The latest dirt from...
Dirty Hands Garden Center!
In like a lion, out like a
lamb?............ MARCH 2001
GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS! We hope this
finds each and every one of you warm, cozy, and ready for spring! We at Dirty
Hands are very excited about the prospects of another great gardening season. We
have lots of new things in store for you, and more on the way. We would like for
this newsletter to be a format for YOU, our valued customers, and your input is
always welcome.
After all the chills and thrills of winter, we were
pleasantly surprised at how many of the perennials stood up so well, after such
abuse. Among the toughest:
- Thyme "Doone Valley" - Green foliage with irregular golden areas. Reddish
foliage in winter. Frangrant lavender flowers, mostly sun. Good for culinary
purposes, as well as plantings, especially in containers and amongst stepping
stones.
- Dianthus japonicus - Dark evergreen 3" long leaves that are waxy and very
unlike other dianthus. Produces large heads of pink flowers that last for
weeks. Sun/light shade.
- Heuchera "Snow Angel" - Brightly variegated creamy white and green leaves
make the perfect backdrop for the medium pink flowers. Partial shade/shade.
- Euphorbia amygdaloides "Purpurea" (Wood Spurge) - Purple foliage and
yellow flowers appearing in May-June. Mounding habit, Sun/part shade. Plant in
moist, well-drained soil.
- Phlox stolonifera "Sherwood Purple"- Clusters of purple blue flowers.
Slow, spreading ground cover for shaded locations. Native.
These
should be must-haves for your four-season garden!
DID YOU KNOW?
The Perennial for the Year 2001 is
Calamagrostis acutiflora "Karl Foerster" It is an ornamental grass. It exhibits
upright, clumping green foliage that displays reddish bronze plumes in the
summer. It has good winter interest. It should be planted in mostly sun, in
well-drained soil. The foliage will grow to about 2 feet tall, with the plumes
adding almost another three feet. Ornamental grasses are excellent additions to
any garden, as they are low maintenance, provide three season interest, and once
established are drought tolerant. Many have plumes useful as food for birds and
/or are nice in dried arrangements.
The Herb for the Year 2001 is Sage.
While sage is generally classified as an herb, its uses are widespread. It is
nice to combine with other perennials, as its aroma deters insects. It is useful
for medicinal, spiritual, and culinary purposes and may be used fresh or dried.
In some native American cultures, it is part of sacred purification rituals.
There are many varieties to choose from, though our favorite is Bergaarten. Sage
likes sunny, well-drained locations. It is a good idea to top-dress with sand,
as it reflects the sunlight and helps to insure against excess moisture. As with
all herbs, for optimum flavor/scent, do not allow it to bloom. However, once it
does set flower, it is attractive to butterflies.
It is still a little
early for many annuals, other than pansies, primrose, and violas, but you should
be able to start seeing the shoots of many perennials poking their heads out of
the ground for a look-see. Trim off any old foliage, and make sure that your
plants aren't smothered by mulch. A little dose of triple-super phosphate will
give the roots the extra boost they need to make the final leap into sunlight.
Do not give up on ANY perennials, trees, or shrubs, just yet. Remember, the
later something blooms, the longer it remains dormant. Ornamental grasses and
water plants are among the last to break dormancy. For those that are "really
most sincerely dead", now is a great time to begin a compost heap
(see our
how to )!
Many of you have spent the last few months
pouring over the catalogs, looking for seeds, plants, and ideas. Remember that
we are happy to special order anything for you, at no additional cost. We have
many sources, and can usually locate what you are looking for. To help those of
you with your vegetable garden, we have included a chartthat is helpful to use for companion planting. Companion
planting is using plants that are helpful to one another, in close proximity.
There are many more, but this will help you get started.We are happy to let you
know that we have just received a full line of seeds for your gardening
pleasure, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers. For the do-it-yourselfers,
we will do our best to accommodate your requests! Growing plants from seed takes
patience, but the rewards are multiple. Come see our selection!
Feng
Shui? How many of you have heard of the concept? Basically, it is using the
placement of particular items in one's home, workplace, or garden, to aid the
flow of ch'i, the life-giving energy within us. This can be easily translated
for you in your own yard. We will delve more into it's mysteries at a later
time. But we wanted to let you know about an exciting line of granite statuary
that we have just received. The pieces are individually carved from granite, and
brought to us from Japan. (While Feng Shui derives its philosophy from China,
its application is universal). Each is a work of art in itself, and will help
you create your personal haven. To start with, we have two designs of bachi, or
basins, to bring you tranquil waters. We also have chosen a special lantern,
which will lighten your burdens with its special design. Watch for more to come!
We look forward to seeing you in person soon. We deeply appreciate your
business, and thank you for choosing Dirty Hands Garden Center!
Folks, please remember to ALWAYS bring plant and bug samples in a plastic bag.
It is very important that everyone be aware of the possibility of contaminating businesses, homeowner properties, and the Earth in general (think of it as a horticultural condom).
THANK YOU!
As always, all information given in the newsletter and on the website in general apply primarily to the zone 7/partial zone 6 regions of Virginia.
There are many new and fabulous things in store for you, at Dirty Hands Garden Center.
We always appreciate your suggestions and opinions. Please feel free to contact us directly
at Dirty Hands Email.
Or, better yet, come see us in person!
Woo-Hoo!
Peace out.
Rock forward.
Newsletter Archive:
As always, if you have questions, please feel free to contact us directly, either through the contact form, or by calling 804-598-8945, or visiting us at 2603 Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA. 23139
(This information pertains to the greater Richmond, Va. area and may vary slightly with each locality).
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