds all over the garden.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #626262;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Foliage left on marginally hardy plants such as tender ferns helps ensure overwintering of plant crowns.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></li><li><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw_1PRyJFcM/X5RjtdQ7buI/AAAAAAAAYeQ/QnqVJ67XrIIlgLrHl4BodNep3zzIwIqGwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/leaf%2Bpile%2Bmargaret%2Broach.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw_1PRyJFcM/X5RjtdQ7buI/AAAAAAAAYeQ/QnqVJ67XrIIlgLrHl4BodNep3zzIwIqGwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/leaf%2Bpile%2Bmargaret%2Broach.jpg" width="640" /></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #414141; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Leave the leaves in your flower beds</b><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span>– </b>Leaves are good for the garden and feed the soil as they break down. They’ll break down quickly, and you can mulch right over them in the spring.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #333333;"> Don't let fallen leaves accumulate and mat down over your desirable turf. After the heat of summer, grass is actively growing in the fall. Leaves smother the grass and prevent photosynthesis which is the plants ability to produce food. Consider using fallen leaves as winter mulch around tender plants or add them to your compost pile to use as mulch next spring and summer.</span></span></li></ul><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Clean the Vegetable Garden!</span></span></h4><p></p><div>
<p style="color: #333333; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #121212;">Keeping your vegetable garden healthy means cleaning it out in the fall. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Thorough cleanup, pulling plants and discarding them can reduce overwintering opportunities for common diseases and pests. Do not add this debris to your compost as this could spread disease to other parts of your garden.</span></span></p><p style="color: #333333; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="color: #333333; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then, promote soil health by keeping the surface of your garden covered. Mulch with grass clippings or leaves that you’ve moved off the lawn.</span></span></p>
<p style="color: #333333; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><p></p><p></p>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #626262; font-kerning: none;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FD96Hxn_lNA" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FD96Hxn_lNA/hqdefault.jpg);" width="459"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #626262; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-81469722636100251022020-10-12T18:20:00.005-05:002020-10-12T18:33:02.577-05:00Perennial Plant Swap<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fall is a great time for dividing and planting garden perennials. The Reno County Extension Master Gardeners invite you to our yearly Perennial Plant Swap this Saturday, October 17 at the Reno County Farmers' Market from 8:00 to noon. Bring extra perennial plants (no annuals please) from your garden and exchange them for plants brought by others. Houseplants, seeds, garden tools and books are welcome to be exchanged as well. Please be sure to label your plants and seeds. For more information, contact the <a href="https://www.reno.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Reno County Extension Office.</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaLFSa2llo/X4TkIaygyHI/AAAAAAAAz58/nXi8GDdeQwYndBgoVKucrIuGeHE4tbSeACLcBGAsYHQ/s796/Plant%2Bswap%2Bflyer%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="614" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaLFSa2llo/X4TkIaygyHI/AAAAAAAAz58/nXi8GDdeQwYndBgoVKucrIuGeHE4tbSeACLcBGAsYHQ/w494-h640/Plant%2Bswap%2Bflyer%2B2020.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pam Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564263855432272321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-76733060776730602312020-10-06T19:11:00.002-05:002020-10-06T19:13:00.476-05:00Pumpkins, Spiders and Bats. Oh, my!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fugDh0_ZoaU/X3z6oV7yZRI/AAAAAAAAYck/ffV4IxL3l-AXnJ2ehlQao9D0Z3cJ4SQjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/14238113_web1_Pixabay_Pumpkins_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fugDh0_ZoaU/X3z6oV7yZRI/AAAAAAAAYck/ffV4IxL3l-AXnJ2ehlQao9D0Z3cJ4SQjgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/14238113_web1_Pixabay_Pumpkins_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The term jack-o-lantern comes from the phenomenon of a strange light flickering over peat bogs, called <i>will-o-the-wisp</i> or <i>jack-o'-lantern</i>. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Jack-o-lanterns are a yearly Halloween tradition that came to the United States from Irish immigrants. In the 19th century, turnips were hollowed out to act as lanterns and carved with grotesque faces and used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gyD-aeTVGnk/X3z6oR3mWSI/AAAAAAAAYc8/tWr5wOyi5Wglq7EY49EkJfz9nK_zuH6TQCPcBGAYYCw/s219/170px-Traditional_Irish_halloween_Jack-o%2527-lantern.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gyD-aeTVGnk/X3z6oR3mWSI/AAAAAAAAYc8/tWr5wOyi5Wglq7EY49EkJfz9nK_zuH6TQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/170px-Traditional_Irish_halloween_Jack-o%2527-lantern.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVe63wdWDr0/X3z6oV5o0gI/AAAAAAAAYc8/HyNRYNw7mCIgBYvVbTzUgFYA466pTV0eQCPcBGAYYCw/s227/170px-Traditional_Cornish_Jack-o%2527-Lantern_made_from_a_turnip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVe63wdWDr0/X3z6oV5o0gI/AAAAAAAAYc8/HyNRYNw7mCIgBYvVbTzUgFYA466pTV0eQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/170px-Traditional_Cornish_Jack-o%2527-Lantern_made_from_a_turnip.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Left:</i> A traditional Irish Jack-o-lantern in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.</span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Right:</i> Modern carving of a Cornish Jack-o-lantern made from a turnip.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks to Wikipedia for the information!</i></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Orb-Weaver Spiders: Spooky Webs But Great For Pest Control</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Halloween is not too far away and nothing is more iconic than seeing an enormous spider web and a scary-looking spider in the center as part of your decorations. The spiders that spin those familiar-looking webs are know as orb-weavers and are nothing to be afraid of. They're harmless to humans and are, in fact, beneficial garden residents for their constant pest control.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZI3ELBKQZw/X3z6t9nTixI/AAAAAAAAYdA/Iptuih2NAr4-unofyiHAhLm_3B3is2UogCPcBGAYYCw/s381/IMG_6144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="381" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZI3ELBKQZw/X3z6t9nTixI/AAAAAAAAYdA/Iptuih2NAr4-unofyiHAhLm_3B3is2UogCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h456/IMG_6144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There are around 180 species of orb-weavers in North America. They vary in color, but all typically have large, bulging abdomens covered with unusual bold markings. One of the most striking is the Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia). And the webs it weaves are equally unique and stunning, with a zigzag down the center.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This time of year, orb-weavers are busy spinning their large, circular webs--some up to 3 feet in diameter--in spots where pests are readily available: in flower and vegetable gardens, parts, fields, and forests.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdyhnUkFLUY/X3z6wwUgn1I/AAAAAAAAYdA/HI4bcyzwdOEaoglgxpVYX776kXjsFrwIwCPcBGAYYCw/s600/spider-web-orb-weaver-AdobeStock_269422124-600x319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="600" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdyhnUkFLUY/X3z6wwUgn1I/AAAAAAAAYdA/HI4bcyzwdOEaoglgxpVYX776kXjsFrwIwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h338/spider-web-orb-weaver-AdobeStock_269422124-600x319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Orb-weavers use their silk to create a natural, sticky trap--when a bug lands on the web, it struggles to free itself.That vibration signals to the spider that it has caught prey. The spider responds by quickly injecting the prey with paralyzing venom, preventing its escape.Then it wraps the captive bug in a mummy-like cocoon of silk until it is ready to consume it. Eating twice its weight in insects each day, these spiders protect the plants in your garden by helping control the bug population. At no cost to the gardener!</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Thanks to Farmers Almanac for the story and to Master Gardener Dee for the photo!</i></span></p></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Called Creepy, Scary and Spooky, Bats Often Get a Bad Rap.</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For centuries, bats have been called sinister and spooky, likely because of their beady eyes and razor-sharp fangs. But there's more to these nocturnal creatures than meets the eyes. There are more than 1,300 species of bats in the world, making them the second most common group of mammals after rodents. Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight, as opposed to gliding, as in the flying squirrel. The fastest bat, the Mexican free-tailed bat, can achieve a ground speed of 100 mph. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9Iuf8D8jBQ/X3z62Zkl3sI/AAAAAAAAYdE/AwhICeYCAL0XC_f3kj4gluunGhq-UBFOACPcBGAYYCw/s1200/mexicanlong-tonguedbatusfwsphoto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1200" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9Iuf8D8jBQ/X3z62Zkl3sI/AAAAAAAAYdE/AwhICeYCAL0XC_f3kj4gluunGhq-UBFOACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h500/mexicanlong-tonguedbatusfwsphoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Many bats are insectivores and most of the rest are frugivores (fruit-eaters) or nectarivores (nectar-eaters.) Without bats, say goodbye to bananas, avodacos and mangoes. Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Night insects have the most to fear from bats. Each night, bats can eat their body weight or more in insects. Their diet helps foresters and farmers protect their crops from pests.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bats are inspiring medical marvels. About 80 medicines come from plants that rely on bats for their survival. While bats are not blind, studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Research on bats has also led to advances in vaccines.