Educational Supper

Today was a busy day. I had an appointment in the city, which is always a tiring trip at the best of times. It was also an educational trip, and I learned a little more about gardening than I already knew.

We were having supper at Moxie's by Kingsway Garden Mall and I overheard a lady at the next table talking to her friends about gardening. This is what I learned:

1. There are two types of ladybugs - good and bad. The red ones are good and will eat the aphids; the orange ones will eat your plants.
2. Marigolds are great for keeping nuisance bugs away from your garden, such as aphids and mosquitoes. They do attract the pollinators, such as bees. I knew about the mosquitoes, but didn't know they kept aphids at bay as well.
3. Garlic is also an excellent aphid deterrent - plant it among your rose bushes and your roses will be aphid free. The bonus is you harvest the garlic in the fall and use it in your kitchen. In my opinion, it also works well to keep flu bugs away.

I wanted to share this little tidbit of information with you; it just goes to show one never knows who they will learn something from in a day. I didn't speak to the lady at all, but I would like to thank her here on my blog. I may never see her again, and she may never read this - but if she does, she will hopefully be honored.

Until next time, happy gardening!

Diane

p.s. The next post will be longer and filled with more information; I wanted to share before I went to bed and forgot what I heard her say. It is information all gardeners will benefit from at one point or another.

7 of My Favorite Bedding Plants

The picture below is of one of my garden beds (4' X 4') Summer 2011. I planted Scarlet Runner beans next to the sunflowers to utilize the space. The garden bed produced a lot of food with minimal weeds due to the plants being close together.

It is NOT a good day for gardening in my area today! We have a mixture of rain and snow which I know will be good moisture, but it would sure be nice to get out there and finish getting my garden beds ready for planting.

Before I get too far into today's post, I just want to let you know about a group page I have started on Facebook. If you are interested in the variety of gardens and gardening methods from different parts of the world, join today.

In my part of the world, the greenhouses are starting to open their doors. It is bedding plant season! I have a few favorites I like to buy each year, and I will even try something new once in awhile. Some of my favorites are:

1. Lavender - this is one I love, but have never been able to grow easily. It is a low-growing shrub-like plant and comes back year after year. Several years ago a friend from Ontario sent me some dried lavender she had grown in her garden; I still have it in a cloth bag in my dresser even though the scent is all but gone.
2. Chives - the past couple of years I have overwintered them inside and have been able to enjoy them fresh in meat dishes and dips. I have grown both onion and garlic chives.
3. Strawberries - these are great for hanging baskets and vertical planters in addition to raised beds and traditional rows. My Grandma had a 3-tier circular strawberry planter in her garden; it produced a lot of berries which were easy to access as the bed was only four feet in diameter.
4. Marigolds - I have been planting these amongst my vegetables as they help keep the mosquitoes away. They are not 100% effective, but are pretty and do help. Not only that, certain varieties are edible.
5. Citronella - A very aromatic yet effective form of mosquito control. Keep in mind no plant seems to keep them all away, but I am happy with the results nonetheless.
6. Tomatoes - I usually plant a few varieties of these; cherry, Roma, and Beefsteak are my favorites. The homegrown tomatoes have so much more flavor than store bought. It is important to pinch back side shoots and the tips when the plants have reached the height you desire. This will encourage bigger fruit and less rampant plants. I also suggest caging them when planting as they tend to grow fast and are harder to cage when bigger. 
7. Fuschia - These are one of my favorite flowers. My Grandma had one hanging in her living room and I can recall squeezing the buds so they would open faster. They are very pretty; especially the double flowers.

There are thousands of plant varieties available; this is only a tiny list. As my blog grows, so will my list of plants. Keep in mind not all plants will do well in every area. Some prefer hot and dry (succulents) while others prefer hot and moist (tropical). Occasionally one can create a "mini-climate" similar to a plant's native environment, which allows for more variety in the garden

I encourage you to think outside the box and try at least one new species a year. 

Happy gardening!

Diane