Sunday, November 23, 2008

Governor Ushers in Holidays with Christmas Tree Delivery from Bowen's Christmas Tree Farm

WATCH THE VIDEO CLIPS HERE:


TOPEKA, Kan. - It's beginning to look more like Christmas in Kansas, including the decorations at the Governor's residence at Cedar Crest.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) ushered in the Christmas season Friday, Nov. 21, with the arrival of the official Cedar Crest Christmas tree.

The 9-foot tall Kansas-grown Spruce tree arrived at Cedar Crest's west parking lot at 11:30 a.m. and was taken on horse-drawn wagon to the front door before being placed in the living room.
"With the delivery of our Kansas-grown Christmas tree, the holiday season is ushered in," Sebelius said. "We're so lucky to have such a beautiful tree each year from local tree-growers. This also makes a great time for Kansas families to visit Cedar Crest to see the holiday decorations."

Around 10 years old, the official tree was grown at Bowen's Christmas Tree Farm in Pittsburg. In addition to Christmas trees, Bowen's sells wreaths, tree stands and garland and offers trailer rides and various hot drinks. For more information on buying trees locally, visit the National Christmas Tree Association website at http://www.christmastree.org/home.cfm.

There are about 100 Christmas tree growers in the state, according to the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association. Tree farms are a large component of the state's agri-tourism industry, which is defined as the crossroads between traditional agriculture and tourism. Farmers across Kansas are finding additional benefits in tailoring their operations to tourists. The industy thrives on tourists' growing interest in visiting an authentic ranch, roping a calf, riding a horse, touring a winery or picking their own Christmas tree.

"Visiting a local Christmas tree farm is not only a great time for the family, but a great way to support Kansas agri-tourism," Sebelius said.

Becky did notice an error in this story -- the tree is not a spruce. It's a pine. Spruce will not grow in KS.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Selecting a Christmas tree

By Dennis L. Patton, M.S., County Horticulture Agent, K-State Research and Extension/Johnson County

    Paper or plastic, real or artificial, what will it be? It seems that no matter where you go during the holidays, people ask questions about your preferences. When it comes to the Christmas season, most of us have strong opinions about what type of tree will take center stage in our homes.
        For many of us, in a perfect world, it would be a real tree. A live tree has the right feel, look and smell of Christmas. Live trees are a renewable resource that helps promote American agriculture. Artificial trees are made from plastic and stamped "Made in China." A live tree supports small independent growers, not some retail giant that sees the holiday season as another means toward improving its corporate profits.
    Of course, the perfect world doesn't exist. For some families, allergies or a hectic holiday traveling schedule make a real tree difficult to manage so that a plastic tree is the best choice. For those who do purchase a real tree, wandering through a couple of tree lots dreaming about what could be, and the fun of putting up and decorating the tree are among the happiest moments of the Christmas season. There is something about looking at tree after tree for the one that is just perfect.
    Each person has different needs when picking out a tree. Finding that "just right" tree is in the eye of the beholder, kind of like "One man's junk is another man's treasure." Before loading up the family and heading to the tree lot, there are a few details that must be worked out. Most important, the size of the tree must be determined. How tall and wide can the tree be for your location? Keep in mind that trees look really small in wide-open spaces. Once indoors, they have a habit of growing.
    In addition to size, it is important to think about where the tree will be located. In very few instances is the tree viewed from all sides. In many homes, the tree is placed in a corner or along a wall. This is important information in the selection process. The tree with a bare side may be the best choice, as it will fit nicely along the wall taking up less space. It is difficult to find a tree with four good sides, but often two or three nice sides will do the trick.
    After making your purchase, the next step is taking proper care of the tree. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut off about 1 inch of the trunk and immediately place in the stand with warm water. It is important that the tree has a constant supply of water while in the home to maintain freshness. If water uptake slows, use hot water to increase uptake. Additives such as bleach, aspirin or other products are not needed as the tree only needs water.
    There are many different species of live trees on the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Most trees will remain fresh for three to four weeks. After that point, the needles will start to dry, and the tree will often shed. Keeping the tree out of heat drafts also will increase the life of the tree.
    Christmas trees are the center of holiday decorating and festive activities. What is really important is not whether the tree is real or fake, but that love and family joy surround the tree.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Welcome Fall



"I am rich today with autumn's gold,
All that my covetous hands can hold;
Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod,
A goldfinch on a milkweed pod,
Huge golden pumpkins in the field
With heaps of corn from a bounteous yield,
Golden apples heavy on the trees
Rivaling those of Hesperides,
Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread
Over all like butter on warm bread;
And the harvest moon will this night unfold
The streams running full of molten gold.
Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss
With autumn glory such as this!"

- Gladys Harp

Pictures of the conservatory at The Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Club to visit Keltoi Vineyard in Sept. 22


Get ready to sample some wine and eat some grapes as the club gets a tour of Keltoi Vineyard. Go to their website for more information about the vineyard and driving directions at www.keltoivineyard.com. We will start early at 6:00 pm because of fewer daylight hours in the evening. We will be outside. Hostesses will bring food that will go with the wine and grapes.

