GARDENVT

February , 2012

2012-02-01T10:19:00.001-05:00

In FebruaryMy windchime fell -- the string broke,
and before the light had left the afternoon
I saw through the window that it had fallen.
I went out in my shoes on the leaves and stones
where the ground and broken branches slope down,
and I peeered and squinted in the cold grey space
for the gleam of gold on the brown.
I found it against the wall, but crippled:
it had lost a delicate metal piece
so that, more than ever like me,
the wind could hardly make it sing.
The wind blew when I came back in,
but I was not tempted to hang the chime again,
so it lay crumpled on the table
until another time, safe for new string,
which slowly decays after days of rain.

Sibalan Forrester

January, 2012

2012-01-12T17:30:00.002-05:00

The Garden in Winter

Frosty-white and cold it lies
Underneath the fretful skies;
Snowflakes flutter where the red
Banners of the poppies spread,
And the drifts are wide and deep
Where the lilies fell asleep.

But the sunsets o'er it throw
Flame-like splendor, lucent glow,
And the moonshine makes it gleam
Like a wonderland of dream,
And the sharp winds all the day
Pipe and whistle shrilly gay.

Safe beneath the snowdrifts lie
Rainbow buds of by-and-by;
In the long, sweet days of spring
Music of bluebells shall ring,
And its faintly golden cup
Many a primrose will hold up.

Though the winds are keen and chill
Roses' hearts are beating still,
And the garden tranquilly
Dreams of happy hours to be
In the summer days of blue
All its dreamings will come true.
Lucy Maud Montgomery

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2011

2011-11-08T09:34:00.001-05:00

DAISIES IN BURLINGTON 11-08-11. AMAZING!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2011

2011-10-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

Aster 'Purple Dome'

DWARF ASTER

Lots of folks wondering about the pretty light purple flowers proliferating in Chittenden County this October. They are the Aster dumosus 'Danny Boy', also known as Michaelmas daisies; or Aster novae-angeliae 'Purple Dome'. The latter is a darker colored variety; the 'Danny Boy' is more lavender.
Home Depot has been selling the 'Purple Dome', which might explain the increase in sightings.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011

2011-10-24T09:04:00.000-04:00

October (section I)

by Louise Glück

Is it winter again, is it cold again,
didn't Frank just slip on the ice,
didn't he heal, weren't the spring seeds planted

didn't the night end,
didn't the melting ice
flood the narrow gutters

wasn't my body
rescued, wasn't it safe

didn't the scar form, invisible
above the injury

terror and cold,
didn't they just end, wasn't the back garden
harrowed and planted--

I remember how the earth felt, red and dense,
in stiff rows, weren't the seeds planted,
didn't vines climb the south wall

I can't hear your voice
for the wind's cries, whistling over the bare ground

I no longer care
what sound it makes

when was I silenced, when did it first seem
pointless to describe that sound

what it sounds like can't change what it is--

didn't the night end, wasn't the earth
safe when it was planted

didn't we plant the seeds,
weren't we necessary to the earth,

the vines, were they harvested?

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

2011-10-11T10:05:00.001-04:00

'Sunny Day' Coreopsis - Can you spot the bumblebee?

Lots of luck this summer with various Coreopsis, or is the plural Coreopsi, or maybe Coreopsisis. Ha- ha. Who knows.
These plants are one of the workhorses of the garden, with long-lasting blooms and very low on the "needy" scale. Just plop them somewhere with a lot of sun, deadhead 'em once in a while, and they'll do the rest. This particular cultivar is hardy to 30 freaking below. Man!
Now that I'm thinking of it, A lot of my customers don't grow Coreopsis. Maybe this snappy little plant will be moved up on my recommendation list.
If you love the color yellow, go for it!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

2011-10-03T17:15:00.000-04:00

Cosmos in an Essex Center field

One of the pleasures of being a working gardener is plying my trade in the most beautiful of locations. On a stunning early fall day in Essex Center, I had the pleasure of dividing old treasured Peonies, a family of such going back generations.
The roots were the size of Baby Ruth candy bars, some of them, and the flowers back in June were not spectacular, meaning it was time to cut 'em up. At the end, I was honored with a few divisions, which is a great perk in my business.
Throwing Peonies back in the ground can be tricky; plant too shallow and the eyes freeze, plant too deep and you might not get great blooms, if any at all.

Here's a link to a cool Peony place on the web. Peony's Envy is a well known nursery in New Jersey.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

2011-09-27T09:57:00.000-04:00

Hey! It's not 4 o'clock yet!

* My Four O'clocks woke up early this morning. Maybe it was the beautiful sunny start to the day.
I'd like to say I have a green thumb when it comes to Mirabilis, but not really. Truth is...I CAN'T GET RID OF 'EM. But I'm actually happy about it now, since they give off fall color.

*Some other flowers notable for fall color are Marigolds, Asters, Zinnias and Dusty Miller. If you plant Dusty Miller in late spring, don't give up the ship if they look beleaguered during the summer - they usually come back to a roaring presence in late summer/early fall.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

2011-09-20T09:51:00.001-04:00

SEDUM COMING

Yup. It's Sedum time. A bittersweet experience, knowing that the beautiful fall season is here, but also knowing that driving on icy roads is right around the corner. Oh, c'mon Brian - just enjoy autumn and worry about winter some other day!

SEDUM TIDBITS

Also known as Stonecrop, which is the perfect name to me. I have a gardening client who has pink Sedum growing on a bank with stones interspersed. Great contrast.
After the first frost this fall, cut the stems back to about an inch from the soil.
Every spring, sprinkle some compost around the base. No need for fancy additives.

And...
Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant’s living roof has 10.4 acres of Sedum!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

2011-09-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

Turtleheads

*What a welcome sight in September to have our dear Turtleheads back with us.
I have two clients, one in Burlington and one in Essex, graced with the presence of the genus Chelone (kay-LOW-nee), otherwise known to most of us as Turtleheads, or Hot Lips.
These pretty pink flowers give great color to a garden in September, when choices are limited. Chelone is Zone 4 hardy, requires adequate moisture, and some type of acidy soil amendment once in a while, maybe some coffee grounds.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

2011-09-05T12:23:00.000-04:00

These baby blue Petunias (pictured above) have been cranking since May. Amazing! We threw in some Dusty Miller for contrast.
Petunias are native to Argentina and are really a tropical flower, which is why I wait til the end of May to plant them - I find they are stronger, more vibrant and last longer if I don't throw them in the ground too early.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

2011-08-29T23:30:00.000-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen - the...Honeysuckle

We've been waiting for the splendid Lonicera (Trumpet Honeysuckle) sempervirens to dazzle us; it's at its best right now. A little unruly, but, hey, that's what my shears are for.

