Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Garden Sprouts – September 1, 2010

jbross — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:53:40 +0000

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

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GreenhouseGrower.com – This site has many short clips of Allan Armitage talking about some of your favorite plants: Hardy Geraniums, Euphorbias, Fuseables, Favorite Winners, Heucheras, etc.

http://greenhousegrower.com/ggtv/?vid=298

A Fallen Beauty – Noelle is a “horticultural” professional who lives and works in the Sonoran Desert. She shares her sad story of how one of her favorite trees had to be taken down. I agree with her that it is more cost-efficient to do it yourself if you know how. A landscape or tree company will charge between $300-$500 dollars to do the job. That will pay for a lot of equipment to do it yourself. I took down a Palo Verde earlier this year. I bought a new saw for $100 +/- and did it myself. Not only did I save a bundle, I was sure the job was done correctly (and if not, I knew who to blame.)

http://www.azplantlady.com/2010/08/fallen-beauty.html

Calling All Butterflies – Amy from GO AWAY, I’M GARDENING, explains how she uses specific plants to attract butterflies to your garden. We get butterflies in the desert as well and some of the same plants provide the same enticement for the winged beauties. If you like butterflies, this post is for you.

http://goawayimgardening.blogspot.com/2010/08/calling-all-butterflies.html

One Mighty Sunflower -I am always amazed how such a big plant can grow from such a relatively small seed. This picture will highlight that point.

http://www.thegardenbuzz.com/2010/08/from-little-seeds-mighty-things-grow.html

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

Extreme Observations – South and North I

jbross — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:31:39 +0000

Written by Jeff

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One of the wonderful benefits of living in the current era is the sense of “community” that has developed among those who are life-long learners and enjoy learning new things. My wife and I often hike through the Sonoran Desert where we currently reside, but in the summer we seek relief by going to the “high country.”

High country is the term used for the mountain region of Arizona such as Payson, the Mogollan Rim, Prescott, etc. We recently headed for the mountains of Prescott which offer a 10-20 degree cool down from our desert home. We had heard about the Watershed Trail near Goldwater Lake and we were interested in seeing that area. We were off to a late start and we weren’t sure if we would get to finish the entire trail, but we would do what we could.

As we were ascending the mountain, I looked at some of the dying Alligator Junipers. They get the name from their alligator-like bark (see picture below).

On one of the trees I noticed this large black and yellow beetle. While I find some bugs creepy, this one was rather attractive. I took a couple – of pictures so I could try to identify it once I returned home.

Listed below are a few of the websites I used to try and I.D. the beetle!

What’s That Bug – http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
BugGuide.Net – http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
What’s Bugging You – http://arthurevans.wordpress.com/

I looked and looked, but couldn’t quite narrow it down. Luckily, What’s That Bug has a request form for those who would like to have a positive ID of a certain insect. Of course there is the customary proviso that they cannot answer all requests which is quite understandable. Since I wasn’t getting anywhere with my personal quest, I decided to submit a query. Here is the email:

Beetle Identification
Location: Prescott, Arizona
August 20, 2010 1:28 pm

Dear Sir (or Madam): We were hiking in Prescott, Arizona and saw several of these beetles on the bark of Alligator Junipers/Pines. Would you be able to identify them for me? I found similar looking beetles (on the web site) that were solid black, but none with the yellow-stripped sides. Thank you for your consideration.

Signature: Jeff Ross

AND low and behold, here is the response:

Hi Jeff,

We do not know why Chalcolepidius apachianus, which we identified on BugGuide, does not have the common name Apache Click Beetle. Bugguide has no information on the species, but indicates it has been photographed in Arizona and Utah. Since there is not much information to be found online for the beautiful Chalcolepidius apachianus, we will propose a second name: Skunk Stripe Click Beetle.

So… Chalcolepidius apachianus! Of course! I don’t know if I like Skunk Stripe Click Beetle though. How about you? Isn’t it wonderful that we can find this wonderful information? Now I can update my photographic tags to include the correct name. I encourage everyone to write to experts in the field when presented with a situation like this. More often than not, I have had success.

I will write about another incident in the North Country of Minnesota in my next post. Until then, keep observing those living things around you and enjoy learning about them. Have you had any similar experiences in finding people to help ID bugs or plants?

