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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:Where does the time go? Before you know it we'll be fighting to remember to write 2004 on our checks. It will also mark the end of our second year of publication. Your kind and thoughtful comments continue to make this a worthwhile effort. For this issue we'll take a look at companion planting, share another AAS winner, give a tip for your cut Christmas tree, have our reader mailbag, and more. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Companion Planting In Your Garden:
Researchers have found that this can be utilized in your own garden by "companion planting" which can be an integral part of plant management. It is a known fact, that if you select certain companion plants, they will allow nature to do a better job. By using companion planting you can discourage some harmful garden pests without losing the beneficial effects of the good guys. Many varieties of herbs, flowers and vegetables can be used as companion plants. Although, in some cases you may need to change your garden layout. For example, it would be best to surround your favorite tomato plant with several lemon herbs. Your tomato fruit will develop a distinctive flavor. Also, there are a number of basil varieties loaded with oils and the different types of basil will flavor your tomato differently. Again, you can incorporate companion plants in many ways, including several that are known to work in harmony with nature. The alfalfa plant is a perennial with deep roots. It is a nitrogen fixer that also accumulates iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. It withstands droughts because of its long tap roots and will improve any soil. Alfalfa has the ability to penetrate hard clay and can even send its roots through rocks. It is practically pest and disease free. Anise is a licorice flavored herb. This plant makes an excellent host for predatory wasps which prey on aphids. Anise will also camouflage its odor and improve the vigor of any plant growing near it. All beans will enrich the soil because they make an excellent nitrogen fixing plant. They are good companions for beets, carrots, cucumbers and melons. Catnip will deter flea beetles, aphids, squash bugs, ants and weevils. If you want to deter mice and ants in your home, use sprigs of mint and the mice will leave. Not only that, the mint leaves smell great and are not dangerous to small children like mice and ant poison. Four-o’clocks will attract Japanese Beetles like a magnet and the foliage is pure poison to them. It is important to note, this plant is also poisonous to humans, as well. If you have small children it is best not to plant them. Many give marigolds credit as an excellent pest deterrent. It keeps soil free of nematodes and most insects. Many gardeners like to use them as a plant border to repel deer and rabbits. You need to use a scented variety since deer and rabbits do not like the smell. On the down side, slugs will sometimes be attracted to marigolds. Sage is an excellent companion plant planted with broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and carrots. It deters cabbage butterflies. If you allow sage to blossom, the blooms will attract bees which will help other plants to pollinate. You do not want to plant sage next to cucumbers. Also thyme will deter cabbage worms. The upright variety is very effective in also deterring cabbage butterflies. Yarrow has a built in insect repelling quality and makes an excellent natural fertilizer. You may want to put a handful of yarrow leaves in your compost pile which will speed up your compost making process. With some planning you can have your plants working together helping each other. *** 10% savings extended to December 10, 2003 *** 10% off all items on our Bonsai Specimen page. The discount will not show up in your shopping cart -- we will take care of it for you before finalization of your order. (No other discounts apply.) 3) Humor for Today:Although we were being married in New Hampshire, I wanted to add a touch of my home state, Kansas, to the wedding. My fiancee, explaining this to a friend, said that we were planning to have wheat rather than rice thrown after the ceremony. Our friend thought for a moment. Then he said solemnly, "It's a good thing she's not from Idaho." 4) Solution For Your "Live" Christmas Tree:Here is a solution to fill the reservoir in your tree stand:
5) Black Velvet Rose Geranium (2003 AAS Winner)
This plant is excellent for window boxes, pot culture, or bedding plants. The seeds may be started outside in well pulverized rich soil after all danger of frost, or you may plant them in a seed box. Cover the soil with 1/8-inch of fine pulverized dirt. Press the seed down into the soil then smooth the surface. Keep the seeds moist until they germinate. If you plant the seeds inside, you'll want to keep the temperature at or above 68° F (20° C.). The young plants may be transplanted after the weather and soil have sufficiently warmed. The bright colored flowers against the background of charcoal black leaves makes this a very eye appealing plant. The blooms are held well above the foliage on sturdy stems. The plants are very prolific throughout the summer. They generally grow to about 10 to 14 inches tall and will spread to about 18 inches, depending on the available nutrients. Most geraniums do not like wet feet and all prefer bright light – at least six hours per day. You may want to look for this one at your garden center. Click Image for Our Angels Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has
many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." 7) Reader Mailbag: Snowball Bush Failing"My Mother has a snowball bush in her front yard and it is dying. It is a very special plant in that her sister gave it to her a few years before her death. Can you tell us if there is a way to root a piece of it to keep it going."The common snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) is also called the European Cranberry Bush. As you know, they flower in late spring. You may know much of this info, but let me share it with our readers. It is a deciduous thicket-forming "Old World" shrub. Birds, particularity cedar waxwings, are very fond of the berries. It grows best in full sun to partial shade. The American Cranberry Bush is a hardy shrub with excellent flowers, fruit and foliage. When used in hedges and screens they are often chosen to attract birds. It has moderate water requirements and a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali. The European Cranberry Bush is a multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded shape and upright-spreading irregular and arching, branching stems. It has dense and compact white flowers that form in clusters from late May to early June. It develops bright red berries and in the winter, the fruits will shrivel and look like dried raisins. Both of these types are commonly known as "Snowball Bushes" and produce beautiful white ball-shaped flowers. There are several new hybrid types with different colors. The life span of these bushes have been known to last as long as forty years. However, it is more common they will live about 20 years before they begin to die. If given careful care, they will generally live longer. As age advances, usually they will begin to lose their healthy look and will not bloom as well and then will slowly die of old age. Some professional horticulturists have been able to prolong the life span, but we have had no experience in doing so. In the spring you might want to try to fertilize the bush with a water soluble balanced fertilizer to give the plant more energy. The fertilizer might help prolong the life of the plant. Be sure you do not over fertilize or over-water the plant. If you live in a cold weather area where the ground generally freezes, you'll want to water the plant several times in late fall. Plants need to have moisture even thought the ground is frozen. All plant life will eventually die of old age, and about the only thing we can do is prolong that life to help keep them healthy with good care. If your Snowball Bush is 20 years of age or more, chances are you will be fighting a losing battle. 8) The Farmers's Almanac: November 11, 1803
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Did you know there are substances in the roots, leaves and flowers
of certain garden plants that naturally repel or attract insects depending
on the plant's needs? In some cases, substances will actually enhance
the growth rate of the plant, or in other cases it might even change
the flavor of the fruit it bears.
The
black velvet rose geranium is one of the most interesting new geraniums.
This geranium produces four different colors on individual plants.
All have "black foliage" with a hint of green around the
edges.
