All the Dirt on Gardening

Add caption We are having some relatively balmy weather today for late November. There are plenty of reasons to get outside in the garden! - Make compost to improve next year's soil. Pile up faded plants, raked leaves, coffee grounds, etc. and let the rain (and snow) break it down into nutrient rich topsoil for next spring. - Dump out flower pots that held annuals. In the photo you'll see that we pour ours directly onto the vegetable bed where they can compost in place. - Prune any diseased or damaged branches, limbs and twigs. Diseased plant parts should be put in the trash. The rest can be composted. - Pull out weeds that have grown among your perennials, fruit, and ornamental trees. - Deeply water newly planted trees. Do not fertilize. - Remove any remaining seed heads of plants you want to re-plant next spring. Zinnias in particular still have viable seeds. - There is still time to plant garlic, daffodils, tulips and other bulbs that need months of chill

Hand made items are raffled Members of the Tulsa Herb Society spend a full year making flavored vinegars, chutneys, jams, jellies, holiday decorations and more holiday goodies so we can enjoy shopping. Carols and Crumpets 2017 Dec 3 from 8 am to 3 pm Tulsa Garden Center  2435 S Peoria AV Tulsa In addition to holiday goodies, the Herbies offer lunch at their Snowflake Cafe and evergreens to decorate your home at the other end of the Garden Center. Tulsa Herb Society's hand made gift items Dozens of vendors join the event to make it one of the most eclectic holiday shopping experiences in the area. Not to be missed. (Hint - Arrive early - great prices so lots of items sell out early)

Mark you calendars for the Jan 13 & 14 Horticulture Industries Show in Fayetteville Arkansas. There are always dozens of speakers with dozens of presentation topics.  This year's topic is  "Local Foods, Farms, Gardens and Success" The public is welcome! Keep an eye on the website  http://www.hortindustriesshow.org/ Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/HorticultureIndustriesShow/ OSU website http://www.hortla.okstate.edu/research-and-outreach/programs/HIS for more information. Register at this link https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/70588/chk/be60/ The keynote speaker will be Anthony Flaccavento,  SCALE, Inc. Flaccavento has 25 years of hands-on experience in sustainable community development, along with a BS degree in Agriculture and Environmental Science and a Masters degree in Economic and Social Development.

Emerald Ash Borer - NH Bug s The Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, reported that the Emerald Ash Borers have been found here.  Eric Rebek, Extension Entomologist, reports. "Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, an invasive wood-boring beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of North American ash trees in the United States and Canada, has been recovered from a monitoring trap in Delaware County. This catch represents the first official record of this devastating insect in Oklahoma.  Life Cycle  The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) notified me of the find on October 13, and the identity of the specimen was subsequently verified as EAB. Information for sharing with the general public was made available by ODAFF and can be found at http://www.forestry.ok.gov/eab. Emerald ash borer belongs to a group of woodborers known as flatheaded borers. The adult beetles are often shiny and brilliantly colored, and th

The  November 19  meeting of Flower, Garden and Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas will feature Amy Tucker speaking about "Bringing People & Nature Together."   During Amy's 30-year career in health care administration, she noticed the positive impact of bird watching for her patients.  This experience influenced her to be directly involved in the bird-watching business, so she and her husband, Don, now own two Wild Birds Unlimited stores. They offer products to ensure healthy birds.   The meeting will begin at  10:00 a.m.  in the Student Center of Northwest Technical Institute at 709 S. Old Missouri Road in Springdale, AR.  It is free and open to the public.  for more Info - call  479/521-7654 .