When we returned to the parking area we were greeted by a field of orange Globe Mallow and Sunflowers. They were a bit wilted, but still a heart-warming site after a long trek up hill!

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 55

jbross — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:01:20 +0000

Written by Jeff

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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!

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

If you are

Perhaps

Can help!

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

Garden Sprouts – August 15, 2010

jbross — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:01:32 +0000

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

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Before and After – Garden Transformations – Take those UGLY before pictures to amaze everyone after the transformation. It is always exciting and often amazing how a landscape project changes the views and terrain. Even small landscape projects can make a big difference. Take photos throughout the project to help remember how things have changed. Use the pictures to share and amaze your friends and other interested parties!

http://serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com/2010/08/before-and-after-garden-transformations.html

Add a vertical element to your garden in a hurry with a simple tuteur and some vines (I never heard this term before either. A tuteur is a four-sided trellis.) The tuteur pictured above is not the one from the post!

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16223/a-simple-tuteur-for-annual-vines

What elements help make Japanese Gardens so serene? Whenever I visit a Japanese Garden I am always impressed with the simplicity of design and the mood it creates. Usually there are not a lot of flowers, but the water features, sculptures and greenery all add up to a special experience. The Washington Post has an article that might help those who want to bring peace, serenity and calm to their garden designs. Be sure to check the picture gallery to see how these elements work together.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081207241.html

Mr. Brown Thumb shows off his Venus Fly Trap, Francis, and gives some pointers about growing this interesting carnivorous plant. He even went out of his way to provide food for his pet plant!

http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/2010/08/venus-flytrap-catches-fly.html

Curb gardens can be a big problem because of the proximity to the street and all that brings with it such as automobile emissions and salt damage from winter road de-icing. Homestead Gardens explains how to make the best use of the curbside space for plantings.

http://homesteadgardens.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/super-tougstainable-plants-for-curb-gardens/

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

Valley of the Sun(dial)

jbross — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:45:21 +0000

Written by Jeff

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Long before we moved to the Sonoran Desert, I had visited Cave Creek and Carfree a number of times. Cave Creek and parts of Carefree are “touristy” cowboy-style towns.

Hollywood just finished filming a movie in Cave Creek which is tentatively called “Queens of Country.” If you visit the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, AZ area), take time to visit Cave Creek/Carefree! I think the “Sundial Park (shopping center)” is a very good place to start.

As you enter the outskirts of Cave Creek, heading for the center of town you will see magnificent houses built into the sides of the mountains. Many of these are breathtaking and blend well with the terrain. There is an interesting house on one of the side streets that was constructed among a group of boulders (see below).

When you arrive at the Sundial Shopping Center, you will of course notice one of the largest sundials in the world.

There are also several statues like this one to remind visitors they are in cowboy territory.

There is a playground with a large Gila Monster slide which is fun when the weather is appropriate.

As you stroll the shops, notice the funky street names such as

and

Many of the stores will have interesting sidewalk displays.

There is a water feature that has real flowers in the spring. I think these are Irises, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Not only is there a large sundial, there is also an easier-to-use smaller sundial.

There is much more to like about Cave Creek and I am sure if you start at the Sundial shops/park, you will launch your visit in style!

Here is some more information about the area if you are planning a trip!

http://www.carefreecavecreek.org/attractions.php

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

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PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 54

jbross — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:07:11 +0000

Written by Jeff

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

If

Was alive today, he would surely be a

!

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

Garden Sprouts – August 2, 2010

jbross — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:27:34 +0000

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

VIDEO: Rose Anatomy – I have been growing roses for a good number of years. This video will be very helpful if you are new to roses or if you just need a refresher course about rose anatomy. Among the topics discussed are basal breaks, bud unions and bud eyes.

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16036/anatomy-of-a-rose

Galvanized Planters – This is an interesting “how to” explaining one way to create galvanized planters that look special. The author gives hints to help extend their usefulness and make them especially nice by painting designs on them.

http://lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com/2010/06/galvanized-planters-whose-idea-was-this.html

NOTE – THE LINK BELOW was down when I wrote this post (as is much of the site), but I hope it reappears. If not, here is another link for you to look at to “get the idea!” Alternate Link

Coffee can herb garden – This might be of interest to those who like to give “living presents” to their friends and acquaintances.

http://thegardenersrake.com/make-an-easy-coffee-can-herb-garden/

Do You Know Which Fish Are Safe to Eat? Now that the oil spill in LA is winding down somewhat, I am afraid we must be even more aware of what is and is NOT healthy to eat. This article gives some information about generally health/unhealthy fish mainly because of mercury. With the oil and the dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico, I am personally adding many others to the list until I am satisfied they are safe!

