Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Garden Sprouts – March 9, 2010

jbross — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:53:48 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Two long-established roses earn Earth-Kind distinction.

Earth-Kind roses must pass a rigorous trial to earn that designation. These roses share many excellent qualities that make them attractive for rose lovers of all ilks. Cecile Brunner and Reve d’Or have been given the Earth-Kind designation in 2010. To learn more about the Earth-Kind program click this link

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/roses/

http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=1741

Getting Clivias to Rebloom - There are few plants that are more stunning than a well-grown Clivia. A fully loaded crown of Clivia blooms is a site to behold. While Clivias might provide a bit of a challenge, this article tries to remove the mystery of keeping them healthy and getting them to rebloom.

http://gardening.lohudblogs.com/2010/02/19/getting-clivias-to-rebloom/

Holy radicles batman! A different and perhaps more effective approach to seed germination. I have used this method with increased success so I can vouch for it.

I must also add that OUR ENGINEERED GARDEN is a very interesting blog demonstrating many unique techniques applying science and engineering to the art of gardening.

http://engineeredgarden.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-germination-method.html

Russian sage is a perennial favorite with a large following. This is one tough plant which puts on quite a show and makes the bees happy!

http://homesteadgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/betsys-favorite-perennials-russian-sage-is-high-on-the-list/

Container garden ideas – Container gardening offers a great deal of flexibility. Pots can be easily moved to alter growing conditions as the sun becomes stronger during the summer months or as surrounding plants fill out and provide too much shade. Potted plants can also be moved to areas where color is needed and then returned to another location at a later time.

http://www.blisstree.com/motherearthsgarden/planning-your-container-gardens/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Planting Time

We had purchased the snail vine earlier and kept it in a sheltered part of our landscape. It was very top-heavy and we wanted to avoid having it knocked over.

The snail vine awaits in a sheltered spot!

The first step was to center the vine and plant it between the two sections of the trellis.

The vine had many twisted tendrils which wrapped around each other and it took great care to separate them without tearing.

Looking closely, you may be able to see the intertwined tendrils.

It took much care and patience to separate all of the tendrils without tearing them.

Once the tendrils were separated and laid out, they were tied to various parts of the trellis using old nylon hosiery. This provides some movement for the plant and does not cut into the tender parts. The tendrils were tied to the corresponding side of the trellis.

Below is a picture taken later in the summer once the snail vine had filled out. By the fall, the trellis was nearly invisible.

The snail vine has an interesting flower shape. Here is a close up. I have been told that they are fragrant, but I really can’t say I have noticed that aspect.

This was certainly a worthy project and we enjoyed watching the products of our labors as the plant thrived. Once the spring arrives, we cut the vine nearly down to the ground, give it some compost/fertilizer and watch it repeat the performance (we hope)!

Read Part I of Plant Stabbings and Other Issues

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 44

jbross — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:05:03 +0000

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

We continue our series of personalized (vanity) license plates in Arizona. To maintain individual privacy, we try to show as little information about particular cars as possible as long as we can reveal the license plate.

NOTE – License plate photos may have been archived for quite some time. The years indicated on the registration stickers DO NOT necessarily reflect the current status of any given plate!

We hope you enjoy these PL8 A TUDES!

****************************************

When You’ve

,

Then You Should Go

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts – February 20, 2010

jbross — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:34:48 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

Pity the poor Mesquites or in my case, the Palo Verde. This is a story of the desert garden “pest” – mistletoe. This mistletoe, however is nothing like the winter holiday plant with the same name. This variety is deadly to desert trees. It is a parasitic plant that destroys its host over several years. You can read about it at “By George! A Blog!” at the link below. [Pictured is a sample of Mistletoe on a Palo Verde.]

http://communitygardensoftucson.org/blog/?p=119

The desert is an amazing place. In the middle of the summer with the 110 degree days, it is difficult to find things other than a few cactus growing in the desert. The early spring, however, is a different story. In a rainy year such as this one, wildflowers abound and they put on a display that rivals some of the finest gardens. Manet would have loved to paint these beauties. For those in the Tucson, AZ area, there are numerous resources to help you find and enjoy the best of nature’s displays.

http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/

How long do garden seeds stay fresh? That is the perennial question (pun alert). After all, don’t you usually have seeds left over after planting season? Nobody wants to waste seeds or money. Here is a resource to help you determine whether the seeds you have are still viable. This post from the Gardener’s Rake has other links to help gardeners learn to properly store seeds from year-to-year.