We need members to plan the October 27 meeting and our Holiday party on Dec. 8. You can decide what program or activity we will be doing, arrange a meeting place, and what time you want to start. Hostesses are already signed up. Contact Nancy or Doris as soon as possible!!

Helen's Garden

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Pittsburg Community Plant Coop

If you love gardening and creating a sense of beautiful community, then this is the place for you! Here you can offer to share plants, requests plants, or request/offer gardening information and tips for others! You can increase your gardening space without increasing your budget, as everything offered here is free. Use what you have in your natural collection to share with those in your area to get new life, new colors, and new variety in your own garden. Make this a way for a part of your investment to carry on for a long time, growing memories for yourself and for others! Click here to join the online forum.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Garden Gal

By NIKKI PATRICK
The Morning Sun

PITTSBURG — The back of the historic Hotel Stilwell is just as attractive as the front, thanks to a garden faithfully tended by Barbie Mabry.

But it didn’t start out so well.

“There used to be just dirt behind the Stilwell, which allowed a lot of moisture to get into the building,” noted Laura Carlson, executive director of the Stilwell Heritage and Educational Foundation.

The area was paved, which solved one problem but created others.

“It slanted and the water ran down,” Carlson said.

A garden was planned for the area, with help from grants provided by the Zone 6 Garden Club.

“Sally Starkweather, a Zone 6 member, planned out the garden, including a meditation walk,” Carlson said. “But nothing would grow and it looked terrible. Sally and I started working with it, and then Barbie moved in.”

“I took the garden over,” Mabry said. “I just love plants, and I have ideas.”

She lived in Florida for many years, and did a lot of gardening there, too.

“I was in Florida since I was a little girl and had my tropical plants and banana trees,” Mabry said. “But I’ve lived in Pittsburg quite a while and I’ve made it my home.”

She’s been at the Stilwell a little over two years.

“I love it here,” Mabry said. “We get together and have a good time — we’re like one big family.”

She said that she and her fellow residents collected around $300 to purchase hanging baskets for the “Spirit of the Stilwell” garden. Some other plants have been purchased or donated.

“That fern over there was just a stick when it came here,” Mabry said, pointing to a huge potted fern in a corner of the back area. “Just look at it now. I fed it last week, and I’ll probably feed it again next week. That sago over there is growing well now, too.”Starkweather continues helping, Mabry added. “Sally came over the other night and we worked until 11 p.m.,” she said. “We put bird netting and wood chips around the garden, then we rolled it and tried not to get glue on ourselves.”

She still has many more ideas for the garden, including the portion closest to the alley.

“I’ve got a little girl statue here, and I’d like to put a little boy on the other side,” Mabry said.

There’s also an unsightly olive drab structure that contains some electrical equipment for the building. “It’s ugly and I want to cover it up,” Mabry said.

She plans to accomplish that by planting two nandina shrubs, originally from Carlson’s yard, around the structure.“We love to sit out here in the evening and just enjoy the garden,” Mabry said. “It’s so beautiful with the lights shining on it at night.”

During the winter, the larger potted plants are moved into the Stilwell lobby. Mabry and another resident take some of the smaller plants to their apartments. “We just baby the plants all winter long,” she said.Mabry’s apartment is on the fourth floor, and she helps out by cleaning the hall on that floor. “There are four of us who help by keeping the halls on our floors clean,” she said. “I think it’s an honor to be asked to do that.”

Her apartment has also been featured during open house events.

“My bedroom is decorated in safari — I’ve got a leopard bedspread and a big old tiger lying on my bed and a small waterfall,” Mabry said. “I’ve got a big waterfall in my living room with plants all around it. The kitchen has a farm look to it, and I decorated the bathroom with anything that swims.”

Several people have suggested to her that she should be an interior decorator.

“I just like to have fun,” Mabry said.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Happy 10th Birthday Zone 6!


The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied. They always look forward to doing something better than they have ever done before.
- Vita Sackville-West, 1892 - 1962

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Gardeners find ways to make the back yard the front room


By KEVIN FLAHERTY
The Morning Sun

PITTSBURG — Nancy Hurt said she wanted to make sure they had an area to entertain the family in the backyard.

It didn’t come easily. Hurt, the president of Zone 6 gardeners of Pittsburg, said her property was landlocked, meaning workers, and the Bobcat used for the haul, dragged directly through the yard.

“It was the ultimate sacrifice,” Hurt said. “It was a terrible, terrible mess.”

But in the end, Hurt wound up with a fire pit that the kids could roast marshmallows on.“It was worth it,” Hurt said. “But it took a while to get it there.”

Making a backyard a comfortable area is hardly a new chore. For years, families have been tying hammocks to trees, building decks and tossing furniture around the grill to feel at home. But a newer trend is creating an outdoor living area, designed to entertain, and, well, live.

“I think it’s picking up, sure,” Hurt said. “You’re seeing a lot more of it now, where it’s designed like it’s a part of the house, rather than a separate area. You’re seeing a full kitchen in some places, with refrigerators, and the grill. In some, you’re even seeing fireplaces.”

