All the Dirt on Gardening

From Thanksgiving through Easter Amaryllis bulbs grow indoors and bloom on windowsills. Often given and received as gift kits, the bulb sits on top of the soil, sprouts thick leaves, and then miraculously blooms on top of a tall stem. Whether the flowers are pink, white, red, single or double they impress us every time.       Amaryllis bulbs are planted pointed side up, in a potting-soil filled container that is barely larger than the bulb itself. Tropical Amaryllis prefer to be crowded. Leave one-third of bulb showing above the soil and place it in bright light; water regularly.  To have flowers next Christmas, cut back the stem and leaves when the flowers fade. The container can be put outside in the shade for the summer. Water and  fertilize until August, then bring it in before the first frost. Keep it in a 60 degree location and stop watering 10-12 weeks before you want it to bloom.  With no leaves and dry conditions, the bulb will send...

Longfield Gardens Amaryllis Gift Box Forcing bulbs inside over the winter is part of a long-standing hobby that brings beauty into the house when we really need it! Spring is struggling to arrive but isn't here yet and we want to mess around with plants. A lovely gift box arrived this week from Longfield Gardens . In addition to the planter, soil, bulb and topper in the box, there was something I had never seen before - a warming blanket for the bulb to prevent it from freezing during transit. It's pre-heated by the shipper and discarded by the recipient. Planting instructions are included though I confess I read them after I planted my bulb. If you are interested in sending one of these, you have a choice of Amaryllis colors. Click on this link to see photos of them all. I'll post photos as it grows since watching the progress is half the thrill of planting one of these beauties. Here it is in full flower

The garden blog, Eat Close to Home , has posed a victory garden challenge and the author offers personal assistance to the first five responders, even if you do not live close to Ann Arbor Michigan. Such a deal. Photos: Snow pea and pole bean flowers last spring. Foodshed Planet is the originator of the idea and becoming a Companion Planter is at the core of the plan. The basics include the fundamentals of community building at its best. Help each other; be part of a shared effort to help more people grow and eat home grown food. Create a planting bed for someone else, share some of your perennial plants or annual seeds with them. Pass on gardening books and magazines. Share the produce from your garden or make something out of them and share the prepared food. A quote from the blog, "My mom had a garden that she called her Friendship Garden because everything in it had been g...