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/low-mercury-fish

From Park Seed Co. – An article explaining a few tricks to help your plants “Beat the Heat” In my area, the Sonoran Desert, where temps hover above 100 for weeks on end during the summer, survival starts with selecting the correct plant for the correct location. Very few plants can take full sun all day in the desert. One annual that we have had success with this year is the portulaca. As long as they have enough water and steady fertilizer, they have been able to take the sun and heat. (We did have to rescue them from the rabbits once!)

Park Seed Co. offers additional ideas to help your plants “enjoy” the summer heat.

http://images.parkseed.com/parksgardens/pem002185/aug10pem002185tb.html#beatheat

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

Written by Jeff

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In the first part of this article which you can read here, I addressed the many special views of the granite dells to be found just outside of Prescott, Arizona. Today I am going to show you a few more interesting sights and I hope this tempts you to visit the area on vacation or if you are local, on a day trip!

Without further ado, here are some more pictures:

The lake looked very cool and inviting especially since the temperatures were near 100.

There were many people taking advantage of the park’s offerings including picnicking and boating

These canoes were anxiously awaiting their turn to get back out on the lake!

Wonderful views abound around almost every nook and cranny the lake has to offer!

Another beautiful scene!

The boulders jutting from the lake’s waters look like ancient monoliths!

Some scenes had layers and layers of rocks in varying bands around the lake.

Take a ride outside of the park along nearby roads to see some interesting homes built among the dells!

I couldn’t resist taking this picture of wild yellow columbine growing alongside the road!

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 53

jbross — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:01:19 +0000

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

Makes the Heart (and Head) Grow

!

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

Garden Sprouts – July 18, 2010

jbross — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:56:32 +0000

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

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How to Dry Hydrangeas – This is the time of year when many hydrangeas are showing their dazzling array of colors. I love the blue hydrangeas, but if I can’t have blue, then the white/green buds are my favorites. Of course if I can’t have those, I will settle for any color. I enjoy the variety of colors and forms. If you want to preserve your flowers and some of that bounty of color, here is some advice.

http://tipnut.com/drying-hydrangeas/

Foliage plants for sun and shade – Gardners (including me) often overlook our fancy foliage friends when it comes to managing color in the garden. There are so many varieties of coleus, begonias, etc. that can put a contrast to a specific spot or lighten a garden area. P. Allen Smith shows us some of these beauties exhibiting their Sunday’s finest!

http://www.pallensmith.com/articles/top-10-foliage-plants?mnt=12

Wood Carving: Trees as a Medium – Many a gardener has faced the dilemma of “the dead tree.” Some of the time the tree is in the most conspicuous spot which may present a more urgent situation. Why not have the tree carved into a garden statue? Here are some examples of tree carvings. I once saw the Statue of Liberty carved from such a stricken tree in New Jersey.

http://webecoist.com/2010/07/15/wood-carving-trees-as-a-medium/

Video – How to make a Luminary Gourd – If you can make it through the onslaught of puns at the beginning of this video, it will provide a brief tutorial of how to use your garden gourds as luminarias or garden lights!

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-make-a-luminary-gourd

Pride in Produce – Mind busting vegetables/fruits: Gardeners show off their unique, huge bounties. Growing an especially large, long, heavy or colorful vegetable takes a lot of work. Why not brag about it and share it with others. These pictures may boggle your mind. The cabbage is humongous! Have you ever grown a super veggie or fruit?

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/60237

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

Grand Views among Hoodoos – Part I

jbross — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:35:13 +0000

Written by Jeff

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*****

Full Disclosure: Technically, the rock formations addressed in the blurb below are probably NOT hoodoos, but the title was too irresistible AND these formations are close enough. You can read more about hoodoos here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_%28geology%29

*****

During the summer, life gets tough in the Sonoran Desert as rainfall is scant (almost nonexistent so far this year) and temperatures soar. To find some relief, we often head for areas in the more northern parts of AZ.

