Commentary
Soil Chemistry Article
- Tuesday, May 03, 2011
"News From the Underground"
An article on soil chemistry featured in Garden Design Magazine by Michele Owens
Contributed by Mike Schmitt
Click here for pdf.
SHADE GARDEN SOLUTIONS
- Tuesday, April 05, 2011
The following information on shade gardening is provided to us by Master Gardener Judy Fender.
Judy can be contacted at
1. In looking at the area you want to change what do you see?
Straight lines? Over grown hedges? No grass because of too much shade?
2. What interests you when you consider what to plant?
Perennials, native plants. Remember many perennials die to the ground. Mix evergreen shrubs in with flowering plants.
3. Determine what type of exposure the area has.
Shade in the morning and sun in the afternoon is not a shade garden. Take note of how the seasons change in your landscape.
What may get sun in summer may be totally shady in winter.
4. Try to reduce the size of the lawn.
Berms help to accentuate large lawns. Enlarge garden perimeters to have less lawn to cut and water.
Limon talinum - Jewels of Opar or Flameflower
- Sunday, April 03, 2011
Limon talinum - Jewels of Opar or Flameflower
I found this plant at Lowes in Richardson last year and thought I'd give it a try. Wow, what a nice plant.
Not only do you get that nice limegreen foliage but then you get these wispy stalks topped with red buds that turn into
delicate, tiny, bright pink flowers all through the summer. It handles our hot, summer sun, too. I planted mine in a pot
with stick verbena and foxtail fern. When it got too leggy I cut it back and it came back up no questions asked. And it
re-seeds on demands almost. Mid summer I began seeing these little lime green leaves along the edges of the
garden and I had a bunch of new starts. And if that isn't a bonus, the original plant is coming back in the pot I
planted it in last summer. I gave the pot some protection over this past winter as I didn't want to loose my
foxtail fern but wouldn't you know- our sub-freezing temps didn't faze this beauty. I saved some seed and
planted them today to see if they will sprout for me. Maybe I'll have some for the babies for the plant sale.
Click here for picture and more info.
Jacki
Wall Street Journal Article
- Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Superhero Scrubs the Air: The Mighty Houseplant
By GWENDOLYN BOUNDS
Click here for article.