Zone 6 showcased two such areas on its recent Garden Tour, with the outdoor living areas built by Tom and Judy Spurgeon and Bill and Vicki Moody. Richard and Faith Coleman also have a living area that’s earned rave reviews.

Rhona Shand, who works at In The Garden Design & Landscaping, said the business had seen an increased desire in outdoor areas.“Especially with gas prices the way that they are, people have been turning backyards into vacation areas for themselves,” Shand said. “They’re like little sanctuaries.”

Shand offered several tips for building an ideal outdoor area. For one, make sure the room reflects the owner’s tastes.

“You design the interior of your house to reflect your taste, and that doesn’t change with the exterior,” Shand said. “We had a woman come in the other day who said she wasn’t sure how to decorate, how to match plants with colors. But she was so impeccably dressed. It’s like your fashion sense. Use the same thought process to match and mold everything together.”

Second, Shand said to remember the room’s function, and decorate accordingly.

Buddy Gorentz, designer for Moore’s Furniture, said to think of the outdoor area as an extension of the owner’s house. There are a variety of looks, fabrics and materials to pull the room together, from green-minded exterior rugs to acid washed concrete, paver stones and porcelain tile. On top of that, chairs made of iron or wicker will help to give options. “The big elements you need to be thinking about are fire, wind and water,” Gorentz said.

Gorentz recommended a fireplace or a fire pit for the fire element. A waterfall, hanging water wall or a fountain make use of water and helps to create pleasing sounds. Wind can be utilized either through perfectly tuned chimes or sheer fabric wrapped around a pole.

“It can really add an elegant glow to the place,” Gorentz said. “The aim is to make the room as comfortable as you can, while also communing with nature.”

Shand said it was also important to create interest in the space year-round by putting in plants for each season.

The room isn’t limited to the back, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, Hurt said one of her favorite past times is sitting out on the front porch the family added about six years ago. The Hurts hung ferns around the porch, giving an element of privacy, while also framing an entry onto the porch.

“Everybody says that it’s almost like walking into a little room,” Hurt said. “We enjoy it.”

Friday, June 27, 2008

America the Beautiful - In State Flowers

Click here to watch a 1 minute animation created using State flowers!

Happy 4th of July!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mystery Mail

The club's treasurer, Shirley Knightly, received an unsealed envelope in the USPS mail on June 24 with nothing in it and no return address. It was address to Shirley Knightly, Zone 6 Treasurer. Does anyone know what this mail is suppose to be? Was someone trying to mail in dues? If you can solve the mystery mail, send your replies to pittsburg_gardeners@hotmail.com
 
Thank you!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Over 400 take part in Pittsburg Garden Tour

By NIKKI PATRICK
The Morning Sun

PITTSBURG — There were some surprises Saturday at the Pittsburg Garden Tour, sponsored from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the Zone 6 Garden Club.

“I didn’t realize so many people came out to these things,” said Kathleen Nichols, 413 W. Adams, as she greeted visitors to her garden. “They’ve been lining up here since 8 a.m.”

That’s not quite accurate, according to Maxine Conrad, 415 W. Adams, neighbor and fellow gardener.
“They actually started here around 20 minutes before 8,” she said.

Around 500 garden tour tickets were sold in advance, but planners thought that some went to people who wanted to support the club’s projects but would probably not take the tour.
That may not be accurate either.

“There have been at least 400 people here so far this morning,” said Norma Gilmore, who displayed pages of signatures in a guest book at the West Adams tour site. “Some people didn’t sign, so there have probably been more.”

Included in the guest book were signatures by visitors from Branson, Mo., Kansas City, Oswego and Lawrence. “The woman from Lawrence told me she comes to every one of these tours,” Gilmore said.

Donna Bauer came from Fort Scott to the tour. “I think every one of the seven gardens on the tour has been unique,” she said. “Probably each gardener’s personality comes out in their garden.”

Bauer is a gardener herself.

“I should be at home working in my garden now,” she said. “But not today.

Stephen Crosetto, Pittsburg, was impressed by all the hard work the gardeners did to get ready for the tour. “I work eight hours a day in my garden, but I think it would drive me crazy to get it ready for a tour.”

“It’s been interesting getting ready for the tour,” said Tom Spurgeon, 215 S. Dittman. “Last night we were dog tired, but my wife, Judy, decided she needed to make cookies for the visitors.”

Her homemade sugar cookies went so fast Saturday morning, he said, that she sent him to the store to get some packaged cookies.

The Spurgeons and their neighbors, Bill and Vicki Moody, 213 S. Dittman, feature in-ground swimming pools and outdoor living areas in their gardens.

“Both areas are quite different, but both are totally conducive to entertaining,” said Diana Kerle, tour visitor.Having family and friends enjoy the pool and yard is the main emphasis for the Spurgeons.

“I’m a people watcher, and we usually have around five teachers and 15 kids out here every day during the summer,” Mrs. Spurgeon said. “It’s just been a pleasure seeing everybody walk through our garden,” her husband added.

