Tuesday, June 25, 2019

WHAT'S IN BLOOM IN LATE JUNE

All the Demonstration Gardens at the Arboretum are bursting with blooms of all colors and sizes.   Come out and spend some time roaming through all the gardens to get ideas for what might work in your home garden.  The Arboretum is free, open dawn to dusk, easy walking paths (mostly sidewalks), benches to rest on, some shady spots, and picnic tables if you want.  Restrooms and drinking fountains are in the Ag Center (Hours 8 AM to 5 PM).  Here is a sampling of what you will see:

WILDFLOWER GARDEN:
1.  Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' (Switch Grass)
2.  Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)
PERENNIAL BORDER:
3.  Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
4.  Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint)
5.  Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' (Black-eyed Susans)
HERB GARDEN:
6.  Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil)
MIXED BORDER:
7.  Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'
8.  Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree)
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
9.  Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' (Anise Sage)
10. Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clocks)

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

IT'S POLLINATOR WEEK

Twelve years ago, the U.S. Senate designated a week in June as 'National Pollinator Week.'  It's purpose is to celebrate the valuable ecosystem services provided by birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and beetles.  You can learn more about why pollinators are important and how you can help increase their population by going to the website of the group that initiated Pollinator Week:  POLLINATORS
And for local information on what plants are good for our area, check this out: POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

One plant in our Perennial Border is a pollinator magnet.  If you click and zoom on the photo you will see many busy bees and butterflies.

Echinacea sp. Purple Coneflower

Thursday, June 13, 2019

FIG PLEACHING

MGV Carol and her Gardening Enabler, Brian, recently added another row of wire to the wall where the Brown Turkey Fig is being espaliered.  The tree has been a vigorous grower.  It is aided by being in a sheltered spot and in the direct line of an overhead security light that is on dusk to dawn. 

The work begins.  Plant needs pruning.

New wire
Ready for next level of growth
We even have figs!

Thursday, June 6, 2019

SUMMER EDITION NEWSLETTER

Click on the link below to read about current topics of interest for the summer months in our area, including:

  • Fire Blight
  • Two-lined Spittlebug
  • Straw Bale Gardening