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-long-do-garden-seeds-stay-fresh

MSNBC has a very nice animal slide show for those who like that sort of thing; I do! Somehow it seems that many gardeners are also animal lovers. Dogs seem to love gardens and cats enjoy “hunting” from behind the strategic crevices created by plants and flowers. Remember to bell the cat to save the birds!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34422149

Ground covers can be used to protect the soil from rain (and look good in the process). This is one category of plants that doesn’t seem to get a lot of press yet these plants can play a crucial role. Keep in mind that some climbers also make good ground covers as well!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090304123.html

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

The Story

We moved into a house where we were the first people to live there. Essentially it was a new house. When builders put these “spec houses” on the market, they want them to look as nice as possible at the moment they finish. What often happens is that plants are put into tight places where they look good at the moment, but when they mature, the will be cramped or hinder passageway. We found ourselves facing that situation with a slight variation. Our plants have spines and tended to stick people as they walked by. Many things in the southwest pinch, sting or stab. Here is one picture of the situation before we began the project. Notice how a couple agaves lean into the walkway with their spines which became a nuisance, if not worse, to passersby.

Our goal was twofold. We wanted to partially shield the view of the vacant lot across the street and provide a focal point near the entryway to the casita. We were in the market for a trellis to hold a vine that would provide the screening and color we were seeking. We had purchased two trellises the year before at one of the home improvement big box stores, but alas they stopped carrying that trellis and all others were too thin and not “artistic” enough. We looked and looked, but could not find a suitable trellis. We even went as far as visiting a blacksmith to see if we could have one made. That would be no problem if we wanted to pay for a custom trellis. We decided to continue to look. Luckily, we live in Cave Creek, AZ where there are many artist studios and craft shops. After looking quite a while we finally found something that held promise. It was a metal display rack that was slightly damaged. Although it was costly, we felt it was a good deal for the money.

[ This is a detail on the trellis we purchased for use! ]

We wondered if we would be able to modify it to meet our needs. It was a four-fold copper and metal screen that was used to hold sale items. It would have to be cut into separate bi-fold sections to serve as the trellis we envisioned. Let the games begin! The first thing was to get out my hacksaw and cut the masterpiece into two sections. This went smoothly and only caused a modicum of sweat and consternation. Now for the real fun. I am a strong believer of preparing a $100 hole for a $5 plant. The rule of thumb in the desert is to prepare the soil in an area of 3-5 times the circumference of the pot and to the same depth as the pot. Since we were going to be planting a vine and we were confined to the space at hand, I decided to modify the soil to a depth of one foot and for the entire length and width of the planting area. This would give the vine which would grow tall and wide plenty of room. Part of the challenge is to remove all of the stones that are in the dirt used to raise the level of our house to achieve a floodplain variance. There are tons of stones in our soil; literally. The first thing I built upon moving in was a framed, wire mesh sifting device to assist us in removing the stones and it has seen plenty of work.

[ Here I am picking out some landscape rocks to save for use and leaving others to be discarded. ]

My wife and I first removed all of the decorative stone that was used as mulching and covering material. Below is a shot of that stone. We stored the stone on top of drop cloths we had saved for this purpose.

Next, we removed all of the soil to the depth of one foot and sifted it little by little. We then mixed the dirt with composted manure and sand and placed it back into the space. Obviously we had to add quite a bit of material to make up for the rocks removed. We repeated this process until we were finished.

[ Dirt was stored on drop cloths. ]

[ This is how the dirt appeared (right side of plastic lid) prior to our sifting and amending. ]

Below is photo of our cart with the amended soil in it. We added sand, composted manure and the dirt from our yard and mixed it very well. The drainage was excellent when we are finished.