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">At least 13 types of U.S. bats are endangered, and more are threatened from habitat loss and disease. You can help protect these amazing creatures by planting a bat garden or installing a bat house.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Thanks to the U.S.Department of Interior website and to Wikipedia for the information!</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-39300644357322250182020-09-07T12:42:00.000-05:002020-09-07T12:43:39.592-05:00Harvesting Hops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUuEnhcIXg/X1Zn2DJikMI/AAAAAAAAYZM/3p12xVYfZnYFok4FM4wKle1i1hMEY3VkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s625/fullsizeoutput_23b5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="625" height="445" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUuEnhcIXg/X1Zn2DJikMI/AAAAAAAAYZM/3p12xVYfZnYFok4FM4wKle1i1hMEY3VkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h445/fullsizeoutput_23b5.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div><p style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUrXv-Cx6Zc/X1ZoMkwmN3I/AAAAAAAAYZY/lIwZGs50nGU0iQecy_JvuQCGIDQ92KSTACLcBGAsYHQ/s744/fullsizeoutput_23b2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="531" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUrXv-Cx6Zc/X1ZoMkwmN3I/AAAAAAAAYZY/lIwZGs50nGU0iQecy_JvuQCGIDQ92KSTACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_23b2.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIsH4iMkwGw/X1ZoMBbNFPI/AAAAAAAAYZU/d6JF1TvKzqE8xeHcqNUiQDv349Vjd1viACLcBGAsYHQ/s841/fullsizeoutput_23b1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="601" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIsH4iMkwGw/X1ZoMBbNFPI/AAAAAAAAYZU/d6JF1TvKzqE8xeHcqNUiQDv349Vjd1viACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_23b1.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Master Gardeners were on hand at the Demo Garden recently to help harvest our hops with Jacob and Pippin from Sand Hills Brewery. </p><div><br /></div><div><p style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; color: #303030;">Hops are twining perennial bines. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The long stems of the common hop are considered bines, not vines. What's the difference? Unlike vines that use tendrils and other means to climb, bines climb with the help of short, stiff hairs along the stems. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #303030;">They grow from rhizomes, which are underground stems that produce the roots and shoots.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZcg_vBIHuU/X1Zp68S0eTI/AAAAAAAAYaQ/xhPcz3dlV50Caz0v7FqRr0Ik-SXCQ3aaACLcBGAsYHQ/s445/fullsizeoutput_23b8.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZcg_vBIHuU/X1Zp68S0eTI/AAAAAAAAYaQ/xhPcz3dlV50Caz0v7FqRr0Ik-SXCQ3aaACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_23b8.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKLCIgsKd0g/X1ZpQSkyHII/AAAAAAAAYZ0/_pUCPBkcE8MCyiS7GSC_Z9y31PWikBt5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s720/fullsizeoutput_23af.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="514" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKLCIgsKd0g/X1ZpQSkyHII/AAAAAAAAYZ0/_pUCPBkcE8MCyiS7GSC_Z9y31PWikBt5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_23af.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Planted by Jack and Allen, the hops were started in the Demo Garden from four bare-root rhizomes <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #303030;">and have taken </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; color: #303030;">about three or four years to establish themselves. At full maturity they can grow up to 18 feet tall. </span>The hops cones were hand-picked from our bines that now cover two trellises. </p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLtqTH-mGBY/X1ZpQAFAYfI/AAAAAAAAYaE/gn2K3rWNzzkJW4Kb2jOWLIA5nhTMm-cXACPcBGAYYCw/s1382/fullsizeoutput_23ac.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1382" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLtqTH-mGBY/X1ZpQAFAYfI/AAAAAAAAYaE/gn2K3rWNzzkJW4Kb2jOWLIA5nhTMm-cXACPcBGAYYCw/w625-h448/fullsizeoutput_23ac.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The hops flowering plants come in male or female and only the female produces the cones for use as hops.</span></p><div><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pS1lsR5cW7Q/X1ZpQjvgX8I/AAAAAAAAYaI/WhHv2pa_okU4YBFU3rH2-fYPmtExZuN9QCPcBGAYYCw/s985/fullsizeoutput_23b6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="985" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pS1lsR5cW7Q/X1ZpQjvgX8I/AAAAAAAAYaI/WhHv2pa_okU4YBFU3rH2-fYPmtExZuN9QCPcBGAYYCw/w625-h448/fullsizeoutput_23b6.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div></span><p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Hops cones are harvested for lupulin, a yellow powder clinging to their leaves. Lupulin contains many of the hop acids and essential oils that play a large part in giving the plant its characteristic scents and flavors. The plant matter from the hop cone itself is usually discarded.</span></p><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkbKKdKKnVA/X1ZpPHIlwAI/AAAAAAAAYaE/IiLKkKJ-IqMPqE24i6eXMqmH7BcYqHqWwCPcBGAYYCw/s464/fullsizeoutput_23a6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="464" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkbKKdKKnVA/X1ZpPHIlwAI/AAAAAAAAYaE/IiLKkKJ-IqMPqE24i6eXMqmH7BcYqHqWwCPcBGAYYCw/w500-h500/fullsizeoutput_23a6.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUj-ijmLvQI/X1ZpOA2VTsI/AAAAAAAAYaA/FubF3s1Ph78W4vnkRYgYQKJm9uGJvNrNQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/fullsizeoutput_239a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUj-ijmLvQI/X1ZpOA2VTsI/AAAAAAAAYaA/FubF3s1Ph78W4vnkRYgYQKJm9uGJvNrNQCPcBGAYYCw/w625-h468/fullsizeoutput_239a.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div><span style="font-kerning: none;"><p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">Hops are examined by Julia, Pippin and Allen.</p><p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Our hops bines produced two bags of cones, unfortunately not quite enough for an entire brewing batch. After another harvest in about a week, they will be supplemented with additional hops and made into Sand Hills Harvest Ale. Once all ingredients are added, the brew is “steeped” (like tea) for about two weeks. Pippin has promised to let us know when the ale is ready to drink.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Skol!</span></p></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-56437887913536805122020-08-30T19:02:00.028-05:002020-09-01T16:13:49.414-05:00Moonflowers and Butterflies<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moonflowers!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Have you ever seen one?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Moonflower</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; text-align: center;"> vine has bright white flowers that bloom in the evening just as the sun sets.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Uo2TpfkYM/X0wyef1gWnI/AAAAAAAAYWo/XV2afKjAUWgqBQrUaFbICsBEG9rmxuX5gCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_3060.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Uo2TpfkYM/X0wyef1gWnI/AAAAAAAAYWo/XV2afKjAUWgqBQrUaFbICsBEG9rmxuX5gCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_3060.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DS6ExYFzvr4/X0wyem-ZR0I/AAAAAAAAYWw/Ad7glFzyc5ADTmnXBYspw9j3o_sR7yeEwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_3061.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DS6ExYFzvr4/X0wyem-ZR0I/AAAAAAAAYWw/Ad7glFzyc5ADTmnXBYspw9j3o_sR7yeEwCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_3061.JPG" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Butterflies!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; text-align: center;">This is butterfly season. There are lots of photos of caterpillars, crysalises and butterflies everywhere. Here are a few taken by Master Gardeners.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Monarch caterpillars snacking on milkweed.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPCEiS865pU/X0wyeyo4GvI/AAAAAAAAYWs/Apdy3usHESIiyc0n3Ea-NPOzRpzG3LIYwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_3062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPCEiS865pU/X0wyeyo4GvI/AAAAAAAAYWs/Apdy3usHESIiyc0n3Ea-NPOzRpzG3LIYwCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_3062.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1j_AxBneeAU/X0wyfHce8MI/AAAAAAAAYWw/8yrNSlxO_BQSD7oDtsm0QW2A8qwYhmRvQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_3063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1j_AxBneeAU/X0wyfHce8MI/AAAAAAAAYWw/8yrNSlxO_BQSD7oDtsm0QW2A8qwYhmRvQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_3063.JPG" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Monarch caterpillars have thin stripes of black, yellow and white. Black swallowtails have a stripe pattern that includes dots of yellow, or sometimes orange. Monarchs never have dots, only stripes.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Swallowtail eggs on a stalk of fennel.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uoABuY5zfw/X0wzehLtTwI/AAAAAAAAYXY/Mq1N0UW6atQWzrPIHs2VYUyh1Ae5redMwCPcBGAYYCw/s960/118126977_2030772427059049_3868098686854261680_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="817" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uoABuY5zfw/X0wzehLtTwI/AAAAAAAAYXY/Mq1N0UW6atQWzrPIHs2VYUyh1Ae5redMwCPcBGAYYCw/w436-h512/118126977_2030772427059049_3868098686854261680_n.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Swallowtail caterpillar</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2lIPpSYxzrA/X0wzel7c8MI/AAAAAAAAYXQ/XQwFHKNgIPMPISC7neCxr4-pmG-xdKcXACPcBGAYYCw/s960/117765126_2031746313628327_651866083140204240_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="960" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2lIPpSYxzrA/X0wzel7c8MI/AAAAAAAAYXQ/XQwFHKNgIPMPISC7neCxr4-pmG-xdKcXACPcBGAYYCw/w410-h398/117765126_2031746313628327_651866083140204240_n.jpg" width="410" /></a></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Swallowtail chrysalis.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3W9Ue5LVUVc/X0wzfk3073I/AAAAAAAAYXk/51MUCYoSwFMYTaBu39bWyFRNsPFxgSenwCPcBGAYYCw/s960/118617803_2039050222897936_5548572925046648176_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="960" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3W9Ue5LVUVc/X0wzfk3073I/AAAAAAAAYXk/51MUCYoSwFMYTaBu39bWyFRNsPFxgSenwCPcBGAYYCw/w410-h382/118617803_2039050222897936_5548572925046648176_n.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Black Swallowtail butterfly ready to fly away.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKzeKvUjBho/X0wzf1M7EII/AAAAAAAAYXg/eiRDhXn_74sD10ufmxmSuVFggCqVbOLdgCPcBGAYYCw/s960/118706627_2039050509564574_2768963108991149707_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="809" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKzeKvUjBho/X0wzf1M7EII/AAAAAAAAYXg/eiRDhXn_74sD10ufmxmSuVFggCqVbOLdgCPcBGAYYCw/w430-h512/118706627_2039050509564574_2768963108991149707_n.