Organic Gardening

Scratch beneath the surface of many gardeners’ bio - graphies and one finds inspiring people who influenced and  helped them realize their dreams. Sometimes these pivotal characters are responsible for imbuing a love of gardening; sometimes they are mentors to those who have already discovered a passion for horticulture. Often they are simply generous souls who, by contributing time and energy, help gardeners achieve their goals. A magic occurs when they also become one’s friends for life. Sheila Robertson, aka Orchard Annie, had left a lenghty commentary on one of my blogs. It was so comprenhensive that I reprinted it in a  blog post of its own . Then, I decided that I needed to know more about her. How did she come to amass such a body of practical gardening information ? Inspired by my curiosity, she submitted an informal autobiography in which she pays tribute to the men in her life that facilitated her journey. Serendipitously, inside her narrative, I discovered a romanti...

It's a sign that that spring is almost here when children’s bookstores display garden books in their storefront windows. On a trip to Boston this past weekend, I noticed that   The Childrens Book Shop   on Harvard Street, in Brookline, Massachusetts, has dedicated its entire streetfront display to the topic of gardening. Here are twelve books they selected along with publishers or sellers descriptive notes. Click on each image for more information, prices, and shopping. A Day At The Market , Sara Anderson.  Celebrate one glorious day of fresh flowers, fish, and produce at Seattle's Pike Place Market--a 100-year-old working farmer's market that steals the hearts of locals and visitors alike. With her signature cut-paper style and playful rhymes in a sturdy, oversized board book with peek-a-boo die-cuts, Sara Anderson captures the essence of the Market she treasures--not only its friendly cacophony, but also the richness of its colorful community, the secrets of its many n...

One of the hot topics in modern society is the study and appreciation of Bioluminescent plants. We've all seen the glowing green leaves of a profusion of moss along the edges of forest canopies. Many of us recognize daffodils with their blue-green iridescent foliage; or, perhaps, the striking blue-green spikes of Calendula, with their wafting tentacles. Even fungi command our attention with their fluorescent yellows and oranges that are characteristic of some species of the genus Mycoplasma. So, what are these creatures? The scientific community has only recently begun to truly appreciate the beauty of bioluminescent plants. The term "bioluminescent" (not "bioluminescent") refers to the ability of the plants to generate and emit light. There are typically four genes responsible for this process: the gene that produces the plant's chloroplast cells, the gene that produces the protein chlorophyll, and the genes that allow the photosynthesis of carbohydrates. T...

Grow perennial anemone flowers

  Hibiscus flowers are among some of the prettiest flowers you will ever see. If you are lucky enough to live in a cool climate where the flowers bloom for a month each year, then you've got yourself a beautiful, colorful flower garden to be proud of. Hibiscus is actually a long-lasting perennial flower, originally from warm, tropical latitudes of the globe, but one that can now be cultivated in cooler climates as well. They grow best in full sunlight, and it is important to make sure they don't get planted in shaded areas or somewhere where there is a lot of direct sun shining on the area. If you do, the flowers may start to turn yellow much sooner than you want. One of the biggest Hibiscus flower benefits to us humans is its ability to whiten our breath when we exhale. Hibiscus leaf extract has been found to inhibit the production of certain chemicals in our bodies that cause the production of yellow stains in our breath. Some people use hibiscus extract in place of deodorant...

Very often, when people begin to learn about bird flu, they jump to the conclusion that because medicine has advanced by quantum leaps since the 1918-19 influenza pandemic (global epidemic), there is nothing to worry about. They are undoubtedly right about the advance of medicine, which has been extraordinary by any measure. Unfortunately, when it comes to dealing with a bird-flu pandemic, these advances fall short in many areas. To name the most significant: Bird flu is caused by an influenza virus, for which there are only four approved antiviral agents in the U.S. The virus has extensive resistance to two of these medicines already, and resistance might develop in the remaining two once used more widely in a pandemic. The two remaining medicines, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) are in extremely short supply and, even with planned increases in their manufacture, will remain in short supply for many years to come. These medicines must be given within 48 hours of the onse...