A Greener View

It is that time of year again when the weather gets colder. Many people become concerned about the wild birds in their yard and begin bird feeding. This is also the time of year for bird feeders to join the 15,000 other people who are a part of the largest and longest running citizen-science project.

Project FeederWatch began in Ontario in the mid-1970s. After running for 10 years in Can ...

Updated: Wed Nov 04, 2009

Q: About seven years ago, we planted a maple tree. During the second spring, the bark began to split on one side. We asked the nursery where we purchased the tree if this would be a problem. We were told no and that with such a young tree the bark may close in on the crack.

Unfortunately, as the tree has grown so has the split, and rather than cover the exposed area, the surrounding bark ...

Updated: Wed Nov 11, 2009

Q: I have a question about my basil plant, which I have been growing indoors. The leaves still look very healthy, but the stems are turning black (starting at the soil and traveling up approximately 1 inch). Is it still OK to harvest the leaves?

A: As plants mature, they often have stems that change color and develop other characteristics, such as corky ridges. Plants that we don't norma ...

Updated: Wed Nov 25, 2009

One way I have found to pick the best plants for my garden is to look at the All-America winners for the new year. If it has been tested and approved in the All-America Selections (AAS) testing program, I can trust the plant to grow. They have almost 50 test gardens from Alaska and Canada to California and Florida. It is especially nice to have a test garden in a similar climate as your own lan ...

Updated: Wed Dec 02, 2009

Q: My spouse wants an artificial Christmas tree. He says it is safer, but I think a fresh cut one is better for the environment. Is it?

A: You might not think that cutting down a tree is good for the environment, but it could still be better than the artificial tree. Artificial trees often use a wooden core, so at least one tree was cut down for it. Artificial trees use petroleum and met ...

Updated: Wed Dec 09, 2009

Are you looking for gifts to give a gardener? I have four books you should consider. The first one is the "New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques" from the American Horticultural Society (AHS). This is a comprehensive volume of over 400 pages that contains color illustrations and color photos.

This book is going to be a good reference for beginners and longtime gardeners. The ...

Updated: Wed Dec 16, 2009

Q: My friends and I bought several poinsettias from different stores, and even though they look alike, some have already died, some are loosing leaves and branches and some still look like they just came from the greenhouse. All of us think we have watered them properly, and all the plants are in sunny rooms that aren't too hot or cold. What can we do to avoid this problem again next year?

With the start of a new year, we get to reflect on the changes we want to make in our lives. Many of us are gardeners because we enjoy the seasonal transformations in the landscape and can make changes to our gardens. Even in the middle of winter, we are thinking about gardening and plan to make changes as we get each new garden catalog in the mail.

One of the ways to make garden changes ...

Updated: Wed Dec 30, 2009

Wow, can you believe we made it through the holidays? The days are getting longer, and we are looking forward to getting out into the garden. The first thing we have to do is plan on what new plants we will be growing this year. It doesn't matter if you garden with annuals, perennials or vegetables — there is always a new thing to try.

January is National Mail Order Gardening Month ...

Updated: Wed Jan 06, 2010

The All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is a group of 25 official trial gardens, which are spread across the country in a variety of climates. They follow standards designed to test each rose with the care normally given by the home gardener, not the extra care that might be given at a botanic garden.

After years of testing, each rose grower decides which hybrids they want to put into pro ...

Updated: Wed Jan 13, 2010

If you watched the weather reports from the last few weeks, you know it has been very cold in a lot of places that are supposed to be warm this time of year.

Plants are not all created the same. Plants native to areas near the equator are called tropical plants. As a group, they don't do well if the temperature drops into the 50s. Subtropical plants, which are native to areas closer to t ...

Updated: Wed Jan 20, 2010

If you watched the weather reports from the last few weeks, you know it has been very cold in a lot of places that are supposed to be warm this time of year.

Plants are not all created the same. Plants native to areas near the equator are called tropical plants. As a group, they don't do well if the temperature drops into the 50s. This is why many houseplants that have been out for the s ...

Updated: Wed Jan 20, 2010

The other day I attended a luncheon presentation by Tim Wood, new product development manager for Spring Meadow Nursery. He helps bring new plants to market from a variety of sources across the globe. He has also been making his own plant crosses.

His newest release in the Proven Winners line is the Bloomerang Purple Lilac, a lilac that blooms twice in a season. Like all lilacs, it bloom ...

Updated: Wed Jan 27, 2010

Let's all thank the calendar makers that February is so short. In just a few weeks, winter will be over. Most birds will be happy it is over, too. The typical sparrow or cardinal that comes to a backyard feeder weighs about as much as a quarter. They spend virtually every waking moment looking for food (just like teenagers) and may consume 15 percent of their body weight on a cold winter's nigh ...

Updated: Wed Feb 03, 2010