I'm always interested where plant names come from - Lonicera come from the dashing renaissance botanist Adam Lonicer, who, in 1500's Germany, was a doctor, math whiz, botanist, publisher, writer and scholar. Whew! I guess one can accomplish a bunch when one isn't tied to a TV or cell phone.

I'm always reminded to mulch the roots of my client's Honeysuckle, never do, and the thing always looks fabulous, darling. La-de-da.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

2011-08-22T19:57:00.001-04:00

3-in-1 Butterfly Bush

Hydrangea - up close and personal

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

What a great time for Butterfly Bush lovers. One of my clients has a beautiful multi-color Buddleia, ordered through a catalog. The lavender, magenta and white flowers are mixed together and look positively stunning - right now. Up top is a pic of a 3-in-1 Butterfly Bush from Spring Hill Nursery.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011

2011-08-15T21:52:00.001-04:00

A COUNTRY INCIDENT

Absorbed in planting bulbs, that work of hope,
I was startled by a loud human voice,
“Do go on working while I talk. Don’t stop!”
And I was caught upon the difficult choice—
To yield the last half hour of precious light,
Or to stay on my knees, absurd and rude;
I willed her to be gone with all my might,
This kindly neighbor who destroyed a mood;
I could not think of next spring any more,
I had to re-assess the way I live.
Long after I went in and closed the door,
I pondered on the crude imperative.

What it is to be caught up in each day
Like a child fighting imaginary wars,
Converting work into this passionate play,
A rounded whole made up of different chores
Which one might name haphazard meditation.
And yet an unexpected call destroys
Or puts to rout my primitive elation:
Why be so serious about mere joys?
Is this where some outmoded madness lies,
Poet as recluse? No, what comes to me
Is how my father looked out of his eyes,
And how he fought for his own passionate play.

He could tear up unread and throw away
Communications from officialdom,
And, courteous in every other way,
Would not brook anything that kept him from
Those lively dialogues with man’s whole past
That were his intimate and fruitful pleasure.
Impetuous, impatient to the last,
“Be adamant, keep clear, strike for your treasure!”
I hear the youthful ardor in his voice
(And so I must forgive a self in (labor).
I feel his unrepentant smiling choice,
(And so I ask forgiveness of my neighbor).

May Sarton

(If one enjoys the garden, one might appreciate May Sarton's journals, especially Plant Dreaming Deep)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

2011-08-09T22:36:00.001-04:00


GLOBE THISTLE DOING WHAT THEY DO If you are looking for a cool perennial that can go for a while without water, try the Globe Thistle, or Echinops. Also, GT makes a super cut flower, lasting for weeks in the vase. If you have a friend with too much Thistle, they (the plant, not the friend) can be divided in the spring. Hint, hint.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011

2011-08-02T23:08:00.000-04:00

What is more beautiful - a rainbow or Phlox?

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

* It's time for the Phlox festival! This wonderful native plant is a joy for working gardeners, as it gives us a shout from Mother Nature, as if she is saying," Hey, I ain't done yet!"

Please don't let water puddle up with Phlox; they can suffer from mildew and fungi, along with mites looking for food and moisture.

Believe it or not, Phlox don't need a lot of fert this time of year, better to give them a good dose in the spring.
Have you seen hummingbirds feeding from your Phlox? Turns out that Phlox has a high nectar count, enabling the H-birds to beef up for their winter trip down south.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011

2011-07-25T22:48:00.001-04:00

HOLY COLEUS, BATMAN!

* Remember - you can take cuttings from Coleus in the fall and grow neat looking houseplants for winter. Most Coleus root easily.

* The variety 'Black Magic', is sun tolerant and can hang out in crappy soil.

* If you keep Coleus inside, don't water too much. Let the soil dry a bit before watering. If your Coleus is outside, don't let it stay wet. It's a tropical plant, and is semi-drought tolerant.

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011

2011-07-19T09:49:00.003-04:00


Quiz: What are these?

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

'Magic Fire'

Spent yesterday planting Rhododendrons and 'Magic Fire' Hydrangeas. With Rhodies, one must make sure not to set the base in too deep, for the roots are shallow and poor placement can affect flower production. With the 'Magic Fire', the flowers turn, magically, from white to red in late summer.

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

2011-07-13T23:31:00.000-04:00

July blooming 'Lion King' Iris


3 shades of Astilbe

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

Planted some Dwarf Bee Balm for a customer today (Monarda x. 'Petite Delight'). Beautiful lavender pink flowers and dark green foliage. Let's see if it stays at a foot and a half!
What a glorious time to have many colors of Astilbe to greet us in the morn. The reds, pinks, creams and lilacs. An old-timer told me that Astilbes can be divided even in flower but I've never tried it. They are one tough plant, though.
Want an Iris that is still in bloom in July? Think about the 'Lion King', a stately Japanese Iris which is lighter purple with a splash of white. A customer has three in bloom right now, July 14.(See above pic which came from White Flower Farm)

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011

2011-07-07T21:23:00.000-04:00

WISH THE MAGNOLIA TREE WAS STILL IN BLOOM

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

- Time to give the tomatoes some chow; they like seafood, more particularly fish emulsion. After spreading it, you just have to hold your nose for a couple of days!
- Aren't the Astilbes brilliant this year, most likely from the soggy spring. One of my clients has a beautiful spread of burgundy, creme and soft red Astilbes mixed in with some cute Primula. Or would it be Primuli?
- Ahhh! My Brussel Sprout leaves have holes! Time to get in the shed and see where I misplaced the Neem Oil.
- The Jerusalem Artichokes are getting there, about 7 feet tall and looking feisty. Can't wait for those darling yellow flowers. Thanks for the division, Gwen. I hope you can smell the flowers from above.
- Sometimes I can't believe I get paid to weed, among other things. Weeding can be super when one has Bach Cello Suites on the headphones.

23rd of June, 2011

2011-06-23T10:06:00.001-04:00


Lovely iris hangin' with Sammy Spirea

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

- Still planting. Threw in some Cinnamon Basil (cute little flowers), Peppermint, Greek Oregano and dill.
- Some tips for your annuals.
   Celosia - they love sun but droop if overwatered.
   Cosmos - only water if plant is wilting.
   Marigold - deadhead liberally
   Petunias - love the sun and water

- Hollytoned the Astilbes, as they like their dirt on the acidic side.
- Peonies saying bye-bye. Must remember to add wood ash to the roots this fall.

