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Archives for August 2011

Plants and Climate

When winter comes, we who live in the temperate zone button up our overcoats, don stadium boots and perhaps even wear earmuffs to keep out the cold. That’s our way of coping with the climate in which we live. But how do plants living in the temperate zone cope with the cold season? Plant species […]

Tulip Planting Plans

Tulips are among the most brilliant and most cheerful of spring flowering plants. Fortunately, too, they are among the easiest to work with in the creation of artistic landscape effects. If you buy top grade bulbs and follow a practical plan when you plant them this fall, tulips just can’t disappoint you. Check out ==>> […]

Stapelia Variegata – The Earth Bound Star

If you found a stapelia growing on a window sill on Mars, it wouldn’t surprise you. Even in its native Africa, this strange plant has an out-of-this-world look. Botanically, it is described as a succulent with four-angled. leafless stems. It grows quite close to the ground. never reaching more than a foot in height. All […]

Blooming Lilies In Our Home Greenhouse

Lilies, potted in September and October made a terrific show of color in our greenhouse last year. For a number of years, we have grown the usual varieties of Lilium longiflorum along with some of the hardies like auratum and regal. But it wasn’t until we added some of the newer hybrids to the old […]

A Garden Cleanup Now Will Pay Off in Healthier Plants Next Year

Another growing season is about to end in the more northerly parts of our country, and frosts can soon be expected in New England, upstate New York and in the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains areas. It is not too early, therefore, for you to reminisce over the past gardening season and begin to […]

How To Grow Potted Lilies

Question: I would like to grow some lilies in pots so they can be moved around on our patio and terrace or even the front porch when they are in flower. What is the best way to grow them in pots? Shelia, Chilhowee, Tennessee Answer: Shelia, the lily’s needs are no different from those of […]

For Real Houseplant Beauty Grow Gloxinias!

Gloxinias, to my mind, are the most strikingly attractive and most nearly perfect of all houseplants. In fact, by comparison with them, many popular houseplants seem hardly worth growing at all! For color, size and number of their flowers, they have few if any rivals, and for overall appearance of the plant they stand second […]

Coldframes August Pointers and Tips for Northern Gardeners

Question: What can we put in our coldframe at this time of year (August) it seems a shame not to use it. Brooke, Williamsport, Pennsylvania Answer: Brooke, if garden space is scarce, vegetable seeds can be sown in the coldframe and transplanted later. In the colder sections, lettuce, endive and Chinese cabbage can be brought […]