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APRIL |
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Use Dr. Earth Liquid Solution 3-3-3 to promote flowers or fruit. Fertilize lettuce and other leafy crops with Dr. Earth Organic 5 to encourage growth of vegetation.
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Rose of the Week: Mister Lincoln
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- Height/Habit: Tall, upright
- Bloom Size: Large, fully double
- Petal Count: 30 - 35
- Color: Velvety deep red
- Fragrance: Strong
- Disease Resistance: Very good
- Uses: Hedge, landscape
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The exceptional red rich color, stately lines, and exciting fragrance make this an exceptional hybrid tea. However, its ability to flourish in all regions makes Mister Lincoln the finest red hybrid tea of all time. A garden must.
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Tomato of the Week: Cherokee Purple
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80-90 days. Indeterminate. Unusual medium pink-purple (brown) fruit averaging 8-12 oz. Tomatoes are round to oblate, with slightly ridged shoulders. Plant exhibits tolerance to mild drought and common disease. One of the very best full-flavored tomatoes. Another of Steve Goto's favorites.
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Daylilies are among the most popular herbaceous perennials grown. They are hardy, relatively free from serious pests, have a long blooming period, and adapt well to home landscape plantings. Plants are available in a wide variety of flower colors and growth habits. The present flower color selection available includes shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and near-white.
The adaptability of daylilies to a variety of cultural conditions and their availability in a wide variety of flower colors and plant sizes make them well suited for landscape use. Keep in mind the color of the building material when selecting varieties. Bright flower colors such as yellow should be used against redwood, brick, or dark backgrounds, and dark flowers used against white or light backgrounds. Daylilies over 36 inches tall are suitable for foundation plantings, the back of daylily beds, or as mixed borders. Medium daylilies (16 to 36 inches) can be used in most settings. Dwarf daylilies (12 inches or less) are best used for border plantings
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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
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Aphids are to ants what cows are to humans. Ants actually protect and herd aphids for the honeydew nectar they secrete. Ants use their antennae to stroke the aphids, thereby activating the secretion cycle. Thusly, ant control should be part of the preventative cycle regarding aphid infestation. Get rid of the ants and it is much easier to get rid of their herds! We recommend Greenlight Conquest Garden Spray or Schultz Garden Insect Granules.
Aphids can be brought under control culturally if the infestation is moderate. Often a thorough hosing of the afflicted plants will wash aphids away.
Biological controls include lady bugs and praying mantis colonies. Organic solutions include insecticidal soaps or pyrethrums. Another combination ingredient might be a 3-1 fertilizer, fungus control and systemic insecticide.
Should you have a severe infestation, a radical control would be malathion. Come on in and we'll show you the options that best suit your needs.
Snails are also active with our combination of heat and moisture. In most cases, snails are easily controlled with bait products. For the more exotic approach, there is a biological control for the common brown snail by utilizing a distant cousin, the Decollate snail. The Decollate snail species is carnivorous and will feast on the common brown snail. Should they run out of the snail entrée, they become herbaceous and eat trimming and waste.
In summary, now is the time to commence your control programs. Come on in and we'll assist in every way!
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Quotation of the Week: "The philosopher who said that work well done never needs doing over never weeded a garden."
— Andrew V. Mason |
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Rain dissipates, days lengthen, soil warms, stems elongate, and flowerbuds swell; plants are now blooming and ready for the garden.
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| Blue Hills Trivia |
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This Week's Trivia Question: What is unusual about the plants at Disneyland's Tomorrowland?
This Week's Prize: 5 gallon rose |
Last Week's Question: How did the daisy get its name?
Last Week's Winner: Debra Mead wins a 5 gallon rose!
Last Week's Answer:
The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon term "daes aege," meaning "day's eye," because the daisy would open its petals with the sun.
Our Rules:
One winner per week, once per family per month.
Winners must be Newsletter subscribers. |
Recipe of the Week: Chili |
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What You'll Need:
- 1 pound ground sirloin
- 6 ounces sweet or hot Italian sausage
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped green pepper
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1-1/4 cups beef broth or Merlot wine
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped
- 2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Remove casings from sausage. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, ground sirloin, onion, green pepper and garlic until sausage and beef are browned, stirring to crumble.
Add chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, tomato paste, oregano, pepper, salt and bay leaves. Cook for 1 minute.
Stir in beef broth (or wine), tomatoes and kidney beans; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Uncover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaves.
Sprinkle each serving with cheddar cheese.
Yield: 8 (1-1/4 cup) servings
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