Dependable Daylily

Hemerocallis is the scientific name for the daylily, but whatever you call it, this perennial has so much to offer, it should be included in any garden. So what is it that makes the daylily such a "must have"?

• It comes in many colors shapes and sizes.


• It will tolerate a wide range of conditions


• It thrives with very little care, and are drought tolerant.


• It is resistant to disease and pest problems.


• It produces the most exquisite blooms, each one lasting only one day.

You are probably most familiar with yellow and orange daylilies, but that's just the start. There are lilies in every hue, and shades from pale pastels, to the deepest reds.

While daylilies will tolerate poor soil, you'll be rewarded for giving it the best conditions you can. Here's how to have a happy daylily:

• Plant in full sun, or mostly sunny locations


• Plant in well drained soil.


• Improve your soil with compost before planting.


• Once plant is established, use a balanced fertilizer


• Mulch to retain moisture, and keep down weeds.

Since I am an undiscplined gardener, I get a huge return on my inconsistent investment! I have about a half dozen varieties in my yard, that is one of mine at the top of this post. It is a Viette daylily, the Viette's have been growing and hybridizing daylilies for 3 generations. You can see some of their beautiful hybrids at their website: http://www.viette.com.

Keep Those Seedlings Strong!

How are your seedlings doing? Do you have things sprouting? I don't think it matters how many years you do it, there is something so exciting about seeing those little green seedlings start to emerge.

I have tomatoes and zinnias that are ready to go outside. They are tall, and leafy and look great right now. Unfortunately, it will be another 6 weeks before I can risk putting them out. In the meantime, I'm going to put them in bigger pots, plant them deep, give them as much light as I can, and try to keep them happy indoors.

The rest of my herbs and flowers look good, most have their first set of true leaves. I don't plant any other veggies from seed because my gardening space is so limited in my shady yard.

If your seedlings are progressing, there are some things you can do to keep them in peak condition until it's time to plant them outside.

1. Thin ruthlessly. I know, it's hard. But you don't want too many seedlings competing for space and water in those tiny peat pots. Keep one, ok, two if you must, and pull the rest. You'll be happier with a few strong healthy plants than dozens of scraggly ones.


2. Transplant if needed. Move tall leggy seedlings into 3" peat pots. Give them a little room to stretch, and as much light as you can manage. Keep them under the grow lights if you have them, to grow sturdy stems and not leggy ones.


3. Soon, on warm days, move plants outside to a sunny, but sheltered area. Start with a couple of hours, and increase as weather allows. Don't forget to bring them in!


4. Water. Enough, but not too much, and preferably from the bottom.


5. Be patient. It's been a long winter hasn't it? But May is coming, and before you know it you'll be moving all your little seedlings to their permanent homes in the garden. I can't wait how about you?

What are your favorite seed starting secrets? Write and share them, or send us pictures of your set up.

It's Spring. Yes, spring officially arrives this morning, and even though this was the coldest morning we have had at my house in over a week, I am very encouraged.

Because it is going to get warmer

the days are going to get longer

the leaves will turn green

the grass will grow

and the gardens will flourish.

It may feel like winter at your house today, it may even look like winter, but take heart! Spring comes every year, and it will come this year too.

Happy First Day of Spring!

I'd prefer to find almost anything in my garden over a slug. They're gooey, and slimy, and you can't shoo them away. You're likely to touch one before you even see it. They squish if you stop on them. Just writing about it makes me want to say "yuuch!"

Lucky for me,I've found something to keep me from having a slug experience. Sluggo is an all natural, organically certified slug control. The active ingredient is iron phosphate, which kills slugs, but decomposes into a soil component. There is absolutely no risk to people, pets wildlife, or plants. It is perfectly safe to use in vegetable gardens right up until harvest. So I can sprinkle with abandon, protecting myself from slugs, and feeling secure that I'm not harming any of the beneficial residents of my garden and soil

This is what it looks like:
and this is where I get it: www.harvestsafe.com

It's Earth Day again! Seems like I just wrote about Earth Day 2007! I'm sure you have been inundated with ideas, warnings, facts and figures, most of them depressing.

As a gardener there is one thing you can do to have a tremendous impact on your surroundings, and it will be FUN! Plant a tree! There are so many positive benefits of planting a tree, and here are just a few:

• They help control pollution. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. leaves also absorb other air pollutants - such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide
• They prevent soil erosion. Their roots hold the soil in place, and their canopies soften and disperse the impact of raindrops hitting the soil.
• Trees will keep neighboring buildings cooler, lessening the need for air conditioning. Leaves provide a cooling shelter from the sun's rays.
• They provide habitats for wildlife, and they provide soothing, peaceful, eye-pleasing spaces for humans as well.

So this Earth Day, take a break from all the bad news and do something happy.....

Plant a Tree!

Can I tickle your Plant?

Have you ever seen one of these? It is a Tickle Me Plant, also known as Sensitive fern, and Mimosa pudica. When I was a child living in the tropics, we hunted for these roadside weeds, so we could touch their leaves.

Why? Because when touched, the leaves fold up right before your eyes, and the branches droop down. It's fascinating to watch, and a mystery of the plant world. Tickle Me plants can be grown easily from seed, and make great projects for kids.

I can testify that kids of ALL ages find these plants very entertaining. I have one on my office windowsill, and I never tire of "tickling" it to watch it fold up tight.
This is the same plant has after being touched. See how tight the leaves are, and how the stems droop instead of reaching up? In a few minutes, it will open up again.

They are slow growing, so don't get discouraged. Mine is happy on a sunny windowsill with moist soil. I bought it online at www.Seedlover.com.

Pics from Last Summer

These are my earth boxes from last year. I did not have a yard, just a very sunny deck, and this was my garden! They both stayed beautiful all summer, and the herb garden was great! This year, I have a yard, but it is morstly shady, so I'm going to use my earth boxes for veggies. Tomatoes for sure, and maybe some squash or melons in the second one. I have a 3rd one, which I may use for herbs again. The great thing is I can move them around because they are on casters, to take advantage of whatever sunlight my wooded lot will have.