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August 27, 2003

I Felt A Drop Of Rain...
It is Tuesday afternoon at about 6:00 PM and the sky if full of threatening clouds. I am crossing my fingers as I type in hopes of any kind of rain! I was walking Sam Parker earlier today and it started to sprinkle. I noticed many of my neighbors outside with hands raised in the air. Many in disbelief commented as we walked by, "What is this?", "Can you believe it is actually raining?". Unfortunately the small shower - if we can call it that, lasted about two minutes. There, for a brief moment, it all came back to me! The feeling of rain, the smell of rain! My senses were thrilled! Hopefully by the time this newsletter is published the brief showers will have turned in to something a bit more substantial. I sure miss the rain!

I have to tell you that although it is been too hot to be in the garden we have been watching quite a butterfly show just outside the doors of our family room. Our butterfly bush has become home to many delicately-winged friends. We have thoroughly enjoyed watching the different types of butterflies fluttering about. We have even had a few humming birds! Needless to say, the butterfly bush has been the highlight for this horribly hot month for both the viewers and the beautiful winged insects and birds.

Don't forget that cooler weather is right around the corner! Pick your gardening spirit up, get out and spend some money on pansies, mums asters and perennials! Fall is the perfect time for planting!

Hope to be in a sweatshirt soon!

~ Shelly  

Heirloom Tomato Seeds...
Heirloom Tomatoes have been increasing in popularity recently.  Saving seeds from these oldies-but-goodies is a great idea but maybe not as simple as you think.  First of all you need to take some precautions to prevent cross-pollination from other tomato varieties nearby or the seeds may not produce the tomato you wanted. If you grow more than one variety of tomato, they should be planted at least 20-25 feet apart. In addition, a tall barrier crop (corn, pole beans, fruit trees, etc), or a continuous pollen-producing crop (squash) should be planted between varieties to distract the bees. These precautions will prevent most wind caused cross-pollination, and cause bees to visit only one tomato variety at a time before returning to the hive to clean off their collected pollen.

Save the seeds from healthy plants with the best fruit quality. Pick the fruit when ripe, scoop out seeds and pulp into a bowl with a little water then leave to ferment for 4 days (no longer or some heirlooms will begin to sprout). Separate out seed from pulp, rinse the seeds, then dry them on paper towels or a screen in a warm, dry place with good air circulation (try outdoors on warm summer or fall days). After 5-7 days, place seeds in airtight containers (plastic film canisters are good) and store indoors in a dark, cool, dry place. If properly stored, your seeds should remain viable for 3-5 years.

Source

Savvy Strawberry Strategy...
It may be difficult to think about next year's strawberries already but this is a critical time for the 2004 crop.  In August and September the cell size of next spring's fruit bud is determined.  The more favorable the growing conditions now, the bigger the cells this fall, which means bigger berries in the spring.  Yes!  Unfortunately just a week without water can stress the plants and reduce next year's berry production.  Plants require one to two inches of water per week through the summer.  Take extra care in watering so that the soil does not remain soggy for any prolonged period of time.

Oak Wilt Worries...
This time of year always seems to bring lots of questions regarding "oak wilt"This troubling tree disease can really devastate our beautiful oak trees, but thankfully it's actually quite rare In case you've got an oak and are worried about oak wilt we've unearthed an excellent resource published by the USDA Forest Service.  How to Identify, Prevent, and Control Oak Wilt can be found  here...

 

 


Gardening With An Attitude!
The Gard'n-Wise Guys

*Now on KMBZ 980 AM*

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Colorful Closers...
Mums are a gardener's best friend in the fall.  As the latest blooming flowers they provide color and beauty to a garden that has otherwise been worn out for the season. 

When choosing mums from your local retailer buy healthy looking plants that have been taken care of - no broken stems, wilted leaves, etc...  Plants with existing blooms will be limited in their ability to provide much more flowering.  Those with buds about to bloom will provide you with flowers into the fall.  We usually buy several plants in bloom for immediate gratification and quite a few more that we expect to bloom over the coming weeks.  What a great exclamation point at the end of the season!

Tater Tidbits...
If you're harvesting potatoes remember that they will continue to grow as long as the tops are green.  So dig only as many as you need for immediate use.  The ones left in the ground will actually keep better there than in your home.

Making The Cut...
When your plants fall victim to disease one of the first courses of action is the removal of the diseased portions.  Careful!  The same pruners that you use to cut away diseased foliage can then transfer the disease to otherwise healthy plants.  It is generally recommended that a one in ten solution of bleach and water be used to disinfect pruners.  Rather than keep a bucket of solution nearby try mixing the solution in a small spray bottle.  Carry it with you and spray your pruners after each cut.

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Everyone's a little stressed by the recent weather.  Who wouldn't be?  Even the trees are succumbing to the stress of recent weather and other environmental factors that have accumulated over the past couple of years.  Are your trees stressed?  Find out in this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

Wake-Up Sleepy Turf...
If all or parts of your cool season grass have gone dormant this summer you should prepare for a fall comeback now by starting a deep watering program.  Make sure your lawn gets a morning soak twice a week and you will be rewarded with stronger, more lush growth later this fall.

Finally...
"Children of a culture born in a water-rich environment, we have never really learned how important water is to us. We understand it, but we do not respect it."

~ William Ashworth, Nor Any Drop to Drink

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