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July 21, 2004 |
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Gardens, By George!
It seems as if we returned from vacation just in time to
experience the heat of a typical Kansas City summer. It was warm
on the East coast but somehow when you are laying on the beach it
is a little easier to endure. Our
vacation was great but towards the end I started to feel
displaced and needed to be home. I was dying to get
back so that I could check on the
gardens. What a homecoming! Once we
pulled into the drive I could not believe the explosion of color.
Everything looks great! It seems as if only a short time ago the
gardens were plodding along with some blooms here and there and
then suddenly the warmer temperatures helped my plantings burst
into full bloom. I am always thrilled when my summer garden
peaks. So much beauty to behold. I feel such a great sense of
accomplishment. Gardening is such a rewarding endeavor!
While on
vacation Kevin, the kids and I visited Mt. Vernon. Wow! What an
incredible place with incredible gardens
(photos).
I remember studying about what a great man George Washington was
but somehow had forgotten the part about his
being a terrific farmer and gardener. I was so impressed by the
way he landscaped different areas of the property. Truly
magnificent. The trees, the flowers, the vegetables, a garden to
admire. I was glad that we had the
opportunity to share the rich American history with our children
but after leaving all I could think about was how beautiful a
place Mt. Vernon is. A place I highly recommend for the history
buff as well as the gardener.
Since it is
heating up outside why not concentrate on the inside of your
home. Have you seen the disappearing screen? Give my friends at
The
Remodeling Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri a call and have
them tell you more. A new innovative product perfect for any
home.
Don't
forget the
Tastiest
Tomato Contest, Sunday August 15th @ 10:00 AM, Family Tree
Nursery, Overland Park.
~
Shelly
Get More Blooms...
Deadheading roses and annuals such as
petunias, marigolds, and zinnias will promote reblooming
throughout the season. You can fool biannuals, like hollyhocks
and foxglove, into thinking they are perennials by cutting off
the old blossoms before seed pods form.
To
deadhead a rose, cut the flower stem
back to an outward facing bud just above a 5- leaflet or 7-
leaflet leaf. For most other flowers
simply cut the stem just below the spent bloom.
Houseplants, Douse
Plants...
This is a great time of year to take your houseplants outside for
a bath. Insect and mite populations can sometimes creep up on you
this time of year, but not to worry. Take houseplants outside and
gently hose them off. This will not only wash away harmful pests,
but will remove dust from the leaf surfaces and leave plant pores
cleaner and able to breathe easier.
Sweet & Corny...
Corn lovers know that standard sweet corn is at its peak for
only a day or so (supersweet corn maintains its peak
quality for a little longer). Timing is everything. For the
sweetest corn harvest when silks begin to dry, and kernels exude
a milky (rather than watery or doughy) juice when punctured.
Proper
Propagation...
Readers have
been asking about plant propagation through cuttings. This is a
simple way to add perennials to your garden without spending much
money. You are also assured that the new plant will have the
same characteristics of it's parent. Want to know more? Read
our article,
Growing Garden and Landscape Plants from Cuttings.
Plucking Petunias...
As mentioned above,
deadheading petunias is a sure-fire way
to keep them blooming all summer long. But sometimes gardeners
have trouble knowing which ones stay and which ones go. Spent
blossoms often look very much like unopened petunia buds. If
you're unsure just remember that spent petunia blossoms are
shrunken and have little substance to them and come off with a
gentle tug. Immature buds feel full and hang on a little
tighter.
Tell Your Friends About
Savvygardener.com!
You
Could Win A $50 Gift Certificate
Details...
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What's Hot On The Hotline...
For the last week or so, common factors affecting the central
and eastern parts of Kansas have been the cooler than usual
weather and the equally unusual abundance of rainfall! The result
has been many questions that reflect these conditions or their
effect on our trees, shrubs or other plants.
See what the experts say in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
Too Tall Turf?
If you've been away on vacation and your
lawn is extra tall be careful about cutting too much at once.
As a rule you should cut no more than one-third of the grass
height at a time. If necessary, try setting your mower height to
the highest setting for a first cutting. Then wait
two-three days and cut again at a reduced height.
Finally... "It
is always in one's power to cut a tree down, but time only can
place them where one would have them, after the ground is
stripped..." ~
George Washington, from a letter to his
manager, 1795 |