By JESSICA DAMIANO – Associated Press Many people try to save water just to do the right thing (and save money too). But when a severe drought hits and state and local governments enforce restrictions, water conservation becomes non-negotiable. So far this summer, nearly 65% of the United States and Puerto Rico have experienced “unusually … Read more
Tom Ingram Ask a master gardener “I have friends who have been gardening for a long time and they all seem excited to start their fall vegetable gardens. In fact, they are already starting sowing, although it is only July. Is that correct?” —DD Yes, although we’ve recently transitioned into summer, it’s time to get … Read more
John Nelson “I’m as cheesy as Kansas in August.” Nelli Forbush in “South Pacific”, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein Well, it’s not August yet, and this plant isn’t exactly corn. But it’s close. This is a weed that you can see basically everywhere in the eastern United States, from Florida and Texas well into the upper … Read more
Avid gardeners weren’t the only visitors when I hosted a stop on the Omaha Rose Society tour last weekend. A few people shared that they had seen Japanese bugs on some of my roses, disappointing news for everyone. “We’re not sure what the population will be like this year,” said Scott Evans of Nebraska Extension … Read more
Red, white and blue will be making a statement on flagpoles, porches, street corners – even truck beds – this holiday weekend. Join the celebration, plant a festive garden in patriotic colors around your flagpole or a red, white and blue container on your doorstep to celebrate Independence Day. Adding blue flowers to your red … Read more
John Nelson At the end of April I was introduced to Carol Kleppin, a lovely lady who lives in Summerville, South Carolina, not far from Charleston. It turns out that Carol has discovered a very strange plant in her garden. She described it to me as a low groundcover of unknown origin that spreads quickly … Read more
SAUK COUNTY GARDENERS Jeannie Manis Sauk County Master Gardeners Association “It’s exciting to see things reappear, plants that you’ve had for twenty or thirty years. It’s like seeing an old friend again.”– Tasha Tudor I was excited to finally see my white peony bush bloom this year. It was a piece of peony that our … Read more
Nick Clifton Special for the Roanoke Times This is an exciting time of year for a gardener. The weather is warm day and night. The sun is high in the sky and intense. You seem to notice the growth when you stare at your plants. The anticipation of your first tomato or “tomato” harvest is … Read more
Rosemary, a culinary herb that many of us use in our kitchens, is also a wonderful drought-tolerant landscape plant. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a woody perennial shrub, is a Mediterranean native well suited to our valley climate. Its generic name means “dew of the sea” because it grows well by the ocean, where the mist provides … Read more
Brian Jervis Ask a master gardener “I’ve been hearing a lot about a fungus called mycorrhizae that everyone seems to think I need to add to my garden soil. What is it and do I need it?” — CG Mycorrhizae can play a very important role in plant health, but because they are invisible, their … Read more