Other gardens included those of Andra and Brad Stefanoni, 137 Westfield Road, Patty Horgan, 1511 Woodland Drive, and JD and Shirley Messenger, 2811 California.

The tour also included a gardeners’ market at the Pritchett Pavilion in Immigrant Park. “It was especially nice to have it here, because we’re right across the street from the Farmers’ Market,” said Judi Campbell, who sold plants at the market.

Proceeds from the tour help support and fund community garden — related projects, education programs and city beautification efforts.

Gardening Buddies

By NIKKI PATRICK
The Morning Sun

PITTSBURG — It’s really nice when neighbors share an interest in gardening.

Neighbors Kathleen Nichols, 413 W. Adams, and Maxine Conrad, 415 W. Adams, have two of the seven gardens to be featured Saturday during the Pittsburg Garden Tour. Held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event has been coordinated by the Zone 6 Garden Club of Pittsburg.

“We encourage each other a lot, and give suggestions,” said Nichols, a Pittsburg State University English professor. “It’s nice to have a resource right next door.”

“Kathy is my resource,” said Conrad, who retired this year from USD 250. “Most of my friends aren’t gardeners.”

“If one of us gets a new plant, the other will be just as excited about it,” Nichols said. “That won’t be the case with our families or other friends.”

The two have been neighbors since Conrad moved in 17 years ago. She said she had no previous gardening experience. “My garden started with friends giving me starts of plants,” Conrad said. “I started small, kept expanding and now I wonder why. I can’t say I prefer or specialize in anything — I just keep adding.”

She started working with the front of her house nine years ago, and has been working with the back yard for six years.

“One unique thing is that Maxine incorporates her craft projects into her garden,” Nichols said.

“It’s just old bits and pieces of gates and things,” Conrad said. Also amongst the flowers are a child’s wagon, bicycle and old chairs.

Nichols said she has been gardening since childhood, when she stole a wild violet from a neighbor’s yard, planted it by her swing, and it lived.

She moved into her current home around 1984, and for many years worked on perennials — particular spring favorites are her pink Oriental poppies, pink and white peonies and blue or purple iris.However, about five years ago, Nichols was seized by a desire to grow roses, and now has 63 of them, including hybrid tea roses, which she describes as “divas,” along with lots of shrub roses, hybrid musks, climber roses and mini-roses.

“I get online and order them from all over the country,” she said. “I’m in an online rose forum, and some people there have 300 or 800 roses. I think one person has 1,200 of them.”Nichols said she is somewhat particular about which roses she allows in her garden. “There are thousands of beautiful roses out there, but they can’t come into my garden if they don’t have some kind of disease resistance,” Nichols said.
“But even if they say the roses are disease-resistant, they aren’t always,” Conrad added.Conditions this spring haven’t been that good for their gardens.

“About half of my roses are in bloom, and the other half took a rest during the rain and gloom,” Nichols said. “I come out every day and talk to them and encourage them.”A large branch also fell on one of her rose bushes last week. “I had to cut it back, but it will survive,” she said.“The weather has been so lousy that we’re lucky to get one day a week when we can get out and work,” Conrad said. “The way this weather has been, it’s amazing to look out and see all this color.”

Both are hoping for good weather on Saturday. “There’s such a variety of gardens on the tour that I know everybody will find something to enjoy,” Conrad said.

Other gardens on the tour will include Wood’s Edge, the garden of Brad and Andra Stefanoni, 37n Westfield; the gardens of Shirley and J.D. Messenger, 2611 California; Patty Horgan, 4151 Woodland Drive; Bill and Vicki Moody, 213 S. Dittman, Frontenac; and Tom and Judy Spurgeon, 215 S. Dittman, Frontenac.

This will be a self - guided tour, with garden owners and club members at each site to answer questions and to highlight interesting elements within the gardens. In addition to the gardens themselves, there will be a Gardener’s Market with plants and garden related items for sale from a variety of vendors from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pritchett Pavilion, Immigrant Park. Ticket may be purchased in advance for $6 at New Life Antiques, 108 W. Third, Pittsburg; Carla’s Country Gardens, 212 S. Pesavento Ave., Chicopee; In the Garden, 719 S. Broadway, Pittsburg; Seasons Garden Center, Opolis; VanBecelaere Greenhouses, 2513 E. Fourth, and from members of Zone 6 Garden Club. Tickets may be purchased for $7 the day of the tour at Pritchett Pavilion. Children 12 and under are free.Proceeds help support and fund community garden — related projects, education programs and city beautification efforts.

Southeast Kansas Living

The Pittsburg Garden Tour was featured in the Spring 2008 issue of Southeast Kansas Living Magazine. Request your copy here: http://www.southeastkansasliving.com/

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Garden Party Pictures - May 19



The club "went to a garden party" at Betty Scripsick's garden and enjoyed several themed tablescapes and refreshments. Click here to view pictures.

Monday, April 21, 2008

2008 Pittsburg Garden Tour



Pittsburg Garden Tour
Saturday, June 14, 2008
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Gardeners' Market opens at 7:30 a.m.