[ The cart with improved soil. ]

After improving half the soil, we used the top of one of our storage bins to mark the modified planting bed on the left from the untouched bed on the right as shown above. Whenever digging in our landscaping as well as most landscapes in the Phoenix, AZ area, one has to be very careful not to cut the water lines. Here is a picture of the exposed water lines that we carefully avoided. If there is an accident, we can repair it without too much difficulty, but t is always wise to avoid the extra work.

[ Above - Notice the water lines toward the bottom of the picture. ]

Once all the dirt was sifted, amended, returned to the bed and both sections of the trellis well-placed, we stood back for a moment to admire our work. The board (pictured) was use to level and space the trellis.

[ Mary admires the trellis as we prepare for the fun part of the project; planting! ]

Read Part II – Plant Stabbings and Other Issues –

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 43

jbross — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:50:53 +0000

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

****************************************

Is It Possible for a

To Do A

?

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts – February 5, 2010

jbross — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:28:56 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

I didn’t realize that there was a cadre of gardening enthusiasts who practice winter sowing. Winter sowing is the concept of placing the seed outside during the winter in a particular fashion that will encourage it to sprout earlier and grow into a strong plant. It involves some planning, but isn’t much different than other types of “sowing.” Check out the story to read all the details.

http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com/winter-sowing.html

Make a squirrel-proof bird feeder! Nothing can ruin bird watching fun at the bird feeder more than a couple of marauding squirrels. They are clever and pesky and they don’t give up easily. I spent over $100 a number of years ago on a “squirrel proof” bird feeder pole. It had a money-back guarantee and it did work. The problem was that a bear came into our yard and bent it into a pretzel while eating all of the seed in our bird feeder. I didn’t replace it. Here is a way to make your own squirrel proof bird feeder.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-simple-horizontally-mounted-squirrel-resista/

Why a walk through the garden may be a good idea even if nothing is actively growing! I loved to walk on the frozen snow where my plants grow in the spring. I would imagine what the garden looked like during the growing season and dream of the upcoming year. This article explains why you SHOULD be walking around your garden during the dormant season.

http://gardening.lohudblogs.com/2010/01/27/check-for-frost-thaw-heaving/

NYT Talks seeds and truths about those little packets of HOPE. Don’t you hate when someone exclaims how easy it is to grow a particular plant that has caused you nothing but trouble? Get the “skinny” on various plants from the New York Times!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/garden/21seeds.html

Sansevieria – A Plant for Every Location – Sometimes known as Mother-In-Law Tongue (sorry Mom!) or snake plant! This unheralded plant doesn’t get much respect, but does well and asks for little in return.

http://muskogeephoenixonline.com/blogs/MollyDay/2009/11/sansevieria-plant-for-every-location.html

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Australia/New Zealand Trip

jbross — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:48:42 +0000

Australia

Sydney

Melbourne

Tasmania

New Zealand

Diamond Princess

Desert Deluge – Water Runs Wild in the Desert

jbross — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:24:16 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

It is one of those natural ironies that in the desert where water is at a premium, when it does rain significantly, the water wreaks havoc while running wild over the land. The operative word is OVER , as it does not seem that the water soaks in very much.

We learned early that the water could be cajoled, but not contained or completely thwarted. See the story of our wadi for one specific example.

From January 18, 2010 through January 23, 2010, we received almost five inches of rain. We barely made ten inches for the entire year last year and the part of the Sonoran desert in which we live usually receives between 10-12 inches of rain annually.

Here are some pictures of the streets near our house and what happens after a major rainfall.

The cactus don’t often get a chance to “go swimming,” but our golden barrel cactus enjoy a good drink once in a while!

The water has a path through our backyard. The water starts far away from our house and runs through the yard and then through other yards several blocks from us.

The five days of rain kept the ground so wet that fences fell down as the posts came loose in the mud.

Some fences had their posts uncovered and left practically bare.

As the water traveled through the neighborhood, it made its own riverbed when an easy path could not be readily “found.”

