Spring Veggies

As I recently blogged about Spring time flowers, I thought it would be great to follow up with a post on seasonal fruits & veggies that are at their peak in the Spring!

I find my self craving lighter foods in the Spring. It is probably because that is when I start thinking about swim suit season, but also because the weather is getting warmer and it just seems like the perfect time to eat fresh!  Even in more decadent dishes like risotto, I find that in Spring I crave a risotto with asparagus or lots of lemon.

Here is a list of fresh veggies you can readily find in the Spring:

• Apricots
• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cherries
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Grapefruit
• Green onions/Scallions
• Greens
• Kiwis
• Kumquats
• Leeks
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Mint
• Morels
• Nettles
• Navel Oranges
• Parsley
• Pea greens
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Spring Onions
• Strawberries
• Turnips

This is probably close to all my favorite fruits and veggies!  I’m looking forward to the hopefully bountiful crops of the upcoming Spring season!

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Stargazer Lilies

As Spring is right around the corner, I thought it would be great to post a list of flowers that bloom in Spring. I’m so excited to see some life come, and also the cold days of Winter go! I just love the mild weather of Spring and the fresh pops of color that come out during the season.

Here is a list of flowers that will be blooming in Spring (my favorite being Stargazer Lily):

• Agapanthus
• Amaryllis
• Anemone
• Apple blossom Bird of Paradise
• Brodea
• Calla lily
• Cherry Blossom
• Corn flower
• Cosmose
• Dahlia
• Delphinium
• Delwood
• Forsythia
• Freesia
• Gardenia
• Heather
• Helleborus
• Hollyhock
• Hyacinth
• Larkspur
• Casa Blanca Lily
• Gloriosa Lily
• Stargazer
• Liatrus
• Lilac
• Lisianthus
• Narcissus
• Orchid
• Peach blossom
• Peony
• Phlox
• Poppy
• Protea
• Pussy willow
• Ranunculus
• Rose
• Seeded Eucalyptus
• Solidago
• Statice
• Stephanotis
• Stock
• Sweet Pea
• Tulip
• Viburnum
• Wax flower
• Zinnia

What is your favorite Spring time blooming flower?  Leave a comment and let us know what makes you excited for Spring!

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(ARA) – “The month of June, it is well if it be partly wet and partly dry.” Despite that idealistic statement from an 1854 article on agriculture in The Cambrian Journal, no farmer, in the history of the world, has ever had the ideal weather for a perfect growing season. The same holds true for today’s homeowners.

“Season creep” is a meteorological fact – spring arrives earlier than it used to, making homeowners scramble to protect tender new plantings when a sudden but short-lived frost arrives. This year’s weather changes are more dramatic due to El Nino winds and more moisture content in the air. This is causing severe flooding in some communities and drought in others. In addition, people now stay in their homes longer than ever, averaging 9.2 years in very lived-in homes. So like farmers, homeowners need to figure out how to adapt to extreme weather conditions in order to get the long-lasting and beautiful flower beds, yards and gardens they want.

All plants need the same basic nourishment: good soil conditions, adequate water, sunshine, favorable temperatures and protection from predators. Of all of these factors, homeowners can most affect their soil content.

Good soil is the foundation of a good garden. Farmers know they have to amend their soil through a variety of methods: rotating crops, adding organic compost-type material, adding chemical fertilizers, and growing cover crops. The average homeowner can take on the simplest of these tasks: Feed the soil that is feeding your plants and use a landscape fabric to prevent weeds from taking root and competing for those same nutrients.

Adding a long-lasting organic growing mixture to your garden bed is easy. You can find them at a local garden center or from www.espoma.com. The idea is to make the soil a crumbly texture so that air and water can get to your plant roots and to put organic material into the soil that will give your plants a season’s worth of nutrients.

Adding a landscape fabric to your garden bed will help with weed control and moisture retention. These can also be bought at your local garden center. It is a good idea to check the warranty on this type of product. One brand, WEED-X from Dalen Products, comes with a 20-year warranty.

First, you prepare your soil, then you lay down landscape fabric, then you add 1 1/2 – 2 inches of mulch on top of your bed. Studies have shown that WEED-X does an excellent job of preventing weeds from taking root below the fabric. Most weeds arrive in your mulch as airborne seeds and a few will root above the fabric. A little two finger weeding can easily remove these stragglers. Limiting the mulch to a depth of no more than 2 inches also helps prevent this problem. The landscape fabric will also help with the issue of getting your new plants enough to drink.

