Fwd: Dave's Garden Weekly Newsletter for February 16, 2009

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adminTo: cyndikrallSent: 2/15/2009 10:49:41 P.M. Pacific Standard TimeSubj: Dave & apos;s Garden Weekly Newsletter for February 16, 2009

 

Welcome to the Dave's Garden Newsletter for February 16, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate!

 

 

 

In celebration of Valentine's Day, the writers created a week of chocolate-themed articles. From the history of chocolate to chocolate-colored and scented plants, we hope you enjoy this delicious assortment of ideas and information!

The farther we get away from the land, the greater our insecurity. -- Henry Ford, American automobile manufacturer (born 7/30/1863)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citrosa GeraniumPelargonium citrosum Looking for a fun plant that stirs up a whiff of controversy wherever it goes? Pelargonium citrosum can be a scintillating conversation starter among those who are familiar with it.The upshot: this citrusy-smelling plant has long been touted as a natural insect repellent, especially to ward off mosquitoes. Proponents swear by it, and claim that rubbing a crushed leaf over exposed skin will repel the pesky skeeters for up to 20 minutes. There have been claims that the plant is genetically engineered to enhance its production of the citronella compound, making it more effective in keeping pests at bay.Those claims have been disputed by numerous botanical and scientific groups, but it's still a neat scented geranium to grow indoors or out, producing pink flowers in the fall. In mild climates, it can be a bit thuggish if allowed to grow unchecked. » Read more about this plant

Type of plant: Annuals, Tropicals and Tender PerennialsBloom color: Violet/LavenderBloom time of year: Blooms repeatedlySun requirements: Sun to Partial ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 9b to Zone 11Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm), 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)

 

 

 

This Week's ArticlesMonday, February 16, 2009

 

 

 

 

Friend or Foe? Weed IdentificationBy Toni Leland (tonileland)Do you know how to tell the differences between annual and perennial weeds? How they grow or spread? When seedlings first emerge, they all look alike!Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Cats in the GardenBy Benjamin Hill (BennysPlace)As gardeners, we love our pets – a lot. If you visit any of the forums at Dave’s Garden, someone, somewhere will tell tales of their pets. Sometimes the stories are fun, other times they are not. Here is my story.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

The Carefree School of GardeningBy M Fitzgerald (MitchF)Are you tired of all the pulling millions of weeds, deadheading the thousandth flower, mowing the grass yet again? Let’s talk about a carefree and no mess school of gardening and see what we can come up with for solutions to every man’s and woman’s home garden.Continue reading » Sunday, February 15, 2009

 

 

 

 

The Chocolate MimosaBy Geoff Stein (palmbob)When I first glimpsed one of these spectacular trees for sale at my local nursery I was sure it was some sort of gimmick and too good to be true. Usually when something that different and attractive is offered, it means I will quickly be adding it to my long list of dead plants. It turned out to be a good buy after all, and I have yet to regret my purchase. The following is a brief discussion of this amazing relatively new tree available for landscaping all over the southern U.S.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine's Day: Hearts in natureBy April Campbell (Aunt_A)Love is spoken here, there and all over the world in the language of hearts in nature. Have you seen heart shaped leaves and flowers? Have you seen a heart in an empty space between tree leaves, in rocks, in cut trees, in tomatoes, in seeds? Enjoy the pictures of heart shaped items in this article. Not all of the hearts are perfect; a few of them are camouflaged.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

The Rose: Medicine and FoodBy Sharon Brown (Sharran)There is nothing quite as beautiful as the rose. Throughout its long history it has not only been admired, sniffed, and coveted, but it has also been used as food, as drink, and as medicine. Isn't it interesting how endearing and enduring the rose really is?Continue reading » Saturday, February 14, 2009

 

 

 

 

Chilling Injury and Cold Damage - Knowing the SignsBy LariAnn Garner (LariAnn)It's the day after a night when temperatures dipped near freezing, but all your plants look OK in spite of it. Are your plants off the hook? Not necessarily, because many plants don't show injury or damage until a week or more after exposure to near-freezing temperatures. Read on to learn more . . .Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