Rain or Shine

The Zone 6 Gardeners of Pittsburg club has coordinated the fourth Pittsburg Garden Tour for the public! This is a unique event featuring 7 outstanding yet diverse private gardens and two public parks of the area. This is a self-guided tour, so enjoy each garden in any order you choose. Start early because we have a lot to show!

Bring a camera & notepad - Carpooling is encouraged - Wear comfortable walking shoes - No strollers or pets - Please obey parking signs - Not responsible for accidents

Ticket Information:
Advance tickets are available for $6 at the following locations:
  • New Life Antiques - 108 W. 3rd
  • In The Garden - 719 S. Broadway
  • VanBecelaere Greenhouse - 2513 E. 4th
  • Seasons Garden Center - 260th & Opolis entrance
  • Carla's Country Gardens - 212 S. Pesavento Ave., Chicopee
  • Tickets can be purchased from any Zone 6 Garden Club member
Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour starting at 7:30 a.m. for $7 at:
  • The Gardeners' Market at Immigrant Park - 2nd & Broadway
    Children 12 and under are free.

    The Gardens:
    1. Brad & Andra Stefanoni - 137 Westfield
    2. Maxine Conrad - 415 W. Adams
    3. Kathleen Nichols - 413 W. Adams
    4. Patty Horgan - 1511 Woodland Dr.
    5. Shirley & JD Messenger - 2611 California
    6. Tom & Judy Spurgeon - 215 S. Dittman, Frontenac
    7. Bill & Vicki Moody - 213 S. Dittman, Frontenac
    Public: Immigrant Park/Miner's Memorial - 2nd & Broadway
    Public: Europe Park - 5th & Broadway

    Gardeners' Market:
    In conjunction with the Pittsburg Garden Tour, a Gardeners' Market will be set up at Immigrant Park, 2nd and Broadway. Local vendors will have a wide variety of plants and garden-related items. Just across Broadway will also be the Farmer's Market. Both markets open at 7:30 a.m.

    Woods Edge Talk & Tour:
    Join Brad and Andra Stefanoni at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. for a "Talk & Tour of Woods Edge," featuring tips on how to attract wildlife to your home, a look at the features of their property including prairie, wetland, bluebird trail, raised vegetable and herb gardens, and pumpkin patch, and a how-to question-and-answer session.

    Lunch Suggestions:
    The Berry Patch Tea Room at New Life Antiques - 108 W. 3rd
    Sweet Greens - 620 S. Broadway

    For garden tour ticket information, please call 620-231-4396 or email nahurt @ sbcglobal.net

Pittsburg Garden Tour Sneak Peek

Come see these gardens and more at the 2008 Pittsburg Garden Tour on June 14!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Watch out for the brown recluse spider when cleaning up your garden

It's springtime (OK, almost) and garden cleanup is going on. Warning: Be careful where you put your hands. The brown recluse spider likes dark spaces and woodpiles and can be hiding under whatever you grab and pickup in the garden!
    For complete information on the brown recluse read the KSU Extension publication on Spiders and Scorpions:
 

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Ultimate Garden-Planning Guide -- Week 3



Welcome to the final installment of our special series on garden planning. Because enjoying your yard is just as -- if not more -- important than how your yard looks, we'll give you tips for planning for outdoor living.

  • My colleague Eric Liskey, deputy garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens, has noticed the wealth of new patio products at trade shows he's been attending. People are rediscovering their patios. If you don't have one, it's a great feature for your yard. Here are some great patio-planning tips. If you do already have a patio, check out these ideas for making the most of it.

  • Decks are also prime places to spend time outdoors. They're perfect for hosting a dinner party or just relaxing with a good book. Check out these tips for making your deck more of a private retreat, as well as these fun deck makeover ideas.

  • Or, enhance your deck or patio with a new garden. Check out our collection of free garden plans perfect for adding around your deck or patio.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Bourbon County Garden Club host special program

The Bourbon County Garden Club and Master Gardeners, wish to invite the Zone 6 Gardeners to our public meeting, March 10, 6:00p.m., Citizens Bank Lobby, 200 Main, Fort Scott, KS.  Dr. Alan Stevens, Extension Floriculture Specialist in the Department of  Horticulture at K-State will be the speaker.  He will discuss the "Our Community" program, introduce some new plants that made the Prairie Star list this year, and answer gardening questions.  He is a very popular and enthusiastic speaker.  I am sure the members of the Zone 6 Garden Club would enjoy the program.   I hope some of your members will be interested in attending.
--Priscilla Sellers,  President 

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Ultimate Garden-Planning Guide -- Week 2



Welcome to part two of our special series on garden planning. Last week we helped give you tips on evaluating your yard and needs so you can get exactly what you want. This week we'll take that knowledge and apply it to the front yard.

  1. When planning your front yard, you'll need to decide the image you want your yard to have. Do you want privacy from the street or to create a landscape that frames your home and creates a welcoming image? Check out our tips for helping you get what you want.

  2. If you're not sure what you want, check out our slide show of front yard landscaping ideas. From figuring out and working with your personal style to smartly using small spaces, we have strategies that will work for you.