11th OF JUNE, 2011

2011-06-09T14:44:00.001-04:00

HEAVENLY SHOT OF THE RHODIES IN THE SUN

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011

2011-05-24T11:14:00.000-04:00

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

THE INSIDE OF A FOXGLOVE (Digitalis)

* Planted "Ruby Glow" Sedum, making sure to ensure plenty of air circulation, to avoid rot, which can happen with these buggers.

* After working in the garden, it's time for Iris spring. (pun, pun, pun)

* If one hasn't cleaned up their ornamental grasses, one should promptly do it now.

* Threw some coffee grounds around the Bleeding Hearts and could swear they instantly got stronger, bigger, and better!

* Planted some Dutchman's Pipe. (They're great if you need something to climb up the side of the house!)

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011

2011-05-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

Lots of rain - lots of Trilliums

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

* Almost time to put in the Supertunias; they are remarkable annuals that come in cool colors, a vibrant pink, black velvet, sangria, and many more.
* Great time to sprinkle some coffee grounds around the Astilbes; they like their soil a little on the acidy side. With all this rain, my personal Astilbes are looking strong.
* Had some extra Muracid left, so I threw it on the Bleeding Hearts. Keep an eye out for aphids on these plants.
* I have one client with healthy Geraniums all over the place. I like to shake them and smell the sweet perfume for a while.
* Put up the Peony cages

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011

2011-05-09T10:43:00.000-04:00

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

Lilac injured yet putting out buds

* Cut back Buddleia Davidii; a little late for my taste
but soon enough not to do any harm.
* Also cut back Astilbe; new growth looking positive.
* Spread coffee grounds around Rhodies and Viburnums.
* Cut back Dusty Millers. They are a tricky plant; in some areas in Chittenden County they thrive with zero attention, other areas they need protection, ie: near a wall or hedging.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011

2011-04-29T08:40:00.000-04:00

DAILY "ROUNDUP"

Do you use Roundup or know someone that does? Check this out from Dr Mercola.

Monsanto Chemical Shown to Cause Infertility and Super Weeds

Posted By Dr. Mercola | April 29 2011 | 4,699 views

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Monsanto's herbicidal chemical glyphosate could cause infertility or cancer. It may also be speeding the growth of super weeds and causing worrying changes to plants and soil.
The chemical, which has long been touted as a safe part of global food production, is now at a crossroads. Regulators in the United States and Canada are conducting a formal review of glyphosate's safety, even as lawsuits are pending and some groups are calling for a global ban.
According to Reuters:

"Environmentalists, consumer groups and plant scientists from several countries are warning that heavy use of the chemical over the years is causing dangerous problems for plants, people and animals alike."

Monsanto is also only an FDA approval away from its latest monstrosity -- soybeans that have been genetically modified to produce omega-3 fats. That FDA approval is expected this year.
Monsanto plans to include GM soybean oil in every product it can -- baked goods, baking mixes, breakfast cereals, cheeses, frozen dairy desserts, pasta, gravies and sauces, fruit juices, snack foods, candy, soups, and more.
According to Forbes:

"Monsanto is so despised by environmentalists that Google's first suggested search term for the St. Louis company is 'Monsanto evil.' Readers ... voted Monsanto the world's most evil corporation in a January poll, giving the corporation a whopping 51 percent of the vote."

Marie-Monique Robin, author of The World According To Monsanto, says that for all Monsanto's talk about the ecological and humanitarian benefits of its chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the solutions have never been delivered.
According to Robin's extensive documentation, this is because what really matters to Monsanto is control of the world seed market. To that end, they have genetically engineered seeds that are resistant to, and therefore dependent on, Roundup, Monsanto's herbicide, which nets them gigantic profits.
Green Left reports:

"GMOs and Roundup, says Robin, are amongst the 'most dangerous products of modern times', joining a list that is heavily populated by other Monsanto products such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and bovine growth hormones.
In all cases, Monsanto has been fully aware of their harmfulness yet has lied about their dangers with an impunity conferred by the collusion between the company and the public health and environmental authorities of successive U.S. governments."

You can click on the Green Left link below to read the full story of Monsanto's criminal history.

Sources:

Reuters April 8, 2011

Forbes April 11, 2011

Green Left March 27, 2011

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Glyphosate, the world's bestselling weed killer and the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, is emerging as one of the most dangerous Monsanto products to date.
As the mastermind behind polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and bovine growth hormones, Monsanto is no stranger to toxic products -- PCBs alone have polluted the planet for decades and health risks remain to this day -- but the vast quantities of Roundup being poured over U.S. land could lead to damage of unprecedented proportions.
In a letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, retired Purdue University professor Don Huber warned that tests show glyphosate "could be contributing to spontaneous abortions and infertility in pigs, cattle and other livestock," Reuters reported. The chemical has also been linked to a growing army of superweeds that now cover about 11 million acres of farmland, up fivefold from just three years ago, according to Penn State weed scientist David Mortensen.
Today there are more than 750 products in the United States that contain glyphosate, and the problems to human health and the environment are only slated to get worse if drastic changes are not made in the massive use of Roundup herbicide across the United States.

How Did Roundup Become so Popular?

Millions of pounds of Roundup are used every year on U.S. gardens, lawns and farms. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSP synthase, which is necessary for plants to grow. Without it, plants are unable to produce essential proteins so they slowly yellow and die.
Ordinarily, if you were to spray Roundup on crops, it would kill them . So Monsanto created genetically modified (GM) Roundup Ready crops, which produce an enzyme that has the same function as EPSP synthase, but is not affected by Roundup. This allows farmers to liberally spray Roundup directly onto their Roundup Ready crops, killing only weeds and leaving the crops to grow unharmed.
However, this convenience comes at a steep price, as evidence shows that Roundup's active ingredient glyphosate is actually devastating crops and human and animal health around the world.