Homeowners generally realize that their new plants need more water in the beginning to establish their root systems. If Mother Nature does not provide rain on a regular schedule, it is time to drag out the hose and gardening can. Putting a bucket under your downspout or eave is a good way to collect wasted water to use for this needed chore (and it is probably near the plants you need to water anyway). A good landscape fabric will allow the right amount of moisture to reach your plant roots and will help the soil below the fabric retain moisture.

Homeowners can do very little to affect sunshine and temperatures, but they can protect tender new plantings from sudden frosts. Most folks empty their linen closets on nights when frost is predicted, but there are frost protection covers and blankets specially engineered to protect your plant in extreme weather available at your local lawn and garden center.

And finally, what can you do about garden predators? Good soil techniques do much to discourage insects and fungus from attacking a stronger, healthier plant, and not all insects are bad. “Farmscaping” is a technique to give a small percentage of your growing space to plants that will attract organisms and insects that arrive “with benefits.” Barley, basil, borage, cosmos, rye, and lobelia are just a few examples of plants which can encourage biodiversity by providing the continuous blooms which nourish “good” insects and pollinators at all stages of their lives.

Homeowners will still need to purchase fencing, netting and scarecrow devices to contend with birds and other small animals who are attracted to fruit and vegetables meant for your table. Many homeowners use owls to scare off those scavengers. Read the owl story at www.dalenproducts.com to see how their Great Horned Owl (with either a rotating or solar head) does just that.

The idea behind these labor-saving techniques is help homeowners get to play and enjoy the beautiful days Mother Nature does provide in their easy-to-maintain, but lovely gardens.

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“People want easy plants and products that are attractive and good for the environment and perform well in their gardens,” says Susan McCoy, garden writer and trend spotter. “And that’s what the new plants and products this spring will deliver.”

McCoy reveals a few of her favorite garden superstars for spring that will chase away those winter blahs as you get ready to get your hands back in the earth and garden.

Next big thing for small gardens
McCoy loves the newest Drift Roses from The Conard-Pyle Co., introducer of the famous Knock Out family of roses. A cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniatures, both Sweet Drift and Apricot Drift Roses offer delicate, double flowers and continuous blooming throughout the season. With exceptional disease resistance and winter hardiness, these low-maintenance beauties are the perfect choice for small gardens or along paths and walkways.

Drift Roses

Get a jump on spring
Looking to get a jump on spring planting? McCoy suggests FreezePruf – a revolutionary new spray from the Liquid Fence Company (www.liquidfence.com) – that may be the “holy grail” for gardeners. Developed by botanists, FreezePruf protects your lush flower baskets, veggies, herbs and favorite plants from late spring frost/freeze and ice crystal damage. This non-toxic spray can increase a plant’s cold tolerance from 2.2 to 9.4 degrees (depending on the plant variety and the length of the frost/freeze event) and give gardeners about two additional weeks of growing and harvesting in spring and fall. It’s almost like moving your garden 200 miles further south.

Tickled pink
Pink is the new blue. The first-ever pink blueberry (www.briggsnursery.com) – Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ from Briggs Nursery – is one of the most exciting new plants McCoy has seen in years and is a must-have for your garden. ‘Pink Lemonade’ provides delicious, sweet fruit rich in anti-oxidants, plus four seasons of color: pinkish-white flowers in spring, bright pink fruit in summer, great fall color and dusky auburn stems in winter. Growing about 5 feet around, this showy ornamental looks great as a hedge border or stand-alone shrub with the added benefit of luscious fruit in your cereal or pies – or by the handful. For more information or where to purchase visit www.briggsnursery.com.

Go native, go local
Native plants are clearly the next big thing in gardening, and it’s easy to go native with American Beauties native plants (www.ABNativePlants.com). These native shrubs, trees, vines, grasses and perennials are hand-picked for their beauty and low-maintenance, making it simple to attract bees, birds and butterflies to a backyard habitat. The wildlife will appreciate the food and shelter, and when you purchase them, a contribution is made to the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat program (www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife).

Catch daylily fever
Daylily fever is contagious and you’re likely to catch the bug as you fall in love with the new fire-engine-red daylily from Centerton Nursery. McCoy digs this new, hardy, early and repeat bloomer – Jersey Earlybird ‘Cardinal’- bred by world-renown daylily hybridizer, Dr. Darrel Apps. This easy-care daylily offers early-blooming great color and reblooms multiple times throughout the season. It’s pest- and drought-resistant and is perfect in beds, borders and containers. Check it out at www.centertonnursery.com and earlybirddaylily.com.