In the desert, we plow sand and mud instead of snow.

The mud covers parts of the street as the water carries it on to the road and it creates a berm which has to be dealt with later.

The dirt became so wet that our trellis laden with a heavy load of “snail vine” or “corkscrew vine” almost fell over so we tied it to a tree in our yard until the soil can dry out!

The dry riverbed we put in place after our first storm has worked well and changed a raging stream into a calm, slow-flowing stream. This leaves most of our sand and dirt in place.

As the rain falls, it creates puddles that serve as temporary watering holes for the animals. Within a day after the rain, these were gone!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 42

jbross — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:57:26 +0000

Written by Jeff

****************************************

If you are

Then you must be having

!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – January 20, 2010

jbross — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:18:54 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Want to see the 2010 All America Selections Plants? Check the link below.[Note: zinnia pictured is not one of the winners. ]

http://www.all-americaselections.org/Winners.asp

This is the time of the year when garden plans are being made. Here is some information about setting up community gardens. Start now to have a great harvest next year. Get involved with family and friends and perhaps make new friends.

http://hyperlocavore.ning.com/

I grew up in NYC and loved it. I can remember sleeping on the fire escape of our apartment building and the flit guns to take care of the mosquitoes (yes, I am that old!). Even then we had gardens in the big city. Urban gardening is making a comeback. Here is a movie about urban gardens in Brooklyn, NY. If you live in a city, you can garden too!

http://www.vimeo.com/6137263

Noelle, the AZ PLANT LADY, provides tips for growing roses. Also check out her January, 2010 posts to learn about planting roses in the desert during the appropriate planting time. You will learn a lot and enjoy meeting her family.

http://azplantlady.blogspot.com/2009/09/fall-rose-tips-for-desert-garden.html

Oh, no! Body snatchers are eating the locals! A video of the Great White Shark (Bullfrog) of the desert. Another government mess created by people who didn’t think ahead.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/bg-3020902/fearsome_frogs/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Copyright (C) Suntex Communications, 2009. Reprinted from the October 28, 2009 issue of SEEDS with permission of the publisher .

What is an Earth-Kind Rose?

By Stacy Estep
Johnson County Master Gardener

“Earth-Kind” is one of the most prestigious plant designations bestowed by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. It is based on years of extensive field research conducted by Texas A&M horticultural experts. Only a few, very special cultivars (i.e. “varieties”) possess the extremely high levels of landscape performance coupled with the outstanding disease and insect tolerance/resistance that are required in order to receive this designation.

The Earth-Kind Rose Research Program (Phase I) started in the early 1990s with a sponsorship from the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association to find roses suitable as low maintenance landscape plants for Southern gardens. The identification of disease-tolerant, low-maintenance roses that would be handsome shrubs, even without blooms, and provide the extra benefit of flushes of fragrant blooms was of primary importance.

Phase II of the research program, which is funded by the Houston Rose Society, is designed to identify a collection of low-maintenance roses meeting the Earth-Kind criteria that will grow beautifully in every state in America.

Earth-Kind Rose Research (Phase I and II) continues to be conducted by horticultural scientists with Texas AgriLife Extension and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Dallas, Texas. Hundreds of rose cultivars have been evaluated in this monumental research project.

In order to receive the coveted Earth-Kind designation, test cultivars must pass two very demanding hurdles. First, they must do well in multi-year, randomized, replicated research plots at Texas A&M in Dallas. Second, they must perform equally well in statewide and national field trials. Research protocols require the selected rose cultivars to be evaluated on these criteria:

* Grown on their own roots.
* Be salt tolerant.
* Be tolerant of poor soils.
* Be tolerant to a wide range of soil pH values.
* Be heat, drought, and wind tolerant.
* Be tolerant to rabbit injury.
* Be winter hardy without protection.
* Perform at high levels with no commercial synthetic or organic fertilizer and with no applications of fungicides, insecticides, or miticides on the plants.
* Require no deadheading.
* Require little pruning.
* Perform with greatly reduced supplemental watering.

