A family of rabbits gathers each evening at dusk to nibble their way through the clover and creeping Charlie that populate our front ‘lawn.’ They prefer to nibble plants that we don’t cultivate and won’t miss. A motley mix of volunteer species, interspersed with a few grasses, grow in the open space between the patio and hedge. While we call it a ‘bee lawn,’ others might say our lawn is infested with weeds. What is a Weed? Any plant growing...
Do you have a hanging basket that is struggling in summer’s heat? Do you have plants under-performing because you can’t keep their container sufficiently watered? The Hydration Equation Keeping plants supplied with water and nutrients is an ongoing challenge with any container planting, especially with baskets and window boxes. Plants require water and nutrients for strong growth an abundant flowers. A hanging basket is an extreme environment for many plants. Baskets will dry out quickly on a scorching, sunny summer...
The Water-Wise Demonstration Project is located in front of the Human Services Center (HSC) at 5249 Olde Towne Road (shown here). About 10,500 people walk through this garden each year. They are generally families, often bilingual, seeking social services and affordable health services. Our water-wise garden provides a peaceful setting for them, showcasing a variety of drought-tolerant perennial plants in a low-maintenance, low-water setting. This year we’re reaching out in English and Spanish by posting what is blooming on a...
The Hot Dry Dog Days of Summer – It may seem, in the summer, like it is never raining enough and your lawn and garden need water daily. Before you drag hoses and sprinklers all over the yard, it’s important to know how much or how little water has fallen from the sky or been collected from your supplemental watering efforts. Installing a rain gauge is a quick and simple way to find out. It’s an easy way to measure the...
How do you deal with a patch of bare ground in your yard? That is the existential challenge of gardening, isn’t it? The first, most logical choice for many is to plant a lawn. We see lawns everywhere in our neighborhoods and public spaces. Grasses may be the default ground cover for many people. But a grassy lawn gets expensive. It costs time to maintain. It requires ongoing investments in grass seed, fertilizers and other chemicals to feed it...
Colorful and enticing plants fill every table and rack at garden centers in May. Even the most experienced gardener may feel a little overwhelmed with so many interesting choices. Annual or perennial? How big will this get? Will deer and bunnies eat it? How long will it last? Sun or shade? Will it grow in a pot? Will it stand the heat? How much care will it require? And most importantly, will it go the distance and survive all season?...
Colorful flowers and enticing plants fill every table and rack at garden centers right now. Even the most experienced gardener may feel a little overwhelmed with so many beautiful choices. Annual or perennial? How big will this get? Will deer and bunnies eat it? How long will it bloom? Sun or shade? Will it grow in a pot? Will it stand the heat? How much care will it require? And most importantly, will it go the distance and survive all...
Written by Patsy McGrady, Master Gardener, Class of 2010 Q. Why should I get a soil test and how do I get one? A. Gardening without a soil test is like cooking without a recipe. Sometimes the results are good, and other times, not so good. A soil test identifies the pH of the soil and states whether the soil needs to have lime added. The report provides the level of various nutrients in the soil, such as phosphorus, potash,...
In the fall of 2021, the JCCW Master Gardeners were invited by the Jamestown Settlement to design and install a native plant demonstration and herb garden just outside the visitors’ center cafe. After meeting with Jamestown management, touring the site, and developing a project proposal, a team was formed to get the project going. In January 2022, team leads Angela Cingale and Judy Kinshaw-Ellis met with Bain Schultz, the grounds department supervisor for both Jamestown and Yorktown, to get an...
The bright flash of a butterfly’s wing brings instant joy. My mind clears for a moment of rapt attention to see what sort of butterfly it is. Where is it flying? Where is it feeding? Will it stay in our yard? Whatever had been churning through my mind evaporates in that moment of pure beauty. Birdsong in the morning gently pulls me back from dreams, and we hear birds chattering and calling throughout the day, flying from shrub to tree. ...