  3. Lots of homes, especially in the suburbs, tend to look the same. If you want your home to stand out from the crowd, fill your front yard with flowers. Check out these tips and ideas for a flower-filled front yard. Or check out our collection of front yard garden plans --they’re perfect for giving an almost-instant splash of color.
By by Justin W. Hancock
Senior Editor, Garden
BHG.com

Monday, February 18, 2008

Program Committee Minutes

The Program Committee of Zone 6 Gardeners met on February 18, 10:00 am, at Sweet Greens. The following program ideas were discussed and contacts will be made for potential programs and speakers:
 
March 24: Class LTD  -- program on the landscaping possibilities of Eco Glass products. Eco Glass products recycles a difficult and costly material, and diverts glass waste from landfills. The recycled raw glass materials is being pulverized and distributed as landscaping mulch, golf course sand traps, pottery, stepping stones, fish ponds, fire pits, construction aggregate, and drainage purposes.
 
April 28: Dr. James Dawson, PSU dept. of biology -- program on mushrooms -- growing, gathering, cooking and eating.
 
Some Saturday in May: A bus trip or car pool to Arnold's Greenhouse. Let the program committee know if enough people are interested and we need to hire a bus.
 
May 19: "How to Host a Garden Party" presented by members of the Zone 6 Gardeners. We are asking for volunteers, single individuals or work with a partner or group, and decorate a patio-size table for a garden party. You choose the theme, like spring time for Mother's Day; Cinco De Mayo (and Betty Scripsick even has chili pepper lights she will loan you), Memorial Day with flags and red, white and blue; a nautical theme; outdoors and fishing; all natural or herbs; etc. Be creative and come up with some great ideas. Betty Scripsick will host this meeting and has plenty of patio tables. You just bring your decorations, including table service, and cook one food item to go along with your theme. Get on the internet and do some researching. You have plenty of time between now and May 19. Hostesses for this meeting will need to bring only beverage because we will be eating food items from each party theme table. The more tables we have, the more ideas we will get -- and the more food to eat!
 
June 23: Time to start touring gardens for our summer meetings. If you know of a garden we can visit or want to volunteer yours, contact someone on the program committee.
 
These are the dates of our up-coming meetings, but programs/speakers are tentative at this time.
 
--Becky Cunningham
Newsletter Editor
 
 

Ultimate Garden-Planning Guide -- Week 1


Welcome to our special three-part series on garden planning. This week we'll focus on what's most important: knowing what you want. Before you do anything, take time to think about what you really want from your yard. Do you want to attract birds and butterflies? Do you want a lush cottage garden? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you achieve your goals.

Assessing your landscape needs can be a lot harder than it sounds -- take a look at our list of questions to get started.

You should also take a look at your yard. Is it suited to your goals? Does it provide challenges (like a slope or dense shade) that you also need to take into account? Be sure you think about your yard and make it part of your planning process.

Once you know what you want and what your landscape offers, you can take the next step: developing your master plan.

Garden Notes by Justin W. Hancock, Senior Garden Editor, BHG.com

Picking Great Plants


If you're like me, the fun part of landscaping is picking out what plants you'll grow. With thousands of varieties available (and more new ones every year), choosing the right plants for your yard can be a tricky task. Here's help!

You can't beat shrub annuals for season-long color. Check out some of our favorites -- from tough-as-nails Mexican sunflower to fragrant heliotrope.

While annuals are great because they offer big bloom power, you have to plant them every year -- so we like to tuck them in amongst our favorite perennials (like the lovely peony shown above).

You're not just limited to annuals and perennials for colorful blooms. Don't forget about small trees, which also give your landscape privacy and architectural interest. Here are some of the best small trees.

Garden Notes by Justin W. Hancock, Senior Garden Editor, BHG.com

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 15-18

On February 15-18, join tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S. and Canada in the 2008 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). You can count the birds you see in your backyard, at your local park, or a nearby wildlife refuge—you can even count from your own window. People of all ages and all levels of bird-watching experience are invited to take part. It is a great way to learn more about the birds in your backyard and neighborhood.

1. Visit www.birdcount.org for easy-to-follow instructions, including tips for identifying bird species. Download a checklist for your area.

2. Count the birds you see, wherever you choose to count. Write down the highest number of individuals you see at one time—that way you will avoid counting any bird twice.

3. After at least 15 minutes of watching in one place, report your results online at www.birdcount.org. (You can spend more time observing if you prefer.)

4. You can repeat your count at the same place on each day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. You can also visit other locations and submit separate tallies for those areas as well.

View your results: Online maps and lists are updated throughout the count, making it easy to see how your birds fit into the big picture.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Daffodil Days - March 6

The first flower of spring is also a sign of hope for those who have been touched by cancer. For more than 30 years the American Cancer Society has conducted Daffodil Days as both a fundraiser and a way to share hope for a world free from cancer.

Orders for daffodils need to be made before Feb. 15 by calling Early Detection Works at 235-7136 or the Crawford County Health Department at 231-5411 or by e-mail at kyork@crawfordcohd.org.