It was not expected that the test plants would never get blackspot or be damaged by insects. The criteria required that the plants not be significantly impacted by the presence of such conditions. In order to receive the Earth-Kind designation, roses under evaluation could not drop more than 25% of their leaves more than once a year. Earth-Kind Roses may experience minimal leaf drop, but have the ability to quickly shrug off the disease and/or insect damage without intervention.

Currently 19 roses have met these criteria:

* Belinda’s Dream
* Caldwell Pink
* Carefree Beauty
* Climbing Pinkie
* Ducher
* Duchesse de Brabant
* Else Poulsen
* Georgetown Tea
* La Marne
* Marie Daley
* Madame Antoine Mari
* Mutabilis
* New Dawn
* Perle d’ Or
* Red Knock-Out
* Sea Foam
* Souvenir de St. Anne’s
* Spice
* The Fairy

All 100 roses currently being evaluated can be seen in the The National Earth-Kind Trial Garden. The garden is located on 2.5 acres in beautiful Gussie Field Watterworth Park, 2610 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch. This four-year research study consists of 100 cultivars replicated four times for a total of 400 plants. The experimental design utilized in this flagship study is by randomized complete blocks which is considered the strongest design possible for field research. Although the focus of the Earth-Kind program has been on roses and landscape management, trials will soon expand to include Earth-Kind perennials and Earth-Kind shrubs.

If you live in an area that has a climate similar to that of Texas, you may want to subscribe to the newsletter at http://www.promit.com/subscribe.aspx?lid=2

Gardening on the Moon, gratefully acknowledges Suntex Communications for permission to reprint the article.

The original article and newsletter can be seen at this link:
http://www.texasgardener.com/newsletters/091028/default.htm

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 41

jbross — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:50:08 +0000

Written by Jeff

****************************************

I often hit

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – January 5, 2010

jbross — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:44:30 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Low light, easy care houseplants – Six Indoor Plants That Love The Dark. For those who have difficulty growing houseplants, this article will provide clues to some of the easiest to grow. Readers are also pointed to those plants that need little light or attention. This is much better than artificial plants!

http://thegardenersrake.com/six-indoor-plants-that-love-the-dark

This link from the Apartment Therapy website provides a group of low-maintenance plant projects which represent some of the best of 2009.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/gardening/easy-lowmaintenance-plant-projectsbest-of-2009-104817

Drought tolerant Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ flowers from Autumn to Spring. I am always on the lookout for plants like this to try in the desert garden. My experience has shown that some correas have difficulty handling the intense heat and rays of the summer sun of the Sonoran Desert.

http://greenforks.com/2009/10/correa-ivory-bells-choosing-to-flower-from-autumn-to-spring/

This article details several of the largest , smelliest and most bizarre flowers in the world.

http://gardeninggarden.com/2009/11/03/the-largest-smelliest-and-most-bizarre-flowers-in-the-world/

on Flickr" />

Plant Suggestions for 2010 from the White Flower Farm. Anyone who has gardened in the northeast will most likely be familiar with the White Flower Farm. I have visited on several occasions and they are one of the foremost plant distributors on the east coast. It is always interesting to learn of their recommendations for new plant material.

http://gardening.lohudblogs.com/2009/11/14/plant-suggestions-for-2010/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Many of those who view my blog are garden aficionados and know a great deal about a wonderful variety of plants. There are two columns listed below. One has numbers and one has letters. Can you match the letters to the correct numbered item? How many you can match correctly? A link to the answers will be at the bottom of the post.

Bonus Question – In addition, all of these plants have at least one thing in common. Not something obvious like “They all have leaves, or roots, etc.,” but something different or unique. Do you know the common characteristic? The answer to this question will also be included in the link below*.

Good luck to all of my gardening “expert” friends!

