Soon it will be THAT time of year…the time of year when I have an abundance of tomatoes from my garden. I LOVE tomatoes and this Tomato and Parmesan Toasted Bread is the perfect way to use them up. 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 large sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt Ground black pepper 4 large, thick slices sourdough bread 4 large tomatoes 3 ounces Parmesan cheese Heat the oven to broil. …
Don’t touch this plant! Giant Hogweed
Do Not Touch This Plant: If you come in contact with this plant, you could experience severe burns to your skin, and risk temporary or permanent blindness. Giant Hogweed is an invasive, non-native plant that poses a serious threat to human health and natural ecosystems. If you haven’t already heard, Giant Hogweed has now been detected in many counties across Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development states on its website, “Giant Hogweed is a public health hazard …
Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad
This simple salad of fresh tomatoes and sweet corn will breathe new life into a summer dinner or backyard barbecue. What You’ll Need: 6 ears corn, husked and cleaned 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 large onion, diced 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons white vinegar salt and pepper to taste Step by Step: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in boiling water for 7 to 10 minutes, or …
Preparing your Roses for Winter
It’s not something that you want to think about, but winter will be here a lot sooner than we would like and now is the time to start thinking about getting your roses ready for winter. Do not prune your roses now. That should be done in the spring. Do not fertilize past the first week of September. You want the plant to put most of its energy into the roots, not producing flowers. You need to protect the graft, …
What’s in a Name? How Roses Get Their Names
Have you ever wondered how roses get their names? The process of having a rose named is actually very simple. The real difficulty is in hybridizing a rose that’s worthy of naming! A very popular older Hybrid tea, the ‘Peace’ rose was introduced right after the end of World War 2. It was actually sheer coincidence that Berlin fell and a truce was declared on the same day as the naming of the ‘Peace’ rose. In naming the rose, this …
Steps for Cleaning a Bird House
Cleaning your bird houses is essential for good bird health and safety. Dirty bird houses can harbor rodents, insects, feather mites, fungus and bacteria that can spread disease to the birds. Ideally, a bird house should be cleaned after all babies have grown and left the home. Remove all old nesting material and scrape out any feces or clumped matter. This material should be disposed of in a plastic bag to prevent spreading any parasites it might harbor. Scrub the …
Reblooming your Poinsettia
If you are one of the few who saved your poinsettia in the hopes of getting it to bloom again… this is for you! The trick to getting Poinsettias to bloom is a very strict light and dark schedule. If it is not followed chances are your Poinsettia will not bloom. 1. Starting September 20th until December 1st, keep your Poinsettia in light from 8 am to 5 pm. Place in a closet with no window from 5 pm to 8 …
Worm Composting
How would you like to turn your kitchen scraps into amazing nutrient rich soil that surpasses anything you can buy from a store? It’s pretty simple and easy if you use worm power. That’s right – I said worms! Worm composting (Vermicomposting) is a clean and odorless way to transform food waste into a rich fertilizer. Not only can these red wigglers create the most nutrient rich soil, they will also help you reduce the trash you produce and keep things out …
Dividing Perennials
It’s Good for Your Plants Dividing perennials is an easy, inexpensive, reliable way to propagate you favorite plants. In fact, lots of varieties of perennials benefit from division, resulting in several young, actively growing and blooming plants out of an overgrown clump. It’s a good idea to spend a little time before you start the task and decide where the divisions are going. Take advantage of the opportunity to amend the soil before you plant you divisions. Can any perennial …
Rose Care Tips from Larry “The Rose Guy”
I would like to share a few tips I have learned along the way as well as some products I strongly recommend for growing good, healthy roses. Gardening Tips: When I am in the growing season I keep a garden calendar. I keep a record of fertilizing, spraying and watering. When I do my spring pruning around tax time, I use Elmer’s wood glue to seal the end of the canes to prevent cane borers. I add some food coloring …