Three Daffodil Days products are available. Individual bouquets of about 10 daffodils are $10. A sunshine bouquet, which consists of 10 daffodils in an official American Cancer Society Daffodil Days glass vases, costs $15. "Bear and a Bunch" includes Bea R. Hope, a Boyds Bear designed exclusively for Daffodil Days, with 10 daffodils, for a cost of $25.

Proceeds from sales support research, education reinforcing the importance of early detection of cancer, advocacy and patient services. The flowers will be delivered on March 6.

Click here for more info.
American Cancer Society Daffodil Days

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Miniature rose for Valentine's Day


With Valentine's Day approaching you may be thinking of giving or receiving a miniature rose plant. If so, the following information from the Iowa State University Extension will be helpful to include with the rose.

Care Indoors
Potted miniature roses from florists or garden centers need at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sun from south- or west-facing windows for growth and flowering. Rotate the pots once or twice a week to encourage balanced growth.

Miniature roses also need consistent moisture. When the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, thoroughly soak the plants until the water flows freely out of the bottom of the container. Discard the excess water.

Regular applications (once or twice per month) of a complete fertilizer are needed when plants are flowering. Soluble or slow release fertilizers can be used, however, excessive fertilizer encourages rampant growth and inhibits flowering.

Roses prefer warm locations that have a daytime temperature around 70° F and a nighttime minimum of 60° F. Flowering is reduced if temperatures drop below 50° F. Keep plants away from cold drafts or heat sources.

Care Outdoors
Potted miniature roses are colorful additions to sunny patios and decks and can be hung at eye level for closer viewing. Acclimate container plants to outdoor conditions by initially placing them in a shady location in May. Gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sunlight. After 7 to 10 days, the roses can be left in their summer locations.

Keep container plants well watered and fertilize frequently. Bring plants indoors before a hard frost in fall, or plant the roses in the ground.

Miniatures are hardier than hybrid tea roses and many gardeners prefer to plant them directly in the ground. Plants perform best in a sunny location with rich, well-drained soils. Place plants near the edge of beds or borders for best viewing of their flowers. Most miniature roses can be spaced about 12 inches apart. As surrounding plants grow, make sure they don’t shade the miniature roses.

Regular maintenance is required for repeated blooms. Deep watering (1 to 2 inches per week) encourages root development and mulching helps conserve soil moisture. Ground-planted miniature roses benefit from fertilizing in early spring, when they start to bloom, and at their peak of bloom. No fertilizer should be added after mid to late August to help plants prepare for dormancy.

Pruning—
Remove flowers as they fade and cut plants back to the uppermost five-leaflet leaf. At the same time, remove any yellowing leaves or dead branches. Removing weak and spindly canes also helps more light reach the plant interior.

To ensure survival over the winter, partially cover miniature roses in late fall. Place soil at the base of the plant, followed by a covering of leaves. Plants can be smothered if they are covered completely. Uncover plants in spring.

Avoiding Spindly Transplants

Gardeners often find it difficult to grow their own vegetable or flower transplants and frequently end up with spindly, weak plants that do not do well when placed outside. The two most common causes of spindly plants are low light and high temperatures after plants have germinated.

Unfortunately, these are the conditions commonly found on one of the most popular places to start seed — a windowsill. A windowsill doesn’t provide enough light, and temperatures are hard to control. In order to understand what is needed to grow transplants, the process must be broken down into three distinct phases.

Germination: Germination requires warm temperatures, and usually the seed does not require light (lettuce is an exception). Therefore, place seeded containers in a warm place even if there isn’t much light. For example, some people choose the top of a refrigerator. A heating pad is even better because most seeds germinate best at a constant temperature of between 70 and 75 degrees. This can vary by species with some requiring higher temperatures and others lower. Therefore a heating mat with a thermostat is helpful. Also remember that this temperature should be that of the media, not the air. Media temperature can be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than air temperature due to evaporation, which causes cooling. Covering containers with plastic can reduce evaporation (and temperature drop), and consequently, watering frequency. Check containers often and move germinated seed to a location with adequate light.

Growth: Light and temperature must be controlled during this stage to produce strong, stocky seedlings. Temperature should be lower than that used for germination, with 60 to 70 degrees preferred. Light must also be adequate for good growth. The easiest way for most people to provide what is needed is to use florescent lights. A standard two-bulb florescent fixture works well. It must be adjustable so bulbs can be positioned 2 to 4 inches above the top of the plants. Incandescent bulbs do not work well because they produce too much heat to be placed as close to the plants as needed. Also, the common florescent bulb produces the wavelengths of light needed. A grow light will not produce more or better growth.

Hardening Off: Plants grown indoors need some time to acclimate to outside conditions of wind and full sun. It usually takes about a week to harden off a plant. Reducing watering and temperature is key to toughen up transplants. If possible, move transplants outside for a portion of each day. Start by placing them in a shady, protected location and gradually move them into a more exposed, sunny location as the week progresses.
--Ward Upham, Kansas State Research & Extension Horticulture Newsletter

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Forcing branches to bloom

A tall vase of blooming forsythia branches can chase away the winter blahs. Bring a bit of spring indoors by gathering branches of flowering deciduous shrubs and trees and forcing them to bloom or leaf out early in your home.