**********************************

1. Lantana camara	a. Golden Pathos
2. Devil’s ivy	b. Mansoa alliacea
3. Moth Orchid	c. Saintpaulia
4. Hedera Helix	d. Spathiphyllum
5. Parlor Ivy	e. Feston Rose
6. African violet	f. Heartleaf Philodendron
7. Christmas Cactus	g. Hippeastrum
8. Yellow Goddess	h. English Ivy
9. Garlic Vine	i. Schlumbergera or Zygocactus
10. Peace Lily	j. Phalaenopsis

**********************************

For the answers, click HERE

* The referenced article is the source for the above information.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 40

jbross — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:36:18 +0000

Written by Jeff

****************************************

It is almost a certainty that

IS

!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – December 5, 2009

jbross — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:43:08 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

This post is not that unusual. We had friends in NJ who had this problem on a yearly basis and although Ladybugs are good, there’s a pointat which…

When it comes to Lady Bugs, can there be too much of a good thing? This video starts with short commercial; sorry!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?JSONLINK=/video/us/2009/07/11/vanderveen.ladybug.infestation.kusa

This is the time of year when gifts may be on the minds of many readers. Here is an article to help identify Gifts for Gardner’s – Look here first for some unusual garden-gift ideas!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102905110.html

This is a fun recipe that has numerous variations. Chocolate cake in a mug is fun to try even if it isn’t the best chocolate cake. If you have a chocolate craving, it can satisfy!

http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2009/05/5-minute-chocolate-cake-in-mug.html

Top 10 Poisonous Plants – Do you know about these poisonous plants which may be around your house or workplace?

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/top10_poisonous_plants-1.html

How to Lick a Slug – Why it is important to have children learn and become interested in nature. It is ALMOST as important as reading; really!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02kristof.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1249221713-saubWvZIZtVIdAs7gkZPRQ

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Desert Herb Garden II – November 4, 2009

jbross — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:32:10 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

The desert herb garden comes alive once again in the fall months of October and November. During the tour of the herb garden, we were treated to a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Read Part I of the Desert Herb Garden Tour, November 4, 2009

The colorful red-orange Ornamental Pomegranate flower.

One of the surprises was the Ornamental Pomegranate. While I wouldn’t want to deal with the falling fruit, in an appropriate area it would be very attractive. The bright orange-red flowers are quite striking.

The amazing large Purple Hyacinth Bean.

The Purple Hyacinth Bean was perhaps the most striking plant in the herb garden. It was huge! Between the bean pods and the flowers, the amount of purple on display was significant. This plant would be an attention-getter in any setting. One caveat, however, is that the seed pods (beans) are poisonous! The dark green leaves and purple highlights make this a very attractive plant.

A close up of the Purple Hyacinth Bean.

Another outstanding performer this time of year (as well as most of the spring and summer) is the Queen’s Wreath vine. This plant was sprawling across a large section of the garden using neighbors as a foil for its pink display. The bounty of small pink flowers put on quite a show.

Queen’s Wreath enveloped in a blanket of pink flowers!

Of course this is the desert and no desert herb garden would be complete without a mix of a few aloes. The purple Russian Sage along side the Aloe make a fine contrasting display and keep the bees very happy!

Russian Sage with contrasting silver-green Aloe.

Interestingly, the garden had Sesame plants which provided a bounty of seeds for birds and people alike. In the desert, one needs to be fast to beat the animals to the bounty or at least use some intervention to save the “pay off.”

The Sesame plant.

A close up of the Sesame seed pod.

This day the Tacoma stans ‘Orange Jubilee’ was one of the showiest specimens of this particular plant that I have seen. The beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers against the dark green leaves and blue sky was a knock out!

A beautiful orange display of the Tacoma sans ‘Orange Jubilee.’

Another occupant of the herb garden space was a white hollyhock that was experiencing a rejuvenation and putting on its display of white! October, November and early December are wonderful days in the desert herb garden.

An elegant white Hollyhock strutting its stuff!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 39

jbross — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:45:41 +0000

Written by Jeff

****************************************

If I want a

Then

!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – November 20, 2009

jbross — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:41:39 +0000

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

It may be very hard for some readers to believe that AZ is noted for exporting roses. In the Sonoran Desert environment, many of the David Austin roses do very well with modified care.

http://www.cultivatinglife.com/David-Austin-Roses.html

Click for list of recommended roses for the desert garden.

