Megaskepasma erythrochlamys

Generally known as the Red Cloak, this gorgeous tropical produces large crimson and pink spikes with white flowers that last for months. The genus name means “large covering” and its dense, shiny green foliage grows upright and lush, making it ideal as an ornamental shrub or hedge.
 
Native to the woodlands of Venezuela, this plant will thrive in full to part sun and will grow to 8 to 12 feet. It requires little maintenance and can tolerate a light freeze but does best in zones 9-11.

Keep it moist in warmer months, less so when it’s cool and in a well-draining soil.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory
        

With apologies to Ricky Nelson....

Fans of the Maryland Home & Garden Show can attend a preview party this Friday, and the cost of the ticket -- $50 in advance and $60 at the door -- will benefit Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake.

For the first time, the 19 fully landscaped, live gardens installed for the show will be the scene of a cocktail party from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Maryland State Fairgrounds on York Road.

Live jazz from the Adam Hopkins Quartet and student performers from Habitat partner schools will accompany the event, titled "Symphony of Spring."

Guests will not only be able to tour the 15,000 square feet of gardens but will also have the opportunity to meet with the landscapers.

For tickets, go online at www.habitatchesapeake.org or by calling Meredith Hewinson at 410-366-1250 ext. 135 or email her at mhewinson@habitatchesapeake.org.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden events
        

Winterthur, the Wilmington, Del., home of Henry Francis du Pont and now a premier museum of American decorative arts, opens for the spring season Tuesday, March 1.

Outside, in the garden, the March Bank display is already alive with thousands of bright yellow blossoms of adonis and winter aconite.

The East Terrace lawn is covered with lavender crocus tomasinianus, or "Tommies," along with the  scented flowers of winter honeysuckle.

Enchanted Woods, a unique children’s garden, welcomes children of all ages back to Winterthur after its seasonal closing. Beginning on March 1, visitors can enjoy a 20-minute narrated tour of the garden while riding the garden tram, weather permitting.
 

General admission includes a tour of some of the most notable spaces in the 175-room house, as well as access to the Winterthur Garden and Galleries, special exhibitions, a narrated tram tour (weather permitting), the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens, and the Enchanted Woods children’s garden. $18 adults; $16 for students and seniors; $5 for ages 2–11. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday–Sunday. Winterthur, located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, and five miles south of U.S. Route 1, is closed Mondays.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden tours
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jerry Jackson

The time for reading about gardening is nearly over -- as the time for actual gardening begins -- but before we leave the couch and head outdoors for the spring, I have three books I am delighted to recommend.

The first is, "And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the fast lane for my own dirt road," by Margaret Roach.

The writer behind the delightful and highly instructive blog A Way to Garden writes about walking away from her job as editorial director for Martha Stewart Omnimedia after 15 years and moving permanently to her weekend home in upstate New York, where she learns more about nature and her own nature.

It is a story others have written -- leaving the corporate world to find a more genuine life and a truer self -- but Margaret's story is particularly appealing to those of us who know her so well through her blog.

Next? Amy Stewart seems to have found a franchise topic! As a follow-up to her fun book "Wicked Plants," she has written "Wicked Bugs."

Amy, one of the four voices behind another popular garden blog Garden Rant makes you itch and squirm with her latest book.

She shares the disgusting habits of common garden bugs and gives advice on how to control them, and she offers travel tips, too. For example, check the biting midge forecast before planning a golf vacation in Scotland.

On a more serious note, the author discusses insect-transmitted diseases from around the world and how we are working to control them through cutting-edge science and just plain weird science.

The bug bottom line? They are everywhere and they can be dangerous. But there is a way to live in communion with them.!

By the way. Amy made a hilarious YouTube promotional video for this book.

And finally, Amy Stewart's cohort at Garden Rant, Michele Owens, has published a much more cheerful (?!) book, titled "Grow the Good Life: Why a vegetable garden will make you happy, healthy, wealthy and wise."

You don't have to vegetable garden on a grand scale to feed your family or yourself and you can get so much satisfaction out it, Michele writes. She gives us all sorts of advice about how to fit vegetable gardening into our crazy lives. It takes less time, she argues, than going to the grocery store each week.

This is an author who is a professional writer and and "amateur" gardener, and she uses her gifts in the former to make an excellent case for the latter.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Garden books
        

Speaking of starting vegetables from seeds...

Michael Tortorello of the New York Times gives new meaning to the phrase "kitchen garden" when he writes about trying to start plants from seeds that you can find - yes - in your kitchen.

And if you'd like to read more about growing veggies of the heirloom variety, read Laura Mathews post on her blog, Punk Rock Gardens, where you can also see what happens when you leave your broccoli seedlings where your chickens can get at them.

And finally, Burpee Seeds has a way to grow a great salad mix  of lettuces in a container without having to purchase packets filled with hundreds of seeds.

Burpee sells a small capsule containing 20 seeds -- for four different varieties of lettuce -- for just $5.95. 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Vegetable gardening
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun

This is a two-for-one post -- about the right tool for the job, and about knowing what's in the ground.

Garden bloggers get lots of stuff in the mail, and this week it was a short-handled shovel from Ames Hardware and a note from the Common Ground Alliance warning homeowners about the power lines and water pipes hidden underground.