Cancer, Infertility and Plague Epidemics

GM expert Jeffrey Smith has reported that glyphosate promotes the formation of certain types of fungi that are dangerous to people and contaminate food and animal feed. One such fungi, the Fusarium fungus, has been linked to plague epidemics, cancer, infertility and animal diseases.
Residues of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide found in GM food and feed have also been linked to cell damage and death, even at very low levels. Researchers have also found it causes membrane and DNA damage, and inhibits cell respiration.
And in one animal study, rats given 1,000 mg/kg of glyphosate resulted in a 50 percent mortality rate, and skeletal alterations were observed in over 57 percent of fetuses!
It's also possible that glyphosate is significantly altering the nutrient content of our food, through its chelating mechanism, leading to widespread mineral deficiencies in animals and humans. Smith writes:
"The same nutrients that glyphosate chelates and deprives plants are also vital for human and animal health. These include iron, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, boron, and others. Deficiencies of these elements in our diets, alone or in combination, are known to interfere with vital enzyme systems and cause a long list of disorders and diseases …
Glyphosate-induced mineral deficiencies can easily go unidentified and untreated. Even when laboratory tests are done, they can sometimes detect adequate mineral levels, but miss the fact that glyphosate has already rendered them unusable.
Glyphosate can tie up minerals for years and years, essentially removing them from the pool of nutrients available for plants, animals, and humans. If we combine the more than 135 million pounds of glyphosate-based herbicides applied in the US in 2010 with total applications over the past 30 years, we may have already eliminated millions of pounds of nutrients from our food supply."

A Threat to Future Food Crops (and the Food Chain That Depends on Them)

Monsanto's Roundup weed killer is thought to be contributing to Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a deadly plant disease that causes plants to turn yellow and die.
Numerous studies have linked glyphosate to increases in SDS, including in crops that have never been sprayed with the herbicide but were planted in a field that received an application the previous season.
If an herbicide were actually weakening crops, wouldn't farmers know? Not necessarily, as the herbicide does not kill plants outright. Rather, it creates what Jeffrey Smith calls "a unique perfect storm of conditions" that ultimately weakens the plants and promotes disease.
This includes:
Acting as a chelator of vital nutrients, depriving plants of the nutrients necessary for healthy plant function
Destroying beneficial soil organisms that suppress disease-causing organisms and help plants absorb nutrients
Interfering with photosynthesis, reducing water use efficiency, shortening root systems and causing plants to release sugars, which changes soil pH
Stunting and weakening plant growth
Promoting disease-causing organisms in soil, which then overtake the weakened crops
Roundup may actually be changing the makeup of soil and boosting the number of disease-causing organisms, a deadly recipe for crops around the globe.
As Don Huber stated:
"There are more than 40 diseases of crop plants that are reported to increase with the use of glyphosate, and that number keeps growing as people recognize the association between glyphosate and disease."

Superweeds are Getting Out of Control

More than 75 percent of soybeans, 65 percent of cotton, and 10 percent of corn grown in the United States contain the GM Roundup Ready gene -- and all of these crops receive numerous applications of Roundup each and every year. Even John Ramsay, chief financial officer of plant sciences company Syngenta, told Reuters:
"Glyphosate resistance has built up to quite concerning levels in the United States … It is not surprising that with every single farmer pouring glyphosate over virtually every acre, plant life is going to have something to say about it."
Indeed, it's estimated that more than 130 types of weeds spanning 40 U.S. states are now herbicide-resistant. As a result, farmers are applying even more herbicides to crops. This is, in fact, the National Research Council's advice to farmers who are facing issues with superweeds:
"In particular, farmers who grow GE [genetically engineered] herbicide-resistant crops should not rely exclusively on glyphosate and need to incorporate a range of weed management practices, including using other herbicide mixes."
But applying even more chemicals to the soil is only adding to the problem, as Center for Food Safety analyst Bill Freese told Reuters.
"That is going to spell big problems... even larger problems with herbicide-resistant weeds … It will just accelerate this toxic spiral of increased pesticide use."

Monsanto's in it for the Money

Monsanto long used the slogans, "It's Safer than Mowing," "Biodegradable," and "Environmentally Friendly" to describe Roundup -- until the real effects of this toxic herbicide were revealed and they were forced to discontinue their deceptive advertising. As always, their ultimate goal remains to protect their lucrative profits and virtual monopoly over GM crops and related herbicide use.
In 2010, glyphosate-based herbicides including Roundup brought in more than $2 billion in sales for Monsanto.
As Green Left Weekly reported:
"All Monsanto's talk about the ecological and humanitarian miracles of its chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is so much hot air, says Marie-Monique Robin in The World According To Monsanto.
The reduction of pesticide pollution, the end of world hunger, plants producing biodegradable plastics, corn containing antibodies against cancer -- none of these promised GMO solutions have been delivered.
This is because what really matters to Monsanto, as Robin documents, is control of the world seed market and the genetic engineering of those seeds to be resistant to, and therefore dependent on, Roundup, Monsanto's herbicide with the real miracle; gigantic profits."
Unfortunately, as it stands Monsanto is set to introduce even more GM crops to the marketplace, with their latest creation -- soybeans genetically modified to produce omega-3 fats -- just one FDA approval away.

Will the EPA Take Action Before it's Too Late?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finally looking into the damaging effects of glyphosate on humans and the environment and plans to make a decision regarding its future by 2015. At that time, Roundup could either continue to be used as it is now, be required to have some modifications to its use or be banned from use entirely in the United States.
Hopefully they will not continue their history of leniency with the chemical. As Reuters reported:
"Though the Food Quality Protection Act requires the EPA to use an extra tenfold (10X) safety factor to protect infants and children from effects of the pesticide, the agency determined there was adequate data available to show that the margin of safety for glyphosate could be reduced to only a 1X factor."
The potential health ramifications of these worldwide experiments with our food supply are frightening to say the least. And unfortunately the EPA will NOT be conducting its own studies for the glyphosate review, but rather will be reviewing data that comes from the agricultural chemicals industry, including Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow Chemical and BASF. Industry-funded studies are notorious for being biased in favor of the corporate side, so only time will tell whether the EPA's review will be beneficial for public health and the environment -- or big business.
In the meantime, if you care about the health and future of your family, I strongly urge you to refuse to participate in this destructive trend and help to give Monsanto the boot.
By boycotting all GM foods and instead supporting organic (and local) farmers who do not use Monsanto's GM seeds, you are using your wallet to make your opinions known.
Most people want to avoid GMOs but it is virtually impossible to do so, since the government prevents GMO labeling.
However, Jeffrey Smith has compiled a resource for you to avoid the government block of information -- the free Non-GMO Shopping Guide. You can also print out the Non-GMO Shopping Guide and give it to your friends and family.
By making your shopping choices according to this guide, you can help ensure that Monsanto will fall further and further from public favor, until one day perhaps they will disappear from the radar entirely.

