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May 17, 2000

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~ Growing Herbs
~ Worm Composting

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A Mother's Day To Remember...
What a special Mother's Day I had!  My family took me to Powell Gardens to spend the day and it was spectacular.  One of the the gifts I received was a Savvygardener.com t-shirt printed just for the occasion.  When Kevin and the kids presented the shirt to me they were already wearing identical t-shirts. (I'm not quite sure what that says about us as a family but it was kind of cute.)  Once we arrived at Powell we were approached by several people asking us if we were the Savvygardener.com people. It was so great to meet some more of our subscribers. Everyone had such positive things to say.  I must say, after several hours sitting in front of the computer not knowing what to write it is refreshing to hear that other Savvygardeners are enjoying what we publish.  I thank you for the words of encouragement.

I am still hoping for some rain.  We didn't get nearly enough from that last storm that blew through Kansas City.  I do hope that fellow Savvygardeners survived nature's wrath last Thursday and again on Sunday.  It sounds as if the temperatures are going to continue to climb.  Hopefully the winds will blow in another storm (not a tornado) but a nice gentle rain.  Keep watering and remember to water for longer periods of time rather than often.  Is it time for an old fashion rain dance?

~ Shelly               

Herbs for Cooking and Looking...
If you are a cook as well as a Savvygardener one of the great joys of summer is stepping outside to pick or cut fresh herbs for preparing a fine meal.  In addition to their obvious use in foods herbs are great additions to most gardens because they are generally pest resistant, smell great, and many are a joy to behold.

Conveniently, most herbs have similar growing habits and requirements.  Because their essential oils are much more concentrated under cool growing conditions you will want to locate them in a cool but sunny area which receives at least 4 to 6 hours of full sun each day. Areas exposed to the morning sun are better than those areas with mid-day and afternoon sun.

If you didn't start any herbs from seed buy some healthy looking plants from your favorite plant source.  However anise, coriander, dill and fennel aren't too fond of being transplanted.  Sow their seeds directly in the garden.

For a list of over 30 herbs and specific details about growing them check out "Growing Herbs" in our Feature Article section. 


Aster Wilt Warning...
Asters come in both perennial and annual varieties.  I am fond of both.  While the perennial variety will re-emerge in the same spot each year it is important to change the growing location of your annual asters.  "Aster wilt" is a disease experienced when gardeners plant annual varieties of asters in the same place every year.  If you're fond of annual asters try planting them in a different part of the garden each year to avoid this problem.

Butterflies Will Flutter By...
There are hundreds of types of butterflies to be found in the greater Kansas City area.  Attracting them to your garden is easy if you follow some simple rules.
  • Grow plants that caterpillars enjoy eating and let them eat.  Remember, it takes a healthy caterpillar to make a pretty butterfly!  Try dill, clover, and fennel.
  • Grow flowers that butterflies enjoy visiting for their nectar.  Aster, butterfly bush, coneflower, cosmos, and milkweed are excellent choices.
  • Be careful with insecticides.  In addition to getting rid of other pests these poisons kill caterpillars and butterflies.  This is a good reason to establish a separate butterfly garden.

Bring on the Worms...

Don't Miss the Peony Festival ! - Click Here !

From time to time throughout the growing season you will want to apply a side or top dressing of food for your plants.  Commercial fertilizers are an option but a rich natural compost is a favorite of many Savvygardeners.  One of the richest forms of compost is worm castings - the waste generated by worms as they go about their wriggly little lives.  You can harvest your own supply by creating a worm composting bed at home.  It's relatively simple and lot's of fun for the kids too!

A complete set of directions is included in our feature article, "Worm Composting".


What's Hot on the Hotline...
Spring is in the air and aphids are on your plants.  There are many types of aphids and a number of ways to deal with them.  This week's hotline topic is "aphids" and can be found here.

Be Sun Savvy!
There's no such thing as a savvy sunburn! Yes, summer is approaching and it is time to break out the sunscreen. I know that we all spend a great deal of time in our gardens so remember to smooth some on before starting the day. Protect your skin like you would your garden!

Learn From a Master!
Join the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers from Johnson County K-State Research and Extension for two days of garden tours, information, and inspiration.
  • Each garden is designed to teach the visitor about a different topic.
  • At each site there will be both scheduled and on-going mini-lectures to help you learn and understand all the beautiful things you can view.
  • Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions.

For more information follow this link or call  913-764-6300.


Finally...
"What is a weed?  I have heard it said that there are sixty definitions.  For me, a weed is a plant out of place."

~ Donald Culross Peattie, The Flowering Earth 

Click Here for Earl May Garden Centers

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