Articles and Tips December, 2007
 Many people ask me how do most insects manage to live
 through the winter in cold or freezing sections of the country?
 Since a few garden bugs are able to migrate to warmer climates,
 most of these cold-bloodied creatures must adjust to freezing
 temperatures -or die.
 Specially endowed insects like the cinch bug produce an
 anti-freeze chemical that keeps their insides from turning
to ice.
Others calmly freeze without injury and await the spring
thaw ( who doesn't!).
 On the other hand, the Cecropia silkworm moth, spins
 a Thermopane-type cocoon that traps air between
double walls for maximum insulation. Some insects dig
down below the frost line and sleep away the winter!
Posted in Garden Pests | No Comments »
 Christmas trees were introduced to the court of Queen Victoria
 by her husband, Prince Albert.
 Although it was the custom to decorate live evergreen trees in
 honor of the Gods, our modern day practice of cutting down a
 tree to bring indoors is a desecration of the original concept.
The Evergreen is one of the few plants to remain green even in
winter and it ...
Posted in Seasons | No Comments »
 Vegetation helps sustain life. We eat many plants, herbs
 and so forth in our daily diet. But, we must remember to be choosy.
 Some plants, trees or shrubs are potential killers of man.
 Some part of the ornamental plants or flowers in your yard may
 contain deadly poison. Many poisonous plants are so common
 and seemingly innocuous you do not suspect their toxic qualities.
 For example, who would expect that the beautiful oleander
bush-grown indoors and outdoors all over the country-contains
a deadly heart stimulant, similar to the drug digitalis?
It is easy to be deceived by plants. . .one part may be edible
while another is poisonous. The following chart lists some
of the more common poisonous plants.
Posted in Poisonous Plants | No Comments »
 Double digging, also called "trenching": remove a spade's depth of soil
 over all the area you want to improve and put it aside.
 Dig organic materials into the next spade's depth. Mix the same
 organic materials into the soil you initially removed and put that
 mixture on top of the deeper mixture.
 What you accomplish is aeration of your soil to a depth of approx.
 18 inches with the inclusion of organic matter, as well.
Deep root penetration is easier, so that deep-rooted plants will
reward you with better growth.
Admittedly this involves a lot of back- straining labor, however the
value of this method for deeply-rooted perennial plants that grow
in one place for several years, and for shrubs that are deep-rooted
will be ongoing.
Posted in Soil | No Comments »
Organic matter is another material in the soil that has several important
roles.
ORGANIC MATTER:
1. acts like glue to hold the mineral particles together.
2. Is a food source for the minute( or micro) organisms that live in the soil.
3. Is a source of nutrients for the plants.
4. Strongly influences what color the soil will be.
Organic Matter and the ...
Posted in Soil | 1 Comment »