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Monarch butterfly</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhKSuPze5EM/X00VEpcKEdI/AAAAAAAAYYA/vJP_XNTnSwEe5UQQtlVOIW3Bo0q_vcymACPcBGAYYCw/s1024/t85RTD38RumEJ7FB7yqnIw_thumb_73cc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhKSuPze5EM/X00VEpcKEdI/AAAAAAAAYYA/vJP_XNTnSwEe5UQQtlVOIW3Bo0q_vcymACPcBGAYYCw/w410-h410/t85RTD38RumEJ7FB7yqnIw_thumb_73cc.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yellow Swallowtail</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJUujsb2Mco/X065Mpv5XrI/AAAAAAAAYYc/UxnXPTKGb-UkziNfS1a1xc87uLZODJ8bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s133/swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="122" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJUujsb2Mco/X065Mpv5XrI/AAAAAAAAYYc/UxnXPTKGb-UkziNfS1a1xc87uLZODJ8bQCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h260/swallowtail.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Thanks, Dee, Becky and Bonnie.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>For more photos, see our Facebook page.</i></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-67515595034586121922020-08-16T18:56:00.001-05:002020-08-16T18:56:07.228-05:00Rescuing a hummingbird<p><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>These photos were sent to a Master Gardener who graciously allowed us to share them.</i></span></span></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ron and Dee had another hummingbird get into the rafters in the garage, but weren't able to lure it out. When they opened up the garage the next morning, the little guy was lying on the concrete, exhausted and with cobwebs stuck to his wings. </span></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Dee was able to gently remove the cobwebs and tried to get the bird to drink some hummingbird nectar from a little dish, but he was so weak he kept falling in.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KejQORgzsIs/XznEqWp8_UI/AAAAAAAAYUU/BxkN3NLRp9Q2CE8yVdLX_vQYVO-SvcdyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200803_103427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KejQORgzsIs/XznEqWp8_UI/AAAAAAAAYUU/BxkN3NLRp9Q2CE8yVdLX_vQYVO-SvcdyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/20200803_103427.jpg" /></a></div><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ron found a syringe and proceeded to feed him droplets of nectar. He ate for about 15 minutes with a tongue that</span><span face="" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 15.333333015441895px;"> was thinner than hair and unbelievably long.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40cUKdgH1ew/XznEq9SC6KI/AAAAAAAAYUs/ReaiLSy5aok6FnUEitFcffhk0GxVjblfwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Resized_20200803_104312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40cUKdgH1ew/XznEq9SC6KI/AAAAAAAAYUs/ReaiLSy5aok6FnUEitFcffhk0GxVjblfwCPcBGAYYCw/s0/Resized_20200803_104312.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXnGzrFsKWo/XznEr966ytI/AAAAAAAAYUw/Ee8qPrIb-G8LIPniUGG5qyMU923ZXLbswCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Resized_20200803_105716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXnGzrFsKWo/XznEr966ytI/AAAAAAAAYUw/Ee8qPrIb-G8LIPniUGG5qyMU923ZXLbswCPcBGAYYCw/s0/Resized_20200803_105716.jpg" /></a></div><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">They left him to rest and when Dee checked on him about 20 minutes later, he was still there.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Typical male....left a mess before leaving.) </span><span face="" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 15.333333015441895px;">Dee stroked his back gently with her finger and off he flew!</span><span face="" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 15.333333015441895px;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa8Lt4biVBI/XznEsViUMrI/AAAAAAAAYU0/aL61rzCnP4A9IWB7DmlLrpK0271MYO8oQCPcBGAYYCw/s639/Resized_20200803_111916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="639" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa8Lt4biVBI/XznEsViUMrI/AAAAAAAAYU0/aL61rzCnP4A9IWB7DmlLrpK0271MYO8oQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/Resized_20200803_111916.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Now, if they can only figure out how to keep these little guys OUT of Ron's garage in the first place!</span><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Then came the butterflies!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrgS_c43JSQ/XznEqcs0zPI/AAAAAAAAYUw/OZ0ryqXjxY059POcgT03ob-KHXqtWX2vQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5971%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrgS_c43JSQ/XznEqcs0zPI/AAAAAAAAYUw/OZ0ryqXjxY059POcgT03ob-KHXqtWX2vQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_5971%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyylVHS7684/XznEqWZ6pQI/AAAAAAAAYUo/KPkSX4nXYxonQlYeeDsLK1JNloyUT4giQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5981%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyylVHS7684/XznEqWZ6pQI/AAAAAAAAYUo/KPkSX4nXYxonQlYeeDsLK1JNloyUT4giQCPcBGAYYCw/s0/IMG_5981%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><span face="" style="color: #050505; font-family: "segoe ui", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-63278179565786026592020-07-22T16:38:00.000-05:002020-07-22T16:40:46.247-05:00A Walk Through the Wildflowers<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Monday morning started with glorious Kansas weather </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">and lots of wildflowers along the walking path. </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYMQOm9Xngw/XxipVnAEUmI/AAAAAAAAYRk/MJmK57QbCz4uXR_6GZtwZoiZjFoTQxfcACPcBGAYYCw/s640/collage%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYMQOm9Xngw/XxipVnAEUmI/AAAAAAAAYRk/MJmK57QbCz4uXR_6GZtwZoiZjFoTQxfcACPcBGAYYCw/w625-h625/collage%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="625" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Great waves of <b>Black-eyed Susan rudbeckia</b> in the field, clouds of white </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial"><b>fleabane</b> along </font><span style="font-family: arial;">the path and a </span><b style="font-family: arial;">fringe-leaf ruellia</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> (wild petunia) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">named for its hairy stem and leaves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FxgngqfoLXM/XxipVs9ZHzI/AAAAAAAAYRg/XRd9dOTaDBIQhrqmhqWjdGPo602qr1g1QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/collage%2B%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FxgngqfoLXM/XxipVs9ZHzI/AAAAAAAAYRg/XRd9dOTaDBIQhrqmhqWjdGPo602qr1g1QCPcBGAYYCw/w625-h625/collage%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="625" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial"><b>Erect dayflower.</b> A relative of spiderwort, it blooms after the spiderwort is gone. </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">This one is a soft blue but I have seen many clusters in brilliant blue.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial"><b>Black-eyed Susan rudbeckia</b> (and a bug.)</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Unidentified<b> purple flowers</b> (must be a new variety never before seen in Kansas.)</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial"><b>Dandelion</b>. Of course.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJ86Mgn354s/Xxiu_EQv1BI/AAAAAAAAYR0/XpMznm_NVfUhoxtSwKi5_mTJ0h1OsI1qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJ86Mgn354s/Xxiu_EQv1BI/AAAAAAAAYR0/XpMznm_NVfUhoxtSwKi5_mTJ0h1OsI1qwCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h625/collage.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Bright purple flowers – I think this is <b>wild alfalfa</b>.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">White <b>fleabane</b> grows in big clumps along the path along with mounds </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">of white <b>morning glory</b>.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><font face="arial">Hairy gayfeather.</font></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CY36ylJjERU/XxifGomg1pI/AAAAAAAAYQ8/3W3e_X_NUc8Ng-uE6F8kbzjS05ebZ6nWQCPcBGAYYCw/s512/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CY36ylJjERU/XxifGomg1pI/AAAAAAAAYQ8/3W3e_X_NUc8Ng-uE6F8kbzjS05ebZ6nWQCPcBGAYYCw/w625-h625/collage.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial">This prairie clover's purple flowers have faded but the seed heads</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font face="arial"> are still beautiful.</font></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-1603388183103959552020-07-17T15:09:00.002-05:002020-07-17T15:20:26.548-05:00Raised and Elevated Garden Beds<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIpp5IoNRsk/XxIEU_eNsGI/AAAAAAAAYPA/OyF-pkKfE0AsqG94Q73FTLVhdR1RJRozACLcBGAsYHQ/s444/pallet-garden.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="444" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIpp5IoNRsk/XxIEU_eNsGI/AAAAAAAAYPA/OyF-pkKfE0AsqG94Q73FTLVhdR1RJRozACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h295/pallet-garden.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><font face="helvetica"><span> </span>Raised garden beds are great for growing small plots of veggies and flowers. They keep pathway weeds from your garden soil, prevent soil compaction, provide good drainage, and serve as a barrier to pests such as slugs and snails. The sides of the beds keep your valuable garden soil from eroding or washing away during heavy rains. </font><div><font face="helvetica"><span> </span>In Kansas, gardeners are able to plant earlier in the season because the soil is warmer and better drained when it is above ground level. </font></div><div><font face="helvetica"><span> </span>Elevated garden beds are planter boxes on legs. By raising the soil level, elevated beds reduce back strain when bending over to tend the bed. This is especially helpful for older gardeners, people with bad backs or wheelchair users.</font></div><div><font face="helvetica"><span> </span>Master Gardener Carl has produced two videos with instructions on building garden beds. </font></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first is a simple <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100015093104938/videos/915494958963599/">raised bed</a>. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The second is a<a href="https://www.facebook.com/100015093104938/videos/915499202296508/"> growing bed made from pallets</a> which Carl has elevated on legs. He includes tips on materials, tools and soil.