Every three minutes, the group says, a gas, electric, cable, Internet, water or sewer line is accidentally damaged by digging done as part of a gardening or home improvement project. This damage can put entire neighborhoods at risk by disconnecting essential services.

One phone call to 811 will protect you from these unintended consequences. Utility companies will dispatch a locator to your site within a few days and mark the utility lines or pipes with paint or flags. After that, dig very carefully around these markers.

The shovel they used to make this point was a 17-inch spade -- an ideal perennial shovel. The spade is just large enough to help you dig around shrubs and larger perennials that are too big or too deep for a hand trowel.

And it is the prefect size for the trunk of your car during winter months. You can find them for about $10.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden tools
        

Photo credit: Laura Mathews

I have sown my share of spinach and lettuce in containers on my deck. I am proof that any idiot can do that.

But that's the limit of my experience with starting vegetables from seed.

However, we here at Garden Variety strive to be a full-service garden blog. Since it is seed-starting time, I've asked my friend and fellow blogger Laura Mathews from Punk Rock Gardens to share her advice.

She is actually good at this....

"The first time I attempted to start vegetable plants from seed, I grabbed a plastic container, filled it with dirt, tossed some seeds about and watered well.   I didn’t label anything.  I stuck the tray in the window.  A drafty window. 

A few days of neglect turned my dirt into concrete.  I watered again and noticed a few seeds floating to the top. I quickly forgot what I’d planted where in the container.  Basil seeds were mixed in with tomatoes.

Finally, the few seedlings that managed to sprout bent over due to lack of light or under the weight of my inexperience   I saw that my attempt had failed and pitched the whole tray.  Here are a few tips so you don’t make the same stupid mistakes I made. 

• - Read the seed packet.   Seed packets will tell you much of what you need to know to be successful.  Look for information on seed planting depth and days until seedlings can be transplanted outside.  The packet will also tell whether to inside sow or direct sow.  Use popsicle sticks and sharpies to label everything.
• - Don’t drown your seedlings.  Use a mister or bottom water.  Pouring water on your seedlings can crush them, make them float, or push them too deeply into the soil. 
• - Consistent warmth and moisture will make your seeds happy.  Germination won’t happen if your seeds aren't happy.  Seeds need to be in the neighborhood of a toasty 75 degrees to get a good start in life.
• - Sacrifice a few of your seedling babies for the good of the whole.  Too many seeds will germinate.  You need to thin them out as they grow so they don’t get over crowded. 
• - Keep your light kissing distance from plant tops.  You’ll need an artificial light source.  Florescent light works well.  Keep the light very close to your seedlings.  They will get thin stemmed or leggy if there isn’t enough light.
• - Fan your babies.  Air circulation will help prevent disease and prepare your seedlings to put up with wind once they are on their own in the garden.
• - Keep seedlings away animals – I’ve had cats dig in my seedlings.  I’ve had chickens wipe out an entire crop of fully-grown seedlings. "
  

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Weekend Chores
        

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Pruning Trees and Shrubs: Saturday, 9:00 am. Brian Rhoten is a Certified Arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts working year round managing trees and shrubs in landscapes here in Maryland. Brian will unravel the mysteries of pruning and answer questions attendees may have concerning specific trees and shrubs.

Growing Fruits and Berries: Saturday, 11:00 am. Terry Freed's passion is growing fruits and berries and helping others do the same. He joins us here from Hollybrook Orchards to teach us how to grow apples, blueberries, pears, peaches and many other fruits in our gardens.

Build a Terrarium (kid-friendly): Saturday, 11:00 am. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Terrariums are wonderful and very low maintenance if they are planted correctly and with the right plants. We will demonstrate how to build a terrarium and offer advice to those who would like to build one of their own. Bring your own glass vessel or buy one here. Plants, soil and other “ingredients” will also be available for purchase. Average cost of finished terrarium-$35.00. Special fishbowl terrarium for the kids - $25.00

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville and Severna Park

Hypertufa: Saturday, 10 am & 2 pm. ($45). Build a fascinating, stonelike container from inexpensive materials that looks hundreds of years old in a style reminscent of a Victorian garden.

Starting from Seed: Sunday, 11 am. ($5). Education Coordinator Gene Sumi shows you the tools and tricks of the trade to make starting plants from seed at home easy, educational and inexpensive.

Herb Wreath: Sunday, 2 pm. ($35). Create a beautiful and functional herb wreath that will look stunning in any kitchen. Make it with fresh herbs to take home to dry. (All materials included; participants should bring scissors.)

Starting from Seed: Sunday, 2 pm (Severna Park) ($5). Education Coordinator Gene Sumi shows you the tools and tricks of the trade to make starting plants from seed at home easy, educational and inexpensive.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden events
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jerry Jackson

Q: I want to provide some bushes to make my bird feeders more attractive. I'd like to choose for color and scent, e.g., forsythia, lilac, burning bush. What would be good choices for birds? Are there local plant species I might not know about?

A: You are wise to ask, because many popular shrubs are useless to birds. Some such as burning bush (Euonymus alata) are even invasive in Maryland.

