Pollination 101
“Let me tell you about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and the moon up above. . .”
The birds and the bees, huh? It is time for a refresher about pollination, because this is the time of the summer when many vegetable/fruit plants are at their peak of producing, and it is very important that everyone understands what that means for them, as gardeners. Especially, organic gardeners.
Where’s the Bees?
You’ve probably …
Organic Gardeners Need to Understand Botany
If you are an organic gardener, you do need to understand some basic botany. I know that probably doesn’t fit with your life plan of actually enjoying your gardening and such, but, trust me-if you know some botany, you will have a much easier time. I do recommend a resource. Not because we …
Vines For Your Garden
Photo by Randy Son of RobertVines are climbing or trailing plants that must have support to grow vertically. They may be annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous, herbaceous or woody. Vines can fit into the tiniest spaces , provided their roots are firmly planted in the soil, and grow vertically and/or horizontally with great flexibility.
Clinging Vines
Clinging vines can attach themselves almost anywhere by …
The Return Of Spring – Cleaning Up My Garden
Every year I look forward to spring. I can’t wait to see my perennial plants, like old friends, pop their heads through the snow, still lingering in my garden. I go out dressed in my old Parka, scarf, boots and gloves, looking like I was going to the Arctic, instead of my own back yard. Then, after my euphoria wears off, I realize how much work I have to do. Old stems of plants …
Hostas
I love Hostas. They just seem so elegant as they grow in their shady part of the garden.
I have not long moved house, coming from a very sunny site, to find that it is very shady in the front garden of my new home. So, what to do? buy hostas!
Sales of these plants has been increasing over the years, and I have lost count of how many varieties …
Soil Acid Or Alkaline?
I received a question the other day about soil being acid or alkaline, as it relates to flowers.
Cultivated flowers fall into two groups based upon soil preferance. One group will grow only in acid soil with a pH below 6.5, while the others prefer or will tolerate only alkaline soil, pH 6.5 or above.
Acid lovers are plants that thrive on raw humus, such as their ancestors found in the woods, where
leaves …
Good and Bad Bugs.
 Organic gardeners divide the insect world into two camps:
 good bugs and bad bugs
 The bad bugs bring death, disease, and destruction,
they suck the life out of plants, infest
the soil and lay eggs by the thousands.
The good bugs remind me of an army of
peacekeepers, who come marching in bringing
peace and harmony.
They work quietly, taking care of the bad bugs
by munching on them and generally getting
rid of your enemies for you.
Now, you would think that bad bugs would
look horrible and good ones would be pretty
but that is not always the case i.e
A ground beetle, which eats slugs, is distinguished
from a darkling beetle, which eats plants,
by a ridge on its head from which the
ground beetle’s antennae protrude.
Select Garden Plants Carefully.
Many problems that require the use of synthetic pesticides can be reduced or even eliminated by selecting plants carefully.
Choose plants that are best suited for your region and your soil.
Use mulch around your plants to discourage weeds and remove any weeds that you do find immediately, before they set any seed. Look around to see what thrives in your neighbors’ yard.
Consider using disease-resistant plants, and put them in a spot …
How to Grow an English Garden
In the days of old England, many of the workers in small villages were called peasants, and they owned small houses with very small gardens. These gardens would have to supply the family with all of their gardening needs. The kitchen garden would consist of vegetables and mixed fruits. In amongst this array of produce they would also grow flowers. This was the start of organic gardening as we …