</span></li></ul></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><font face="helvetica">Tips for building your own raised or elevated bed:</font></h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lay out the beds so they are horizontally facing south. This assures equal light exposure to all the plants growing in the bed.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If the ground has never been used for gardening, it should be turned over and any rocks, roots or other debris removed.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If your garden has burrowing pests such as moles, a layer of 1/2" or 1/4" hardware cloth (galvanized mesh) can be laid across the bottom and 3" up the sides before soil is added</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Raised beds do not have bottoms; they are open to the ground, which offers the benefit of permitting plant roots to go further into the ground for available nutrients.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elevated beds should have slat bottoms with space between the slats for drainage.</span></li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;"><font face="helvetica">Soil for raised garden beds</font></h3></div><div><font face="helvetica">One of the benefits of raised bed gardening is drainage, but this feature also makes the soil requirements of your garden box a little different. The real key is the compost. No matter how great your topsoil is, your beds will fail without compost.</font></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="font-family: helvetica;">A good homemade soil blend</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> is half topsoil made of healthy loam and half compost.</span></li><li><b style="font-family: helvetica;">A premium soil blend is</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and compost.</span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-55339756267578135062020-06-23T17:08:00.002-05:002020-06-23T17:08:57.251-05:00Deadheading flowers<div class="separator"><div class="page" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><br /></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7dxsyKSijs/XvJ8v3jFezI/AAAAAAAAYMc/VfKUUyjUwuELvYAk5NHBvBQRMErpQcSEgCK4BGAsYHg/s323/Unknown-4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="323" height="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7dxsyKSijs/XvJ8v3jFezI/AAAAAAAAYMc/VfKUUyjUwuELvYAk5NHBvBQRMErpQcSEgCK4BGAsYHg/w625-h301/Unknown-4.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column" style="text-align: left;"><p><font face="arial">Some plants will bloom more profusely if the old, spent flowers are removed, a process called deadheading. Annuals especially, focus their energy on seed production to insure that the species survives. If you remove old flowers, the energy normally used to produce seed is now available to produce more flowers. Perennials can also benefit by lengthening the blooming season. However, some gardeners enjoy the look of spent flowers of perennials such as sedum or purple coneflower. Also, the seed produced can be a good food source for birds.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9oNAf50JGo/XvJ6sJZ1fJI/AAAAAAAAYK8/h9NW0zlCTQ8itDjnH0QG8vYCPDAc3HHvACK4BGAsYHg/s225/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9oNAf50JGo/XvJ6sJZ1fJI/AAAAAAAAYK8/h9NW0zlCTQ8itDjnH0QG8vYCPDAc3HHvACK4BGAsYHg/Unknown-1.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWUeVFXK-IY/XvJ6LDufyrI/AAAAAAAAYKY/Nm1ceKDjzP4FnPIClsUIhm5Nqk3J_1mswCK4BGAsYHg/s225/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWUeVFXK-IY/XvJ6LDufyrI/AAAAAAAAYKY/Nm1ceKDjzP4FnPIClsUIhm5Nqk3J_1mswCK4BGAsYHg/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div></div><font face="arial"><br /></font><p></p><p><font face="arial">Not all plants need to be deadheaded, including sedum 'Autumn Joy', melampodium, impatiens, most flowering vines, Lythrum, periwinkle (Catharanthus), and wishbone flower (Torenia). </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w16e4qnIb1w/XvJ7X7EbZvI/AAAAAAAAYLU/BcluHR2nADg-jnAcuyQ2ceGUMD_B20lUgCK4BGAsYHg/s225/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w16e4qnIb1w/XvJ7X7EbZvI/AAAAAAAAYLU/BcluHR2nADg-jnAcuyQ2ceGUMD_B20lUgCK4BGAsYHg/Unknown-2.jpeg" /></a> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzT56sB6YbQ/XvJ7eP6YjhI/AAAAAAAAYLk/8y1s5jcAjCs4-jT9Kl5L6giNQC54kuCXwCK4BGAsYHg/s244/Unknown-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzT56sB6YbQ/XvJ7eP6YjhI/AAAAAAAAYLk/8y1s5jcAjCs4-jT9Kl5L6giNQC54kuCXwCK4BGAsYHg/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Those that do increase bloom in response to deadheading include hardy geraniums, coreopsis, petunias, marigolds, snapdragons, begonias, roses, campanulas, blanket flowers, delphiniums, zinnias, sweet peas, salvia, scabiosa, annual heliotrope, geraniums (Pelargonium), and yarrow.</span></p><p><font face="arial">Deadheading is easily accomplished by removing spent flowers. With some plants, pinching between a thumb and finger can do this, but tough, wiry stems will require a scissors or pruning shears. </font></p><p><font face="arial"><i>Ward Upham</i></font></p><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><i><font face="arial"><span style="color: #4a0d87;">K-State Horticulture 2020 Newsletter </span><span style="color: #4a0d87;">No. 22 June 2, 2020</span></font></i></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-74319772499397866392020-06-08T16:23:00.003-05:002020-06-08T16:23:52.005-05:00<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The June RCEMG meeting began with an educational program about Bee Hotels by Pam Paulsen.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGB12icflSU/Xt6amIiC_KI/AAAAAAAAYGI/UBYjqtX8oO8HDx88sft4jxo6ti2JiU_6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bee1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="543" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGB12icflSU/Xt6amIiC_KI/AAAAAAAAYGI/UBYjqtX8oO8HDx88sft4jxo6ti2JiU_6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bee1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>POLLINATORS</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service, 3/4 of the world's flowering plants and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worldwide there are close to 20,000 bee species and North America is home to around 4,000 species.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Approximately 90% fo bees are solitary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most solitary bees are non-aggressive</span>.</li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NATIVE BEES</span></b><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than 4000 species. Many are solitary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better pollinators and less prone to diseases than imported honey bees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">70% ground nesting. To encourage, leave areas of uncovered ground.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30% cavity nesting (hollow stems, wood.) To encourage, leave dead wood, build bee hotels. Insect hotels & nest blocks provide nesting sites for solitary bees and wasps and an overwintering site for beetles, bees, wasps, butterflies and moths.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrt6MkW7tZE/Xt6eQkCNtZI/AAAAAAAAYGs/zYjFObmSt_0KNl27D2UcNUVZtq9CmicuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bee5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="546" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrt6MkW7tZE/Xt6eQkCNtZI/AAAAAAAAYGs/zYjFObmSt_0KNl27D2UcNUVZtq9CmicuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bee5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NESTING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION</b></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Materials: small logs; tree prunings; pine, spruce, oak lumber scraps. Pithy stems: bamboo, Joe-Pye weed, milkweed, sumac, hibiscus, raspberry and blackberry canes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Avoid treated wood and fresh cedar.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sizes of openings should be varied from 1/16" to 5/8".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drill tunnel length 3" to 6" deep. Diameter of hole determines length of tunnel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Space holes at least 3/4" apart.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never drill entirely through the blocks. The back of the block should be solid.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFvBiBAumdM/Xt6gT_MGm6I/AAAAAAAAYHI/AgUrLArln0MLs0UuFLJgB69juYewTCBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bee7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="544" height="147" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFvBiBAumdM/Xt6gT_MGm6I/AAAAAAAAYHI/AgUrLArln0MLs0UuFLJgB69juYewTCBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/bee7.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRseWohiqDk/Xt6gh0LQIAI/AAAAAAAAYHM/qS_RB36FyjoplmLZcMHYgUOZEhu6NG4ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bee9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="545" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRseWohiqDk/Xt6gh0LQIAI/AAAAAAAAYHM/qS_RB36FyjoplmLZcMHYgUOZEhu6NG4ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/bee9.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
</div>
Drill with a sharp bit and at a high speed as bees avoid rough interiors that could damage their wings</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use sandpaper to smooth outside of hole. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use a pipe cleaner to remove sawdust inside of tunnel.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pack blocks tightly into frame. Do not glue in.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can protect outside with </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 to 2 coats of Danish Oil </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(allow several days for </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">odor to dissipate before </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">installing.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint around holes with purple, blue, black or yellow to help bees identify their nest.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint the frame to attract bees: bright blue or purple (bees don't see red.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use wire mesh to cover front to deter predators.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BEE HOTEL INSTALLATION</b></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is best to install a hotel in mid-April for early emerging bees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Face the opening to the east or southeast to protect from afternoon sun.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place on east side of atall object or building to protect from the hot afternoon sun.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place 3' to 5' off the gournd.