Fortunately there are exciting native choices, such as summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and fothergilla that are both beautiful, long blooming and richly fragrant!  The online book, Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake features color photos of Chesapeake Bay watershed native plants with all the information you’ll need, including which plants are most beneficial to birds.

To have birds flocking to your yard year round, shrubs can provide two necessities: food in the form of berries, nectar and insects, as well as shelter for nesting and protection from weather and predators.  A birdbath with clean water will fulfill birds’ trio of needs in your backyard.

Be sure to plant a variety of shrubs that bloom or berry at different times. Help birds in winter, too, with evergreen and berrying shrubs. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has basic tips and a short plant list: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1143.

Q: I am trying to locate good compost to use in a raised bed garden. What should I look for? Any trusted suppliers?

A: Compost is not regulated.  Leaf Gro is a good compost made locally by Maryland Environmental Service and is available in bag and bulk. Their website links to suppliers by county: www.menv.com/leafgro.shtml.

Some farms or stables offer composted manure.  Only hot composted manure can kill weed seeds. Be sure composting process is complete before you use the compost.

When you obtain compost from neighbors’ yard waste or farm manure, ask what herbicides were used on the yard or in the animals’ pasture.  A few herbicides absorbed by plants can still be toxic after the plants have finished composting--even after going through an animal’s digestive tract first! This contaminated compost can kill your plants.

See our latest newsletter about this problem: http://www.growit.umd.edu/Images4%20-%20Jon/HGICNEWS12.2010.pdf.

Our compost publication will give you compost basics: www.hgic.umd.edu/content/documents/HG35BackyardComposting10_2010final.pdf.

If you don't have your own compost pile, you could try adding organic materials such as shredded leaves and untreated grass clippings directly to your garden in the fall and they should be decomposed by spring.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Philadelphia Flower Show, 2010. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

I am getting ready to write a travel story about the august Philadelphia Flower Show that opens March 6, and I am wondering: Are you going? And how are you getting there?

Does your group or your business have a bus tour going? Are you driving with friends? Are you staying overnight? Are you planning to dine out at the show? If so, where?

I'd love to hear about your plans and your recommendations.

Me? I hope to go Saturday, March 5 for the media preview. And I will be live Tweeting and Facebooking from the show -- with pictures!

The theme this year is perfect: "Springtime in Paris."

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Flower Shows
        

Eranthis 

Text by Debbie Ricigliano
Photo: NC State University Photographs copyright @1997 by A.B. Russell and A.A. De Hertogh

Winter aconite earns its name, blooming even earlier than the first crocus. It blankets the ground with small, sunny, buttercup-like yellow blooms.

Flowers form on stems that rise above a low-growing cluster of ruffled foliage.  Snowdrops (Galanthus), a taller bulb, bloom at the same time and make an excellent companion plant. The contrast between the white and yellow flowers beautifies your winter-drab landscape.

Winter aconite are planted in the fall and need well-drained soil. Plant their bulbs 5 inches deep and about 1 to 2 inches apart. Choose a location in full or partial sun.

They self seed and spread. Once established, winter aconite can naturalize, becoming a low maintenance addition to a woodland garden.

The entire plant is poisonous--something to consider if you have young children or curious pets. 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Whether it is true or not, the story of George Washington and the cherry tree bears repeating -- especially on a garden blog!

Here is one version of it....

When George Washington was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet of which, like most little boys, he was extremely fond. He went about chopping everything that came his way.

One day, as he wandered about the garden amusing himself by hacking his mother’s pea- sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.

Some time after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. He came into the house in great anger, and demanded to know who the mischievous person was who had cut away the bark. Nobody could tell him anything about it.

Just then George, with his little hatchet, came into the room.

“George,” said his father, “do you know who has killed my beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? I would not have taken five guineas for it!”

This was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself he cried: –

“I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.”

The anger died out of his father’s face, and taking the boy tenderly in his arms, he said: –

“My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! yes, though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of the purest gold!”

 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden history
        

Garden facts for Presidents' Day!

The 'Abraham Lincoln' heirloom tomato is introduced in 1923. It is large, dark red, round, firm and resists splitting.

George Washington experimented at Mount Vernon with many seed varieties, tried dozens of fertilizers, practiced crop rotation and designed a 16-sided barn.

And you thought Thomas Jefferson was the gardening president....

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden facts
        

The Home Depot has announced it will hire more than 60,000 seasonal associates in Feburary and March -- in time for its second annual Spring Black Friday event.

Like the traditional Black Friday that occurs the day after Thanksgiving to unofficially start the holiday shopping season, Spring Black Friday marks the start of home improvement's busiest shopping season -- the spring.

(The date will vary depending on climate and geography. Check with your local store.)

During four different weekends in spring, prices on hundreds of spring products will be reduced, including a variety of live goods and lawn care, outdoor power, eco-friendly gardening products, and patio and grills.

