All the Dirt on Gardening

Photo: The asparagus broccoli/ broccoli raab / rappini from last year is blooming and re-seeding again. It is definitely a seed packet that keeps on giving. I think the first seeds I planted were put in 3-years ago and it replants itself around the yard every year now. PERENNIAL REFERENCE GUIDE Livingston Daily has a Buddy Moorehouse column about a new book on perennials that tells the reader what plant to put in which environment. The authors Karleen Shafer and Nicole Lloyd wrote their "Perennial Reference Guide" in response to a perceived need. Perennial Resource dot com says, " An exceptionally thorough book of lists of every category of perennial including: dry shade, erosion control, aromatherapy, native, winter interest, and much more." Has anyone read this one? Is it as great as it sounds? HAY FEVER THOUGHTS FROM SUE HOLLIS Sue Hollis of Kansas City pointed out on the Trillium conversation that as a general rule, pollen from showy flowers will not cause ...

It's the only the end of March but gardens, gardening and planting have taken over most of our thoughts and waking hours! Today, I planted two types of basil seeds - lettuce leaf and Italian pesto. The plants need heat to do their best and this is a good time to get the seeds started inside. With this week's 70-degree days, many of the trays of seedlings get to spend the day outside. The perennials have been moved out but they can always come back in if there is a frost predicted. The Brussels Sprouts and broccoli, snow peas and English peas are doing well in the ground and it is time to move the Arugula seedlings into the ground I'm having a little trouble with the lettuce this year. The seedlings are about 1.5 inches tall and their color is good but their stems are flimsy. Does anyone have an idea how to make them stronger? I'm afraid they wouldn't last long in the ground though we put them onto outside tables every day to try to harden them. Views from the back ...

Normally, I only put my writing on my blog but here is a column about the Junior Master Gardeners at Whittier Elementary School learning about compost worms. The students made homes for their worms and then were excited to select a worm for their very own. Junior Master Gardeners learn, squirm with worms Program 'gives kids exposure to nature,' teacher says By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out. Their duty is helping the vegetables sprout. That's what the Junior Master Gardeners at Whittier Elementary School will learn in a joint program with Muskogee's Farmers' Market. Students in Whittier's Junior Master Gardener program spent Friday afternoon filling jugs with dirt, coffee grounds, shredded paper, vegetable scraps, leaves and wet spaghetti and putting a worm in each jug. There, the worms will make compost for vegetable gardens. How?"The worm eats everything and poops," said Martha Stoodley, a volunteer wi...

Home-grown plants make herb farm unique The daffodils, crocus, flowering almond and forsythia are bursting with their spring song so it must be time for opening weekend at Moonshadow Herb Farm in southeast Muskogee. Even though it is still a little early to plant some things, no one wants to miss out on seeing what Sharon Owen has grown over the winter for their medicinal and culinary garden beds. "Each year I propagate new plants from cuttings of my stock plants," Owen said. Seedlings are grown from organic seeds. I do not buy from wholesalers and re-sell. I grow my own earth-friendly, chemical free stock." Owen's new, larger greenhouse has made it possible for her to grow an even wider variety of plants this year. Plus, the herb garden in the back was re-worked and new beds planted to adjust to changing weather patterns. "Moonshadow is a small, retail nursery specializing in medicinal, crafting, ceremonial, culinary and obscure herbs," Owen said. "Ex...

The beauty we find in the blooms of spring bulbs is partially because the winter look of the landscape is open, clear and softly colored in tans and greys. Even when the slim green leaves of the bulbs emerge most of our time is still being spent indoors, braced against the wind and cold. Then, in March, all this color emerges. Not so much the reds and purples that the heat of summer demands to capture our attention, but soft yellows, whites, and pinks are the colors of spring. Even the red of tulips is tempered by the delicacy of their translucent petals. The scent of spring is the soft scent of daffodils and the sweet scent of hyacinths. Bright colors contrasting with ground that is mostly shades of brown. It's no wonder that so many poems and songs have been written about spring. It has its own divinity, don't you think?

TULSA MASTER GARDENERS The annual plant sale has lots of bargains and plenty of choices. The deadline for pre -ordering is March 28. Here is a link to the list of plants they are offering this year. Pre -orders are prepaid and will be available for pickup April 17. Another choice you have is to just go to the sale on April 17 and buy what looks good to you. At their site, plants are listed and described. Flats of 36 plants are $14 and 4-inch pots are $2.50 - Such a bargain. And the proceeds go to a good cause. The order form is available where it says click here for order form. SOONER Saturday April 5 will be the first customer pick up day at Sooner Plant Farm just south of Tahlequah . It's the best way for locals to pick up their Internet orders without paying shipping PLUS we can wander through the plants. Sooner is open to the public only one day a month. Some of the Best Plants for Oklahoma according to Brian Chonacki , owner of Sooner Plant Farm are listed here, but go to t...

Muskogee Garden Club met tonight at Blossom's Garden Center in Muskogee. In this photo attendees are enjoying sandwiches before the meeting. Left/center is Sharon Owen, owner of Moonshadow Herb Farm. Another photo from the meeting. In the turquoise top is Bernadette Feickert (Bernie) of Miss Addies ' Restaurant fame and on the right is Marci Diaz , Station Manager of the new cable Channel 22, INTV . The new television channel will be launched in Muskogee on March 26. Feickert is the host of their new home and garden program called "Creating Comfort with Bernie Feickert ". If you have a story idea to tell Diaz about you can call her at 918.360.3705. Here are Meaghan McCawley , Producer, and Greg Mashburn , Director for the new Channel 22. Here's a photo of Bernie Feickert with Matthew Weatherbee , co-owner of Blossom's Garden Center, filming the program that will run some time after the station's March 26 th launch.