The latest dirt from...

Dirty Hands Garden Center!
May/June 2001

There's so much happening at the garden center these daze, we hardly know where to begin! First, we'd like to invite everyone to our annual Open House:

Sunday, May 20 12-4 pm

Wild animals (including lynx)*
Master Gardeners (container gardening seminars at 12pm and 2 pm)
Vole and mole seminars by Bonnie (1pm and 3pm)
Special Sales!
Refreshments (with surprises from Carol)
And such!

*some proceeds of the days sales to benefit wildlife rehabilitators

Those of you who visit Dirty Hands in person have probably noted the many changes we are making. There is a gorgeous, handmade iron gate leading to... (our "secret garden" is a work in progress. We will keep you posted, for the "opening"). Our demonstration gardens are really beginning to swell. Keep an eye on our "living teepee". The results might surprise you!

As the weather pendulum continues to swing, we are finding the some of the perennials are proving to be steadfast. These include:

Centaurea montana "Gold Boullion". It is a striking addition to any sun-loving perennial border. 6-12" x 12". The deep purplish-ble flowers a 1-2" across. The foliage is an eye-catching golden yellow color! It looks particularly wonderful, when paired with Caryopteris clandonensis "Worcester Gold".

For those of you who enjoy attracting nectar seekers to your gardens, consider adding the herb Rue. It is an under-used perennial that also enjoys the sun. Not only does it repel insects, it provides prime larval food for Tiger Swallowtail and Monarch butterflies, among others. It sports attractive delicate blue foliage with yellow flowers. (those with sensitive skin, be careful). Everyone already knows about fennel, parsley, and dill. They have the added benefit of being used for culinary purposes.

For the adult butterflies, try tucking in asclepias tuberosa, salvia greggi "maraschino", along with the ever-reliable buddlea. Anything in the milkweed family (asclepias) is super for the winged gems. This native wildlower attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, alike, with bright, showey flower clusters. They resent transplanting, and as always, should never, ever be taken from the wild. Also consider asclepias "hello yellow" and aslcepias incarnata. Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) is another sure-fire way to draw the lovelies to your domain.

Along with the good, come the bad and the ugly. As the temps climb, so do the insect infestations. One of the most common critters to plague the gardener is the aphid. They are soft-bodied, sucking insects that arrive in hoards on your plants. While there are several kinds, the most common are about the size of a pinhead, and are bright green. They are relatively easy to get rid of, though. While there are several products on the market, why not make your own? It will be environmentally safe, and much less expensive:

1 TBSP Liquid dishwashing detergent (not for automatic washers)
1 gallon water

Mix together in sprayer. Apply directly onto the insects. It is best not to apply when it is hot, or in direct sun. As soon as the next day, you will find the clear exo-skeletons of the offenders. These can be disregarded or brushed off. You will need to re-apply, as needed. Now, wasn't that easy?

As our own plantings take root, we are fast becoming charmed by several specimens:

Chionanthus virginicus, or Fringetree ranks highly as a good change of pace from the beloved, but often difficult, Dogwood. It is a small tree, reaching about 10-12 feet in height with a spread of 8-10 feet. It is hardly in zones 6 -9. It has delicate, white "fringy" panicles that are also fragrant. It prefers sun and medium drainage. It has virtually no pest problems, and has a slow growth rate, which allows it to be placed closer to a structure.

Magnolia sieboldii, or Japanese Magnolia is a change of pace from the usual, as well. It's pure white blooms, 3 to 4 " wide, twirl around maroon centers-an eye-catching and colorful contrast! The flowers are fragrant, and appear in late spring and early summer. The tree grows only 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, making it easy to maintain even in small gardens. Plant it in partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Zones 5-9.

For those of you searching for the "perfect" vine for your trellis, mailbox post, fence, or topiary, we have it! Aristolochia Clematitis, or "Birthwort", or "Hardy Dutchman's Pipe" is proving to be the ideal choice. It has large heart-shaped green leaves with tubular, 1" pail yellow or brown flowers that resemble upright pipes. It will grow in sun or shade. Lonicera x "Mandarin" is another winner. Up to 10', its semi-evergreen leaves are a deep green. It has clusters of 2-3" dark reddish, orange tubular flowers with pale yellow-orange throats. As with all honeysuckles, this one is attractive to nectar seekers, too.

The herbs in most gardens are already producing amounts large enough to use, especially for cooking. Basil is one of our favorites, and yours. We like to use the larger leaves on a hearty slice of bread, drizzle with olive oil, top with a slice of tomato, a dash of pepper, and broil until toasted. Yum. For a quick, but "gourmet" feast, try our basic-but-delicious recipe for pesto:

1 to one-half cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic
3 tbsp pine nuts or almonds (if you freeze this, omit the nuts)
2 cups fresh basil leaves (2 tbsp dried)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 cups parmesan cheese

Blend oil and garlic in a blender on high, until smooth. Add nuts, basil, salt and pepper, then cheese. Toss with cooked linguine, spread over top of toasted bread, top potatoes, or steamed veggies.
Stay tuned, for further variations.

We're pleased to announce the additions of two extremely talented and local potters to our growing array of gift items. Sue Henshaw, a local artist, has been a full time potter for 25 years. Her love of nature and her creativity are combined in special pieces. Her earthenware pots have been hands made on a potters' wheel and individually carved with designs. They are fired to cone 01, which is hotter than commercial mold-made flowers pots, making them much more durable and longer lasting.

Jennifer Chetelat, a recent newcomer to the Richmond area, produces colorful, double-glazed pottery in a varitable rainbow of shapes, designs, and colors. She further individualizes her work by carving symbols of nature into each piece. Watch for our special line of "Dirty Pots", made exclusively for Dirty Hands Pottery!

Your continued support and input are greatly appreciated. Feel free to submit suggestions. Print out the newsletter to share with your friends. 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.

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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).