One place we enjoy visiting and find respite is Prescott, AZ, once the territorial capital. On the outskirts of the town is an amazing site; granite dells. These monoliths and hoodoos await the gaze of awe struck visitors. If you decide to go, spend a few dollars to visit the Watson lake park to get some interesting views. You can bring a picnic lunch, rent a boat or just enjoy the sites.

Here are some pictures:

Boating on Watson Lake; rent or bring your own!

Boulders rise from beneath the water!

View from the west side of the lake looking east [ I think ]

A friendly cove.

Bounding boulders!

Boulder abstract art across the lake.

Another fine view.

Now this is really like gardening on the moon!

Read part II here!

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 52

jbross — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:30:11 +0000

Written by Jeff

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

Are

?

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

Garden Sprouts – June 29,2010

jbross — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:25:04 +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!

Beautiful and Strange Trees – Trees can be stately and/or weird. When we visited the Sydney, Australia Botanical Garden we saw some interesting trees. One had bats hanging from it and was endangered of being destroyed. The one tree that caught my eye and is pictured here was this majestic fig tree. What can be more commanding than a mature tree? See some more outstanding trees at the link below.

http://nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com/2010/06/19-beautiful-and-strange-trees.html

No need to leave kitty inside when you can have a catio. Apparently there is a new movement afoot for cat lovers! On our local garden tour in March one of the houses had a newly constructed catio for their NINE cats. I guess if I had nine cats I would have an outside area for them as well. All “kittyng” aside, read more about this apparent trend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/garden/17catio.html

Houseplants that are hard to kill – I favor the ZZ plant pictured in the article (not here). It appears to do well as an indoor plant even in the desert. I have grown several other plants mentioned and they are relatively “easy” as houseplants go.

http://webecoist.com/2010/06/21/no-green-thumb-13-healthy-hard-to-kill-houseplants/

Roses bred to resist “bugs” ALSO surrender their fragrance. The loss of the old world rose scent has long been a topic of consternation starting way back in the 1960s (or before) as a wave of hybridizing swept the world and with it took out many of the genes of those wonderful-smelling roses! Read more about this dilemma from the NY Times!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/garden/24roses.html

Patio paver planters – I am always on the lookout for a way to gather unusual or at least different planters. These seem simple and straight forward to make AND you get to pick your color; any color!

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/05/paito-paver-planters.html

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

Written by Jeff

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Don’t you just love it when someone gives the gardening advice “Just cut it back to about 18 inches.” My fear is that I will cut the plant back and it will die or no longer thrive. I tremble (not really) whenever I take a robust, healthy plant and cut it down to the ground or close to the ground to reinvigorate it for the next growing season.

That is precisely the position I was in with my snail vine. We went through a lot of trouble to create a nice home for the snail vine. You can read about it [ here: ]

As the next picture shows, the plant did very well and by the fall, one could hardly see the trellis behind it.

October 6, 2009

So you an imagine my trepidation when I was getting ready to cut away all of that foliage. Some of the time the foliage dies back because of cold winter temperatures. We had a mild winter in the desert in 2009-10 and the foliage stayed green and robust. Nevertheless, we did cut it back. (I must admit that I hedged a bit and didn’t cut it back quite as much as experts suggest!)

April 1, 2010

How sad!

April 1, 2010

Slowly but surely the plant began to make a comeback. See the next two pictures.

May 6, 2010

June 3, 2010

The last picture taken recently shows that the snail vine is well underway to return to its previous beauty and prominence in our courtyard garden.

June 21, 2010

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 51

jbross — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:55:48 +0000

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

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

Watching the Gulf Oil Spill should convince all that it is time to

We can’t continue to drill

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

Garden Sprouts – June 12, 2010

jbross — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:35:12 +0000

writen by Jeff

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Wait! Don’t Eat that Celery!

With all the environmental problems we are facing it is getting much more difficult to decide what is safe, or should I say safer to eat than other things. Some of our favorite fruits and vegetables are those that are most heavily sprayed. The link below will bring you to a downloadable chart of vegetables which are sprayed with pesticides less than others.

Download pesticide guide

Enough Pumpkin for 1000 pies

It seems that everyone is bragging about their watermelons and pumpkins. Not the fruits, but the plants. The fruits won’t be ready for quite some time. What a labor of love to nurse those “babies” through the hot and perhaps humid summer in hopes of reaping those sweet rewards.