March 22, 2011

2011-03-22T10:01:00.001-04:00

Hi folks -

Crocus Pocus

- Guess whose Crocuses are blooming. Yes. The purple and yellow darlings are on their way. It helps to have them close to the house, facing east.

Batman and Robin

-Super gardeners and WJOY showmen Charlie Nardozzi and Len Perry teaming up for a tour of Vermont gardens and nurseries in July. Some of the places visited will be the Rockefeller gardens in Woodstock, Hayward Gardens in Putney, and Walker Farms in Dummerston. Here's a link from Perry's Perennials.

Get Crabby

If you have crabapple trees, now is the time to prune 'em. If you can get through the snow, that is.

MARCH 3, 2011

2011-03-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

Hi folks -

THEY"RE BACK
It's a sure sign of spring when you turn on WJOY in March and hear Charlie and Ginny talking "In the Garden".
Yup, their first show of 2011 was this morn, and they mentioned various flower shows, seed starting (get your onions going!), new varieties and a few other things. Charlie was also told that he needs singing lessons from Stan the Cabbie. Good stuff. Catch the replay Saturday at 10 a.m.

VERMONT FLOWER SHOW

Heard some grumbling about the 15 dollar admission charge at the upcoming Vermont Flower show.
It'll cost a family of four about 36 bucks just to get in the door. Wow! Hope it's worth it.

2011-03-03T12:22:00.003-05:00

Essex Junction squirrel enjoying cookie
Click photo to enlarge

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011

2011-02-26T16:28:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER 13, 2010

2010-12-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a great season!

We'll be back in February.

November 22, 2010

2010-11-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

Working Gardener's Journal

- Working near the lake today. The Echinacea are still in bloom! November 20!
- Put down some HollyTone plant food for the Rhodies, Mags, Azaleas, Hollies and a few others and then covered them for the winter with shredded leaves. Works wonders every year.
- Red Maples dumped their leaves this week, the latest I've seen for these trees.
- Am doing an experiment with the Peonies this year. Half of them were cut down to 3 inches, the other half left alone. I'll report back next spring.
- Super Wave Petunias were truly super this year.
Be back next week.

October 14, 2010

2010-10-14T09:59:00.000-04:00

Working Gardener's Journal

- Ornamental peppers forging on, still looking perky; Dusty Miller makes nice companion. (picture above)
- Placed 8" Dianthus under Weeping Pea Shrub. Another nice combo.
- Finally cutting back Echinacea to ground. How sad.
- Moved some Daylilies. Wanted to do it earlier but didn't. Oh well - Daylilies are tough customers, they'll be okay.
- Put down some rubber mulch for client. Not a big fan of it, but neither are the bugs.
- Mulching leaves for future acid-loving plant mulch.

Working Gardener's Journal 9-15-10

2010-09-15T17:02:00.000-04:00

- Planted Moonshine Yarrow, TS Coreopsis, Baja Daylilies, Russian Sage, Ground Sage, Chocolate Chip Ajuba and Coneflower, can't remember which one.

- Removed pesky oak leaves from the Autumn Joy Sedum. Oak leaves are surely not Autumn joy!

- Cleaned the water garden pumps. Found a dead frog and a bunch of Maple leaves.

Morning Glory

August 28, 2010

2010-08-28T20:39:00.000-04:00

meadow rue

AUGUST 24, 2010

2010-08-24T20:34:00.004-04:00


WHAT ARE THEY?

GARDENING NEWS - AUGUST 10, 2010

2010-08-10T19:08:00.003-04:00

Big Red Hibiscus

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL

- Make sure Barber plants and Hollyhocks are staked.
- Cut Hosta stems
- Read the riot act to Clemmy, making sure the Clematis doesn't get too out of control on the arbor.
- Oh - stake the Buddleia "Lavender Eyes."
- Stop and enjoy the multi-colored Phlox.
- Plant spinach NOW!

GARDENING NEWS 08-01-10

2010-08-01T22:54:00.001-04:00

Gayflowers ready for takeoff

GARDENING NEWS, JULY 19, 2010

2010-07-19T23:17:00.000-04:00

'WILLIAM BAFFIN' ROSES HANGIN' OUT AT THE HORT FARM

Hort Farm Workday
Workday on Saturday, July 17, tidying up the wonderful perennial beds at the UVM Hort Farm in South Burlington. Under the gentle guidance of Brian Vaughan, curator, an intrepid crew of 10 or so braved the heat and pulled weeds in record time, allowing us to stop for a break and a refreshing snack of lemonade and...DAYLILIES! Yup. We munched on Daylily flowers, which have a smooth texture and a buttery taste. Yum.

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 16, 2010

2010-07-16T22:19:00.001-04:00

LION KING IRIS from Gardener's Supply

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL
- Liatris (Gay Feather) is marvelous. Simply marvelous, Darling. About 6 feet high and a soft purple flower like you read about.
- Bee Balm is cranking.
- Corn needs some rain
- Little yellow Coreopsis flowering and happy - loves sun!
- Hostas in Chittenden County in full bloom - looking good thanks to all the water in June
- Just one Clematis flower so far - hmmm.

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 9, 2010

2010-07-10T22:32:00.001-04:00

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL
- Experimented this year with single sunflower, away from others. Wonderful result, as seen.
- Planted incredibly cute PURPLE ornamental pepper plants for client. Found at Claussen's.
- Had to trim Redbud tree. How do you kill those things?
- Leaving radish plants around just for the heck of it and not doing anything to them. Voila! Cute flowers on tall growth.
- Splendid color from Japanese Lilac about now. Off red. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
- My own Jerusalem Artichokes are about ready to pop. Mellow yellow.

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 2, 2010

2010-07-02T23:10:00.001-04:00

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL
Tying up Baptisia ( getting tall -the best is yet to come)
Cutting back spent Poppy foliage
Slightly trimming Rose detritus
Weeding around Buddleia
Planting wonderful ornamental purple pepper plant
Creating air circ for Delphs
Great anticipation for very healthy Jerusalem Artichokes
Hydrangeas starting to bloom (blue)
Potentillas looking nice

GARDENING NEWS - JUNE 26, 2010

2010-06-25T23:03:00.002-04:00

THIS BEAUTY, AN INDIAN HOLLYHOCK, BLOOMED TODAY IN ESSEX.

