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February 11, 2004

Wonderfully White Winter...
I guess it would be safe to say that Mother Nature finally dumped on us. Last week's snow totaled close to 9 inches here in Westwood. What a sight! I can't remember the last time I saw so much snow. Wasn't it beautiful? The kids and I played outside Thursday just wandering around disturbing the freshly fallen snow. It was hard to resist the pristine spots so we either ran through them or threw ourselves to the ground to see who could make the best snow angel. It was fun to be outside even though we weren't in the garden.

Kevin and I like so many others anxious for spring spent some time this past weekend at the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show. We visited with sponsors and leisurely walked around taking in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Ah, an awakening of the senses. Speaking of spring, I hope you have marked February 27th-29th on your calendar for the Johnson County Home & Garden Show. It will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center. Our booth number is 642 so stop by to say hello. We always enjoy talking with out readers.

Here is a great Valentine's Day tip: Instead of buying roses from a florist this year, visit your nearest garden center and surprise your Valentine with a live rose plant. Why not give them roses that last a lifetime instead of a few days?

~ Shelly  

Seed Starting With Structure...
Starting more than three or four different varieties of seed indoors can get confusing if you're not organized.  To keep from missing the start date for any of your seeds you might try our simple procedure: 

  • Organize your seed packets in piles based on the number of weeks before "last frost" to start them indoors. This should be indicated on the seed packet and can be found in our feature When To Start Seeds Indoors.
  • Pick the date which you feel safe calling "last frost".  We use the first full weekend in May. 
  • In our example we are now 8½ weeks from the weekend we will transplant our seedlings. That means that by this weekend we will have already started any seeds that indicate starting dates nine weeks and higher. 
  • For the remainder of your seeds secure them together in their respective groups with a rubber band. 
  • For each group attach a sticky note with the date of the weekend they need to be started. 
  • Place the packets front-to-back, in order by starting date, in a small box. 
  • Each weekend remove the packets at the front of the box for starting. Next weekend's seeds are now at the front and awaiting your return in seven days.

Adding It Up...
We sure got a lot of snow last week.  Many of us saw 8+ inches.  Welcome moisture for our gardens for sure, but how much is it really?  Every snowfall has its own unique moisture content or rainfall equivalence.  Sometimes 8 inches of snow equals 1 inch of rainfall, sometimes its 2 or more.  With tools as simple as a bucket and ruler we've determined that last week's snow had a rainfall equivalence of 6:1 -every six inches was worth about one inch of rainfall.

Housekeeping, Houseplants...
Next time you're dusting the furniture also consider dusting the plants.  With the short days of winter we need to make sure as much light as possible reaches our houseplants.  Simply wipe dust from broad-leaf plants at regular intervals using a cloth dampened with clean water.

 


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Trim Now, Butterflies Later...
Our butterfly bush rewards me and my family to great gatherings of butterflies every summer.  To make sure it's in top shape I usually trim it back to about 12 inches this time of year.  This helps promote a well shaped bush with larger flowers.

Dealing With Damping Off...
Savvygardeners starting seeds indoors need to be aware of damping off disease.  "Damping off" describes the usually sudden destruction of newly germinated seeds or seedlings.  Young plants can be attacked at all stages, before germination (pre-emergence damping off) and after seedlings grow from the soil (post-emergence damping off).  All types of plants including turf, trees, vegetables, and flowering plant seedlings can be affected.  

Several organisms can cause damping off.  Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia are the most common culprits.  These fungi can be found in most soils.  However, appropriate environmental conditions are essential for disease development.  Cool, wet soil conditions are favorable for infection by damping off fungi.  Plants grow slowly at cool temperatures, making them vulnerable to fungal attack.  Also, many fungi prefer moist environments.

The following management strategies can help: 

  • Use planting media free of disease organisms.
  • Avoid setting flats or pots on the ground. 
  • Use good quality seed. 
  • Plant seeds at densities that will allow air circulation and light penetration; and reduce competition for nutrients. 
  • Keep the temperature at a level that will promote plant growth. 
  • Avoid excess moisture. 
  • Use fungicides and treated seeds as available and appropriate.

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Winter Wisdom...
Against the background of the reclusive behavior of a legendary Pennsylvania rodent, and of further evidence that Nature retains the upper hand over human meteorological prognostications, at least in our immediate geographical area, we would like to remark on some positive aspects of winter weather, particularly for gardeners!  You'll find it in this week's Winter Wisdom...

Reading Roses...
Whether you're giving roses to your sweetheart or just planting some new ones in the garden this year it's always helpful to know what message you might be sending.

  • Red - Love, Respect
  • Deep Pink - Gratitude, Appreciation
  • Light Pink - Admiration, Sympathy
  • White - Reverence, Humility
  • Yellow - Joy, Gladness
  • Orange - Enthusiasm, Desire
  • Red & Yellow Blend - Gaiety, Joviality
  • Pale Blended Tones - Sociability, Friendship

Of course you should feel free to break the rules to accommodate a favorite color.  If your valentine prefers yellow over red we suggest you stick with yellow.

Source

Finally...
"I ne'er was struck before that hour,
With love so sudden and so sweet,
Her face bloomed like a sweet flower,
And stole my heart complete."

~ John Clare, Poet

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