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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:This has been a difficult week for us to put together the newsletter. We've been frantically trying to get a brand new shopping cart up and running. It was our hope to have it operational with the sending of this issue, and I think we made it. For this issue, we take a look at the Monarch butterfly, have an article on lawns, quick piece on Coleus, the reader mailbag, and more. Hope you enjoy. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor 2) Monarch Butterflies
Mexico had an unusual cold spell during the winter months last year and millions upon millions of the Monarch Butterflies were frozen to death. Many entomologists worried that the beautiful Monarch Butterfly might become extinct. We are please to report that the Monarchs are well on their way to complete recovery. Recently the University of Massachusetts Medical School published an article about the Monarch. They found that this insect has a brain with a precise sense of time, a sort of biological clock that helps them to calculate the time of day. This time sense, along with the angle of the sun, enables the Monarch to know when it is time to migrate to the South. The Monarch will raise at least four generations of Monarchs each year. The first generation will lay their eggs as they find their way North in Texas and Louisiana during the early spring. The larvae will feed on the leaves of the milkweed until they hatch. The monarch will then continue their way North following the emerging milkweed plants. As they go, they will continue breeding and feeding on the milkweed plants. Once again, when the Monarch's internal clock tells them it is time to head South, they start their return trip to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Their larvae will feed from the leaves of the milkweed up north, and then also make their first trip south. One thing about the Monarch Butterfly, they will only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. This of course means the larvae will only feed on the milkweed leaves. That's why it is important if you want to have a Monarch Butterfly garden, you need to plant a generous supply of milkweed in or near your garden. Some varieties of milkweed will produce beautiful flowers. The milkweed plant we recommend is a hardy perennial with a bright orange flower, and a compact cluster of flowers. Item #TPF093 - Orange Butterfly Milkweed - 100 seeds per package $4.05. http://rexseedco.com/ *** 10% savings until June 5, 2003 *** ** For Current Green Thumb Times Subscribers Only ** Because our subscribers are so great, we are giving
you a 10% discount on anything you order. You've given us the opportunity
to continue to improve our site. You can check out our brand new shopping
cart which went online today. 3) Humor for Today:The children were lined up for lunch in the cafeteria of a Catholic school. At the head of the table sat a large bowl of apples, to which the Sister had attached the following note: "Take only one, God is watching." At the other end of the table was a large platter of chocolate chip cookies to which one clever young boy had attached this note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples." 4) Easy Gardening: Turf Time
But there must be better ways of doing things to make the job a little bit easier and faster. Of course, there is always the option of hiring a lawn service or neighbor kid to do it - however, that could get expensive over the course of the year. Here are some things to consider. When you seed a yard, use only the best seed mix designed for your area. This way, you may well get a denser lawn, perhaps lower growing, and a drought and disease-resistant that may well repel weeds. Don't buy the bargain seed - you may end up with grasses that will actually increase your workload. Think twice before you start adding a lot of odd shaped beds in the middle of your yard with turf all around. Every one of those beds needs mowing around and every time you need to turn the mower, it slows you down. If you do have these beds, they can certainly increase the need for trimming. However, that can be reduced by considering how you edge the beds. Why not use permanent edging of brick or railroad ties or treated landscape timber as your edging? The key is to place it flush with the ground, and then when you mow, you can place a wheel of the mover on the edging and you won't have anymore trimming around that bed. Here is another one that makes mowing easier, faster, and even better for your lawn - purchase a mulching mower. No more clumps of grass to rake up if you don't bag. If you do bag now, you'll not have to empty the grass catcher or haul the heavy bags around. And best of all, you'll be returning the clippings to the turf which will benefit the grass by "recycling" the nutrients the blades had taken while growing. If you have a good slope in part of your yard, it can be dangerous to mow, besides being hard work. Consider planting a low-growing ground-cover such as pachysandra, periwinkle or English ivy. They'll also hold the soil better than grass. Keep these things in mind the next time you cuss out that darn lawn. 5) Spice of Life:Do you ever have the problem we have trying to remember which spices work best with what food? We certainly do. Here's a list we just came across, hope you find it as useful as we do. These are quick herb/spice entree pairings:
Click Image for Our Angels Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it." -- Unknown 7) Reader Mailbag: Invasive Aquatic Plants"Can you do an article on aquatic plants and why it is important not to release them into the wild." ---
So that others are aware, aquatic plants are those that grow submersed in water, float on the water surface, or have basal portions inundated with foliage and upper parts emersed. There are a number of aquatic species that have become problems in the United States and around the world, including Australia. These plants have been introduced into areas outside of their natural range. Unfortunately, many of these varities have been introduced intentionally or have escaped from cultivated areas where they will compete with native species and virtually take over. For folks that might like to look into the topic now, here are some resources for you: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/plants/index.html The above sites will help you indentify these evasive plants. If you are interested growing water plants that are non-evasive you can visit: http://www.nesteggfarms.com/ The below website is sponsored by the University of Minnesota - (The Home of 10,000 Lakes). http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG6955.html Hope you find the information helpful. 8) Coleus:Did you know that Coleus, the plant with wonderful gaudy foliage, is actually a tender perennial, but not north of Zone 10. For most areas, it is grown as an annual. Breeders have created so many new leaf shapes and color patterns that it becomes tough to choose which to grow. Most people consider Coleus as a shade loving plant, but it can certainly be used in sun or shade in most parts of the country. Although, in Zone 7-10, the plants would sure appreciate some afternoon shade. Coleus loves moisture and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. If you've grown Coleus and not given them enough moisture, you certainly know how quick they are to tell you they need water - wilting leaves beg you to give the plants a drink. 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, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. 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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Last year we ran an article about Monarch Butterflies. You may recall
that Monarch Butterflies migrate from the United States and Southern
Canada to the Southern States and into the foothills of the Sierra
Madre Mountains near Mexico City. Central Mexico is where they spend
their winter.
Whether you consider it as gardening or not, taking care of a lawn
is a gardening chore. For many of us, it is one of the most time consuming
gardening chores we have. If you're like us, you sometimes wonder why
you don't just pave the lawn and spray it green. Sure would save a
lot of time.
What an excellent topic. Unfortunately, we have a limited knowledge
on the subject of water plants and water lilies. However, in the future,
we'll try and remember to do some research and publish an article on
the topic.