A Chocolate GardenBy Diana Wind (wind)Now is a great time to dream up new garden ideas. Allow yourself the time and pleasure to dream, imagine and design a sensational Chocolate Garden to savor with all your senses.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Turtleheads - the Genus CheloneBy Todd Boland (Todd_Boland)If you have a moist site and want to extend the blooming season, then look no further than the turtleheads. This North American wildflower is an up and coming star in the plant world!Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

The Love Garden: A lasting gift for your ValentineBy Jacqueline Cross (libellule)It is that time of year again. Bouquets of red roses, chocolates and diamonds wrapped with red ribbon will be arriving at homes and offices around the world. Here, we will take a look at a different kind of gift, one that will last far longer than a box of chocolates or bouquet of cut flowers.Continue reading » Friday, February 13, 2009

 

 

 

 

Sir Joseph Banks, Botanickal ExplorerBy Lois Tilton (LTilton)February 13 is the birthday of Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist who sailed with Captain Cook to the South Seas.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Lily Is a Wildflower TreatBy Kelli Kallenborn (Kelli)The chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora) is special to me for several reasons. Though it is not overly showy, it is a very attractive plant, even described as "the Cleopatra of the Fritillaries - the darkest and the loveliest" [1]. It is not a particularly common plant, and rarity makes things more precious. Also, it is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, and for me is the herald of the wildflower season.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Is a Coral Bean Right for Your Garden?By Marie Harrison (can2grow)Does coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) deserve a place in your garden? The fact that it is beautiful is unchallenged. Its attractiveness to hummingbirds and butterflies is well documented. However, its beans are very poisonous. The leaves and stems have prickles, and sharp, recurved spines arm the stems. Decide for yourself whether or not the coral bean would be a good addition to your landscape.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

How Old is the RoseBy Sharon Brown (Sharran)Few flowers can be found as often in 8,000 years of recorded history as the rose. When we think about it, very few plants have withstood the perils of time as well as this popular flower. No other plant has played a larger role in history, religion, art or literature. Here is a very brief history, as colorful as the rose itself.Continue reading » Thursday, February 12, 2009

 

 

 

 

A goose in my tree?By Sally G. Miller (sallyg)Backyard sounds on a sunny winter's day: Nonstop twittering from the house finch version of an American Idol audition crowd. Dry leaves rustling, or crunching underfoot ( I could have sworn I had gathered them all). A goose honking in my maple tree...er, what?Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Searching for Chocolate DaisyBy Jill M. Nicolaus (critterologist)A love of chocolate led me to two of my all-time-favorite garden flowers…Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Fruit Bats up Close and PersonalBy Larry Rettig (LarryR)It came out of the blue. I was relaxing on our second floor balcony in tropical Cairns, Australia, enjoying the dusky scenery on a sultry evening, when a huge creature with strange features and a four-foot wingspan cruised by within several feet of my face. That got my attention!Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Cactus Flowers: The OTHER reason to grow cactiBy Geoff Stein (palmbob)Cactus are great plants, for both pot and landscape cultivation. Sometimes we forget (at least I do) that they also can be great flowering plants. The following article is mostly a pictorial of some of the more impressive cactus flowers.Continue reading » Wednesday, February 11, 2009

 

 

 

 

Herbs Like Rocks: The Mediterranean Climate!By Bev Walker (Sundownr)Some herbs do not like the fertilized loamy soil you plant them in. Despite their possible lush growth, their flavor, aroma, and medicinal strengths will suffer. Mediterranean herbs do best when allowed to struggle a little in the dry alkaline, and rocky soil of their origins, making them well suited for xeriscaping.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration in the Chocolate GardenBy Angela Carson (Bookerc1)What happens when a gardener encounters two of her great passions (chocolate and gardens) in one setting? Inspiration!Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Is your Backyard Berry Patch loaded with delicious, tasty but unusual, exotic, and unfamiliar berries?By Darius Van d'Rhys (darius)Most of the sweet, juicy, luscious berries of summer have gone to live in Memoryville, and the scant selections now available in our grocery stores pale in both quality and taste without even considering their ever-increasing, exorbitant cost. Now is the time for fall fruits, but it’s also the time for planning scrumptious additions to the backyard berry patch.Continue reading » Tuesday, February 10, 2009