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secure the bee block so it doesn't move in the wind.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clear any vegetation blocking the front of the hotel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have pollen and nectar sources (flowers) nearby.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BEE HOTEL MAINTENANCE</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before first hard freeze, remove the blocks from the frame and move to more protected areas outside to protect them rodents, woodpeckers and other predators. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Move back to the frame when first flowers start to bloom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place new, unused blocks out at the same time for newly emerged bees to use for nests.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once old blocks are vacated, revove and discard or clean and save for next year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clean the blocks yearly with a 50% bleach/water mixture.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every 2 years replace reeds/stems or blocks that can't be cleaned.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paper straws can be used to line holes, then replaced every year.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lwym8kAN6rM/Xt6oaFIN5FI/AAAAAAAAYIA/2TQe0uO-1T4SojSDGIvcQx02vI7M0EoBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.21%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lwym8kAN6rM/Xt6oaFIN5FI/AAAAAAAAYIA/2TQe0uO-1T4SojSDGIvcQx02vI7M0EoBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.21%2BPM.png" width="259" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPhXGMXr_9g/Xt6onY38I2I/AAAAAAAAYIM/Fve8Y6UsNy0C0Oa-rZlQkD_vTGm9O-5jACEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqzLGVn07ufihnJQUPLeDLeX2bM7-oSIGHb8zLnYpg4OGe8iLwNK5J1fteYpn-s3f-ydlhq4P1KkSQq2V_ZLfQmdWDzgVc_VFOoHLydBwHr8jQI_atPFNW_1_lB2DnyzWb9YyhQlfgEaKKZCx7xGb3025QlRWcehXCKxaYub7ZrzFg8RZ7zTJDGyLwR__mU0VwpgvI_7s45__cpWNYgEdWi7lbzylY6NWKvk5AzyV3xdoRQFlWQOFIRQA7PC6ezipQsG25zKb573pIrRIAVAVsq2PO5BfbOFTZQhioKj3tNKRD5qiK46QY9JAH6wRvU1RHiZQXZd4wnxgJ5cpW9JIc2cGVoBoDuQNMBnttSIQKT-nH_1XwOq9kf1bnh3cX8XOdZ8FffUWz8MapVWaOkE04raRnCm4dRA_v_wL9uuOYsRKUEAA8PpHr1eyBywemF0RDyjCmyy6F_eMPQGBb6jqZeBb6i83NyJcqhAP7WsE9DnI6XmV1QxeOtjgJhIdRtldt8z3y_Z00tBbWjHupwCAFLt9JtXQSF-Bp5NeWKKc8E5gISrUJ3AlAbRdHXGmkgyb0fd3vNxoqBO2GV835V_Cx7AOB-rbVlRqHle_gw7cEa4MITY-vYF/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.33%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="428" height="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPhXGMXr_9g/Xt6onY38I2I/AAAAAAAAYIM/Fve8Y6UsNy0C0Oa-rZlQkD_vTGm9O-5jACEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqzLGVn07ufihnJQUPLeDLeX2bM7-oSIGHb8zLnYpg4OGe8iLwNK5J1fteYpn-s3f-ydlhq4P1KkSQq2V_ZLfQmdWDzgVc_VFOoHLydBwHr8jQI_atPFNW_1_lB2DnyzWb9YyhQlfgEaKKZCx7xGb3025QlRWcehXCKxaYub7ZrzFg8RZ7zTJDGyLwR__mU0VwpgvI_7s45__cpWNYgEdWi7lbzylY6NWKvk5AzyV3xdoRQFlWQOFIRQA7PC6ezipQsG25zKb573pIrRIAVAVsq2PO5BfbOFTZQhioKj3tNKRD5qiK46QY9JAH6wRvU1RHiZQXZd4wnxgJ5cpW9JIc2cGVoBoDuQNMBnttSIQKT-nH_1XwOq9kf1bnh3cX8XOdZ8FffUWz8MapVWaOkE04raRnCm4dRA_v_wL9uuOYsRKUEAA8PpHr1eyBywemF0RDyjCmyy6F_eMPQGBb6jqZeBb6i83NyJcqhAP7WsE9DnI6XmV1QxeOtjgJhIdRtldt8z3y_Z00tBbWjHupwCAFLt9JtXQSF-Bp5NeWKKc8E5gISrUJ3AlAbRdHXGmkgyb0fd3vNxoqBO2GV835V_Cx7AOB-rbVlRqHle_gw7cEa4MITY-vYF/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.33%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5jzmpHnOrU/Xt6qRbNmemI/AAAAAAAAYIk/lnDJMjOZRpQrjdtPL8FAXsGhW9KNiIpxwCEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqwI75IyQvUfPgWQiG3Ug1Fd1EgEkkm3Msv7BXISmYTJ5VqtY-JXAQH3J-V_y-6pAFc9VBRtvtmgbLQ2bpjEFq_nHhKxjYn3_f4CUNBIxJAsxB6To78ZHjNfBQbHdCy5zSnNOgxxziwgtyR4bueWrsuy8x8f_xjGvb5rUzSBVA0y0DK0VmtUQGYz74NJQkBlGNfaH1B4eHI0smZKtYyRLddaiKjhoiOCP-cDMgqDZzxWz1DfcedbflI65mJ1FArvp9iyTJlbFhCQV9TQ_2b1AmSZi1E083QaIlMT_1OlNjv8q7xYmKXJ-FcRA0YAkv_GuwOnT9mgOuPVCGF3pFo7QyHjd5iKc9DE18-EL6BVM_rGkPrc6GHlY6fyBVyfcmC_S0bNqASMeqSaBqDBfmF4stCOcm5Pdne80MkXoXzdEpbor450VP31HZ0OoytLfmGqUVA2zwyTtS1r_vgUevU0l0hPGCDLPQ_WgDvWJ5ikNi-WjvZSJjm5xaJyiyDiWT2bBjGgPO0MtIEeXIJxCJaeFDJkZhauCCLzOR0I0gTg-teuQ8ebHwOEiK_R0cWTZIp0X13dg_VngjsQP0I9waLiEd963YtuTPf4H8_PvC_tqZ9wMLjZ-vYF/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.46%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="542" height="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5jzmpHnOrU/Xt6qRbNmemI/AAAAAAAAYIk/lnDJMjOZRpQrjdtPL8FAXsGhW9KNiIpxwCEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqwI75IyQvUfPgWQiG3Ug1Fd1EgEkkm3Msv7BXISmYTJ5VqtY-JXAQH3J-V_y-6pAFc9VBRtvtmgbLQ2bpjEFq_nHhKxjYn3_f4CUNBIxJAsxB6To78ZHjNfBQbHdCy5zSnNOgxxziwgtyR4bueWrsuy8x8f_xjGvb5rUzSBVA0y0DK0VmtUQGYz74NJQkBlGNfaH1B4eHI0smZKtYyRLddaiKjhoiOCP-cDMgqDZzxWz1DfcedbflI65mJ1FArvp9iyTJlbFhCQV9TQ_2b1AmSZi1E083QaIlMT_1OlNjv8q7xYmKXJ-FcRA0YAkv_GuwOnT9mgOuPVCGF3pFo7QyHjd5iKc9DE18-EL6BVM_rGkPrc6GHlY6fyBVyfcmC_S0bNqASMeqSaBqDBfmF4stCOcm5Pdne80MkXoXzdEpbor450VP31HZ0OoytLfmGqUVA2zwyTtS1r_vgUevU0l0hPGCDLPQ_WgDvWJ5ikNi-WjvZSJjm5xaJyiyDiWT2bBjGgPO0MtIEeXIJxCJaeFDJkZhauCCLzOR0I0gTg-teuQ8ebHwOEiK_R0cWTZIp0X13dg_VngjsQP0I9waLiEd963YtuTPf4H8_PvC_tqZ9wMLjZ-vYF/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B3.56.46%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7VAXp2puuG0/Xt6qvlfQo1I/AAAAAAAAYIs/18uOjouRvIo_TLb7ksAFIeGzKyg1-sAhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B1.30.50%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="542" height="483" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7VAXp2puuG0/Xt6qvlfQo1I/AAAAAAAAYIs/18uOjouRvIo_TLb7ksAFIeGzKyg1-sAhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-08%2Bat%2B1.30.50%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-28461453321552889852020-05-30T16:54:00.002-05:002020-05-30T16:57:31.017-05:00The Beauty of Pollination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJMuo3Hk1iE/XtLVqwf6CtI/AAAAAAAAYFU/m23rzaMs4UYmT8m342CWx7r5cXI3TS-aACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-30%2Bat%2B4.45.49%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1157" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJMuo3Hk1iE/XtLVqwf6CtI/AAAAAAAAYFU/m23rzaMs4UYmT8m342CWx7r5cXI3TS-aACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-30%2Bat%2B4.45.49%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; letter-spacing: -0.4000000059604645px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; letter-spacing: -0.4000000059604645px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; letter-spacing: -0.4000000059604645px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pollination: it's vital to life on Earth, but largely unseen by the human eye. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></em></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Be sure to watch this on the largest computer screen you have; (HD if possible) and have your sound turned on. </span></b></em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The hummingbird doing rolls chasing a bee is not to be missed.</span></b></em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Be sure and watch closely, check out the baby bat under its Mother. </span></b></em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you never knew what goes on in the garden when you aren't paying attention, watch this - </span></b></em><br />
<em><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></em></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">The Beauty of Pollination</span></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-5771234973901684352020-05-16T22:05:00.002-05:002020-05-16T22:08:04.858-05:00Geum: a hardy and showy perennial for the sunny garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YG7XqCHKUiY/XsCkzkwxnvI/AAAAAAAAYDk/2WnOrqnh-L8DC4zNOBmi4PrFuzfVcBM4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.38.27%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1024" height="339" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YG7XqCHKUiY/XsCkzkwxnvI/AAAAAAAAYDk/2WnOrqnh-L8DC4zNOBmi4PrFuzfVcBM4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.38.27%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444;">Geum, also known as Avens, are certainly not counted among the most common perennials, despite having been cultivated in gardens for many years. A relative of roses, their brightly colored flowers bloom freely for many weeks in late spring and early summer. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444;">Geum is perfectly sized for the front of the perennial border, as a single specimen or in groups. It’s a great companion for a variety of perennials and grasses such as cranesbills, sages, catmints, coral bells, prairie dropseed, and little bluestem. Brightly colored orange and red geum are nicely paired with other strong colors, particularly deep blues and purples. They are also good in naturalized landscapes and container plantings, and in the case of prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), in rockeries, gravel gardens, and green roofs. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Hardy in zones 4-9, plant your geum in full sun to partial shade.</span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Keep the soil moist but not wet. Providing sufficient moisture throughout the growing season is important for maintaining strong, healthy plants. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Deadheading is the only maintenance deemed necessary to keep the geum looking good. Deadheading encourages repeat bloom in late summer, improves the bedraggled appearance that sometimes occurs after flowering, and reduces the potential for reseeding.</span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;">Divide every three or four years to maintain a healthy plant. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;">Dig them up in spring, or early autumn. Break them up into separate pieces each with roots. Replant right away, discarding any weak pieces. Don’t let your divisions dry out.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Leaves may turn brown in hot, droughty conditions. The dead leaves can be removed to improve the display, but new leaves will eventually sprout and cover up the brown foliage too. Additionally, under these conditions, leaves can become scorched, which increases their susceptibility to spider mites. Avens may also be troubled by powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal leaf spots, aster yellows, and nematodes.