The 60,000 part-timers are about the same number that were hired to ramp up for spring in 2010. Additionally, The Home Depot said it will be adding net new permanent full-time and part-time positions to its stores for the second year in a row.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's will also be hiring of part-time workers. According to various press reports, the company will hire 50,000 seasonal positions at its 1,750 stores. That's about 16% more hires than last year's spring ramp up.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden news
        

Blue Water Baltimore

Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville: Become a Maryland Stream Wader. Learn how you can help Stream Waders contribute to Maryland’s statewide water quality monitoring. If you’re a member of a watershed organization and are interested in sampling in an area that’s not on the map, contact DNR to see if they can accommodate you. And of course, if you are not already a member of a watershed group, join up with folks from one or get together with some friends and help assess the health of local streams.  For more information, and to register for an upcoming training, go to the Stream Waders website

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday, 9:00 am, Growing Vegetable and Flower Seedlings: Learn tips and techniques for growing seeds into vegetable and flower transplants for the garden. Carrie Engel will discuss grow lights, germination mats, planting media and seed types. This is a great class for the novice or experienced gardener.

Saturday, 11:00 am, Organic Gardening Principles: Learn how to grow plants using sustainable gardening methods. Educators will showcase the many herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and fertilizers available to organic gardeners. Also discussed: the best practices for growing plants organically.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 11 am, Lawn Care ($5) (Severna Park) Rick Hardie of Jonathan Green leads you through the steps to grow the perfect green grass.

Saturday, 2 pm: Lawn Care ($5) (Davidsonville) Rick Hardie of Jonathan Green leads you through the steps to grow the perfect green grass.

Behnke's Nursery in Beltsville

Saturday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, 31st Annual National Capital Orchid Society Paphiopedilium Orchid Forum: This event will feature internationally-renowned speakers, an selection of Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium plants for sale by leading vendors, a show table featuring
hundreds of slippers in bloom, ribbons and trophies for outstanding show plants, American Orchid Society judging, and more. Pre-registration and entry fee are required. The entry fee of $50.00 includes lunch and a door prize ticket. Participation is limited to the first 140 registrants. Sales begin at 8:00 am, the program begins at 9:45 am, and the event concludes at 4:30 pm

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden events
        

It appears that a University of Alabama football fan -- angry over the national championship won by rival Auburn -- has poisoned a pair of 130-year-old trees that marked a post-game celebration spot on the Auburn campus for more than three generations.

Harvey Almorn Updyke has been charged with allegedly applying toxic doses of a tree-killing herbicide to the live oaks at a place called Toomer's Corner. Auburn students traditional drape the trees with toilet paper after a football victory and did so again this week to honor the trees.

Auburn officials said they will do what they can to save the trees, but the school's athletic director said it would take "divine intervention" to do so.

Updyke admitted calling a sports radio talk show about the poisoning of the trees, but denied actually doing it.

The 62-year-old former Texas state trooper, who did not attend Alabama but named his sons Crimson and Bear, was jailed on a charge of criminal mischief.

The traditional Alabama-Auburn football rivalry was particularly charged this year because not only did Auburn go on to win the national championship, there was a dispute about the eligibility of its quarterback, Cam Newton.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden news
        

The list of garden chores for this weekend -- indeed, for the month of February -- might consist of just two words.

Clean.

Up.

Now is the time to begin raking the debris out of your beds, although the winds of March will certainly blow more junk back in. Dead leaves may eventually hide slugs and other insects.

Cut back the desicated perennial material, pick up the broken twigs and small branches left from winter storms, and begin the pruning process on shrubs, hellebores (being careful not to damage new growth) and roses.

Walk the gardens and the lawn and remove winter weeds -- henbit and chickweed -- which will use the warming weather to take hold and spread like mad. But stay off soggy parts of the yard to avoid compacting the soil.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Weekend Chores
        

Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works

Q: I’m trying to fit more in my vegetable garden this year.  Can I grow melons on a trellis?

A: Try muskmelons. (These are often called cantaloupes, but true cantaloupes are rarely grown in the U.S.)  Sprawling melon vines typically gobble up garden space but, on a trellis, seeds or transplants can be planted a mere 3 feet apart and trained upward.

Choose a variety that produces smaller fruit. When fruits swell, their weight will need to be supported by a sling. Use a fairly open-weave fabric that will drain and dry quickly, such as cheesecloth or old nylon stockings.

Q: How do I water my bonsai? The pot is an 8” x 6” oval, 3”tall, with a saucer attached so tightly to the pot side I can’t pour water into the saucer.

A: Bonsai are watered by pouring water on the soil or by immersing the entire pot in a tub of water for a few seconds. Because you want to avoid salt accumulation in the soil, the immersion method is good to use periodically because it flushes out salts.  Watering with rain water or distilled water avoids salts.

Water requirements vary by plant species. Call us for information about water needs for your particular bonsai.  Overwatering that leads to root rot is the most frequent cause of bonsai death, but with a drainage hole in your pot you should be able to avoid that.

Indoor heat may dry out surface soil quickly. Spritz or water surface soil when it dries. Water deeply and often enough so that the container’s weight does not feel light.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Jasminum nudiflorum

Text: Debbie Ricigliano
Photo: OSU Department of Horticulture

Much good can be said for a shrub that bursts forth with tiny yellow flowers during the bleakest part of the year.