When temperatures rise above freezing in late January and February, select and cut branches that have many plump buds. Cut a few more branches than you expect to use because some may not absorb water satisfactorily. Use a sharp blade and take care not to disfigure the shrub or tree.

With pruning shears or a sharp knife, carefully split the cut end, one to four inches. Place cut branches in a container of warm water and recut one inch from the base of the stem. This will help prevent air from entering the stem through the cut end, blocking water uptake. Remove any buds and twigs that will be under water.

Place containers in a warm room (60 -70 degrees) and change the water every few days. You may add a floral preservative to the container water to help control bacteria. It may take one to eight weeks for the blossoms to open. The closer to their natural bloom time that you cut the branches, the sooner they will open.

Here is a list of local favorites from the garden:
  • Cercis canadensis-Redbud
  • Chaenomeles spp-Japanese or Flowering Quince
  • Cornus florida-Flowering Dogwood
  • Hamamelis vernalis-Vernal Witch Hazel
  • Crataegus spp-Hawthorn
  • Forsythis spp-Forsythia
  • Lonicera spp-Honeysuckle
  • Magnolia soulangiana-Saucer Magnolia
  • Magnolia stellata-Star Magnolia
  • Malus spp-Apple and Crabapple
  • Prunus spp-Flowering Almond, Cherry & Plum
  • Salix caprea-European Pussy Willow
  • Spiraea spp-Spirea
  • Syringa spp-Lilac
  • Viburnum spp-Viburnum

Making Your Garden a Work of Art - Feb. 23

"Making Your Garden a Work of Art" 2008 Garden Symposium
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street in Kansas City
Saturday, February 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Join garden enthusiasts from around the region for an inspirational symposium that will encourage you to make your own artistic statement in the garden.

Featured Speakers:
Rosemary Alexander
Jennifer Bartley
Dan Benarcik
Richard Reames

Call Powell Gardens at 816-697-2600 ext. 225 to make your reservations.

For more info visit: http://www.powellgardens.org/ or http://www.gardencenterassociation.org/

Friday, January 25, 2008

Wichita Garden Show - March 5-9

Dates: March 5-9
Location: Century II Convention Center, Wichita, KS
Theme: "Green Living For Life"
Website: http://www.wichitagardenshow.com/

Look for tumbling waterfalls, rainbow swells of tulips... rich theme-gardens that carry the imagination to other places and times... hundreds of landscaping ideas that can be used in your garden or yard. It's no wonder the Wichita Garden Show is considered one of the Nation's Top 10 gardening events.

Back by popular demand, HGTV's PAUL JAMES "The Gardener Guy" will be at the show on March 7.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Replacing Storm Damaged Trees

There is not much good that can be said about December’s ice storm. People were often without power for days, and there was extensive tree damage. But there were things to be grateful for. This storm was not accompanied by high winds, or damage would have been much, much worse. Also, a storm such as this can teach us which trees are strong and which aren’t.

The “poster child” for storm damage had to be Siberian elm (often incorrectly called Chinese elm). Many Siberian elms were damaged to the point that the trees will need to be removed. However, many other tree species (and varieties) survived the storm quite well.

Trees with least damage: Bald Cypress, Chinese Pistache, Ginkgo, Goldenraintree, Honeylocust, Kentucky Coffeetree, Lindens, Crabapples, Amur Maple, Autumn Blaze Maple, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Shantung Maple, Red Oak, Bur Oak, Swamp White Oak, Osage Orange, Aristocrat Pear, Chanticleer Pear, Redbud, Sweet Gum, London Planetree, Zelkova, Austrian Pine, and Sycamore.

There were also trees that didn’t fare as well. Trees with the most damage: Siberian Elm, River Birch, Bradford Pear, Willows and Austree, Russian Olive, and Silver Maple. Let me make a few comments regarding some of the trees listed. Though bald cypress is on the “least damaged” list, I did see some trees with the central leader broken. Bald cypress is deciduous and drops its needles in the fall. However, the central leader of many trees still had foliage that hadn’t dropped. This foliage held enough ice to break the central leaders in some trees.

Notice also that Aristocrat and Chanticleer pear are on the “least damaged” list but Bradford Pear is on our “most damaged” list. Though all these trees are Callery pears, Bradford is an older variety that is known for its’ weak branch attachment and often breaks up during wind and ice storms. Aristocrat and Chanticleer have a similar shape and other desirable characteristics of Bradford but with stronger branching structure.

There are also contributing factors that will cause trees to be more susceptible to damage. These include the following:
* Trees not pruned in the past
* Older trees broke more than younger trees
* Declining trees
* Trees previously topped
* Trees still holding winter leaves or seedpods
* Trees with many fine-textured branches
Trees are a long-term investment and choosing those that will stand up to the often challenging conditions of Kansas is vital for seeing that investment pay off.
--Ward Uphan, Kansas State Research and Extension Horticulture Newsletter, January 9, 2008