tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27456081897069399942018-05-08T13:39:59.989-04:00Barbara Raskauskasnoreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-44629139379504914232016-09-04T14:17:00.003-04:002016-09-04T14:23:13.792-04:00

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Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-66302163585033269962014-11-04T16:27:00.000-05:002014-11-04T16:27:19.453-05:00

Some herbs, like chives, basil and dill, freeze well. Use frozen chives in soups, mix with cooked side vegetable dishes, or include with meat recipes like meatloaf.   You can cut chives any time during the growing season. Make the last harvest in the fall and before the first frost. Cut chive stems about 2 inches above ground. Lay the stems flat and then pull out brown, woody stems, or

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-47832824806951235672014-10-23T09:55:00.000-04:002014-10-23T09:55:52.817-04:00

The Autumn Blaze (Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred') maple tree is cross between a red maple (A. rubrum) and silver maple tree (A. saccharinum). This fast growing deciduous tree can reach 60 feet tall. The green leaves of Autumn Blaze turn a brilliant red-orange in the fall as temperatures drop, giving this maple tree its trademarked name. Suitable for USDA planting zones 3 through 8, Autumn Blaze

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-9733265590758759812014-10-05T19:56:00.000-04:002014-10-05T20:01:13.708-04:00

 The pumpkins pictured above have been wiped clean and are ready for temporary storage. As described in the article, Result of cross pollination on vine crops, these unique looking pumpkins are a result of inadvertent cross pollination. They may not display the characteristics typically seen in regular pumpkins, but they still make a festive presentation for Halloween and other fall

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-44807467401486138132014-09-17T16:06:00.000-04:002014-09-18T09:50:15.137-04:00

Growing Cucurbita: pumpkin, gourd, squash   Each year, I buy new seeds to plant pumpkins. I plant only a small area since I just want a few pumpkins to use for fall decoration. Buying a pack of seeds to grow my own pumpkins is a lot cheaper than buying pumpkins grown by someone else.   Another reason why I buy seeds   I prefer buying new seeds from a garden center or catalog because of

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-25733476494244481532014-08-15T20:59:00.000-04:002014-08-15T20:59:28.815-04:00

Compost Grass makes good compost with its rich nitrogen base. Because of its high moisture content, grass tends to compact and, as it becomes soggy, it starts to stink. To counter the compacting tendency of wet grass, use thin layers of grass in your compost pile/bin separated with dried leaves. The dried leaf source requires advance planning as you will need to save bags of leaves this fall

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-28223018024581791622014-07-30T08:57:00.000-04:002014-07-30T08:57:08.959-04:00

The Good - Easy to Grow Lily of the valley is a highly fragrant perennial that blooms in your sun or partial shade garden from late spring into early summer. Broad stand-up leaves almost hide the tiny, white or pink, bell-shaped blooms that display on a single thin stem. You can add lily of the valley to your garden from a nursery potted plant or bareroot, or you can transplant the flower from

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-85048648567582181942014-07-30T08:54:00.000-04:002014-07-30T08:54:28.906-04:00

I found salvia May Night (salvia nemorosa 'Mainacht') particularly beautiful growing along with yellow moonbeam coreopsis and purple coneflower. May Night salvia is a mid-height (about 18 inches in my yard, but according to the Perennial Plant Association, the plant can reach 2 1/2 feet in height) perennial that presents spikes of blooms from around May to October. With its deep blue-violet

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-87967556756315831002014-07-30T08:51:00.000-04:002014-07-30T08:51:29.547-04:00

Close up of stem with nodes, the tiny bud-like growth at the base of the leaf junction with the stem The shiny, deep green leaves of the camellia shrub make a lovely background for the blooms that open in late winter. I had a camellia shrub and as pretty as it was, its location looked awkward, just feet away from azaleas and a flowering dogwood. No amount of pruning could convince me the

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-68763401453958879232014-07-29T14:17:00.000-04:002018-03-14T07:50:12.222-04:00

Vertical accent structures built into the landscape or garden create the framework for climbing plants. Imagine an archway over a garden gate or a trellis against the house or garage that is covered with roses suitable for clipping for a short floral arrangement. Delightfully scented wisteria can add shade to the top of a pergola creating a restful, private retreat. In addition to an arch,

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-65310770275629149652014-07-29T14:12:00.000-04:002014-07-29T14:12:58.431-04:00

The Good and the Bad Garden Visitors There is a huge list of pests (crawling and flying) that can wreck havoc on your vegetable garden, eating vegetation above and below ground. Some of the bugs that you will find on the list are squash bugs, whiteflies, potato bugs, slugs, mealy bugs, ticks, and moth. At the opposite end of the spectrum are those bugs that dine on the pesky bugs or that help

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-73345780651177889662014-07-29T14:07:00.000-04:002014-07-29T14:07:01.420-04:00

Fungus, like powdery mildew that can be found on deciduous azaleas, and black spot that can be found on roses are a couple of examples of plant disease. Brought on by warm, moist conditions, plant disease can kill flower and vegetable plants if not handled immediately. Try a homemade preparation to fight plant disease like fungus and black spot. Using Homemade Plant Fungicide Sprays Applying

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-71257860588558486382014-07-29T14:01:00.000-04:002014-07-29T14:01:30.521-04:00