Would you like to grow an award winning pumpkin? One from which you can make 1000 pies?! Read about Jodi Torpey’s experience at the link below!

Enough Pumpkin for 1000 pies

Lavender envelope sachets

I have to admit I am not crazy about the smell (or taste for that matter) of lavender. One thing I do like, however is that out here in the Sonoran Desert there are some varieties that can “ignore” the scorching heat and grow very happily. I know I may be in the minority when it comes to the smell of lavender. If you are a lavender lover, this project seems to be quick and easy. Did I mention it makes a nice home made gift?

Pretty Lavender Envelope Sachets: {How-To}

Find yourself in a Pickle!

A Dilly of a Post – Make Pickles. Many kinds of pickles! 14 kinds to be exact

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

Sentinel of the Dessert Gets Dressed Up!

jbross — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:13:29 +0000

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The weather has turned hot this week and we are not likely to see many days below 100 degrees until the fall.

Many of the winter/spring plants such as geraniums, petunias, etc. have thrown in the towel. Another plant has not exactly thrown in the towel as much as it is “coming home after the ball!” I am talking about the Saguaros. They were blooming extensively over the last several weeks. The wet winter obviously agreed with them and enabled them to store up the energy they needed for such a spectacular show. The picture below depicts how the saguaros look throughout most of the year. Impressive, but the floral jewelry is gone.

Some time during May, the Saguaro’s begin to show their little nubs something like the ear’s of Shrek!

You can see the many nubs below with one flower.

Here is a closeup of the flower with the numerous buds!

Below is a picture of one Saguaro flower after it has fallen from the cactus.

After the flower falls, the fruits develop and turn red. Native Americans used them as a food source and I am told they are very sweet.

Long before the fruits develop completely, birds such as Curve Bills and Doves begin to hover over them to claim their loot. They will watch them and when they are ripe, they will devour them. When they aren’t eating the ripe fruit, they are busy keeping other birds away.

Below is a picture of a dove watching over the ripening fruit (center, right).

While this year’s display is almost over, I can look forward to an encore next year!

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 50

jbross — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:54:35 +0000

Written by Jeff

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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!

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

It’s the rule. If a

is going to be successful, they have to

!

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

Garden Sprouts – May 29, 2010

jbross — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:36:58 +0000

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

Fine Gardening provides a very good video describing techniques to boost seed-sowing success; warm soak, scarification, cold stratification. While you are at the site, take advantage of other video offerings at the bottom of the screen such as “artificial light for seedlings” and “seed savers exchange”

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/videos/seed-starting-pre-treat.aspx

Martha Stewart has many wondeful gardening ideas. Although she isn’t the only person to propose a planting yardstick, she does provide a good post explaining how to make and use one. I had one of these when I gardened in NJ and it was very helpful especially when planting rows of seeds/seedlings. NOTE – photo above is NOT the yardstick from the article.

http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/planters-yardstick

In my former home, I had 3/4 of an acre of lawn. It took me three hours to cut the lawn using a walk behind, large format lawn mower. I preferred not to use a riding mower because it enabled me to get close the lawn to see if problems were developing. In addition, I didn’t have all of that extra weight traveling over my manicured lawn. I just included this as part of my exercise.

One secret I learned that proved very helpful was to keep the grass long (3.25 inches) to help shade the ground to keep it cool and moist. There are several other interesting tips included in the post at the link below. I think you will find these worth considering.

Five shortcuts to a Perfect Lawn – http://www.diylife.com/2010/05/25/5-shortcuts-to-a-perfect-lawn/

Most have heard about resistant germs caused by the overuse of anti-bacterials, etc. Well, what if there were a group of super weeds developing because of the overuse of weed killers? Read about that potential from this NYT article and ponder the consequences.

Invasion of the Superweeds – http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/invasion-of-the-superweeds/

Complete Seed Starters Resources - from Chiot’s Run

Why Start from Seed – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/10/seed-starting-101-why-start-from-seed/

Getting Started – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/11/seed-starting-101-getting-started/

Containers – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/12/seed-starting-101-containers/

Soil Mix – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/13/seed-starting-101-soil-mix/

The Needs of Seeds – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/14/seed-starting-101-the-needs-of-seeds/

Workflow (of blogger) – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/17/seed-starting-101-my-workflow/

Disease and Problems – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/18/seed-starting-101-diseases-and-problems/

Hardening Off – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/19/seed-starting-101-hardening-off/

Transplanting – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/20/seed-starting-101-transplanting/

Learn More Each Season – http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/21/seed-starting-101-learn-more-each-season/

This Bud’s For You!

jbross — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:21:22 +0000

Written by Jeff

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Many of the cacti in the Sonoran Desert are finishing their spectacular bloom cycle. Lucky for those who live in this amazing area, cacti provide a show with many acts. From the time they set buds, through blooming and then with decorative seed pods, there is beauty to behold.