</span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #444444;">Look for these geum in the Master Gardener Demo Garden:</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_83g0z4o78/XsCkt05OVmI/AAAAAAAAYDo/r-G2UTwQg98st5ChuePlPD14XNG3Jf9igCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/8CO%2525KIcPTm63SFhARRpZgQ_thumb_738d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1049" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_83g0z4o78/XsCkt05OVmI/AAAAAAAAYDo/r-G2UTwQg98st5ChuePlPD14XNG3Jf9igCPcBGAYYCw/s640/8CO%2525KIcPTm63SFhARRpZgQ_thumb_738d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cT8fLyt72w/XsCky5MnXBI/AAAAAAAAYDw/5POtIAOHGhYLN-mk0EVp9aTVGdECH86RACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B8.13.05%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="542" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cT8fLyt72w/XsCky5MnXBI/AAAAAAAAYDw/5POtIAOHGhYLN-mk0EVp9aTVGdECH86RACPcBGAYYCw/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B8.13.05%2BPM.png" width="395" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Geum triflorum, commonly known as Prairie Smoke, is often characterized as a native plant, but its superior ornamental traits and cultural adaptability make it a great garden perennial. Its curious flowers—in groups of three— nod like a shepherd’s crook with the creamy white petals hidden beneath rosy pink spurred caps.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeU5P8RAlRk/XsCky8foWkI/AAAAAAAAYD0/FlHpeAEvK2ESOwqhZEqAe6NqugHMNshCACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.37.37%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="677" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeU5P8RAlRk/XsCky8foWkI/AAAAAAAAYD0/FlHpeAEvK2ESOwqhZEqAe6NqugHMNshCACPcBGAYYCw/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.37.37%2BPM.png" width="392" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of the newer varieties of geum have been developed by Brent Horvath, plant breeder and owner of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Hebron, Illinois. His Geum Cocktails Series</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; vertical-align: 4px;">TM </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">has reimagined geum, offering gardeners a variety of flower colors ranging from soft pastels to fiery tones of red, orange, and yellow. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Mai Tai</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBPyPhuApzI/XsCnA_VEnFI/AAAAAAAAYEA/62tiAlfqLKw3TdfSapr3iV_-xVjM4L7BgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.51.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="713" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBPyPhuApzI/XsCnA_VEnFI/AAAAAAAAYEA/62tiAlfqLKw3TdfSapr3iV_-xVjM4L7BgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-16%2Bat%2B9.51.59%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Totally Tangerine</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><br /></span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica";">Content for this article was taken from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica";"><b>A Comparative Evaluation Study of Geum spp.</b> Written in 2017 for the Chicago Botanic Garden by Richard G. Hawke. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica";">Hawke is the plant evaluation manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He and his team evaluate herbaceous and woody plants in comparative trials.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">In a trial study for the Chicago Botanic Garden, Richard Hawke has compiled a table rating 46 varieties of geum. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white;">Find the <a href="https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no41_geum.pdf">full report</a> here.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7e7c7c;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-91629638730251691872020-05-03T12:51:00.000-05:002020-05-03T12:51:20.554-05:00Earth Day Challenge<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Master Gardener Earth Day Challenge</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, Master Gardeners were challenged to CLEAN UP for Earth Day on April 22. Our goal was 50 hours of work cleaning yards, parks, streets and roadsides.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We exceeded our goal: 85 hours. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Because we were in sequestering mode, we were not able to do this as a physical group but we can still enjoy our efforts with photos and quips.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5GmJydLYZs/Xq79WLvPXaI/AAAAAAAAYBE/QeSAjh_0Hu0xNDfIM_XbpQtpDg63lU78QCEwYBhgL/s1600/0MO%2525v3Y%2525SdCGRdpM2hgTNg_thumb_7380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="504" height="285" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5GmJydLYZs/Xq79WLvPXaI/AAAAAAAAYBE/QeSAjh_0Hu0xNDfIM_XbpQtpDg63lU78QCEwYBhgL/s400/0MO%2525v3Y%2525SdCGRdpM2hgTNg_thumb_7380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Kathy clocked 2 hours in her yard, 3 hours at a friend’s farm, and 1 hour picking up trash on the walking path. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">As a result of recent surgeries, Karolyn has not been able to do much gardening, but she was motivated by the Challenge to spend 2 hours cleaning up her yard and planting some beautiful flowers. (At her request, no photos allowed of Karolyn bending over!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Julia and Becky did some clean up at the HCC garden and YMCA, then planted tomatoes for the kids at the Y.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRQo_SOGNtk/Xq79XAJYnII/AAAAAAAAYBM/VucIIXRkPCIFvub1g9RO8KDsU6hFnKn3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/RUBQLuqnTeKFl3Wv2w0OUQ_thumb_7381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRQo_SOGNtk/Xq79XAJYnII/AAAAAAAAYBM/VucIIXRkPCIFvub1g9RO8KDsU6hFnKn3wCEwYBhgL/s320/RUBQLuqnTeKFl3Wv2w0OUQ_thumb_7381.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCYTcvtq3GU/Xq79YXZ2SLI/AAAAAAAAYBA/OcAtpnd_CSghq_kN9En1djvCaUK6Tf7zgCEwYBhgL/s1600/pWWxY71dQjS4bB86gM3i6Q_thumb_7382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCYTcvtq3GU/Xq79YXZ2SLI/AAAAAAAAYBA/OcAtpnd_CSghq_kN9En1djvCaUK6Tf7zgCEwYBhgL/s320/pWWxY71dQjS4bB86gM3i6Q_thumb_7382.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHltsiyH4m8/Xq79WWzrfFI/AAAAAAAAYBQ/kMKTRKCiAoQT8C7Qyj3xPNEVtq2L1jDcgCEwYBhgL/s1600/0427201228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHltsiyH4m8/Xq79WWzrfFI/AAAAAAAAYBQ/kMKTRKCiAoQT8C7Qyj3xPNEVtq2L1jDcgCEwYBhgL/s320/0427201228.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNyczseM8LE/Xq79XPiAeFI/AAAAAAAAYBI/QWq6_cj-YeADw6WUSpc6wpU3mDdRmbkCwCEwYBhgL/s1600/QbF95ICcS9OxIbirQssZgw_thumb_7388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNyczseM8LE/Xq79XPiAeFI/AAAAAAAAYBI/QWq6_cj-YeADw6WUSpc6wpU3mDdRmbkCwCEwYBhgL/s320/QbF95ICcS9OxIbirQssZgw_thumb_7388.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;">We had lots of "helpers", including spouses, granddaughters and friends.</li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica;">Miriam enlisted her husband’s help to clean up along railroad tracks near their home. </li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Combining a May Day gift with the Challenge, Billie put together and delivered a garden pack of tomatoes, peppers and basil plants to her neighbors.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Cheryl did 2 hours and 3.5 miles picking up trash along the road. </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDlDgRqa-3o/Xq79YFpUiII/AAAAAAAAYBQ/KNm8Zg-mkFsprFtcvNvGGYkthmvHWFqTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/otyMIkKDSuGVqYBc8YXHtA_thumb_7385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDlDgRqa-3o/Xq79YFpUiII/AAAAAAAAYBQ/KNm8Zg-mkFsprFtcvNvGGYkthmvHWFqTQCEwYBhgL/s320/otyMIkKDSuGVqYBc8YXHtA_thumb_7385.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLfmexRhXPU/Xq739znLUII/AAAAAAAAYAA/shXvQPSYEZwG-cYc7ybi_JNTdldZOISFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/XYnBE0BKT8y96p3feJSJrw_thumb_738c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLfmexRhXPU/Xq739znLUII/AAAAAAAAYAA/shXvQPSYEZwG-cYc7ybi_JNTdldZOISFgCEwYBhgL/s320/XYnBE0BKT8y96p3feJSJrw_thumb_738c.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Margie and a friend cleaned up his front yard. It might not make the earth cleaner but it should make the neighbors happier.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Tina’s roadside trash pick-up yielded some interesting treasures.</li>
</ul>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ppSDYd290QI/Xq8C1-JvIgI/AAAAAAAAYBs/85awieobO1oY0jzikkoezYyn_ZlG16towCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ejLedXitSPy7TxTjomEgpA_thumb_737f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ppSDYd290QI/Xq8C1-JvIgI/AAAAAAAAYBs/85awieobO1oY0jzikkoezYyn_ZlG16towCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ejLedXitSPy7TxTjomEgpA_thumb_737f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thanks, Becky and Eileen, for challenging us to get outside and do something nice for the Earth!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-57403865507607818972020-04-27T10:20:00.003-05:002020-08-18T06:53:20.851-05:00<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-large; text-indent: -17.4px;">5 Tips for Growing Tomatoes in Pots</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-indent: -17.4px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Article from The Spruce by Kerry Michaels, updated 4/16/20</span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PO7pnkk-yu4/Xqbu0d7iS8I/AAAAAAAAX9I/U2bI4iRpIG8Hk6WOay0HUsiCfih7WZWzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Spruce_Tips_For_Growing_Tomatoes_In_Containers_848216_V4-f27a2d6c2a00480d87381a41a9a9629b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PO7pnkk-yu4/Xqbu0d7iS8I/AAAAAAAAX9I/U2bI4iRpIG8Hk6WOay0HUsiCfih7WZWzACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Spruce_Tips_For_Growing_Tomatoes_In_Containers_848216_V4-f27a2d6c2a00480d87381a41a9a9629b.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Illustration: The Spruce / Maritsa Patrinos</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 17px;">Tomatoes can be challenging to grow in containers, but they continue to rate among the top summer plants in gardens. Here are five controllable factors for successfully growing tomato plants in containers.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 17px;"><br />
</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">A great benefit to growing plants in portable containers is that they are moveable and you can adjust their growing location and several other factors to adjust the growing process. Although, if you have very large containers, you cannot do much against unfavorable weather conditions, </span><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/whats-late-blight-4070308" style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #008fb9; font-kerning: none;">late blight</span></a><span style="font-size: 17px;">, or critter problems. Control </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="text-indent: -17.4px;">what you can and hope for the best!</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Use really big containers</span></span></div>