Jasmine nudiforum or Winter jasmine is known to be one of the earliest blooming plants in the landscape. Flowers open between January and March, usually peaking in February. This 3-4 ft. x 4-7 ft. shrub has trailing branches that form a mounded mass. The trailing branches root where they contact bare soil, so give this shrub room to sprawl and fill in areas if you like. The deep green leaves are attractive in the summer.

It can be trained up a wall or trellis, grown as a groundcover, or planted to allow the stems to tumble down a wall or slope. Plant in full sun for best flowering. It adapts to many soil types as long as it is well-drained.  It is not known to be prone to insect or disease problems and deer leave it alone. 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Commonly called the Chenille Plant, after the French word “chenille” which means caterpillar,  the long velvety tassels hang down from the branches and resemble fuzzy caterpillars or cattails.
 

It likes bright indirect sun to light shade and will not tolerate freezing temperatures. It is suitable for containers and can be brought inside during colder months.
 
Keep in mind that this plant can cause allergic reactions if consumed or if contact is made with any broken parts.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory
        

Loyal Garden Variety readers: I'm back!

I spent six days in sunny Southern California (renewing my vows to grow more succulents this year), but I have returned and will be posting some catch-up items.

Had hoped to post photos of "spring" there, but a new grandchild absorbed all my attention, time and digital space on the camera.

I returned to a Mid-Atlantic warm spell, and I hope to get out into my garden this weekend to remove some of the storm damage and begin cleaning up the beds for OUR spring.

Join me in the garden, or here on Garden Variety!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

It seems odd, but there are calls to "go green" this Valentine's Day.

We thought red was the color of the day. Or at least, the focus on fresh flowers made it a "green" holiday.

But there is increasing concern that the flowers imported to the United States are tainted by the illnesses suffered by the South American workers who harvest them. The crops, primarily from Columbia and Ecuador, are loaded with pesticides.

That's in part because the United States is very concerned about any and all insects that could hitch a ride into this country on those blooms.

In the photo above, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists inspect flowers for any foreign pests or diseases at the Miami International Airport.

More than 272 million cut flower stems pass through the airport, mostly from South American growers, Miami handles about 85 percent of fresh flowers imported into the United States.

So, Americans are urged this holiday to purchase only flowers that are locally grown or grown under organic conditions.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Flowers
        

I can always count on my friend and fellow blogger Teresa O'Connor of Seasonal Wisdom for a her wonderful holiday folklore.

It turns out, according to Teresa, that Valentine's Day IS about the birds and the bees.

Ok, maybe not the bees.

But Teresa writes that poets believed that birds chose their mates on Feb. 14, the feast day of their patron saint.

Read more on the history of Valentine's Day traditions from Teresa. And I hope the one you love remembers you on this day.

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Barbara Taylor Haddock

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden history
        

Fellow garden bloggers Amy Stewart of Garden Rant and Gen Schmidt of North Coast Gardening review Fiskar's new pruners in this video.

They describe a swivel grip and talk about how much more ergonomic it feels for gardeners with hand issues, and they compare it to Felco pruners with fixed handles.

However, the Felco pruners I recieved for Christmas last year have the swivel grip, and I found it annoying. It felt like I could never get a "grip" on my pruners, and I thought perhaps it was so that lefties could use them more easily!

If you look around the YouTube version of the pruners review, you will see these ladies checking out other Fiskars tools.

Oh. And notice the guest appearance by the chicken. Too cute for words.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Garden tools
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday, 9:00 am: Houseplant and Orchid Clinic - Bring in your plants and repot them and have any problems diagnosed. Valley View will provide soil and other potting media for orchids, foliage plants, cacti and African Violets. Jan Gannon and Carrie Engel will discuss pruning, propagating and watering houseplants for optimum health as well. One plant per participant please.

Saturday, 11:00 am: Containers - Pots and planters specialists will lead a “show and tell” about the many different containers available for planting. Learn about ceramic, bamboo, plastic and many other materials used to make pots. See how the self-watering containers work. Take a look at specialty planters for orchids, bonsai and African violets. Joe Gover will be the discussion leader today.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 11 am: Glass House of Dreams ($5) - Margaret Haviland Stansbury author of “Glass House of Dreams”, history discussion & booksigning about Baltimore’s Rawlings Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. (glasshouseofdreams.com)

Sunday, 11 am: Bay-Friendly Gardening ($5) – Members of the South River Foundation discuss easy gardening techniques that have helped them preserve the health of the South River.

2 pm: Valentine’s Day Planter ($15) – Kids get to decorate their own terracotta pot and plant a rose in it as a special gift from the heart for mom or grandma.

Behnke's Nursery in Potomac

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic. Host: Carol Allen
Have an orchid question — Ask Carol! Her vast knowledge of orchids comes from many years of
hands-on experience. She would love to answer your questions and, for a minimal fee, she will
expertly repot your orchid.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden events
        

Some gardeners sniff at annuals, but not Susan Iglehart.

The Glyndon, Md., gardener grows all sorts of new, different and hard-to-find annuals in her greenhouses, and sells them to anyone willing to make the trip to her gorgeous property in May to pick them up. (She doesn't ship!)

Susan's list of annuals, vegetables and herbs is available on line, and orders are due by Feb. 14, so she can start her seeds. And she starts THOUSANDS of seeds.