Above is a Prickly Pear cactus in our landscape with a good number of spade-shaped buds.

In these pictures, they serve as a crown for the pad of the host plant. Each bud seems to resemble a small artichoke.

When the time is right, those tightly packed buds explode into bloom.

Notice the cup-like structure on the left in the picture above which adds interest even after the bloom has fallen to the ground.

Cholla buds (pictured above) are a bit more complex. They crowd together at the ends of the branches bringing bits of color to the bundles of thorns. Keep your distance from these cacti because they are eager to grab on and hitch a ride.

When in bloom the Chollas offer even more color.

Cactus buds (below) can be quite bright in color even when smaller. This is a small unnamed cactus that was given to me and which the Javelinas enjoy munching on from time-to-time.

The red buds emerge for several days and explode into color, but last for only a day or two.

There are other stories about cactus and their blooms, but that is for a later post!

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 49

jbross — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:14:50 +0000

Written by Jeff

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When

,

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

Garden Sprouts – May 13, 2010

jbross — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:21:30 +0000

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

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I don’t know how the Proven Winners LLC does it, but they manage to hybridize some fantastic plants. Here they are offering recommendations with at least one “new-to-me” plant thrown in. I am anxious to try the Snow Princess™ Lobularia hybrid in our arid and scorching climate. I want to see where in my landscape, if anywhere, it will survive. I had to water Alyssum daily last year to keep it going. Look at some of the other plants on the list as well.

http://www.provenwinners.com/garden/articles.cfm?contentID=141

One way to get more plants for your collection or to give away, is to take cuttings. Cuttings are also a good solution if there is a plant you have that is hard to find or one-of-a-kind. This can be very rewarding and it is also fun. At Chiot’s Run, they explain their system for achieving a 75-80% success rate with their cuttings. Read the post to learn how to be successful at increasing your bounty in a fun and economical manner.

http://chiotsrun.com/2010/05/07/propagating-with-stem-cuttings/

OK, so you have taken the time and energy to grow a fantastic cutting garden and you enjoy bringing the flowers inside to be appreciated throughout the day. Questions need to be answered regarding the best way to take care of these cut jewels so that they can be enjoyed for as long as possible and celebrated in the best way. This PDF document by Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential, should help resolve some of the issues.

http://www.amystewart.com/images/pdfs/cutflowerhandoutMed.pdf

Earthworms have always had a reputation for being remarkable workers. They move lots of soil and aerate the ground while working their tunneling magic. This recent study, however, suggests a hidden side. They are not the solitary creatures we might have thought they were, but seem to like being in groups and making “joint decisions.” Read more about these enlightening findings at the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8604000/8604584.stm

In this video posted on the Fine Gardening web site, Paul Zimmerman, long-time rose grower and owner of Paul Zimmerman Roses in Landrum, South Carolina explains the basics and a few advanced concepts dealing with properly growing a rose on a trellis. Everyone wants to have roses covering the trellis, not just at the top. Mr. Zimmerman explains the best way to accomplish this garden “magic.” I think you will enjoy the humor and spirit of the post as well!

http://www.finegardening.com/item/14257/video-how-to-train-a-rose-on-a-trellis

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

Tips for a Better Life: Music and Cactus Blooms

jbross — Sat, 08 May 2010 21:53:59 +0000

Written by Jeff

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Click Here to Download The Presentation!

I always enjoy reading quotes about various subjects. As a matter of fact, I collect quotes. I have amassed three groups of quotes. One set for sharing which are basically adages for life, one set for gardening which I sometimes use in my posts and one set that has humorous or quirky quotes that I generally keep for myself.

The file above, Tips for Life, 2010, offers a group of quotations for life and presents them with pictures of cacti and succulents. I hope you enjoy them!