 

 

 

 

The Coffee Bean TreeBy Sharon Brown (Sharran)The world just has to go on without me until I have had my two cups of coffee. Those who know me, know that I have no voice, no sight and no motion until I have been fueled with a dose of caffeine. Two cups is not too bad, is it?Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

A Word About ChocolateBy Larry Rettig (LarryR)What's in a word? As far as the word "chocolate" is concerned, actually quite a bit. Join me on a brief linguistic journey that includes not only food for the mind but for the body as well. Along the way, you'll encounter three original, never-before-published chocolate recipes.Continue reading »

 

 

 

 

 

Going On A Banana HuntBy M Fitzgerald (MitchF)Something like the Great Honey Hunt book of my childhood, this was one adventure I lived through in the jungles of Veracruz, Mexico back in the late 1990s. Let’s take a little look into the world of jungle cooking, and who knows but that you might want to travel one day to Veracruz and enjoy these wonderful foods for yourself.Continue reading »

Bloom.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 10, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Persian Shield(Strobilanthes dyerianus) Type of plant: Tropicals and Tender PerennialsBloom color: PurpleBloom time of year: Late Spring/Early SummerSun requirements: Partial to Full ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 9a to Zone 11Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)Submitted by shirleyt on July 29, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 11, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snapdragon 'Night and Day'(Antirrhinum majus) Type of plant: AnnualsBloom color: Scarlet (Dark Red), White/Near WhiteBloom time of year: Late Spring/Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid FallSun requirements: Sun to Partial ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 5a to Zone 9bHeight: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm), 15-18 in. (38-45 cm), 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Submitted by Gabrielle on July 6, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 12, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly Weed(Asclepias tuberosa) Type of plant: PerennialsBloom color: OrangeBloom time of year: Mid Summer, Late Summer/Early FallSun requirements: Full SunCold hardiness: Zone 4a to Zone 10bHeight: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Spacing: 15-18 in. (38-45 cm)Submitted by Gabrielle on July 2, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 13, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daylily 'Frankly Scarlet'(Hemerocallis ) Bloom color: Scarlet (Dark Red)Sun requirements: Full Sun, Sun to Partial ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 5a to Zone 10bHeight: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Spacing: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Submitted by MarylandMonroe on July 2, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 14, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pomegranate 'Wonderful'(Punica granatum) Type of plant: Edible Fruits and Nuts, TreesBloom color: Red-OrangeBloom time of year: Mid SummerSun requirements: Sun to Partial ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 7b to Zone 11Height: 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)Spacing: 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)Submitted by QCHammy on January 19, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 15, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kousa Dogwood 'Lustgarten Weeping'(Cornus kousa) Type of plant: TreesBloom color: White/Near WhiteBloom time of year: Late Spring/Early SummerSun requirements: Sun to Partial ShadeCold hardiness: Zone 5a to Zone 8bHeight: 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)Spacing: 12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)Submitted by PPCSPC on January 6, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the day for February 16, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishbone Flower(Torenia fournieri) Type of plant: AnnualsBloom color: Medium BlueBloom time of year: Blooms repeatedlySun requirements: Sun to Partial Shade, Light Shade, Partial to Full ShadeCold hardiness: Not ApplicableHeight: 6-12 in. (15-30 cm)Spacing: 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)Submitted by trois on August 9, 2007

 

Forum ActivityA grand total of 24,932 posts were made during the past week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1,175 new members signed up during the last week, bringing our total number of members to 423,548. We have 7,397 paid rs. Forums:24,932 posts PlantFiles:502 plants were added168 comments were posted965 pictures were posted BirdFiles:99 bird were added12 comments were posted203 pictures were posted BugFiles:2 bug were added0 comments were posted9 pictures were posted Garden Watchdog:10 companies were added115 reviews were posted Go Gardening:15 companies were added6 reviews were posted Garden Bookworm:2 books were added2 book reviews were posted

 

 

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