Calhoun County Gardening – Fall Planting: A Guide to Trees and Shrubs for Landscape and Bouquets
Calhoun County, AL – Fall Planting: Trees and Shrubs by Betty Clark 9.25.24. I am sharing some great fall planting ideas that I have enjoyed from both the landscape and vases. Yes! You can use flowering trees and bushes as filler in your bouquets! I like spring early blooming red quince shrubs. The stems are […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Floral Designing: Creating Beautiful Vase Arrangements
Calhoun County, AL – Floral Designing Vases of Flowers, by Betty Clark 9.18.24. During the summer of my 16th birthday, I worked for a florist. That experience taught me floral design basics. I was lucky the shop owner was a perfectionist. She told me when the summer job concluded that my sports banquet corsages for […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Mark Your Calendar for October: Essential Tips for Planting Tulips, Pansies, and Bloody Dock
Calhoun County, AL –Mark on your calendar October, when temperatures are 60°. Why? Because I plant my tulips, pansies and bloody dock leaves that time of the year. I plant my favorite tulips called Parrot Tulips. Parrot Tulips are two-toned and hint at a bird-like color combination. Several colors to choose from at the big […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Extend Your Growing Season: Tips for Planting and Harvesting Fall Greens
Calhoun County, AL –There is plenty of sunshine available in September, October, and early November. Zone 7b, 8a have late frost dates. Growing fall vegetable greens are easy option. Lettuce, spinach, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, and radish are all quick germination. I grow greens in the ground, inside pots, and in straw bales. After […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Preserve Your Heritage: The Importance of Saving and Sharing Heirloom Plants with Future Generations
Calhoun County, AL – I want to encourage all gardeners to visit your family & ask about heirloom plants in the yard? You may need to visit your grandparent’s old home places to rescue the flowers. If you set a good example the next generation will collect more family heirloom plants to pass down to […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Enhance Your Landscape with Vines: A Perennial Choice for Vertical Beauty and Long-Lasting Blooms
Calhoun County, AL –Every gardener should install at least one vine in your landscape. Why? Because a vine can be a perennial decision that creates instant vertical eye appeal. A vine enjoys the sunshine. And if you create a platform for the vine to grow on, it can continue yearly becoming mature with loads of […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Creating a Serene Shade Garden: From Two Maple Trees to a Woodland Retreat
Calhoun County, AL – In 2018 my backyard consisted of two 1965 Maple Trees. Step by step I added shade loving plants surrounding these trees. The first investment was to create raised beds with organic soil. However, I wanted the raised beds to look like they were woodland, not modern. So! I used large fallen […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Encouraging New Gardeners: Exploring Potted Vegetables, Raised Beds, and Winter Gardening Tips
Calhoun County, AL –I want to encourage new gardeners to try new options! Why not try a few potted vegetables on a patio or deck? If in ground gardening is labor intensive with a tiller, build a pallet raised bed! In raised bed gardening you can yearly add to your soil to increase the value […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Blooming Through the Heat: 16-Week-Old Dahlias Flourish at Sensory Gardens
Calhoun County, AL –Photos are 16 week old dahlia tubers! Looking lovely beyond the excessive heat! July 4th had a heat index of 105°. Dahlias like up to 85°. These dahlia tubers I planted April 1st as a volunteer with Calhoun County Master Gardeners. I use an organic soil recipe. I applied pruning techniques at […]
Calhoun County Gardening – Gardening Success with Organic Products
Calhoun County, AL – Since 1998 I have several organic products I use in gardening. I buy by price, not brand name. I use Diatomaceous Earth Power (dehydrates ants, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, all crawling bugs, does not work wet. After a rain and plants are dry, reapply). DIPEL Dust (stops digestive system of all […]
