All the Dirt on Gardening

Vacationers who find themselves in the Mobile AL area are drawn to Bellingrath Gardens for its reputation as being world class.  What’s surprising about the 65-acre garden is that it is easy to walk through because of the way the paths are set up with bridges, ponds, hardscape walking paths and benches.  The total estate is 905-acres. The history of the garden is interesting and amusing.  The owners of the original estate, Walter and Bessie Mae, decided to build a retreat in 1920. Bellingrath had made a fortune making Coca Cola into the summer drink of the south and was able to hire architects and landscape teams to turn the land into Bel Camp, a fishing camp for himself and his buddies. Being a southern woman, Bessie loved Azaleas and she began planting them in abundance on the property. Then, in 1927 during a trip to Europe, they fell in love with estate gardens, came home and hired the famous landscape architect George B. Rogers to make one for their...

 Planted Perfect has released their new garden clipper, pruning sheers, or bypass pruning tool. At their website, http://plantedperfect.com, they have a link to an 18-page pruning guide, though you have to give your name and email address in order to get it. I bought ours from Amazon.com and have used them for a couple of weeks. Here's the Amazon link  The spring load is great, the handles are thin covered with a non-stick material, and are easy for me to use even when my hands are tired from gardening. The steel blades want to get rust spots in our climate but they are easily wiped off before storing to reduce that problem.

Google's Belgrave House is a dream workplace for people who love this type of thing - me! Here's a link to a Telegraph article with several more photos. Inside it's nice, quirky, amusing, inspiring -  Their Ireland office is also right up my alley. Almost makes me want to move across the pond and apply for a job - any job! Almost.

Gloria McIntosh one of Gloria's wreaths The Flower, Garden, & Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas will meet Saturday, July 18, to learn how to create a living wreath with succulent plants.   Gloria McIntosh, Washington County master gardener, horticulturist, and former president of FGNS of NWA will demonstrate.   Meeting will be held in the Student Center of Northwest Technical Institute at 709 S. Old Missouri Road in Springdale, AR.  Meeting is free and open to the public.  Social time begins at  9:30 AM  and meeting at  10:00 AM .  Info:   479-466-7265  or  479-361-2198 .     CONTACT:   vacoogan@yahoo.com

Event is free and open to the public Monday -- July 13, 2015  -- 7pm  to 8:30pm Tulsa Garden Center  2435 S. Peoria, Tulsa, Oklahoma. For More information, check THS Facebook page Contact:   918-894-8131 The phrase:  “Inspiring Gardeners to Create”  has guided Sue’s life as a garden designer, writer and speaker. Based in Washington State, Sue is a certified professional horticulturist (CPH)  She shares  “…a creative gardener…celebrates the garden for all of its uses.” Her personal passion is all about what the garden gives back.  She encourages people to make discoveries in their own gardens.  And that passion has awarded her gold medals at numerous flower and garden shows.  Her home garden has been featured in Northwest Home and Garden magazine as well as Country Gardens magazine.  And she has been highlighted in both Sunset and Fine Gardening magazines. Tulsa Herb Society is hosting Sue Goetz on Monday, Jul...

There are six main types of Hydrangeas: Bigleaf, Mountain, Panicle, Smooth, Climbing, Oakleaf. Click over to this page to read more from Proven Winners. These are the photos from our garden this week - Limelight Hydrangea paniculata More details and availability - click here Cityline Bigleaf  Hydrangea macroyphylla Bigleaf Hydrangea is called the florist's hydrangea - click here for more information Silverback Native Hydrangea radiata For more information about this native click here  and here 

Mark Linholm Tulsa potter, Mark Linholm makes pottery specifically designed for orchids and succulents. His 30-years of experience with plants have helped him understand what plants need so his pottery helps gardeners grow them successfully. “I’ve been a horticulturist for the City of Tulsa for 26-years,” said Linholm.  “I started throwing pots at the 3 rd Street Clayworks when my daughter started taking classes ten years ago.” When we toured Linholm’s gardens at his home and then saw more of his pottery at Clayworks, his success with both was obvious.  Wherever he had plants in his pots they were thriving. “I’m a gardener by instinct and I only wanted to make functional art,” said Linholm. “By adding the right number of drainage holes in the right places, I can make succulent and orchid planters that work to support the plants’ needs.” 3rd Street Clayworks Linholm said he also collects a lot of second hand stuff but only things he can visualize a us...