Winter and........

Winter is here! We have had a few snows with another light dusting expected the day after Christmas. Some winter bloomers have started their show. At JC Raulston Arboretum at NCSU the Oregon Grape Hollies (Mahonia) are budding out and the bananas have been frozen to the ground.

I am waiting for the Wintersweets and Witch Hazels to bloom!

Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia gloriosa)

A Gloriosa Daisy that came up from seed that were sown this Summer. Is a nice surprise that it is blooming now!

Plan your butterfly garden now!

The new plant and seed catalogs have begun to arrive! Plan your butterfly gardens now. Here is a website that list host plants by butterfly species:

http://www.thebutterflysite.com/create-butterfly-garden.shtml

The heat and humidy has helped everything to grow fast but also brings mildew. Companion plantings of marigolds and basil help to reduce the threat of insects. The hot nights slow the blooming cycles of the peppers and tomatoes but once the nights cool they will begin blooming again!

It will soon be time to plan the Fall garden of lettuce, carrots, radishes, and maybe collards and cabbage?

We'll see!

Bug and Disease website

http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/

The is a very comprehensive site!

The bugs are here!

Now that the soil has warmed up most pest have arrived. Here is a website that will help to identify pest and offer treatment recommendations.

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/ig/Insects-and-Diseases-of-Plants/

The new raised bed vegetable garden.

The new raised bed vegetable garden has been planted. I purchased raised bed kits from Lowes. They are about 4 feet square and filled with Miricle Grow Garden Soil. I will post pictures as the season grows!!

Planting of the garden.

Everything is growing and the farmers market is packed with vendors and people!

I created two raised beds and filled them with Miracle Grow Garden Soil and began planning. In one bed I planted basil and dill around the edges with an Greek oregano plant in the center with cucumber seeds planted around it. The cucumbers should fill the bed and the basil and dill should help keep bugs at bay!

The other bed, I planted lettuce and radishes which will be replaced with tomatoes once they are large enough to go out! I will add pepper plants, too - bell, jalapeno, and banana peppers!

Its official!

Spring is here. Everything is blooming and a few are already done! The raised garden beds are ready. Once they are filled with new compost and soil the seedlings will be moved from the greenhouse and out to the beds.

I will need to build or create something to keep Gus out as he is the first dog I have had. His pit bull/ black lab background leaves him with the bad habits of loving to chew and digging!

Great bulb website

www.easytogrowbulbs.com

More snow!

More snow could mean that some winter flowering plants may have damage to already open buds. If so, just remove the damage buds and allow undamaged buds to replace them once the weather warms!