Working gardener's journal

- Radishes are gone -can still be picked but mostly too spicy or mushy in flavor and texture
- Good June for corn. Corn loves the above average rainfall we're receiving.
- Still putting Zinnias in the ground. No problemo.
- Don't weedwack the Mallow. It's going to flower sometime.
- Very healthy Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Horseradish in client's gardens.

LIGHT OF HEAVEN SHINING ON LOVELY MOUNTAIN LAUREL

JUNE 14, 2010 IT IS.

2010-06-14T12:36:00.000-04:00

GARDENING NEWS - JUNE, 2010

2010-06-05T21:57:00.001-04:00

Hang in there, Weigela!

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL (continuing series)
6/5/2010

Tending client's garden today in Burlington near the lake.
Weigela on its way out, starting to drop pretty crimson flowers on the ground.
Rhodies in full sun still looking glorious, others in the shade pretty much gone.
Getting rid of pesky excess Tradescantia, though I adore the cute little purple flowers. Kind of hate to get rid of it but it spreads so quickly. Named after John Tradescant, England, 1500's.
Sweet, compact flowering Almond has finished it's run; what a glorious spring production.
Beautiful creamy white Peonies in full ambrosial bloom.
Roses looking heavenly.
Very pretty pinkish-red Columbine, beaming.
Buddleia starting to crank into overdrive.
Viburnum peeking out with little white bloomies.
Translucent special Hostas looking really cool.
Lupine, in purple and white, standing tall and proud.

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

2010-05-24T10:20:00.001-04:00

On May Morning
by John Milton

Now the bright morning Star, Day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing,
Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

2010-05-19T09:24:00.000-04:00

BLOOMTIME FESTIVAL RAPIDLY APPROACHING

With everything blooming so early, an added bonus to the fest will be the glorious Rhododendrons.

May 22, Saturday
10am – 3pm
16th Annual Bloomtime Festival & Burlington Garden Club (BGC) 76th Anniversary Plant Sale!
Open to the public. Come awaken your senses to the scents of lilacs, flowering crabapples, magnolias and more! Perennials, lilacs and gardening books will be on sale. UVM Greenhouse will be on hand selling indoor plants.

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

2010-05-11T08:54:00.005-04:00

WORKING GARDENER'S JOURNAL (continuing series)

Look at this cute little Hardy Almond growing by the lake in Burlington. Pic was taken May 13.

Hardy Almonds have delightful pale pink flowers in late spring (usually) and don't require a heck of a lot of maintenance. The care I've given this one over the years has basically consisted of keeping the weeds from surrounding the base and throwing down some shredded leaves in the fall. No fertilizer, very little compost.

14th ANNUAL FLYNN GARDEN TOUR IS IN ...BURLINGTON

If you remember, last year's tour was in the Champlain Islands, and was very well received. In 2008 it was South Burlington, and 2007, Essex . Here's the info from the Flynn.

Burlington Hosts 14th Annual Flynn Garden Tour

Sunday, July 11, 2010, 10 am to 3 pm
Tea included from 3 to 4 pm
Tickets go on sale May 25.

Friends of the Flynn bring its renowned Flynn Garden Tour back home to Burlington this year for a look at a variety of exceptional private gardens. This tour will delight both master gardeners and green thumbed novices alike. Enjoy garden talks, lunch, afternoon tea, and a raffle, all while helping support the Flynn's work with schoolchildren.

Contact Gina Haddock at 802-652-4533 or rhaddock@flynncenter.org for more information or for volunteer opportunities. We rely on enthusiastic volunteers to assist with organizing and supporting the tour, running the garden raffle, tea and more.

BLOG OF THE MONTH

We liked all the info about starting tomatoes, from the southern Vermont blog Garden Xing. Check out the really nice hoop house in the various photos on the site.

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

2010-04-27T11:13:00.003-04:00

COCOA MULCH AND DOGS

Interesting e-mail from the Addison County Humane Society.

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don't have a
pet, please pass this to those who do.

Over the weekend, the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased
Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way
it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden.
Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and
devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical
when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way.
The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk .
Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further
investigation on the company's web site,

this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that "It is
true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch
can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each
individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it."

*Snopes site gives the following
information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and
other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called
'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells li ke
chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and
die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate
which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic
quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to
caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of
garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions
and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the
ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of
theobromine.

MAPLE TREE DISCUSSION AT ECHO

Received e-mail from Echo re: talk with Tim Wilmont, UVM Extension maple guy.

Come mingle and expand your mind at ECHO Thursday, May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This is a free, 21+ event with a cash bar that opens 6:30 p.m. and complimentary hors d'oeuvres provided by Sigma Xi. The discussion will begin at 7 p.m.

Join Tim Wilmot, UVM Extension Maple Specialist from the Proctor Maple Research Center will help us consider both threats to the maple trees themselves, as well as changes and forces that might affect only the syrup industry.

What might happen if global climate change results in the loss of freezing and thawing days that make the sap flow? Might pollution cause us to believe our maple syrup is tainted? Are there other “sticking points” you can think of that syrup lovers should be concerned about?

A little about Tim:

Tim Wilmot has been a researcher at the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center in Underhill Center since 1986. One of his principal interests is the sap flow mechanism of sugar maple, and the interactions among temperature, sap pressure, and sap flow rate. During the sugaring season he conducts experiments connected to these phenomena, (a portion of which can be seen on his webpage “TREEMET” found on the Proctor Center website) as well as on related issues, such as the effects of vacuum on sap flow, the optimal timing of tapping for sugarmakers, and other aspects of sap collection.

A second research interest is forest nutrition and relationships among soil and foliar chemistry, tree growth and vigor, and sap sugar production in maple stands. In 2004 Tim was appointed UVM Extension’s full-time maple specialist. This position combines research with outreach and education, and Tim’s responsibilities include planning and facilitating educational programs for maple producers, as well as writing and talking about maple research, both his own and that of his colleagues.

You can read more about these issues and get further background information on the threats to Vermont Maples by visiting our website.

If you are planning to attend this event at ECHO, we encourage you to bring your handheld device to participate on Twitter @vtcafesci, available via our free Wi-Fi Internet access. You'll be interacting with other audience members, our online webcast audience, and can even submit comments or questions to the speaker electronically.

Any questions? Contact Linda Bowden

ECHO’s Café Scientifique, based on the popular European salon concept, is a chance for science and culture to intersect. The discussions, led by acknowledged experts, are free, 21+ events with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres provided by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

2010-04-22T22:59:00.003-04:00

VERMONT GARDEN PARK

The good times have begun again at Vermont Garden Park, located on the National Gardening Association grounds in South Burlington. This wonderful site includes at least ten demonstration gardens, along with trails and sitting areas.