<h2>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9hmBvGFgik/XqbweQQMn4I/AAAAAAAAX9U/5mKVRFRsfIYigSfbHVzyByEPJt7wU3FigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tomato-Container.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="476" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9hmBvGFgik/XqbweQQMn4I/AAAAAAAAX9U/5mKVRFRsfIYigSfbHVzyByEPJt7wU3FigCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Tomato-Container.jpg" width="640" /></a></h2>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">One of the most important things you can do to ensure tomato success is to use a big enough container—the bigger, the better. For one plant, you need a container that is at least 1 square foot, but 2 square feet is better. Five-gallon buckets are the perfect size for one plant. Fill up the pot with high-quality potting soil and make sure you have <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/watering-and-drainage-in-dontainer-gardens-847774"><span style="color: #008fb9; font-kerning: none;">good drainage</span></a>.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Some tomato growers suggest adding herbs or other plants in the pot. Beginners should refrain from adding additional plantings to the pot, even if you have a massive container. You do not want other plants competing with the tomato plant for water.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Plant Tomatoes Deeply</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdOTeDko5B4/XqbwgvOlFmI/AAAAAAAAX9Y/MTnYg_BUIjYMB1FVf51MnFX-fff4CyOLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/seed-planting-outdoors-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdOTeDko5B4/XqbwgvOlFmI/AAAAAAAAX9Y/MTnYg_BUIjYMB1FVf51MnFX-fff4CyOLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/seed-planting-outdoors-m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -17.4px;">Most seedlings are planted shallowly; tomatoes are the opposite. When planting a tomato seedling, dig a hole so that most of your seedling is under the soil. You still need some leaves sticking out of the top of the soil. Remove all the leaves and branches below the soil line. Eventually, roots will develop from stems that are underground. This planting under the soil strengthens the root system, usually leading to healthier plants.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -17.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Water Soil Consistently </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jz5wNi-Qzjk/XqbzffH_E1I/AAAAAAAAX-Q/veZaCjyk4A8CzAM9uLkleJ7GNiAmSFp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/6a00d8346ffdca53ef01543263e69c970c-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jz5wNi-Qzjk/XqbzffH_E1I/AAAAAAAAX-Q/veZaCjyk4A8CzAM9uLkleJ7GNiAmSFp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/6a00d8346ffdca53ef01543263e69c970c-800wi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">A tomato's success in a container garden depends on maintaining moist soil. The water content of your soil is one of the <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/tips-for-planting-a-container-garden-847799"><span style="color: #008fb9; font-kerning: none;">biggest challenges</span></a>. If your soil is fast-draining, you might consider a water-retaining additive, self-watering container, or checking your soil moisture every day. Keep in mind that the ambient heat around a container can warm up the soil more than in-ground plantings, and the water will dry up or get absorbed quicker.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Too little water and your plants will get weak, and your tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. If your plants are getting inconsistent water, then you might notice exploding (or at least cracking or splitting) tomatoes. If you have sweltering summer days or experience hot, windy days, water the plant twice a day. Another trick with tomatoes is to water them in the morning when plants use water more efficiently. Also, water the soil and not the plants. Wet leaves can encourage blight and fungus.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Another important rule of thumb: You need moist soil but not soggy soil. Too much water and your plant's roots will rot. Make sure you have several drainage holes in your containers. If your pot only has one drainage hole, add several more (this is easier to make with metal or plastic containers). If your tomato plant is getting too much rain, flooding the plant and waterlogging the soil, move the pot to a sheltered area or cover it if it is small enough.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Feed Your Tomatoes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6t64nh92KA/Xqb1rogKyFI/AAAAAAAAX-s/-qT-X3sgwT8LVnWoEM80oH-VSeFxuw9UgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tomato-20lb-Bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="271" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6t64nh92KA/Xqb1rogKyFI/AAAAAAAAX-s/-qT-X3sgwT8LVnWoEM80oH-VSeFxuw9UgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Tomato-20lb-Bucket.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Make sure you feed your plant the primary nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—all essential for growing almost anything in containers. Some potting soils have nutrients in them. Read the soil bag and check to see if these essential nutrients are in the mix. If your potting soil does not have nutrients added, give the plant an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer or a tomato-specific fertilizer. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let the Sun Shine</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbM6MEqKbbw/Xqby_bOcyWI/AAAAAAAAX-A/U81wJG8o8QonjfzDk19M2gdgu6rlyMhegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbM6MEqKbbw/Xqby_bOcyWI/AAAAAAAAX-A/U81wJG8o8QonjfzDk19M2gdgu6rlyMhegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Unknown.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When deciding where to grow your tomatoes, you will need to find a place where they will get enough sun. Tomatoes will grow well with at least 6 hours of <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-full-sun-partial-shade-1402372"><span style="color: #008fb9; font-kerning: none;">full sun</span></a>, but more than 8 hours is better. Either use a measuring device like a sun calculator or go out and check your tomato containers several times during the day and log how much sun they are getting.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="text-indent: -17.4px;">If your plants aren't getting enough sun, move them. Continuously monitor the location throughout the growing season; the sun moves across the sky over time. What was once a full-sun area can become a shady spot during a critical part of the day.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 17.3px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.4px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">While tomatoes love the sun, too much sun as seedlings can kill the plants if they are not <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/how-do-you-harden-off-plants-847810"><span style="color: #008fb9; font-kerning: none;">hardened off</span></a> or slowly acclimated to outdoor growing conditions. Too much early exposure to wind and sun can weaken or destroy your small plants. Also, tomatoes like heat, so do not put them out when it is cold. If temperatures drop colder than 60 degrees, bring the plants inside. If the plants get too hot (more than 90 degrees sustained over time), the plant will not produce flowers or fruits will not mature.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-47729907514653795062020-04-18T11:57:00.002-05:002020-04-18T11:57:58.956-05:00HOW TO GROW BUCKETS FULL OF BELL PEPPERS<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>HOW TO GROW BUCKETS FULL OF BELL PEPPERS</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Edited from an article published: May 2, 2018 · Modified: Mar 16, 2020 by <a href="https://www.naturallivingideas.com/author/susan/"><span style="color: #90ba5c; font-kerning: none;">Susan Patterson</span></a> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkTiqjXMvzI/XpsvZZ5kZpI/AAAAAAAAX8E/PWCgwqNao_UtZxCdpSWlI_9QoOLC9cbIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bell-peppers-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkTiqjXMvzI/XpsvZZ5kZpI/AAAAAAAAX8E/PWCgwqNao_UtZxCdpSWlI_9QoOLC9cbIACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/bell-peppers-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There is nothing more beautiful than a basket full of homegrown bell peppers but there are many reasons to love bell peppers besides their beauty. For starters, they are really easy to grow, they are loaded with nutritional value and they taste amazing raw and cooked. If you are a first-time gardener, peppers are a great place to start.</span></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers can be red, yellow, orange, green or even lavender and white. Bell peppers are the only members of the genus Capisicum that does not produce capsaicin, the extremely hot chemical that we are familiar with in hot peppers.</span></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To grow this tender tropical warm-season plant in Kansas you can either start seeds early indoors or purchase plants after the risk of frost has passed. Plants will need between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight daily.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span>STARTING SEEDS</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Starting seeds indoors will save you money and give you a headstart on the growing season. Seeds should be started about 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost date.</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Choose high-quality seeds for best results.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Fill small starter pots with potting soil. Place three seeds in each pot and cover with a light layer of soil. </span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Place in a warm area with plenty of light – pepper seeds will germinate at 70 degrees and warmer.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Keep the soil moist but not saturated.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Once the seedlings begin to grow, thin out the weakest one and let the other two grow.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Fourteen days before transplanting, begin to harden off your plants. To do this water the plants first and place them outdoors in a sheltered spot. If you have a cold frame or unheated greenhouse this works great. Be sure to harden off on days when the temperature is steady. Leave your plants outside for two hours on the first day, four hours on the second day with more direct sun. Gradually increase the amount of time the plants spend outdoors in direct sunlight. Do this over two weeks time. You can leave the plants outside all night only if there is no danger of frost.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Transplant the seedlings outdoors after all threat of frost has passed. The soil must be at least 65 degrees or the plants will not make it. If you need to warm up your soil, put a layer of black plastic over it for about two weeks before planting. </span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Place plants 18 to 24 inches apart</span>.</li>
