September 2009

I saw frost in shady lawn this a.m., but coleus, cosmos, dahlias all look fine. Just that one spot, I guess.

If you know invasive plants could you reply to this comment? A reader has commented on an older post about an invasive plant she can't identify. I don't recognize it from her description, but maybe you do.

Annuals Our growing season is so compressed, that most annuals are only now looking their best. My children like to grow zinnias every year, and the bright colors of Renee's Garden Crayon Color Zinnias really appeal to them. They like both the Cool and the Hot. (As a member of the GWA, I received the [...]

I first became acquainted with Angelica gigas in the pages of A Year at North Hill, some fourteen years ago. I've wanted to grow it ever since then, but acquiring it proved problematic. The information I found in those pre-internet days said that it did not like to be moved; start it from seed where [...]

Recently I was sent the Terra Composter, a composting container made by Algreen, a Canadian company. I was particularly interested in checking out their claim that the composter is "designed to withstand a Canadian winter without cracking," because they guarantee it for twenty years. I took a lot of pictures with my daughter's camera as [...]

My first colchicum is up but hasn't pinked up yet.Most colchicums emerge white and then pink up over the next few days. Did you know I am a colchicum evangelist, spreading the good news of colchicums wherever I go? For some of my earlier messages, check out the archives.

Early this past spring, Troy-Bilt sent me a Troy-Bilt 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric String Trimmer (model TB57) to review. You should know that in the past, two of my grown sons have been employed maintaining the grounds of the local mental health facility. As a result of this employment, they have used a lot of [...]