On Thursday, April 22, a hardy swarm of gardeners, led by the inimitable Jan DeSarno, cleaned out the American Cottage Garden, being careful not to disturb the various Tulips, Daffodils, Hibiscus, Hyacinths, and the spunky early bloomer, Helleborus "Green Corsican."

Helleborus "Green Corsican"

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

2010-04-16T10:08:00.004-04:00

RED PHLOX NATION

Wow wee! If you're into Phlox like we are, discover what we just discovered. Perennial Pleasures Nursery in East Hardwick is Phlox crazy! They have an annual Phlox Fest in early August with tours, tea, and, get this, doorprizes! Doorprizes rock!
Anyway, catch more info at their splendid site (nice slideshow) , which will give you directions, tour times and even the history of, yup, you guessed it - Phlox!

Oh - why does GardenVt love Phlox?
Because they come in ten million colors and usually don't need staking, which is a bonus for working gardeners like us.

GARDENING NEWS APRIL, 2010

2010-04-03T10:28:00.026-04:00

SPECTACULAR FLOWER HILL FARM PHOTOS

Here are some stunning shots of magnolias, sweet scilla and hellebores, among others from the Williamsburg, Ma B and B.

GOT AZALEAS AND OAK TREES?

* Remember, cut up oak leaves are a great mulch/fertilizer for azaleas, on account of the acidity. Try it out but make sure the leaves are shredded to avoid ground rot.

This Lilac is cut almost all the way though and still producing buds! Amazing!

WARM EARLY SPRING AFFECTING PLANTS

*** Whether it's my crocuses that flower early and die early, the lilacs that are budding way too soon, or the wondrous daffodils showing splendid color earlier than I can remember, the warmth of late winter and early spring presents it's own set of problems.

Matt Sutkoski of the Burlington Free Press has a great piece on what happens when warm/frost cycles hit grapes, apples and maples.

GARDEN TRAVELS

* If you have Dish Network in Vermont, tune to channel 266 and watch GardenTravels, with the hilarious Dave Egbert. It's on the Angel2 network at various times during the week. Dave journeys around the country spotlighting beautiful and unique gardens in his own inimitable way.

BLOG OF THE MONTH
GGW PICTURE THIS WINNERS - MARCH 2010
* The effervescent site Gardening Gone Wild has released the results of their contest, entitled Awakening.
Check out not only great pics of early spring, but get to know some blogs where the entries originated.
Gardening Gone Wild, out of Pennsylvania, has a flurry of activity on it's site, featuring guest contributors, galleries, advice and much more. It's also our blog of the month. Congrats, GGW!

GARDENING NEWS - MARCH, 2010

2010-03-05T22:20:00.028-05:00

SPRING GARDEN CHECKLIST
*Sent to us from our friends at the Herb Companion.

PRUNING CRABAPPLE TREES AT THE HORT FARM

Great time at the UVM Hort farm on Saturday, March 27. Curator Mark (coyote) B. and his sidekick Paul led the pruning workshop, attacking some crabbies on the west side that really needed attention. About 20 people attended, including a gaggle of master gardeners.
The important points laid out by Mark were:
1. Cut all deadwood and crossed branches.
2. Think of where each branch will be in five years. Have a reason for each cut.
3. Only chop 25 or 30 per cent each year to reduce trauma.

BENNINGTON COMMUNITY GARDENS ROCK!
*Nice story about the Bennington community gardens from horticulturist Shelly Stiles, who is the district manager with the Bennington County Conservation District. She also recounts memories of a gone but not forgotten community garden in NYC; the growing of a hardy orange, golf-ball size, that smelled like warm honey, and the rose that Babe Ruth planted.
You can link to the Bennington Banner article here.

GORGEOUS GARDENS AND GREEN LIVING SHOW SUMMARY
*One of the reasons I started this blog was because I felt the Vermont gardening community did not get enough press. The Gorgeous Gardens show is a great example. While there was plenty of coverage on the front end, there has been scant coverage on the back end, after the show. Sometimes I can't make a show but would love to read all about it, as if I was there. Details on how the 'Gorgeous' show went are almost non-existent, but the Rutland Herald comes shining through. Here's a nice wrap-up of Saturday's gathering from Susan Smallheer at the Herald.

MAPLE CREEMEES AT BRAGG FARM IN EAST MONTPELIER
*We took a family trip to Bragg Farm on Saturday, March 13 and enjoyed some ultrayummy maple creemees, which are made with grade B syrup. Jeff, Barb and crew made us feel like we were visiting relatives. Going for a ride ? Keep them in mind.
Here's a great piece about the Bragg's from one of our favorite new Vermont blogs, Happy Vermont.

Last year. our small white crocuses were up by March 26. What about this year?

SURPRISE!
March 12, 2010. Crocuses spotted facing east. Little purple and yellow buggers. Way early!

COFFEE GROUNDS AND GARDENING
* As a working gardener, I delight in being able to use natural sources as fertilizers and soil enhancers. I care for a number of rhododendron sets, and often recommend or actually use coffee grounds in place of, or along with, Muracid. Here is a nice article from Kathy LaLiberte, Director of Gardening at Gardener's Supply. She describes the different ways that she uses coffee grounds around the flower and veggie gardens, and also the compost pile.

In The Garden is back!
WJOY-AM 1230 - Thursday mornings from 9-10 starting March 4 through October.

* You know spring is right around the corner when you hear Charlie Nardozzi and Ginny McGehee talkin' gardening, food, baseball among many other subjects on Thursday mornings. Their first show in 2010 was March 4, and they covered seed starting, Christmas Cacti, the Yankees (woo-hoo), and the Philly flower show, along with numerous other tidbits. They are a wonderful precursor to another exciting growing season!

BLOG OF THE MONTH IS...
*...Dave's Garden. All we can say is - WOW!

TOP 10 RULES for SPRING GARDENING
*Just for kicks, we subscribe to HGTV.com and were sent this nice article complete with great spring garden photos.

Gardening news - February, 2010

2010-02-02T12:37:00.024-05:00

* Thinking seeds? We are. In fact, a week ago, we planted some Cosmos Bipinnatus and, gosh - they're three feet high already! Just kidding. But they are bolting out of the starting gate. Almost time for a new pot.
For great seed journalism, take a peek at Cheryl Dorschner's article Seed purveyors: A regional sampler from New England. Good stuff.