<li style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Apply mulch or straw around each plant to help retain moisture. Provide support to pepper plants as they grow.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Once peppers get their true leaves, fertilize weekly until fruit appears. Feed plants every three weeks after fruit sets.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Water peppers regularly but do not saturate.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">HARVESTING</span><br /><ul>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Harvest peppers as soon as they reach a good size.</span></li>
<li style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">As peppers stay on the vine they become sweeter and also contain more vitamin C.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Don’t pull peppers off of the vine, instead use sharp and clean scissors or a sharp and clean knife to remove fruit from the plant.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq7ezLPOrGg/XpsvbjNpi3I/AAAAAAAAX8I/9ojkbZqR8C4ejB2TvvUrEQH91Agd7OIWACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/freeze-bell-peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq7ezLPOrGg/XpsvbjNpi3I/AAAAAAAAX8I/9ojkbZqR8C4ejB2TvvUrEQH91Agd7OIWACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/freeze-bell-peppers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><b>STORING PEPPERS</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #010101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Place peppers in a plastic bag and refrigerate for up to ten days after harvesting.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">You can also dry peppers in a conventional oven. First, wash peppers and remove all seeds. Cut them into one-half-inch strips. Steam the strips for ten minutes and spread on a baking sheet. Set the oven to 140 degrees and dry peppers until they are brittle. Once peppers are cool, place them in storage bags.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Freezing peppers is also a great way to store your harvest. Wash peppers first and cut off stems. Cut peppers in half and remove seeds and membranes. Cut into strips or even dice and place on a cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for about an hour or until frozen. Place the frozen peppers in a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-7125578580184924662020-04-18T10:30:00.001-05:002020-04-18T11:14:35.942-05:00Tips on starting a garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="576" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D686323768840162%26id%3D314055039400372&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-73135785607596189352020-04-09T10:56:00.003-05:002020-04-09T10:56:56.662-05:00Tomato tips <div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Tips for tomato growers </span></h2>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Ward Upham, K-State Department of Horticulture</i></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Transplanting Tomatoes Early</span></h2>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">If you would like to have your tomato plants produce earlier in the year, there are certain things to keep in mind. Most people who try to get a jump on the season set their tomatoes out early and hope they do well. However, that is often not a good plan as tomatoes have to have certain requirements before they will grow well. Those requirements are an acceptable soil temperature for root growth and an acceptable air temperature for both plant growth and fruit set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Root Growth: Tomatoes need a soil temperature of at least 55 degrees to do well. Plastic mulch is most commonly used to warm the soil. Several days may be needed to raise the soil temperature. Check the soil temperature 2.5 inches deep in the soil at about 11:00 a.m. If that is not possible, check the temperature before leaving for work and again when you return and use the average of the two. It is best to lay a drip irrigation line before installing the plastic to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">make watering more convenient. See accompanying article on laying plastic mulch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Air Temperature: Plants must be protected from frost. Hot caps or water teepees are placed over the young plants to provide protection as well as provide a higher average temperature to encourage growth. Eventually the plants will outgrow the cover and start to develop flowers. But if the temperature goes below 55 degrees at night, tomato flowers may not set. The plant is not hurt, but the blossom will not set fruit, or, if it does set fruit, the fruit is often misshapen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">How early can you transplant? Start with a date about 2 weeks earlier than normal. (Ward Upham</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNf_vUmozyM/Xo9Fiio5a_I/AAAAAAAAX7E/j8qGIe3d8bY9LQ0t3dLF27LyCi9burt8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tomatoes_helios4eos_gettyimages-edit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNf_vUmozyM/Xo9Fiio5a_I/AAAAAAAAX7E/j8qGIe3d8bY9LQ0t3dLF27LyCi9burt8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/tomatoes_helios4eos_gettyimages-edit.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Laying Plastic Mulch</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Plastic mulch is sometimes used to start vegetables such as tomatoes and melons earlier than normal. Commercial growers use a machine to lay the mulch, but home gardeners must do this by hand. Following are some tips on how this is done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">1. Fertilize according to soil test. You won't be able to add fertilizer after the plastic is down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">2. Work the soil so that the bed can be easily shaped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">3. Use a garden hoe to form a trench along all edges of the plastic. The soil should be pulled to the outside of the bed. The trench should be formed six inches in from the edge of the plastic and extend along both sides and both ends. The trench should be deep and wide enough to bury six inches of plastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">4. Lay trickle irrigation tube down the center of the bed. This isn't absolutely necessary but it makes it much easier to water. Overhead watering will hit the plastic and roll off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">5. Lay the plastic down and cover the edges with soil. You need to slit the edge of the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">plastic where the trickle irrigation tube enters the end of the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">6. Plant when the soil temperature reaches the correct temperature for the crop (55 degrees for tomatoes and 60 degrees for melons) at a 2.5-inch depth. Check the temperature at about 11:00 a.m. to get a good average temperature. Check for several days in a row to ensure the temperature is stable. A hole can be made in the plastic by cutting and "X" in the plastic with a knife or by burning a hole with a hand-held propane torch. (Ward Upham)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912807964271022863.post-82120751190225146822020-04-09T10:47:00.002-05:002020-04-09T10:47:52.368-05:00Now showing at the Demo Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzJVZ8Sdey4/Xo9CyWqIgII/AAAAAAAAX6U/O4ivfsME95QWM2Kqkvr-zebBSSiSjBQAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2326.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzJVZ8Sdey4/Xo9CyWqIgII/AAAAAAAAX6U/O4ivfsME95QWM2Kqkvr-zebBSSiSjBQAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/fullsizeoutput_2326.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeAKQyYRfDU/Xo9CqdPA8wI/AAAAAAAAX6Q/LATvSUtJ7Z8XG8k8Y9hi40WrOO4TJfGTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2328.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeAKQyYRfDU/Xo9CqdPA8wI/AAAAAAAAX6Q/LATvSUtJ7Z8XG8k8Y9hi40WrOO4TJfGTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/fullsizeoutput_2328.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlna-IW52fE/Xo9ClJc1NSI/AAAAAAAAX6I/paXVihIPPKMhWwbpmF7bj8Kih0roqsBCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2327.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FApCJHzQ0w8/Xo9C0zE0BhI/AAAAAAAAX6Y/OyMNqr8rH2UnsdEQsZnfqS8y1ZNZgfinwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2329.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FApCJHzQ0w8/Xo9C0zE0BhI/AAAAAAAAX6Y/OyMNqr8rH2UnsdEQsZnfqS8y1ZNZgfinwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/fullsizeoutput_2329.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlna-IW52fE/Xo9ClJc1NSI/AAAAAAAAX6k/PF5IuJhC3_4YVfLPZVNia4L4xzkAO1ulACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoCCXy1RYpLoRQVin6qhC5D6VBqQKZlx_itBPHyXNLNIy3miyv_SbdK7gxQ18qrQLRgIAkMQvksbmaLUl9s1yNROL7LzQN6UctTkQ4DcpNi75Qbzi5btTBckF_GKHdQyMGGvlg4KvGQDAR53Lt0cpNATDcYyz4n0umuAFwZVphcCpyN2P3EurSvlfUOOU8CwEavuHip6MZjjsL2X_tTuCJ2RlB0elR6tLWDHcCUkS4O8Ln59g51ydupOzY9IkPRWRwR6s7Glgn35lwARglOSVDtOmDDF4-l24vfHXdK7lGQ9XZP1LQHH1ogNIwdv9F7Y3nToz64He8EFJnJTGVffvd6SsoHggXBh3spkOT0hR_YkOPDN-RXGcfMG3cKqik1Z8WlK8xuDcc9Y-x8koXwodQrXr5twDKowKGkX314nsomJO5YYaagx_Ewm_PDWKPsjmYDQ8gbgZ0xWL027rv1ThAIM1oQNBIpbxIvPlstYggpIr351zxfuvlu63gE3vWfMwz8SNS1Vw4I7Cv_Oz4ZGWrWoiHDNTifqYNA5JCIFmV-X1AB6XT9C3W7F82GrHh_QunlwyiJ96lFVthC5PEBlSGHzx3iB5SWKG-ZFMM-LvfQF/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2327.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlna-IW52fE/Xo9ClJc1NSI/AAAAAAAAX6k/PF5IuJhC3_4YVfLPZVNia4L4xzkAO1ulACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoCCXy1RYpLoRQVin6qhC5D6VBqQKZlx_itBPHyXNLNIy3miyv_SbdK7gxQ18qrQLRgIAkMQvksbmaLUl9s1yNROL7LzQN6UctTkQ4DcpNi75Qbzi5btTBckF_GKHdQyMGGvlg4KvGQDAR53Lt0cpNATDcYyz4n0umuAFwZVphcCpyN2P3EurSvlfUOOU8CwEavuHip6MZjjsL2X_tTuCJ2RlB0elR6tLWDHcCUkS4O8Ln59g51ydupOzY9IkPRWRwR6s7Glgn35lwARglOSVDtOmDDF4-l24vfHXdK7lGQ9XZP1LQHH1ogNIwdv9F7Y3nToz64He8EFJnJTGVffvd6SsoHggXBh3spkOT0hR_YkOPDN-RXGcfMG3cKqik1Z8WlK8xuDcc9Y-x8koXwodQrXr5twDKowKGkX314nsomJO5YYaagx_Ewm_PDWKPsjmYDQ8gbgZ0xWL027rv1ThAIM1oQNBIpbxIvPlstYggpIr351zxfuvlu63gE3vWfMwz8SNS1Vw4I7Cv_Oz4ZGWrWoiHDNTifqYNA5JCIFmV-X1AB6XT9C3W7F82GrHh_QunlwyiJ96lFVthC5PEBlSGHzx3iB5SWKG-ZFMM-LvfQF/s400/fullsizeoutput_2327.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWyrFS0zcF8/Xo9C3sjiKYI/AAAAAAAAX6c/Nrhd5vAES7ccRs19nJ58XSgUfPPx7MwdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_232a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWyrFS0zcF8/Xo9C3sjiKYI/AAAAAAAAX6c/Nrhd5vAES7ccRs19nJ58XSgUfPPx7MwdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/fullsizeoutput_232a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0