Amaryllis care and feeding

POSTED BY KIM — It’s amaryllis season!  I asked my neighbors Peter and Renate yesterday about the status of their beautiful red amaryllis, which they had in their front window last year (and I enjoyed for several weeks from the view at my kitchen window).  They weren’t familiar with the forced dormancy period required to stimulate [...]

Container gardening: No more styrofoam peanuts!

POSTED BY KIM — In the past I have told customers about this “great trick” to use when container gardening.  Rather then fill your entire pot with expensive potting soil, fill the bottom 1/4 (or whatever) with styrofoam peanuts — it’s brilliant!  Makes the pot lighter, in case you have to move it around, it recycles [...]

A quick look at what’s blooming on my deck

POSTED BY KIM — Even though the season is winding down, I was out on my deck this morning and saw my passion flower vine blooming.  Yay!  It was a bittersweet moment because it was the first bloom of the season, and here we are in late September.  I overwintered this plant last year in [...]

It’s Time to Twist and Shout

POSTED BY PEGGY:  Hydrangea ‘Twist and Shout’ is the latest in the everblooming Endless Summer Series of Big Leaf Hydrangeas.  Endless Summer Hydrangeas bloom on old wood (last year’s growth) and new wood (this year’s growth).  This means if you accidently prune your Big Leaf Hydrangea or a cold winter kills last year’s growth, it will [...]

Incredible Edible of the Week: cilantro ‘Delfino’

POSTED BY CALEB – Look, look, everybody – we have ‘Delfino’ cilantro!  This great little plant is a ferny-leaved version of cilantro.  It tastes and smells just the same as regular cilantro, but it’s easier to use in the kitchen and resists bolting for longer than the standard variety.  This great little plant performed so [...]

Replanting Tulip Bulbs

POSTED BY PEGGY: I’ve always wondered if you can re-plant tulip bulbs that are grow in pots and given as gifts this time of the year.  They make such a festive centerpiece this time of the year.  I found the following information on the Horticulture Magazine web site, so I thought I would share.  Happy [...]

Get creative: Enter Fine Gardening magazine’s container design contest

POSTED BY KIM — We all deserve to be recognized for our gardening prowess.  Here’s a chance to see that you are.  Fine Gardening magazine is hosting the “2009 Container Design Challenge” with two themes: fire and ice.
The deadline is August 15, 2009, so you have no excuses.
The entry guidelines say: “Use fiery reds, oranges, [...]

Tina gets creative with container gardening presentation at Missouri Botanical Gardens

POSTED BY KIM — Sugar Creek’s own Tina Paletta gave a one-hour presentation on container gardening this morning to more than 140 people at the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Go Tina!
Following is a copy of her handout, which has great advice for assembling a container with year-round interest.
Choose Your Plant Materials
Exposure – Will the container be in [...]

Styrofoam peanuts: the container gardener’s little secret

POSTED BY KIM — It’s mail order time, people, and that means styrofoam peanuts.  SAVE THEM.  I know they sort of multiply and it seems like you always have them when you don’t need them and vice versa, but
they’re great to use in the spring in the bottom of containers, so plan ahead.  They prevent [...]

WGWGA #4 digs winter container gardening at Sugar Creek

POSTED BY KIM — The Webster Groves Women’s Gardening Association Group #4 (that’s a mouthful) visited Sugar Creek today and learned a little about decorating winter window boxes from the master — Tina!  I think there is a decorating “gene” that some people are born with.  Maybe I’ll check into getting a transplant…
*Anyway,* Tina is [...]