February 2009

50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants: Book Review

February 24, 2009

I confess, when I first heard 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants by Tracy DiSabato-Aust was coming out, I was dismayed. I have the first edition of The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, which was incredibly satisfying because it was based on her own close observation and methodical experimentation. At the time it was published, it was very [...]

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When do I start tomatoes from seed in upstate NY?

February 21, 2009

A reader contacted Cold Climate Gardening recently to ask: I live in area between Syracuse and Ithaca… near Cortland. I have tomato seeds–many different varieties. When should I start the seedlings to grow in peat pots inside the house? Is it too early? While I am at it…what else should I be starting? Thanks a [...]

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A Tale of Two Flowers: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day February 2009

February 16, 2009

Last week, before prices started to rise on flowering plants for Valentine’s Day, I picked up a pot of florist’s cyclamen to brighten up the kitchen–and to make sure I had a bloom for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. (Here’s the owl’s summer home.) There are hardy cyclamen that can live outdoors in the northern reaches [...]

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My blogging code of ethics

February 10, 2009

I’ve been following with interest the debate that Pam at Digging started and which Mr. BrownThumb responded to. When I first started blogging back in 2002, you were lucky to find business people who knew what blogging was, and the idea that they would find enough value in your blogging about their product to give [...]

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Welcome, Syracuse readers

February 9, 2009

Today my blog was profiled on Gina Chen’s Family Life Blog, based in Syracuse, NY. The Syracuse area played an important part in my growing up, where I made my first attempts at gardening at our home in Manlius. I bet the winter aconites I planted still bloom by the front steps and the daffodils [...]

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The winner of the Botanical Interests seed giveaway is

February 6, 2009

Matriarchy of Ramping Up the Garden! She has already received instructions on how to claim her free seeds. Happy seed starting, Matriarchy! Those of you who didn’t win will have another chance next week at Garden Rant.

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