Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew starts out as whitish spots that spread quickly until the entire leaf is covered. The white powdery growth is a fungus that with time becomes gray to tan/brown felt like…
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Latest garden notes
What’s in bloom
July/August Bloom: Echinacea “Sombrero” has a nice compact growth that produces bright shades of red to coral flowers.The colors is almost iridescent in the sun. This lovely perennial…
Grow Zinnia
Zinnia a native of Mexico is grown as an tender annual. It tolerates the summer heat and produces one of the best colorful display of flowers during the summer. With so many varieties…
Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles were introduced to the U.S. via iris roots that were imported from Japan in 1916. Since that time they have been a pest problem growing each year to the point that today…
How to choose the best annuals
Secrets to picking annuals for bigger and better blooms. The garden centers are loaded with rainbow colors of annual flowers. Growers know that color will sell flowers so they feed their…
Pansy/viola care
PANSY viola x wittrockiana One of my favorite flowers is the pansy. The flat-faced, lightly fragranced flowers that come in dozen of colors always make me smile. They are great in flower…
Grow pumpkins
How to grow pumpkins Pumpkins are a warm weather crop and do not tolerate cold temperatures. In cooler climates they can be started indoors in pots, one month before the frost-free date…
Growing Peppers
Peppers are considered a warm season vegetable. There are many varieties of peppers ranging from sweet to hot. One of the oldest and popular garden varieties is the sweet, thick-walled…
Houseplants spring cleaning
Houseplants spring cleaning Now that spring has sprung, its time to take a good look at some of your houseplants that have endured the long cold winter. Most houseplants are tropical and…
Coloring Easter eggs naturally
Coloring Easter eggs the natural way Easter is a time of renewal . In many pagan cultures a decorated egg became the symbol of rebirth. Coloring eggswas first introduced to Europe by the…
Forcing flowering branches
After a long cold winter you just can’t wait to see some signs of spring. Bring spring indoors by forcing some spring-flowering branches into bloom. Spring-flowering trees and shrubs such…
Starting Seeds
Why start seeds indoors -Starting seeds indoors will extend the growing season in cooler climates. Some plants for example tomatoes, eggplant, basil and parsley require a longer growing…