Cyclamen

Cyclamen plants make excellent winter blooming houseplants with minimal care.  Cyclamen are typically available in a wide range of beautiful colors; pinks, reds and white. These beautiful colors are perfect for providing that jolt of color and life needed for the upcoming winter months and the silver marbling on the top sides of the leaves makes the foliage beautiful as well. The key to keeping cyclamen happy and healthy is to replicate their natural environment as closely as possible following these steps: …

Benefits of Snow Cover

Though most of us think of the hazards related to accumulated snow fall, as gardeners we need to look at snow a little differently and somewhat positively. Snow cover, similar to the 24-40 plus inches we had in 2007 provided benefits to our soil, plants and shrubs. Primarily, snow cover acts as an excellent insulator of the soil. Snow cover helps keep the soil from freezing deeper and deeper thus preventing root damage. Second, with enough snow to cover small …

Garlic Rosemary Knots

Why “knot” jazz up your next meal with some piping hot garlic rosemary knots? A great way to use your fresh rosemary!   3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper All-purpose flour, for dusting Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper. Line two large baking sheets with parchment, and set aside. Working on …

Overwintering Rosemary Indoors

Most herbs taste much better fresh, and rosemary is no exception. That’s why every winter I try to keep my rosemary alive in a pot inside the house. Rosemary really pairs well with roasted lamb, garlic, and olive oil. It is also a nice addition to potatoes, bread, tomato sauce, pizza, and pork, but you might want to use a light hand because the flavor can be strong. Rosemary does best in a sunny, southern or possibly western window, where …

Home Remedies for Plant Disease

Garden Blight Remedy 1 level tablespoon of baking soda 1 level tablespoon of Epson salts 1 level tablespoon of miracle grow (tomato or veg. fertilizer) 1 level tablespoon of liquid dawn dish soap (reg. blue strength) 3 tablespoons of regular rubbing alcohol Mix all in one gallon of water. Spray everything in the garden every 10 days. This works really good on tomatoes and squash. Blight can possibly be avoided by not allowing leaves to come in contact with the …

Common Garden Problems

Each season presents many questions regarding problems in the garden. Generally, these problems stem from light and water issues. Plant tags will include information regarding light and water needs. Other problems may include fertilization, insects and disease. Light – Always use plants in their favored light condition. Shade plants will dry out and leaves may burn in the hot midday sun. Sun lovers may become leggy and blooming will suffer when planted in too much shade. Water – Over and …

Poisonous Plants

Common name Genus species Category Wenke Carries Aconite or Monkshood Aconitum spp Native and cultivated perennial * Alfalfa or Lucerne Medicago sativa Native groundcover Angel’s Trumpet or Devil’s Trumpet or Downy Thornapple Datura spp or Brugmansia spp. Annual * Arrowgrass Trifolium spp. Native groundcover Baneberry or Doll’s Eyes Actaea spp. Woodland perennial Belladonna Atropa belladonna Native plant Bird’s Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Perennial * Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia Tree Bleeding Heart Dicentra spp. Perennial * Bloodroot or Red Puccoon Sanguinmaria …

Perennials Tolerant of Wet Shade

 Genus Common Name Aruncus dioicus Sylvan Goatsbeard Astilbe False Spirea Astrantia major Masterwort Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold Chelone Turtlehead Cimicifuga Bugbane Eupatorium Joe Pye Weed Filipendula Meadowsweet or Queen of the Prarie Funkia Hosta Genriana andrewsii Closed Gentian Ligularia Golden Ray Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Lobelia siphilitica Great Blue Lobelia Lysimachia Loosestrife Matteuccia s. var. Pennsylvania Ostrich Fern Miscanthus ‘purpurascens’ Red Flame Miscanthus Grass Myosotis scorpioides Forget-Me-Not Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon Fern Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted Fern Osmunda …

Perennials Tolerant of Dry Shade

Genus Species Acanthus mollis Common Bear’s Breeches Adonis amurensis Amur Adonis Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ Bishop’s Weed Anemone x hybrida Japanese Anemone Arum italicum ‘Pictum’ Arum Lilly Aster cordifolius Heart-leaved Aster Aster divaricatus White Wood Aster Bergenia Bergenia Brunnera macrophylla False Forget-Me-Not Colchicum Autumn Crocus Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley Cornus canadensis Bunchberry Corydalis lutea Yellow Fumitory Cyclamen Hardy Cyclamen Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay Scented Fern Deschampsia flexuosa Crinkled Hairgrass Disporum Fairy Bells Dryopteris filixmas Male Fern Dpimedium Barrenwort Eranthis Winter …

Perennials – Long Bloomers

Achillea – Yarrow Alchemilla mollis – Lady’s Mantle Aster – Purple Dome Buddleia – Butterfly bush, all varieties and colors are equally long blooming Coreopsis – Moonbeam and Zagreb Corydalis lutea – Yellow varieties Hemerocallis – Daylily, Stella d’Oro, Purple d’Oro, any variety that states reblooms Dicentra exima – Bleeding Heart Echinacea purpurea – Coneflowers, all colors Eryngium – Sea Holly Hardy Geranium – sanguineum Rozanne Heliopsis helianthoides – False Sun Flower Hibisucs moscheutos – Hardy Hibiscus Lavendula – Lavender …