Exterior of homes are susceptible to mold and mildew, particularly in shaded areas and in humid conditions. Displaying as black or green growth, mold and mildew can cling to brick structures like houses, chimneys, walls and patios. Neither the cold of winter or nor rain will wash it away. What You Will Need to Clean Mold and Mildew from Brick Surfaces Cleaning Agent. The best cleaner for mold

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-49058714056480484662014-07-29T13:09:00.000-04:002014-07-29T13:09:00.426-04:00

How Weed Killers Work Weed killers, both homemade and commercial products, start by killing the above ground foliage. Systemic weed killers, like Roundup, are designed to cause injury to the entire plant including the root system so it will not grow back, according to a guide prepared by the University of California available here. Homemade vinegar-based products lack the oomph of commercial

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-9834308656163211012014-07-28T13:54:00.000-04:002014-07-28T13:54:12.009-04:00

Large leaf vegetable plants, like zucchini (shown above) and yellow squash, may develop powdery mildew, a fungus infection that looks like white fuzzy spots. Left untreated, the spots will spread, killing the leaf and eventually killing the plant. It was the third week of June, while harvesting some zucchini from my own garden, that I first saw the fuzzy spots. There were two to three dozen

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-14176708955347884882014-07-28T12:20:00.000-04:002014-07-28T12:20:24.343-04:00

When you hear the words "shade garden", the image conjured up is probably all green plants, like ferns, hosta, or even coleus. There's nothing wrong with ferns and hosta and in fact, they make the perfect starting point for a shade garden. To add punches of colors, use flowers that will bloom in partial or even full shade. When choosing the flowers, consider its mature height and when it

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-83938185751994410442014-07-28T12:04:00.002-04:002014-07-28T12:04:52.242-04:00

Shrubs can be used to create a border, faux fence and as an accent in your garden. When living in an area where the soil is naturally humus-a good balance of top soil, clay and sand-you can plant just about any shrub and it will thrive. In locations where the soil is mostly or all clay, the options drop unless you are willing to heavily mix the clay soil with purchased top soil or organic

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-87687955850387590952014-07-28T11:58:00.001-04:002014-07-28T11:58:50.765-04:00

Climbing and vining plants are similar in that they can grow from 10 to 40 feet in length, but most climbing plants have sturdy stalks and may also use tendrils or aerial roots to grasp a structure. The tendrils will twirl around anything near them, so the plant needs guidance to follow the structure. Climbing plants, also referred to as climbers, or vines can be trained to follow a structure

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-84424344579889090332014-07-28T11:56:00.000-04:002014-07-28T11:56:23.024-04:00

The best flowering gardens display continuous blossoms, all season long. Continuously blooming flowers in your garden can be accomplished in two ways. One is to read up on the blooming cycle of the plants you want to add to your garden, choosing varieties of plants with staggered bloom times. The second way to have flowers blooming all season long is to plant flowers with long bloom times (up

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-28529491122265294902014-07-27T10:12:00.000-04:002014-07-27T10:12:04.045-04:00

Did you know that Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) is used to make creme de menthe, a mint-flavored alcoholic beverage? Corsican mint is a petite plant suitable as groundcover in your landscape design. When walking on this aromatic perennial herb, the mint fragrance releases. Go barefoot to enjoy the soft, velvety leaves that grow less than 1/2 inch tall. Corsican mint is cold hardy in USDA

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-44899953284812393442014-07-27T10:08:00.001-04:002014-07-27T10:08:29.897-04:00

If you have ever watched birds dipping their heads and wings into a puddle left by the rain, you'll have an excellent vision at how simple a bird bath can be. Those delightful bubbling fountains that you like to hear are also a delight sound to birds. So you can see that from simple to elegant, the key factor is water, preferably shallow water of about one inch. Before you start your adventure

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-47444523560973466842014-07-27T10:00:00.000-04:002014-07-27T10:00:15.757-04:00

Flexible, plastic landscape edging can provide delineation between a garden and the lawn. The edging helps to retain the soil and mulch in the garden bed while blocking grass roots from entering the bed. Plastic lawn edging is designed with a rounded top for safety of bare foot traffic and a hook-like bottom edge to help keep the edging in the ground. Plastic lawn and garden edging can easily

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-17804244342321419802014-07-27T09:53:00.002-04:002014-07-27T09:53:46.422-04:00

A weed is "any plant that is unwanted and grows or spreads aggressively," says the Indiana University/Purdue University article, "Controlling Weeds." We may spray chemicals to prevent or kill weeds. The alternative is to spend endless hours pulling or digging weeds from our yard or flower garden or vegetable garden. So why is it that some weeds bear beautiful flowers? Does that not urge us to

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-88780681670706304312014-07-26T19:29:00.000-04:002014-07-26T19:29:40.890-04:00

Bugs that attack tomato plants are sometimes never seen, but you can see the damage they leave behind. You first need to identify the bug on your tomato plant before you can determine the best approach to eradicate it. In some cases, chemicals are needed to stop the pests. Read the label carefully and follow the directions precisely to avoid harm to humans, pets and beneficial insects, like honey

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2745608189706939994.post-64477117405757498052014-07-26T18:56:00.000-04:002014-07-26T18:56:44.791-04:00

The use of chemicals to control crawling, flying and walking pests in the garden is not my preference. Instead, I look to more natural approaches that, coincidentally, add more beauty to the vegetable garden. Flowers surrounding a vegetable garden and dispersed periodically throughout the garden can create a natural approach to bug control. You can choose one type of flower to conquer a

Barbara Raskauskashttps://plus.google.com/117482014780263832686noreply@blogger.com