|
[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ]
|
||||||
|
Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:Even though we are in January, it is always nice to discuss outdoor plants. This week we take a quick look at hosta. Of course, we also deal with some more timely topics, as well. We do want to remind folks to keep their e-mail boxes from filling up. As our subscriber base continues to grow, it is becoming quite a burden to have over 100 bounced newsletters. In the past we've been pretty lenient in this regard and haven't been removing folks unless they've bounced for five weeks. That is going to have to change pretty soon because of the time commitment needed to week out our list. In the future we may only allow a couple weeks of bounces before we remove someone. However, if someone is removed, they are certainly free to re- subscribe at any time. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor 2) Hosta:
Because hostas will hybridize very easily, many gardeners have become so fascinated by them, they collect them by the hundreds.
It is not unusual today to find gardeners who are willing to share their hostas when they are being split for replanting. If your hosta are left alone and not divided, they will improve with age and your garden will be filled with majestic beauty.
Unfortunately, hosta names are confusing even for the experts. Many are sold with long tongue-twisting Latin names. However, do not let the names confuse you. Remember, hosta are very friendly and very easy to grow, with no hard labor involved! Email me and I will tell you how I care for my hosta. Click Image for Our Botanical
Gallery 3) Humor for Today:The other day it was my turn to prepare dinner so I asked my wife to go over to the local market and buy some organic vegetables. She came back rather upset. When I asked her what was wrong she said, "I don't think I like that produce guy. I went and looked around for your organic vegetables and I couldn't find any. So I asked him where the organic vegetables were. "He didn't know what I was talking about so I said, 'These vegetables are for my husband. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous chemicals?' "And he said, 'No, ma'am. You'll have to do that yourself.'" 4) Winter Interest:
As our perennials die down, they leave behind their skeletons. You'll have the bare stems of roses, the cone shape of holly, the structure formed by the growth on a trellis, the texture and colorful bark of many trees such as mahogany, withered vines on a piece of sculpture.and so much more. Consider as you plant this spring what might be left behind next winter. Devote an area of your garden specifically for winter interest, or simply intersperse something this year which you might enjoy looking at next January. The winter doesn't have to be ugly for an outdoor gardener. 5) Healthy Food For Healthy Eyes:One of the progressive diseases of the eyes which leads to worsening vision is macular degeneration. It tends to be age related.
This study in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggests we should reduce the intake of processed foods high in fat and increase the amount of fish we eat. Of course, they also stress we should eat in moderation. Click Image for Our Angels Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm
or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year.
Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells
and fire off pistols." 7) Slippery Walks and Driveways:
Be careful where you toss or sweep the deicing salts. Don't be using it around your landscape plantings. Some plants highly susceptible to damage are arborvitae, holly, hemlock, pine, beech, and dogwood. The major problem comes from these salts accumulating in their root systems. These salts can dry up tender root tissue and cause root death. This winter consider using an alternative. What about sand, sawdust, or urea fertilizers? Sure, these alternatives may not be as effective, but your plants will certainly be happier. 8) Plant Spotlight: Flowering Banana (Musa)Musa (Banana, Plantain) is a genus of over 40 species found in light woodland and at forest margins in northeast India and Bangladesh, and from Southeast Asia to Japan and northern Australia. The Flowering Banana (Musa ornata) has oblong to elliptical, waxy, blue-green leaf blades. It has very attractive yellowish orange flowers about 1- 1/4 inches long, with purplish pink bracts. (Bract is basically a modified leaf at the base of a flower.) The flowers are followed by small greenish yellow fruit. You'll want to grow it in full light, but not placed in the hot sun. Water freely from spring to summer and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. In the winter you only want to keep it just moist. It is a good idea to repot annually or every other year in the spring. Indoors it will grow to about three feet high. If you want to try this plant outside during the summer, you don't want to live where the temperature has a chance to fall below 45° F. Outdoors you'll want to plant it in humus- rich soil in full sun. You'll also want to give it some shelter from wind so the large leaves do not become shreded. Consider pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours. The seeds are slow to germinate but this plant is well worth the wait. Click Here for our Flowering Banana (Seed #D1107) or visit http://rexseedco.com/pollution.htm 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times To unsubscribe Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
|
||||||
|
[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ]
|
||||||
It's
really the foliage that makes hostas stand out in every garden. Some
hosta have elephant leaves that are lush and tropical looking, while
the miniature varieties grow in tiny clumps. Some have blue-green foliage,
others have emerald green leaves, and still others are chartreuse or
golden yellow.
Many
will have variegated leaves of cream color, white or golden yellow.
Some leaves may be round, pointed, puckered, quilted, corrugated, wavy
or even twisted depending upon the variety. The stalks are strong and
bear tubular or bell shaped flowers of lavender, violet or white. Some
are fragrant.
Hosta
are members of the Lily family and are native to Japan, Korea or China.
They will grow wild in temperate regions. There are over 40 species
with more than 400 cultivated registered varieties. Because they are
easily hybridized there are hundreds more unknown varieties in the United
States alone. It was only a few years ago that special hybridized varieties
were sold on the open market for as much as $200 per plant - it wasn't
long before it was realized that hosta could be very easily hybridized
and the market was flooded with new and interesting types and varieties.
Hosta
cohabit very nicely with other garden plants such as fine textured ferns
or astrilbes, as long as the plants enjoy the environment in which they
will grow. Although new varieties have been hybridized to grow in full
sun, most hosta prefer shady areas with well drained soil that is constantly
moist. They also like composted soil with plenty of organic matter.
As
you begin to plan for next year's gardening and landscaping, don't forget
to take a look around your outdoor surroundings right now. Sure, we
like to look at all the beautiful flowers and foliage during the spring,
summer, and fall, but too often we forget about the winter.
Well,
some research done in August of 2001 suggests that foods high in linoleic
acids, vegetable, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats can lead
to an increased risk of developing macular degeneration. However, foods
rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as in fish, seem to decrease the risk.
For
those in colder climates, slippers walkways and driveways can be a problem.
But one thing we all need to keep in mind is that deicing salts and
plants don't mix.