She grows giant zinnias, unique geraniums, a long list of dependable annuals that can handle Maryland heat, and lots of heirloom tomatoes and organic herbs.

Visit her website, check out her list of plants. You can order on-line, by mail or fax.

I have been a fan and customer of Susan's for years, and was thrilled when she gave me permission to share her with you here on Garden Variety.

Susan is the grower who will provide you with just what you need for your borders, containers and vegetable patch.

Photo courtesy of Susan Iglehart's Flowers

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Gardening on the Internet
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

My neighbor and gardening guru Bob likes to chide me about my futile attempts to create an English cottage garden -- in Maryland. In August. In the heat. He laughs at me and my attempts to grow delphiniums.

For those who want to experience the real thing, the Maryland Horticultural Society and the Federate Garden Clubs of Maryland are hosting a tour of homes and gardens in the north and east of England, June 6 through 18, and there are spots left!

The tour includes 17 gardens and homes over 11 days in East Anglia and into the heart of Yorkshire.

The cost of the trip depends on the number of participants who have signed up by March 30, but it should range between $2,400 and $2,900. Airfare is not included, but there will be an effort to secure a group rate.

For more information, call Mary Jo Sherrod, 410-836-8239.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden tours
        

Photo credit: Laura Mathews/Punk Rock Gardens

Gardeners usually think of winter as a time of dormancy. But for us and for the plants.

We talk about "winter interest," but what we usually mean is the odd shrub with berries or the interesting tree bark.

Sara Barrett in the New York Times is writing this week about winter interest in an entirely different way. A winter garden where the plants of summer remain, to be the structure of winter.

She has conducted an interview with Piet Oudolf, who is the leading exemplar of the "New Perennials" landscape movement, which holds that plants should be chosen for shape and texture more than for color.

(There is a fabulous on-line photo gallery, too.)

A new way to think about winter....as something that gets started in the summer.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Weather
        

Q: I put shredded leaves, paper, chicken manure, kitchen scraps, etc. in my compost bin, and keep it covered.  After 3-4 days, it heats up.  Then I take the contents out and put it back about every 3-5 days--trying to add air.  But after I do that, the pile "dies."  There’s no more heat.  Should I not turn it out? Do I need to add water?

A: "Turning" compost is done to accelerate the decomposition process.  Aerating the pile with a fork, or actually flipping it, brings more oxygen to the microbes that do the hard work of decomposition. (Unturned piles take longer to decompose.)

The first turning usually is done once the pile cools down a bit from its maximum temperature. However, turning also may dry the pile, stopping the composting process.  Each time you turn, add water, until compost is the consistency of a wrung out sponge.

As composting continues, less water will be needed to achieve the wrung out sponge effect.  Covering the pile has the benefit of reducing evaporation during warm weather but also prevents rain from wetting the pile, so it's critical for you to provide the moisture that keeps microorganisms happy.

When air temperatures go lower than 40 degrees in winter, decomposition is naturally going to shut down. 

Q: I’m looking for trees in 5- to 7-gallon pots. I want to plant 18 to 24 trees along my driveway, but I can’t locate any in that size which I can afford.  Can you help?

A: When planting a considerable number of trees, cost really adds up.  Consider planting smaller trees that are available bare root. Planting bare root trees is less expensive and they quickly catch up to container-grown trees.

Small trees readjust to new site conditions faster than larger trees. A rule of thumb is that trees require one year to readjust per one inch of diameter.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Valentine's Day must be near -- FTD is one of the hotest topics on Google search right now. Not far behind searchs for information on the New York Jets' quarterback and his 17-year-old girlfriend.

Apparently, we love to send flowers in this country. But we also love a bargain.

Among the top FTD search results? Groupons, promo codes and discounts for FTD.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Gardening on the Internet
        

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

And you thought there was just love behind that Valentine's Day bouquet...Turns out, there are bug cops, too, since almost all of the flowers are imported.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden news
        

Text: Debbie Ricigliano
Photo: Debbie Ricigliano

Big, bold, and vibrant--Rex begonia is a spectacular houseplant to brighten up any room in the winter. Not grown for flowers but foliage, its multiple colors and textures come marked with shades of green, red, purple, pink, silver and maroon. Many interesting color combinations and cultivars are available to choose from.

Rex begonias can grow as large as 12 to 5 inches tall and wide and have a mounding growth habit. With proper care they can be long-lived additions to a houseplant collection.

Site the plant to receive bright light but not direct sunlight. Rex begonias suffer in dry conditions, so place containers on a shallow tray of moist pebbles to increase humidity. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Water moderately and allow the top one inch of soil to dry between waterings.

Fertilize in spring and summer with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer according to label directions.

Easily propagated from leaf cuttings. Rex Begonias are an excellent reminder that even plants that do not flower can be beautiful.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Phaius Tankervilliae
 
Phaius are a genus of large, showy orchids that inhabit the tropical regions of China, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. They have gained popularity because of their impressive 3 to 4 foot stalks that are covered with clusters of showy blossoms.

This variety, Phaius Tankervillia, commonly known as the “Nun’s Orchid” because of its hooded flower, has brilliant flowers of creamy white and rusty red with a purple lip. Large dark green leaves compliment the blooms.
 
