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Here Come Those Pesky Mosquitoes!

6/1/2015

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Mosquito
Circa 1995

Are you a tasty, juicy morsel for a mosquito's dinner? What makes one person more susceptible to bites than another? How can the annoying itch be avoided? Summer time means mosquito time. Instead of becoming a sitting target, ready to be "eaten alive", understand mosquito characteristics and fight back. 

Some people do seem to be more attractive to mosquitoes than others, but no one really knows why. They seem to prefer males to females and young people to old. Mosquitoes seek out body warmth, moisture and the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath. They are also attracted by odor, including certain compounds found in perspiration. 


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Ski Notes

3/23/2012

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Ski Notes
Circa 1995

  • Grass clippings are 90% water. As water evaporates from each clipping, the grass leaf shrivels and then filters into the soil. This organic matter adds nutrients to the soil and helps the soil retain moisture. 
  • If planted near roses, parsley will improve the sent. 
  • Rhubarb stalks are edible but leaves are poisonous. 
  • 75% of the world's population still used plants and plant extracts to relieve medical problems. 
  • Test leftover garden seeds for germination. Place 10 seeds between moist paper towels, or cover with thin layer of soil. Keep seeds warm and moist. If fewer that 6 germinate, then fresh seed should be purchased. 
  • Keep holiday poinsettias and other plants near a bright window. Water as top of soil becomes dry. 
  • Wood ash from the fireplace can be used in the garden to raise the pH of the soil. Have the soil tested before adding ash. 
  • Protect shrubs from heavy snow by tying their stems together with twine. Remove heavy snow with a broom to prevent limb breakage. 
  • Order seed catalogs now. Spring is coming! 
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Feature Foliage

3/22/2012

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Stella d'Oro Daylily
Circa 1995
Stella d'Oro Daylily - 

(Hemerocallis)

This spectacular perennial is the longest blooming daylily in existence. the 8-12" "Star of Gold" blooms from June until first frost. It is low maintenance, adaptable to many environments, and very hardy. Each plant produces masses of large golden yellow ruffled flowers and has long rush-like leaves. 

Soil: Fertile, moist, well drained soil but heat and drought tolerant. 

Uses: Great as a border plant, massed for accent or in natural plantings. Very effective in terrace containers and rock gardens. 
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Feature Foliage

3/20/2012

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Picture
Circa 1995
Calycanthus floridus
- 
( Common Sweetshrub, also called Carolina Allspice or Strawberry Shrub)

Imagine relaxing on your back deck and smelling the aromatic scent of strawberries or pineapples. Because of its sweet smell, Calycanthus floridus or Sweetshrub is a perfect plant for every garden especially when used around outdoor living areas, under windows, beside screened doors or in a shrub border. There is a great variation in flower odor so buyer should smell before purchasing. Supposedly, the Sweetshrub bark was used as a substitute for cinnamon and was introduced into the United States in 1726. 

Description: Dense, bushy, rounded, or broad-rounded shrub of regular outline growing to 6-9' high. Leaves are dark green in summer and yellowish in fall. Sweetshrub flowers are perfect, dark reddish brown, 2" across with a very fruity fragrance in May and flowering sporadically into June and July. 

Soil: Adaptable to many soils, preferring a deep, moist loam; can survive in acid and alkaline soils. 

Light: Grows in sun or shade but does not grow as tall in sunlight. 
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Ski Notes

3/19/2012

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Picture
Circa 1995
  • Don't create a flower bed around an unsightly feature such as a fire hydrant. It only draws more attention to that feature. 
  • Store watering can upside down after use to help prevent rust. 
  • Avoid, if possible, installed and maintaining a bed where you must haul in water. A hot, dry summer can defeat you. 
  • Use trees and shrubs that have more than one feature or seasonal interest. 
  • Let foliage from spring bulbs stay in place after the flower dies. Leaves make food reserves for next year's blossoms. 
  • Plants watered too often will develop shallow roots and will lose their tolerance for drought. 
  • Don't leave sprinklers running so long that water forms puddles. Beneficial microorganisms drown in saturated soil. Also, plants gasp for oxygen and stop absorbing nutrients. Plants need about 1" per week during growing season. 
  • Prune trees and shrubs to avoid interfering with homes, fences, etc..., improve wind resistance, gain access to fruit and to create good branching structure.  
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The Sweet Smells of Spring Planting

3/16/2012

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Picture
Circa 1995


Garden centers are bursting with colorful flowers, thriving shrubs and blooming trees.  These centers strategically place their best stock in prime viewing position for anxious spring gardeners to drool over and, eventually, purchase though they may not really need those specific plants. Before you make a landscape investment, check out the reputation of the garden center and consider your specific plant needs. 

Where to buy plant material
A good green house should be clean - free of insect-and-disease harboring weeds and debris. Look for a display garden that shows how mature plants will appear. Always try to buy from a grower rather than a plant merchandiser. 

A good nursery will have plenty of signs and tags on each plant that includes the genus, species, and cultivar names. Tags also should state color, height, blooming season, hardiness information, and the soil, light and moisture requirements. 

Employees should be able to answer your questions such as where was the plant grown? Ask about guarantees. Many garden centers will either replace dead plants or offer credit toward a new purchase. 

Selecting the right plant
Look for fat, stocky plants with healthy green leaves. Avoid plants with tall spindly stem and widely spaced leaves. Try to buy annuals before they bloom for a more spectacular show. 

All plants should be insect-free. Check the undersides of leaves for pests, and damage such as speckling from spider mites or bite-shaped holes on leaf margins form weevils and other pests. 

Discolored leaves indicate earlier watering problems, or plants with brown and dying centers. Plants should have well-developed root balls that hold their shape when slipped out of the pots. Short, white, "hairy" roots should just be visibly emerging from the soil. Disregard plants with dark or mushy roots or those that smell of ammonia.

By selecting a reputable garden center and the healthiest plants, a spring garden can be a very rewarding activity. 
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