*VERMONT NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION AWARDS
As of this posting, the Burlington Free Press is the only media venue we've seen which covered the first annual industry awards (2-10-2010) from Green Works. Winners include Landshapes, Treeworks and Middlebury College, among others. See the article here.

*Isn't this light purple rose beautiful? I found a few of these at a flower shop in Essex.

*Stumbled on an article by Henry Homeyer listing all the spring garden shows in the northeast. Yeehaw! What a find. it's an index and description of displays from Norwich to Philly.
This is the first comprehensive roster of 2010 show information that we've seen anywhere.

Also, Mr Homeyer shares the wording from a funny bumper sticker he's seen in the past.
One can catch all of this and more on the darn good website Gardening-Guy.com, including old New York Times articles. Enjoy.

* NORTH HILL BOYS IN CONNECTICUT
Yup, they're in the news again. The team of Eck and Winterrowd gave a presentation to a standing- room- only crowd at the Connecticut Hort Society. Hartford Courant has the story.

* THE MEDITATIVE GARDENER
Vermont author and Master Gardener Cheryl Wilfong presents a book combining the worlds of meditation and gardening. Publishers Weekly writeup.

* BLOG OF THE MONTH
Our blog of the month is Cold Climate Gardening, a tidy, busy, fun blog out of upstate New York. Read their latest and enjoy.

* FIVE REASONS TO PLANT HERBAL GROUNDCOVERS
Sent to us by the Herbal Companion.

* *GARDENER'S SUPPLY ANNOUNCES WINTER SEMINARS
Seminars run from Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 to Saturday, April 24, 2010. There are 13 of them, with presenters ranging from author/square foot gardener/engineer/TV personality Mel Bartholomew (well worth the twenty bucks!) to local expert Charlie Nardozzi ( well worth the ten bucks!).

* *INTERESTED IN BATS?
South Burlington "bat advocate", or "bat-vocate" Barry Genzlinger will talk about White Nose Disease.
UVM Hort Farm - Feb. 6 - 10am-noon

Gardening News - January, 2010

2010-01-20T11:08:00.020-05:00

*PLANT CHANGES POLLINATORS!
Cunning Nicotiana plant magically switches pollinating from night to morn to blow off Hornworm stalkers! Recent issue of Current Biology explains.

*What's the 2010 Herb of the Year?
According to the Herb Companion, it's this.

*UVM Plant and Soil Scientist Exposes Crazy Snakeworm
Josef Gorres makes the Free Press with his research of a worm with a big appetite. Read the article.

*GARDENER'S SUPPLY ANNOUNCES WINTER SEMINARS
Seminars run from Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 to Saturday, April 24, 2010. There are 13 of them, with presenters ranging from author/square foot gardener/engineer/TV personality Mel Bartholomew (well worth the twenty bucks!) to local expert Charlie Nardozzi ( well worth the ten bucks!).

*LAST CHANCE FOR MASTER GARDENER COURSE SIGNUP
Deadline is Thursday, January 21. More info from Master Gardener site.

*BOSTON FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW MARCH 27
Buy tickets now for the March show.
Green Mountain Tours is also going to the show, hosted by Dave Hamlen from Hamlen's Garden Center.

*WHAT COLOR IS A MARSH MARIGOLD?
Wanna see a nice pic of a Marsh Marigold, courtesy of Vermont Wildflower Farm?
Here you go.

*INTERESTED IN BATS?
South Burlington "bat advocate", or "bat-vocate" Barry Genzlinger will talk about White Nose Disease.
UVM Hort Farm - Feb. 6 - 10am-noon

*THINKING ABOUT SEED STARTING?
Excellent piece from Friends of Burlington Gardens.

*BLOG OF THE MONTH - GARDEN RANT
This is our blog of the month. Geez, we could be on this site all year and not get to everything! Check it out.

2010-01-12T11:41:00.016-05:00

Richard Hawke of the Chicago Botanic Garden will be speaking at the Northern New England nursery conference in Concord, N.H. UVM is a cosponsor. Foster's .com has the details.
Henry Homeyer has a great new article on problem plants entitled 'Do Not Try This at Home'. It gave me a different outlook on the Queen of the Prairie.
Hurry, hurry! Vt. Master Gardener course 2010 deadline is January 21, 2010 and starts on February 2, 2010. More info from the Vermont Master Gardener website.
The North Hill gardening duo, Eck and Winterrowd (sounds like a 60's folk group), are once again gracing the pages of the Times Sunday Book Review, this time on account of their very special book, Our Life In Gardens, being presented in paperback form. Wow! Has it been almost a year since I read the book after seeing the boys at the Vermont Flower show in Essex. Geez! Time flies when you're getting older! Ha-ha.
UVM's Leonard Perry gets some ink in the Times, talking about vertical gardening. Yup! Vertical gardening. Learn about it here.
USDA recently plunked 41 million dollars into an emergency fund to help Massachusetts fight the Asian Longhorned Beetle, an invasive pest which attacks healthy hardwood trees. Click for USDA report.

GARDENVT

February , 2012

January, 2012

The Garden in Winter

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2011

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2011

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011

23rd of June, 2011

11th OF JUNE, 2011

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011

Monsanto Chemical Shown to Cause Infertility and Super Weeds

Posted By Dr. Mercola | April 29 2011 | 4,699 views

Sources:

How Did Roundup Become so Popular?

Cancer, Infertility and Plague Epidemics

A Threat to Future Food Crops (and the Food Chain That Depends on Them)

Superweeds are Getting Out of Control

Monsanto's in it for the Money

Will the EPA Take Action Before it's Too Late?

March 22, 2011

MARCH 3, 2011

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011

DECEMBER 13, 2010

November 22, 2010

October 14, 2010

Working Gardener's Journal 9-15-10

August 28, 2010

AUGUST 24, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - AUGUST 10, 2010

GARDENING NEWS 08-01-10

GARDENING NEWS, JULY 19, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 16, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 9, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - JULY 2, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - JUNE 26, 2010

JUNE 14, 2010 IT IS.

GARDENING NEWS - JUNE, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - MAY, 2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010, 10 am to 3 pmTea included from 3 to 4 pmTickets go on sale May 25.

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - APRIL, 2010

GARDENING NEWS APRIL, 2010

GARDENING NEWS - MARCH, 2010

Gardening news - February, 2010

Gardening News - January, 2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010, 10 am to 3 pm
Tea included from 3 to 4 pm
Tickets go on sale May 25.