GardenSpotlight

Easter is almost here.   The traditional plant this time of year is the Lily.   There are many types of lilies, but at Easter, the standard is Lilium longiflorum , the Latin name for the Easter Lily.   The Easter Lily is native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan.   Each holiday is marked by cherished traditions that bring joy, comfort, and warmth, and provide continuity from one generation to the next.   For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers of the Easter Lily symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life - the spiritual essence of Easter. Easter Lily bulbs are harvested in the fall, packed and shipped to commercial greenhouses where they are planted in pots and forced under controlled conditions to bloom for the Easter holiday.   To keep your Easter Lily as long as possible, follow these guidelines.   First, look for lilies that are neither too tall or too short. Ideally, a plant’s height should be about twice the height...

Super plants; for many years, plants have been used medicinally.   In medieval times, a person carried with them small bunches of flowers called “nosegays” because they made the nose “happier,” allowing for ease in breathing.   Now there are a group of plants known as “super plants.”   These super plants have been recognized for being able to help clear the air in our homes. Our homes, while being more energy efficient and air tight, tend to hold in the toxins rather than allowing them to escape our homes.   The EPA states that the air in our homes is up to 5% more polluted than the air outside.   There are many toxins in our homes, stemming from household cleaners, furniture, carpeting and more.   Many people suffering with allergies and asthma probably suffer from these ailments because of those common household products.     Formaldehyde is a big offender in many homes.   It is a colorless, strong smelling gas that can irritate the bre...

When I think of green and St. Patty’s Day, for some reason, in addition to thinking of four- leaf clovers, I also think of moss.   I’m not really sure why, but I do.   Perhaps it is because moss is very versatile in both the indoor and outdoor landscapes. Moss is a Bryophyte.   A Bryophyte is a unique type of plant in that it has no true roots.   While moss is planted in the soil (preferably acidic soil), it obtains most of its nutrients from the air.   Some types of mosses are also found growing on rocks.   Moss lacks a lignified vascular system, therefore water and nutrients are transferred by osmosis or capillary action.   Capillary action is important for moving water (and all of the things that are dissolved in it) around. It is defined as the movement of water within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.   (http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/capillaryaction.html ).   Moss leaves are ...

It has been very mild this winter so far and that leaves us to worry about the bulbs and perennials already in the ground, especially the newer plantings.   In addition to the milder temperatures this year, the storm track is different as well, coming from the plains states and remaining further northwest than usual.   The resulting lack of snow in our area deprives our bulbs and perennials from necessary insulation. Mild winters can create a lot of freezing and thawing of the soil.   This in turn causes our perennials to heave up out of the ground, exposing the plants’ crowns to cold temperatures.   This results in damage to the plants and they may not come back the following spring as you would normally expect them to.   Warmer temperatures over the winter can also confuse plants and trees. The milder temperatures can cause these plants to try to begin to grow too early and they then become damaged by frosts and temperatures that drop below freezing. ...

There are many seeds that you can start indoors and then transplant outside when the air and soil temperatures are warmer and there is no longer the threat of frost.   Start by gathering some seed catalogs or look online to get some ideas for your area. Germination rates, seedling growth, transplant dates and time to maturity or flower vary by the plant.    Check the descriptions in the catalogs or on the seed packets to see how soon you’ll need to start the seeds indoors before they are of sufficient size to plant outdoors in warmer weather.    You’ll need the proper growing materials as well.   Seedlings are very delicate; you should purchase sterile planting medium, such as a seed starter mix or compressed pellets that expand when watered.   If using last year’s containers, they should be sterilized.   You can purchase seed starter kits in the store, which make it easy to get started with as they generally come with everything you need such...