Smart and simple
Want to bring the outdoors in and grow fresh herbs (www.fertileearth.com) and vegetables in the kitchen or on the balcony? McCoy loves Simple Gardens, the innovative new plant system from Fertile Earth that comes with soil, seeds and a how-to guide packed in stylish square containers. Perfect for indoor gardens or to start seeds. They come in a variety of hip colors and make wonderful gifts. Now it’s a snap to grow kitchen gardens in any bright spot — just add water.

Simple Gardens, the innovative new plant system from Fertile Earth that comes with soil, seeds and a how-to guide packed in stylish square containers

Grow ‘em right
The new Organic Mechanics Planting Mix (www.organicmechanicsoil.com) is like having all the goodness of compost in a bag. At planting time, just mix in the nutrient-rich planting mix to revitalize your garden soil. It helps retain moisture and accelerates root-zone establishment for healthier trees, shrubs, fruits, veggies and flowers. Get it this spring in Mid-Atlantic garden centers and Whole Foods stores.

Outdoor designer decor
McCoy loves the latest “designer” doormats from Imports Unlimited (www.wholesaledoormats.com). Made from 100 percent natural coco and mainly recycled rubber, these environmentally friendly eco-mats come in array of popular designs and colors. With over 180 unique patterns to choose from, adding your own personal style, whether it’s formal, classical or whimsical, to your outdoor space is now easy and affordable.

"Designer" doormats from Imports Unlimited

All that jazz
For every rose lover, McCoy has discovered a new spray and way to keep roses healthy and strong. Jaz Rose Spray (www.jazsprays.com) naturally reduces damage from disease and common environmental stresses. This new plant-strengthening spray with jasmonate — which occurs naturally in plants – provides increased resistance to disease, drought, and temperature extremes. Recently endorsed by the American Rose Society (ARS), Jaz Rose Spray boosts your plant’s natural resistance to environmental stress and encourages vigorous roots, growth and blooms. For more information visit www.gardenmediagroup.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“Start your garden off right by adding several inches of organic matter to the top 6- to 12- inches of soil,” recommends horticulture expert and author Melinda Myers. “Peat moss, compost, aged manure and other organic materials improve drainage in heavy clay soil and increase the water holding capacity of sandy soils.”

Incorporate a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite before planting flowers and vegetables. “I like Milorganite’s low nitrogen formulation” says Myers. “This makes it goof proof so you will not harm young tender plants no matter what your gardening skill. Its slow-release nitrogen encourages overall growth without preventing flowering and fruit production that can occur when too much nitrogen is applied.”

Reduce weed problems and increase the health and vigor of your lawn by properly mowing, watering and fertilizing. “Mow high to encourage deep roots that are more pest- and drought-resistant,” Myers suggests. “Taller grass is better able to fend off weeds.” Mow often and leave the short clippings on the lawn to add nutrients, organic matter and moisture to the soil. Use a sharp blade for quicker recovery and a better-looking lawn.

Water thoroughly but less frequently to encourage deep roots. Water your lawn early in the morning to minimize water loss. If you allow your lawn to go dormant during drought, leave it dormant until temperatures cool, rains return and nature brings it back to life.

Use a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer for your spring feeding. An organic nitrogen type fertilizer will not promote lush growth that is more susceptible to disease and requires more mowing. Plus if you stop watering or your community institutes a watering ban, it won’t damage the lawn. In fact, the fertilizer will stay in the soil until the weather improves and your lawn starts to grow.

Improve the health of trees and shrubs with proper watering and mulch. Water new plantings whenever the top few inches of soil are dry. Don’t forget about established plants. These need a helping hand during extended periods of drought. Always water thoroughly to encourage deep drought-resistant roots.

Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around trees and shrubs. Woodchips, shredded bark and other organic materials help conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as they decompose. Keep mulch away from the trunk of trees and crowns of other plants to reduce the risk of disease.

Myers suggests you create or expand existing mulch rings without the use of chemicals. She says it’s simple, “Just edge the mulch bed, cut the existing grass short, spread a layer of newspaper or cardboard over the area and cover with woodchips or shredded bark. The paper provides an extra weed barrier and eventually breaks down adding organic matter to the soil.”

Use an all-purpose fertilizer to give existing trees, shrubs and perennials a nutrient boost. A low-nitrogen, slow-release formula encourages moderate growth that needs less pruning and is less susceptible to certain pests.

And don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the beauty of spring while preparing your landscape for the season ahead.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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