Most Phaius are terrestrial, meaning they grow in soil, unlike most other orchids. They are fairly easy to grow and like good air circulation, bright light and warm temperatures.

Photo credit: Michael Lemmon
 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

Garden Variety is back behind the plow today after a weekend in Pittsburgh, soaking up the black and gold fun of a Super Bowl weekend with family and friends.

Alas, victory did not go to the Steelers, but the "seeds" of future football victories are no doubt there.

Speaking of black and gold....

Black is the Holy Grail of plant hybridizers. The black dahlia, the black tomato, the black rose. This is what those in plant science seek.

Mostly what they get, however, is a very deep purple or a very deep blue or a deep burgundy.

This season entry is the black petunia, hybridized by Ball, and named, very appropriately, Black Velvet.

There are also black blossoms gently striped with yellow or cream, named Pinstripe or Phantom.

However, I am not sure if black blossoms do not work at cross purposes for the gardener seeking "color."

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Flowers
        

There is plenty of work to be done in the garden as spring approaches and we can get started this month.

The ground is undoubtedly covered with debris from recent storms. It only takes a few minutes to make a tour of the yard and collect twigs, branches and litter.

Check for plants that may have heaved during the recent cold and add some mulch.

Take a look at your roses. It is almost time to prune them. Trees, especially fruit trees, and shrubs should be pruned now while they are dormant. Hollies can benefit from a hard pruning, too.

And any perennials that you left standing for winter interest should be cut back. So should the liriope and the ornamental grasses.

Cut some branches (judiciously) from a spring flowering shrub or tree and bring them indoors for forcing.

Check your houseplants for insects and use an insecticidal soap if you find any. Keep misting your indoor plants. Winter is long and dry for them, but be careful not to overwater. And they may be ready for some fertilizer later this month.

Take an afternoon to sort through your garden shelves in the garage. Safely dispose of any chemicals -- you can't just put them in the garbage can -- sharpen your tools, make a list of the items you know you will need for spring, especially plant foods and generally get rid of junk you haven't used in a season or two.

Now is the time to take your lawnmower to have it serviced and sharpened. Wait much longer and there will be a line!

And hang in there. Punxsutawney Phil says spring is just around the corner.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Weekend Chores
        

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Saturday, 9 am: Bonsai Propagation - Learn about various propagation techniques for Bonsai and about soil types and fertilizers for them. Martha Meehan says this is a great class for beginning and experienced Bonsai enthusiasts.

11 am: Build a Terrarium (kid-friendly) Valley View will demonstrate how to build a terrarium and offer advice to those who would like to build one of their own. Bring your own glass vessel or buy one here. Plants, soil and other “ingredients” will also be available for purchase. Average cost of finished terrarium-$35.00. Special fishbowl terrarium for the kids - $25.00

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 11 am: Orchids for Beginners ($35) – Orchid expert Dr. Clark Riley shares his insights into raising & nurturing these graceful flowers. (Includes a take-home orchid.)

2 pm: Orchids for Fanatics ($35) – Feed your orchid addiction with this seminar from Dr. Riley that will educate collectors of these tropical beauties. (Includes a take-home orchid.)

Sunday, 11 am: Soil Amendments ($5) – Education Coordinator Gene Sumi takes you beyond basic light and water requirements to discuss the process of creating a rich and nutritious mix to get your whole garden in great shape.

2 pm: Soil Amendments ($5) (Severna Park store)

2 pm: The Wonderful World of Herbs ($5) – Annuals Manager Kerry Kelly discusses the history, functionality and botany of herbs and their many uses, from culinary additions to aromatherapy to decorative home accents.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden events
        

A: You can begin now by covering the turf with 3 to 4 layers of newspapers, topped with 1 to 2 inches of compost, and then covered with 1 inch of mulch.  This will smother and kill the grass, plus any weeds in the grass, and they will both probably decompose by the time the soil is dry enough to plant your liriope in spring.

It’s also possible to kill the grass and weeds with a total vegetation killer herbicide containing glyphosate, but you’d have to wait until the grass and weeds were actively growing so they could absorb the herbicide.  The newspaper and mulch method is the simpliest and cheapest. See our online publication on ground covers at www.hgic.umd.edu.

Q: How do I overwinter geraniums so that they produce flowers the next summer?  I keep them on a cool sun porch in winter and the leaves look great, but last summer I got almost no flowers.

A: The cool porch is good for geraniums (strictly speaking, your red-blooming geraniums are pelargoniums).  Reduce water in winter, watering just enough to keep the potting soil from completely drying out.

In spring, pull the geranium from the pot, gently shake off the old potting soil, and repot with fresh soil. Do not repot in a bigger pot unless the roots are growing out of the drainage holes in the bottom.

You may prune the roots a bit. Geraniums flower better when pots constrict the roots.  Also, to get good flowers you must prune back the plant in spring by about half.  New shoots will sprout from the old wood.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

As a gardener, I am forced to agree, if for no other reason than there is not much the gardener can do about the weather, whatever form it takes.

Gardeners from Maine to Texas are enduring a snow storm that is being called the worst in 50 years, and when that snow melts, there will be tree and shrub damage aplenty.

