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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:Before we get into this issue, we need to apologize about the chopstick article last week. When the article was written, we made sure the linked website worked. Unfortunately, between the time the article was written and the time it was sent, the illustrated chopsticks site went down. We checked today, and it is still down. Sorry about that. Our lead article on amaryllis bulbs was actually prompted by a reader inquiry. Hope you find the information useful. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor 2) Amaryllis Bulbs:
Amaryllis are quite easy to grow and they will give you some beautiful winter beauty in your home. Here are some recommendations:
Remember to talk to your amaryllis daily. They will love you for it. Rex Have you considered the needs of your backyard friends 3) Humor for Today:After the christening of his baby brother in church, little five- year-old Johnny sat in the back seat, unusually quiet. Very softly he started to cry until his father noticed him sobbing. "What's wrong, little Johnny?" asked his father. Between sniffles little Johnny replied, "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, an-an-and I want to stay with YOU guys!" 4) Snow and Ice on Evergreens:
Our evergreens can take a beating in winter weather. Heavy, wet snow can split arborvitae and similar trees in half by the sheer weight. Or their branches can be bent severely to the point of wondering if they'll ever regain their shape in the summer. Upright plants can be wrapped in burlap even now. Remember that burlap is breathable and will not harm your plants. You don't want to use plastic. Use twine to tie the burlap in place. You don't have to worry about leaving it in place even into late winter. As the weather warms, remove it. Broad evergreens, such as those used for hedging, are difficult to wrap because of their size. Don't make the mistake of trying to knock the snow and ice from the plants with a broom, stick, or whatever. The only thing you'll accomplish is damage to stems and branches. Let the ice melt naturally. For heavy, wet snow, gently remove it by hand. Remember, don't try to knock it off. 5) What are Bulbs?
The term bulbs is really a broad category of plants which we've tended to lump together. There are actually five categories of bulbs: true bulbs, corms, tubers, tuberous roots, and rhizomes. Tulips and daffodils are examples of true bulbs. The bulb is sort of like a complete embryo of the plant that will develop. The outer covering acts as a food storage area. A crocus or gladiolus is a corm. The bulb is actually the base of a stem that becomes swollen and stuffed with nutrients. This "bulb" is totally used up in a growing season and a new "bulb" is formed by the buds that develop beside the old one. Tubers also store nutrients in an underground stem, but it doesn't have a covering like the true bulb or corm. In fact, it generates roots from many parts of its surface. It has growth buds, or eyes. (Hmmm, sounds like a potato, doesn't it.) Some tubers will grow as they store food, others produce new tubers that grow from the sides of the original. Tuberous roots are the only bulb that is a real root. These bulbs don't actually draw in water themselves, but they develop a fibrous root system to take in moisture. These bulbs produce buds from which new plants grow. Finally, we have rhizomes. They are actually thickened stems that grow horizontally above or below the surface of the soil. Along their length they intermittently send out stems. So the next time someone asks you what sort of bulb that is, you can scratch your head and say it's not really a bulb, its a .... (darn, what were those categories?) Click Image for Our New Orchid
Gallery 6) Quote for Today:Bare branches of each tree -- Nelda Hartmann, January Morn 7) Spice Encyclopedia:
And since we are also on an Internet based media, we also like to share web sites that you might find interesting. Have you had a spice question in the past you couldn't find an answer for? Hey, take a visit to the Spice Advice site. This is an interesting site and quite informative. You'll find each seasoning with its own page with a bit of its history and geographic origins. The quick reference spice chart is fantastic. They give great advice on storage, testing for freshness, tips on adding spices and herbs to food. You also find a nice selection of recipes. Click Here, or visit http://www.spiceadvice.com Happy cooking. 8) Scented Spring Planter:As the winter drags on, it's never to early to start thinking about its end. Why not create a scented spring planter this year? There is nothing to it. This spring visit your local nursery and purchase a few Lilies- of-the-Valley. They grow well in containers and will do just fine in the shade. Their delicate white flowers stand out great against the greenery. Place the container on your patio, deck, or somewhere so you can enjoy the fragrance. Layer the container with clay granules or small stones to improve drainage. Cover the drainage material with a layer of compost or soil mix and arrange the lily-of-the-valley plants evenly on the compost. Fill around the plants with more compost. You can place some moss on the top and around the stems to keep splashing dirt away from the leaves. After they are done flowering, you can move them into the garden or around a tree. Remember, they don't mind the shade. 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.
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One
of our readers requested information on how to grow amaryllis bulbs.
Thought this would be a good topic to share with all our subscribers.
Unfortunately,
this topic might be a little late for some since the US experienced
some severe ice storms early in the winter. But others might find it
useful.
So,
what are bulbs? Some might think we are going to talk about those things
we screw into our lamps to give us light. Well, if this were an electricity
newsletter, that might be the case. But we are going to discuss those
things that grow and light up our yards and homes in a different way.
We've
always felt that gardening, crafting, and cooking sort of go hand-in-hand.
Many times a person that has an interest in one of them, will also have
an interest in at least one of the other two. That's one of the main
reasons you'll often find other non- gardening articles within each
issue.