Click to see photos of some of the recommended roses for the desert.

Onion Recycling – How to have scallions on demand with this simple bit of gardening frugality! An onion recycling tutorial.

http://mybyrdhouse.blogspot.com/2008/05/onion-recycling-tutorial.html

Many areas of the US are facing water shortages. Save money (and water!) with rain barrels. You may also want to find a local permaculture organization.

http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/06/04/how-to-save-money-water-with-rain-barrels-dfa/

For those who enjoy watching and cultivating visits from hummingbirds, the Sonoran Desert is a good place to set up shop. There are many hummingbirds that make their home in this tough environment. If you plant brightly colored tubular flowers, you are almost guaranteed regular visitors.

Here is one method of getting a very close up view of hummingbirds coming to feed at a feeder; wear a hummingbird feeder hat!

http://vimeo.com/2643504

One way to add some whimsy to the garden and ask your friends to “have a seat” is to plant a garden chair. This PDF formatted tutorial provides step-by-step instructions. The hardest part will be locating a suitable chair!

http://www.resene.co.nz/homeown/gardens/WeekendGardener_15.pdf

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Desert Herb Garden I – November 4, 2009

jbross — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:06:01 +0000

Written by Jeff

A wonderful thing about living in the Sonoran desert for gardeners is that there are so many “seasons” with which to work. OK, the summer really isn’t too workable since we are busy trying to get our plants to survive. As a matter of fact, the people are trying to “survive” the heat as well.

We do have two distinct planting seasons however and this provides much opportunity for renewal and new-plant exploration. As part of the November 4, 2009 Master Gardener Update, Carolyn Hills (a master herb gardener and chicken-raising expert) gave attendees a tour of the demonstration herb garden. As the tour progressed, she provided hints about each of the plants and their possible uses.

Of course there were some plants that weren’t herbs that had to be admired as well. As you will note from the following photos, there are numerous plants growing and rejuvenating themselves in the fall growing season in the Sonoran Desert garden.

There were several varieties of basil. After all, what would an herb garden be without basil? Below is one basil plant that has been held over several growing seasons and has very woody stems.

Unkown basil variety with woody stem

Of course there was plenty of basil to go around and it was a good thing as the bees were extremely busy.

Basil in bloom with pollinators hard at work!

I was unfamiliar with Hibiscus sabdariffa, but I was immediately taken in by the beautiful seed pods. This particular plant is used in various cultures to make tea with “special properties”.

More information about Hibiscus sabdariffa can be found here.

The datura grows freely in the Sonoran desert and it’s “protected” because it is poisonous to most animals. This naturally showy native has been hybridized and the garden had a mature purple datura in full bloom. Below are two pictures of this beauty!

Close up of the Purple datura flower

More information about the native datura can be found here.

There was another purple stunner in the garden this day as well. It was a purple pepper plant (variety unknown). I am glad Peter Piper didn’t have to pick a purple pepper or we would all be speaking with twisted tongues!

This purple pepper is as pretty as many flowers

Also putting on a showy display were several pockets of garlic chives; good to eat and pretty to look at!

Garlic chives a dainty contrast to the rest of the garden

If you are in the Phoenix area and you care to visit the desert demonstration garden, it is located at 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040. You may contact the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension at (602) 827-8200.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 38

jbross — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:56:14 +0000

Written by Jeff

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I Understand that A

Is A Real

!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – November 5, 2009

jbross — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:54:16 +0000

Written by Jeff

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

AZ Plant Lady provides some instruction in pairing textures, colors and shapes in the desert landscape; a good read with inspiration.

http://www.azplantlady.com/2009/10/beautiful-plant-combinations.html

Make Your Own, Ummm…Fake Your Own Sundried Tomatoes via Park Seed

http://images.parkseed.com/parksgardens/pem001289/ParkNews8pem001289ai.html#sundried

Ten Amazing or at least Interesting plants; especially the Romanesco Broccoli.

http://www.supertightstuff.com/02/08/pictures/tight-pictures/top-10-amazing-plants/

