GardenLife Newsletter March 4

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Quote of the Week

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

...Rogers Hornsby

GardenLife's Sneak Peeks

This week's radio shows

Saturday, March 5

8-9am PST / 11am-Noon EST
From New Mexico, David Salman is the founder and chief horticulturist at High Country Gardens, the mail order division of Santa Fe Greenhouses. As a recognized plant expert for eco-friendly landscapes, David will recommend hummingbird and other pollinator-attracting plants as well as his recently introduced 'Blonde Ambition', a water-thrifty, native ornamental. Call Sharon, John or Bryan with your questions at 1-866-606-TALK (8255).

Sunday, March 6

8-10 PST, 11am-1pm EST

Tomato guru Steve Goto will not only highlight his best picks for tasty, vigorous and bountiful tomato varieties, but he will also give us a few invaluable tips for growing lettuce, squash and melons, Oh my! Check out www.gototomato.us.com for Steve's Spring seminar schedule.

Our second hour guest, Michael Marriott has worked with David Austin Roses for over 25 years designing private rose gardens and international public gardens. A long- time organic gardener, Michael will share his common-sense practices, pruning advice and entice us with roses ideal for our yards. Call Sharon, John, Bryan or our guests with your questions at 1-866-606-TALK (8255).

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Did You Know?

The White House vegetable garden is the first one since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during World War II. The current White House garden has been expanded from its initial plot of 1100 square feet in 2009 to 1600 square feet to accommodate even more vegetable varieties. While the organic garden provides food for the first family's meals and formal dinners, it is primarily used to educate children about growing organic food for a healthier lifestyle and its surplus is donated to charity. Although Washington, D.C. has suffered from freezing temperatures this winter, the White House is growing spinach, lettuce, carrots, mustard greens, chard and cabbage. Hoop houses protect the crops from frost.

MORE ROSES - MORE FRUIT - LESS WATER!

Finally available for online sales. Order from the Water Rounds website.

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Getting Ready for Spring

Tips from Milorganite

With Spring fast approaching, it's time to decide what you would like to do with your garden. Seed catalogs conjure visions of luxurious bouquets adorning your home, with sweet fragrances permeating every room. Your appetite is whetted for meals prepared with homegrown vegetables. But how can you best prepare that plot of soil behind your house to help make your garden grow?

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"BOUNCE" Fungus Gnats from Houseplants!

Kansas State University Department of Entomology professor Raymond Cloyd has found a safe and effective way to deter fungus gnats that are plaguing you plants.

Pumpkins-on-a-Stick!

Have you ever seen those cute miniature pumpkins on a branch at the florists ? Well, this is the plant that makes them. Perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving displays and all festive Fall occasions! The plant itself is well-branched and upright, reaching 3 to 4 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide.

HELLEBORES: SHADY BEAUTIES

by Sharon Asakawa

Last week I wrote about Clivia lilies as a floriferous addition to the frost-free garden or as an indoor bloomer during the late winter-early spring seasons. Another shade-loving, early-blooming plant that adds color in winter or early spring when few other plants are flowering are the Helleborus hybrids, commonly known as the Lenten Rose.

With their wide temperature tolerances (USDA Zones 4-10) and their upright or nodding cups, bell-shapes or double blossoms painted in palettes from apricot, cream, green, cherry red to deep purple, black, yellow and magenta with contrasting speckles or bicolors, they provide welcome splashes of color for the cool season garden.