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I don't like to not know something "horticultural" once it crosses my path. Take capers, for example. I had some capers on a pasta dish I ordered at lunch today, and my mom asked me what capers were. I didn't really know. I knew you could buy them at the store, and they are little and green and look sort of like tiny olives.So, I did what anyone would do! I looked it up on the Internet. I found out that capers are the immature flower buds from a small shrub that grows in the Mediterranean … [Read more...] about Horticultural Inquisitiveness

It's gotten cold again, just in time for "spring". Yesterday the weather man said that winter was basically over, and now it is spring. Not officially spring by the vernal equinox, but spring in that it isn't February any more. So, why is it as cold as it has been all winter. Granted, we did have an unusually warm winter, but does that mean we should have an unusually cool spring?I need at least one Saturday or Sunday soon when temperatures get to about 50 degrees so I can get outside and … [Read more...] about Ivy Eradication

I'll confess that in addition to buying lots of seeds and plants and gardening tools, I also have a habit of buying books on gardening. Some of the books I really enjoy and refer back to on several occasions. Others I look through once and never seem to touch again.I should be more disciplined and check out the library first before I click my way through Amazon and buy a book. I have on occasion stopped myself from purchasing a book and waited a few days to make sure I really wanted it, but not … [Read more...] about Gardening Books

I took the lawn mower to the hardware store this evening after work so they could service it and have it back to me in time for the 1st spring mowing. It's probably still 6 - 8 weeks before I need to mow, but I wanted to get my mower in ahead of the spring rush and make sure I get it back in plenty of time. I also need to find a new weed trimmer. For some reason, I can't find one I like!Procrastination, by the way, is not wise in gardening. For instance, I've not yet sown the viola seeds, and I … [Read more...] about Getting Ready for Spring

I cleaned out all of the hyacinth vases today. Most of the hyacinths bloomed, and I enjoyed having the color and scent in the house, even for a short time. I also tried to force crocuses, but I don't think I let them cool enough before I planted them. As they say, "next year". (I had purchased all these bulbs rather late in the year, so didn't have time for proper cooling, although if I had taken the time, perhaps I'd have blooms, just later on).I've going through the seed catalogs again, … [Read more...] about Hyacinth blooms are done

I took the day off of work and went to a gardening symposium sponsored by Horticulture magazine and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. There were four speakers: Nancy Dillon, Carol Reese, Vincent Simione, and Rob Procter. Apparently, they've been having these symposiums for several years, at least every other year, and I didn't know about it! The reason I knew about it this time was I received a flyer in the mail. I enjoyed the program, but did think about how my non-gardening friends and … [Read more...] about Gardening Symposium!