Snowstorms do have their appeal, especially to the cocoon side of us. Fireplace fires, hot chocolate, steaming soup, quiet walks through the neighborhood to the home of a friend.

But snow is good for the garden, too. Better for the garden than you think.

Snow actually protects the garden from the cold, and especially from the drying effects of a cold wind. It is an excellent insulator. Snow increases the temperature at soil surface by about 2 degrees for every inch of accumulation, according to the Purdue University extension service.

As the snowflakes pile on top of one another, pockets of air are left between them and it is this air that provides the insulating effect.

Snow not only protects from the drying winds, but it brings needed moisture to plants that will continue to lose moisture through their branches, both evergreen and leafless. And, of course, melting snow feeds the soil, carrying nutrients and moisture.

There can be too much snow in the garden. Evergreen tree branches can bend and break under the weight of snow or ice. The best advice is to gently brush the snow off with a broom, but leave the ice. You might do more harm than good.

And don't forget the birds and other animals. The snow will hide their food and water sources. Take a moment to brush the snow off the birdfeeder and fill the birdbath with fresh water.

And whether you are indoors or out, enjoy the snow. It is the garden's winter coverlet.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Weather
        

Photo credit: REUTERS/ Jason Cohn

It is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow when he emerged from his hole this morning and that means there will be an early spring this year.

Or not.

Phil has only been correct about 40 percent of the time since he began predicting the seasons on Gobbler's Knob 125 years ago. He'd do better if he flipped a coin.

But no matter. The Midwest and the Northeast are getting pounded by snow and freezing winds right now and, even if it is a groundhog that's predicting it, word that winter will last only two more weeks is welcome.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Weather
        

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Gene Sweeney Jr.

The USDA has released its new dietary guidelines and the long and the short of it is -- eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

That's not much of a surprise.

The government, heavily lobbied by the meat and dairy industries, couldn't bring itself to say outright "eat less red meat, eat less cheese and ice cream." But you knew that already, too.

What they did say -- and it is easier to get your head around this than that weird food pyramid -- is that half of your plate should be covered with fruits and vegetables at each meal.

This comes just as gardeners are reading seed catalogs, planning their summer gardens and, perhaps, starting vegetables from seed.

It is easier than you think to get more fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet. Farmers markets are up and running even in winter in some areas, with winter greens or produce from farther south.

Even if you don't have the room, skills or time to undertake a full-blown vegetable garden of your own, you can easily choose a few seedlings from your local garden center and plant some tomatoes, peppers or beans in containers on your deck, or some lettuces or spinach among your annuals.

Failing that, visit your local farmers market as soon as it opens this spring -- they are open earlier in the season and they stay open later. And you will see lots of people you know!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Vegetable gardening
        

Skyrocket Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’

Text and photo by Debbie Ricigliano

Sometimes you are looking for a plant that fits a very specific space in your landscape plan. Skyrocket juniper fits the bill when you are looking for a tall, narrow evergreen tree.

Maximum size is 15 to 20 feet tall and only 2 to 3 feet wide. Vertical stems with silvery-blue needles form a column of tight branches.

This upright juniper can be planted as a vertical specimen in a mixed conifer garden, used as a screening plant for tight quarters, or even incorporated into a foundation planting. Its relatively small size also makes it a candidate for large containers.

Once established, this juniper tolerates droughts very well and adapts to a wide range of soil conditions.  It prefers to be planted in full sun.

Skyrocket juniper is a low-maintenance plant that requires no pruning and when sited properly makes an excellent accent plant.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Photo credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar

Seems like we just did this....but tomorrow is Groundhog Day and the world will hold its breath waiting to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow when he emerges from his winter hole.

If he doesn't see it, that means spring is right around the corner. If he does see it, he will return to his burrow because spring is at least six weeks away.

According to the well-worn history of Phil, he was first chosen as a weather forecaster in 1886 when the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, Clymer Freas, reported that local groundhogs had not seen their shadows that day, and he predicted that spring was not far away.

His prediction was probably based on European believes that badgers and hedgehogs can provide clues about the weather. 

But you probably knew that about groundhogs. Here are some things you might not know, thanks the National Wildlife Federation:

• Groundhogs are true hibernators. They fatten up during the warm season and sleep for most of three months during the winter.
• During hibernation, its body temperature can drop from about 99 degrees to as low as 37. (Humans face death if their body temperature goes below 70 degrees.)
• The heart rate of a hibernating groundhog (also known as a woodchuck) slows from about 80 beats per minutes to 5, and breathing slows from 16 breaths per minute to as few as 2.
• Though he might go 150 days without eating, a woodchuck will lose no more than a fourth of its body weight, thanks to the lower metabolism.
• During warm weather, a groundhog might eat more than a pound of vegetation in one sitting, the equivalent of a 150-pound man eating a 15-pound steak.
• His burrow is located about 6 feet down, can meander underground for 20 feet or more and have between two and 12 exits. This helps the rotund little creature escape his enemies.
• And finally -- X-rating alert -- male groundhogs do emerge from their burrows in early February and wander around until they find the burrow of a female. They have a bit of a sleepover, but no mating occurs until they emerge for good in March. This is just a kind of get-acquainted period.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden facts