Garden Road Tripping, Volume 4
Fri, 06/29/2012 - 13:44 — Sarah MartinezGarden Road Tripping, Volume 4
Plant Trials Field Day 2012
Today we bring you coverage of the Dallas Arboretum’s Plant Trials Field Day, as promised!
First, a little background on this event. Field Day actually starts inside—with slideshows in an air-conditioned meeting room! Plant professionals from throughout North Texas gather to learn which plants fared best during last Summer (2011) and this Spring (2012).
Garden Road Tripping—Volume 3
Thu, 06/28/2012 - 11:17 — Sarah MartinezGarden Road Tripping—Volume 3
Dallas Arboretum—Chihuly!
Yesterday our team braved the 100+ degree temperatures to attend the 2012 Plant Trials Field Day at Dallas Arboretum. We’ve got lots of plant eye-candy for you. But first, we bring you Chihuly…
Artist Dale Chihuly creates free-standing sculptures, large-scale artwork installations and drawings, which have been exhibited at museums, gardens, architectural environments and galleries throughout the world.
Houseplants: More than a pretty accent
Wed, 06/27/2012 - 10:08 — Sarah MartinezHouseplants: More than a pretty accent
Indoor plants encourage healthy living
Today’s guest blogger is Suzi McCoy, founder and president of the Garden Media Group.
Nothing says “soothing” like the color green. And the granddaddies of all things green are certainly the members of the plant kingdom, the lungs of our environment.
Membership has its privileges
Tue, 06/26/2012 - 16:23 — Sarah MartinezMight be a bit corny
Tue, 06/26/2012 - 14:34 — Sarah MartinezMight be a bit corny
How does your corn crop grow?
Kind of wishing I made the attempt to plant corn again this year. Especially after seeing this: Corn prices skyrocket as summer heat bakes crops.
Does this mean I’m going to pay more for my Summer corn-on-the-cob?
We would love to hear from the seasoned veggie gardeners out there who successfully grow corn in Texas. (I’m not among them, sadly.)
In praise of foliage
Mon, 06/25/2012 - 09:49 — Sarah MartinezIn praise of foliage
Showy leaf colors save the day
Looking for the key to gardening happiness? Fall in love with foliage. Yep. It’s that simple.
(Well in my opinion, anyway. Share your definition in the comments!)
I’ve learned that admiring flowers alone is both narrow minded and a quick way to grow dissatisfied with your landscape. I strive to have something blooming in my beds each season. But here’s the unvarnished truth: Certain times are better for flowers than others. That’s the way Texas gardening goes.
A glossary of garden terms
Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:48 — Sarah MartinezA glossary of garden terms
How many times have you read a gardening article, looked at a website or magazine and wondered, "What does that mean?" Thanks to National Garden Bureau, we present a list of garden terms to bring you up to speed.
Acidic Soil
A soil that has a pH below 7. Azaleas, Camellias, Dogwoods and Roses like acidic soils.
Alkaline Soil
A soil that has a pH of 7 or higher.
Dazzle guests on Independence Day
Thu, 06/21/2012 - 12:06 — Sarah MartinezDazzle guests on Independence Day
Patriotic décor makes it easy to dress up your home for the Fourth
The odds-makers say we’ll be doing a lot of partying on Independence Day.
According to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Independence Day survey, more than 160 million people, or 67.6 percent of Americans intend to participate in holiday festivities. We’ll be celebrating the 4th of July by hosting or attending a cookout, barbecue or picnic—the most in the survey’s history.
The foodie fun is just beginning
Wed, 06/20/2012 - 13:58 — Sarah MartinezThe foodie fun is just beginning
Plan and plant now to enjoy a Fall harvest
The feast doesn’t have to be over, folks. It’s time to get planting and put those Fall vegetable plants/seeds in the ground!
Fall veggies?? I can see your quizzical look all the way over here! “But it’s Summer!” you’re saying. “Vegetable gardens are for Springtime!”
Not so fast! Our long Texas Summers give us an advantage in the veggie-gardening world. With careful planning and the right plants, you can have a bountiful Fall harvest.
Fabulous containers—flowers optional
Wed, 06/20/2012 - 13:04 — Sarah MartinezFabulous containers—flowers optional
Use foliage to jazz up your deck or patio
We just got our latest e-news update from the fine folks at Monrovia. This issue of Plant Savvy reminds us that foliage can be the star of the show too.
Flowering plants look great in a container for a few weeks or months, but when they are done blooming, you’ll either need to replant with something else, or just have a ho-hum container for the rest of the year. Perhaps it’s time to think beyond flowering plants and concentrate on foliage with fascinating texture and color.