| Quote of the Week | |
"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."
~C.S. Lewis __________________ |
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SHUTTERBUG CONTEST | |
Be the first person to correctly identify this plant and you'll win a free book!
This week's prize from
Storey Publishing:
Continuous Container Gardens
by Sara Begg Townsend and Roanne Robbins
Hint #1: Most plants in genus are from South Africa
Hint #2: Minty fragrance
Last Contest Answer:
White Heliotrope, Heliotropum 'Alba'
Winner: William from Sioux City, IA
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Super Savings!
E xclusive Bearded Iris Collections |
Spring Hills Nursery is offering three bearded iris collections at a special price to GardenLife listeners! Choose from Reblooming, Stripes or Plicata collections. Buy all three for even more savings!
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Stop Critter Damage to Your Plants!
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Grow Great Veggies with Milorganite!
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Vegetables like their nutrients to be supplied in a nice, even way. MilorganiteŽ, having over 85% of its nitrogen being slow release, does just that. Click here for more information. |
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| Garden Life Sneak Peeks
This Week's Radio Show ________________________________________________
Saturday, July 16
8 am - 9 am PDT --- 11am - Noon EDT |
 Debbie Zary, our garden expert from Tipp City, Ohio's Spring Hill Nursery , will offer the right tools and some helpful guidance to transform your backyard plant palette into a true reflection of your favorite colors, fragrances and textures. In other words, the best plants to suit your personality! Whether a beginner or an experienced gardener, Debbie will help all of us experience the joy in creating a beautiful landscape. Plus she will tell us more about the special bearded iris collection exclusive to our GardenLife listeners and subscribers! Call John, Sharon and Bryan with your gardening questions at 1-866-606-TALK (8255).
Sunday, July 17
8am - 10 am PDT --- 11am - 1pm EDT
 Award-winning ornithologist and wildlife biologist, John Robinson, has introduced thousands of people to the joys of bird watching through his lectures and several books including North American Bird Reference Book and Birding for Everyone. But wherever he goes, he often hears, "I've never met a black bird watcher before!" John will offer new solutions for changing the face of conservation through birding by getting more minorities involved as well as what we can all do to link gardening and birding together in our gardens.
 Did you know that store-bought celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, cherries, potatoes and grapes are considered "the dirty dozen" because of their high levels of pesticide residue? From Vancouver, British Columbia, Andrea Bellamy has recently written, Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small-Space Edible Garden and today she will advise us on growing our own healthy organic food using very little square footage. Call John, Sharon and Bryan with your gardening questions at 1-866-606-TALK (8255). |
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READ MORE >> _______________________________________________
SUMMER VACATION: IT'S FOR THE BIRDS!
By Sharon Asakawa | |
 This Sunday's guest, ornithologist John Robinson ,would agree that birds are an important part of summer's enjoyment. Their songs, colorful plumage and graceful antics provide hours of entertainment in our gardens. The following are a few thrifty ideas to add to your summer pleasures:
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DID YOU KNOW? |
 | | PHOTO CREDIT: Spring Hill Nurseries |
Orris root is composed of rhizomes of the German Iris (I. germanica ) or Sweet Iris (I. pallida) and was popularly used in ancient times in perfumes and medicines. Today, gin brands such as Bombay Sapphire and Magellan Gin use orris root and sometimes iris flowers for flavor and color. After harvesting the rhizomes, it takes approximately 5 years to age the dried rhizomes. During the process of aging, oxidation occurs producing a scent similar to violets. After the aged rhizomes are steam-distilled, the end product is a thick oil compound, known in the perfume industry as "iris butter." ______________________________________________ |
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The real meaning of plant catalog terminology:
A favorite of birds - avoid planting near cars, sidewalks, or clotheslines.
Grows more beautiful each year - looks like roadkill for the foreseeable future.
Moisture-loving plants - ideal for landscaping all your bogs and swamps.
Vigorous - code for "has a Napoleonic compulsion to take over the world."
Zone 5 with protection - a variation on the phrase "Russian roulette."
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