25 No-Cost (or Low-Cost) Garden Tools

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/tools/no-cost-or-low-cost-garden-tools/

Some think the desert is devoid of seasons. Surprise; not so! Five Seasons of Tucson, AZ.

http://wc.pima.edu/~bfiero/tucsonecology/climate/seasons.htm

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Easy Composter

AZ Hikes – Thumb Butte is Some Beaut!

jbross — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:57:10 +0000

Written by Mary

Photos by Jeff

Thumb Butte Trail # 33
(Prescott, AZ 86303)

Directions to Trailhead: From Prescott travel Gurley Road westward for about three miles until it changes to Thumb Butte Road which ends at the trailhead (day use) parking lot. Cost is $5 per car; Golden Age Passports Accepted. Wednesdays are free (at the time of this writing).

Thumb Butte Area is a is one of the most popular destinations in the Prescott National Forest and Trail # 33 likely heads the list of the hikes there. Thumb Butte is an impressive towering isolated hill that rises steeply nearly 600 feet from surrounding woodlands. The trail begins with stoned steps that ascend to the start point of Trail # 33, which is described as 1.75 miles and rated “moderate difficulty”.

Advice: The trail leads right or left….. for an aerobic workout go left and ascend the paved walkway that quickly rises (sometimes at a 45 degree angle) towards the massive butte. I’d challenge that description and say it is fairly difficult or at least mildly unpleasant; I had to rest several times; even the occasional switchbacks are not flat and there are many berms (likely for water run-off) that require careful footing.

That said, the woods are glorious! We hiked in late October, and the reds and golds of the low bush and wildflowers were a welcome change from our Phoenix home. And although this is a popular trail, we passed no more than a dozen or two hikers on this sunny weekday.

At the top, the pavement ends, and the butte still beckons several hundred yards ahead in the distant. At the crest of the trail, we succumb to the temptation of a narrow dirt path that leads off to the left up toward the Butte. This path snakes gently upward about 300 feet towards the Butte, and provides great vistas of the Sierra Prieta Mountains to the southwest. We opt to turn back when the path becomes less discernable; and feel a bit guilty in light of the signage directing hikers to remain on the path.

Trail 33 is basically a loop, and the trip back is an incredibly pleasant path (mostly hard packed) that provides a more gradual slope….hint…consider this leg of the loop for the upward trek!!!). Mid way down, the Butte disappears from view but manzanita, common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and alligator juniper prove a worthy substitute.

If you are interested in a short trek to view the beautiful mountains of Arizona’s high country and enjoy Prescott, “Everybody’s Home Town,” Thumb Butte will not disappoint you!

Notice the fruit of the Manzanita (above) which is Spanish for “little apple.”

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Helpful Hiking Items At Amazon.com

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 37

jbross — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:50:30 +0000

Written by Jeff

****************************************

If You

Then I Suppose You Better

!!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Garden Sprouts – March 9, 2010

Planting Time

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 44

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

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When You’ve

,

Then You Should Go

Garden Sprouts – February 20, 2010

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

The Story

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 43

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

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Is It Possible for a

To Do A ?

Garden Sprouts – February 5, 2010

Australia/New Zealand Trip

Australia

New Zealand

Diamond Princess

Desert Deluge – Water Runs Wild in the Desert

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 42

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If you are

Then you must be having !

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – January 20, 2010

What is an Earth-Kind Rose?

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 41

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I often hit

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – January 5, 2010

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For the answers, click HERE

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 40

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It is almost a certainty that

IS !

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – December 5, 2009

Desert Herb Garden II – November 4, 2009

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 39

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If I want a

Then !

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – November 20, 2009

Desert Herb Garden I – November 4, 2009

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 38

****************************************

I Understand that A

Is A Real !

Garden Sprouts (quick posts from other sites) – November 5, 2009

Easy Composter

AZ Hikes – Thumb Butte is Some Beaut!

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 37

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If You

Then I Suppose You Better !!

To Do A

?

Then you must be having

!

IS

!

Then

!

Is A Real

!

Then I Suppose You Better

!!