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January
12, 2005 |
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Seeds of Hope...
I snuggled up on the sofa today devouring the latest seed
catalog which arrived in the mail
yesterday. I browsed through the pages, looking at the
photographs dreaming about spring. It was fun looking at every
picture, every word, getting lost in all of them. On days like
today, as well as the past few days,
it is hard not to wish for spring. This misty, icy, no sun for
days weather makes me feel blah. There's nothing like a
good gardening catalog to boost the ole gardening spirit.
I think
that our Artic Willow is going to make it. It still might be a
bit premature to make the call but I am trying to be positive.
Since last weekend's thaw it seems to
becoming a bit more upright and not so bent over. Everything else
looks good. The Magnolia, the Pin Oak and most of the shrubs seem
to be unscathed from all of the ice we've had. Good news!
There are
several garden shows right around the corner. Sure to make you
catch the gardening bug. Make sure to read next week's
newsletter. I promise to have a listing of all of the Kansas
City-area shows so that you can pencil them in on your calendar.
I still
need your help! I am trying to raise $4,000 for The Breast Cancer
3-Day walk in June and I am almost at 25% of my goal. Please help
me raise money for a cause that desperately needs our help. It is
up to all of us to help find a cure for this disease. It's so
easy,
just click here! Thanks for your support!
~
Shelly
Storm Damage
Recap...
If you missed
last week's newsletter you also missed some great resources
for dealing with storm damaged trees. For your convenience
we've listed those resources below:
Spring Dreams...
This frigid weather has us dreaming about
spring! It seems like a long way off but guess what? There
are several flowers whose seeds can be started this month!
They include Begonia, Browallia, Geranium, Larkspur, Pansy and
Vinca. Check out
When to Start Seeds Indoors for more details.
Belated Bulb Burial...
If you didn't get your spring-blooming
bulbs planted before the ground froze, plant them now in
individual peat pots and place the pots in flats. Set them
outside where it is cold and bury the bulbs under a thick blanket
of leaves. If we're lucky the ground will thaw again this winter
and we can use the opportunity to transplant them into the
garden.
Blowin' In The Wind...
When those north winds blow we humans find ourselves feeling
colder than the actual ambient temperature would suggest. We
know that as the "wind chill factor". For warm-blooded animals,
wind chills can have a profound effect on their ability to keep
warm. However, plants do not respond to wind chills because they
do not need to maintain a temperature above that of the outside
temperature. It's not all good news for the plants however.
Wind is desiccating and can dry plant tissues. Plant
tissues require moisture to survive and high wind speeds can
cause excess moisture loss from those tissues. This desiccation
may be great enough to injure or even kill tissue, particularly
the smaller size wood as in peach twigs, apple spurs or
blackberry canes.
Source
Don't Forget
The Birds!
It's hard for our feathered friends to find
food in the winter months. Keep your feeders full and you
will be rewarded with beautiful garden visitors year round. If
you're interested in attracting specific birds here are
some popular birds and their favorite menu items:
Bird
Type |
Favorite Foods |
American Goldfinch |
Niger
thistle seeds, broken sunflower hearts, oil-type sunflower
seeds. |
Northern Cardinal |
Sunflower seeds of all types, safflower, cracked corn,
millet, other seeds, unsalted nutmeats, raisins. |
Black-capped Chickadee |
Oil-type
sunflower seeds, cracked unsalted nutmeats, safflower,
suet. |
Dark-eyed Junco |
Red or
white proso millet, finely cracked corn, oil-type sunflower
seed, unsalted nutmeats. |
Grosbeaks |
Sunflower seeds of all types, safflower, cracked corn. |
Mourning Dove |
Oil-type
sunflower seeds, white and red proso millet, safflower,
cracked corn, wheat, milo, other seeds. |
Native Sparrows |
Red or
white proso millet, oil-type sunflower seeds, cracked corn,
some safflower. |
Woodpeckers |
Suet,
unsalted nutmeats, sunflower seeds, cracked corn. |
Anxious For Asparagus...
Want to grow asparagus from seed, but hate to wait the extra
year to harvest? Try seeding the asparagus indoors in late
winter to get two year's worth of growth in one season. Plant
seeds 3/4 inch deep in flats. Sow them 1 inch apart in rows 2
inches apart. Provide as much natural light as possible and
supplement it with fluorescent lighting. Fertilize the seedlings
every three weeks once they have their true leaves.
Source
Asking About Ashes...
A common question this time of year concerns the spreading of
wood ashes from the fireplace into the garden. Many gardeners
have heard that wood ashes increase soil pH. While this is
technically true it would take very considerable quantities
to have any significant effect on pH. Just spread them as evenly
as possible and try not to overdo it.
Finally... "Quotation" ~
Author |
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