PLEASE NOTE: No attribution was assigned to this project when I received it. If valid attribution is sent to my attention, I will revise the post to provide appropriate credit.

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

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 48

jbross — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:36:54 +0000

Written by Jeff

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One has to go a

If they want to be a good

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

Garden Sprouts – April 28, 2010

jbross — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:42:24 +0000

Written by Jeff

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

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Let’s face it, Carrots don’t have the same charisma as tomatoes, cucumbers or zucchini. I haven’t read too many rants and raves about the wonders of carrots. They can be a bit finicky and if they don’t have “smooth” soil, they can look a little weird. They do taste very good, however and they find their place in my favorite cake. At gardeninggarden.com, the secrets to success with carrots are revealed. Perhaps after reading the tips and guidelines, you will want to add carrots to your list of crops this year!

http://gardeninggarden.com/2010/04/06/growing-carrots/

Joel Lerner writes about the dream of owning a greenhouse so one can grow many plants in many seasons. In Phoenix, AZ, the idea of a greenhouse from May through September is terrifying! I know it is a geographic challenge and others will be more enthused. For those who want the “skinny,” the article is available at the link below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030405424.html

Life on the Balcony highlights a variety of basil plants including those that are not only edible (I assume), but ornamental as well. Today’s basil varieties are not those of our grandmothers! Check out the oak leaf and lime varieties (and others) for yourself!

http://lifeonthebalcony.com/not-your-grandmas-basil/

Learn how to build a relatively simple A-Frame vegetable trellis (read comments for twine idea)!

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/8315/diy-a-frame-veggie-trellis

Many gardeners are also interested in photography to one degree or another. Some are very involved and love to show off their gardens and flowers. With the advent of digital photography, a group of online printing options have been established to help “publish” photography books on any desired topic. It is very difficult to know which of these services is best to use. Enter the Great Photo Book Round-Up Review which will provide guidance and help in selecting the best publisher for your collection of shots!

http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/97676/0/1/15

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

Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Garden Sprouts – September 1, 2010

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Extreme Observations – South and North I

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PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 55

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If you are

Perhaps Can help!

Garden Sprouts – August 15, 2010

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Valley of the Sun(dial)

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and

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 54

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If

Was alive today, he would surely be a !

Garden Sprouts – August 2, 2010

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PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 53

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Makes the Heart (and Head) Grow !

Garden Sprouts – July 18, 2010

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Grand Views among Hoodoos – Part I

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PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 52

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Are

?

Garden Sprouts – June 29,2010

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How sad!

Slowly but surely the plant began to make a comeback. See the next two pictures.

The last picture taken recently shows that the snail vine is well underway to return to its previous beauty and prominence in our courtyard garden.

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 51

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Watching the Gulf Oil Spill should convince all that it is time to

We can’t continue to drill

Garden Sprouts – June 12, 2010

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Wait! Don’t Eat that Celery!

Download pesticide guide

Enough Pumpkin for 1000 pies

Lavender envelope sachets

Pretty Lavender Envelope Sachets: {How-To}

Find yourself in a Pickle!

A Dilly of a Post – Make Pickles. Many kinds of pickles! 14 kinds to be exact

Sentinel of the Dessert Gets Dressed Up!

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The weather has turned hot this week and we are not likely to see many days below 100 degrees until the fall.

Some time during May, the Saguaro’s begin to show their little nubs something like the ear’s of Shrek!

You can see the many nubs below with one flower.

Here is a closeup of the flower with the numerous buds!

Below is a picture of one Saguaro flower after it has fallen from the cactus.

After the flower falls, the fruits develop and turn red. Native Americans used them as a food source and I am told they are very sweet.

Long before the fruits develop completely, birds such as Curve Bills and Doves begin to hover over them to claim their loot. They will watch them and when they are ripe, they will devour them. When they aren’t eating the ripe fruit, they are busy keeping other birds away.

Below is a picture of a dove watching over the ripening fruit (center, right).

While this year’s display is almost over, I can look forward to an encore next year!

PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 50

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It’s the rule. If a

is going to be successful, they have to !

Garden Sprouts – May 29, 2010

This Bud’s For You!

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PL8 A TUDES: Vanity License Plates – 49

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When ,

,

Garden Sprouts – May 13, 2010

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Perhaps

Can help!

Was alive today, he would surely be a

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Makes the Heart (and Head) Grow

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