Thursday, October 30, 2008
Little Lost Ladybugs
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Washington Gardener Gear Coupon
The coupon is for $5 off purchases of $50 more, excluding shipping charges and applicable sales tax. Excludes Gift Certificates, Flip Minos and bulk orders. Coupon code must be entered at check out. Promotion starts on October 29, 2008, at 12:00 a.m. (PST) and ends on October 31, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. (PST). Offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or coupons and may change, be modified or cancelled at anytime without notice.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Ghostly Winds
In other news, a fellow DCWebWomen picked up on a discussion list thread about ghost-written blogs here: "Ghosts" are here to stay well beyond Halloween which included a quote from yours truly. I don't know why it gets me so riled, but dishonest those who pass off other's writing as their own really raises my hackles. Surely I'm not alone in being miffed at fakers in all walks of life. If you must have your company or personal blog writing farmed out, then be up front about it -- give the guest or staff blogger credit. Disguises and masks are for Halloween not everyday life and certainly not suitable for a reputable business.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Weed Warrior Battles
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Frost Alert: Save Those Tenders!
Monday, October 20, 2008
A Legend Dies
Cathey was president of the American Horticultural Society (AHS) from 1974 to 1978 and from 1993 to 1997. In his honor, the society created the H. Marc Cathey Medal for research in horticulture. He was President Emeritus at AHS until his retirement.
- Dr. Marvin N. Miller, Ball Horticultural Co.
"Marc has been a ‘Champion’ for gardeners, the floral industry and for floral research. He has been a brilliant scientist and a true visionary for gardening practices and has shared information very effectively through his interactive radio show, comprehensive and informative books, and exciting and stimulating talks. His research was the basis for development of the poinsettia as a flowering potted plant and germination requirements for various bedding plants. The Society of American Florists has recognized Marc as a member of the Floriculture Hall of Fame and is pleased to celebrate his career of successes for the floral industry for six decades."
"The USDA performs mission-orientated research. Dr. Cathey helped teach me the meaning of this type of research. Mission-orientated research has at its root a practice problem. The solution to that problem usually involves basic theoretical research. This solution then requires additional applied research to put that solution into practice. Dr. Cathey’s research involved all aspects of a problem from basic to applied. Finally, Dr. Cathey was the ultimate salesperson. His tech transfer activities convinced the industry of the merits of the new practices. Very few scientists today have the breath to perform both types of research."
"Through his work with radio, writing, lecturing, and television, Dr. Cathey brought fun, color, and drama to the world of horticulture making it more accessible and certainly more entertaining."Holly H. Shimizu, Executive Director, United States Botanic Garden
"Dr. Marc Cathey is brilliant in every sense of the word, incredibly smart, a bright shining light, and a man of remarkable pizzazz! He has been the guiding force of American horticulture and the American Horticultural Society for decades. As both an accomplished artist and research scientist, as both an effective communicator and educator, Dr. Cathey has brought vision and direction to the this important national organization which represents the broad scope of horticulture in America -- from research scientists to the green industry, garden professionals, garden writers, and backyard gardeners."
- Katy Moss Warner, President and C.E.O., American Horticultural Society
"Dr. Cathey’s research while he was at USDA Beltsville on the influence of temperature and light on ornamentals was an inspiration to all young professors like myself, and became a building block for environmental research still being conducted today. His work with the Cold Hardiness Map and subsequent drawing of heat tolerance guidelines for gardeners and landscapers puts him in a rarified group of very influential people in Horticulture in this country. And of course, no one who has ever met Dr Cathey will leave his side without being told to: ‘Get out and garden!’ He is a true Legend of Horticulture."
- Dr. Allan M. Armitage , Professor of Horticulture, University of Georgia
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Economy in the Toilet? Free Plants are the Cure
Friday, October 17, 2008
Brown is Beautiful?
Plow & Hearth's results were as follows: Red and orange led in preference (36% each) followed by yellow (14%) and brown (11%). Regional preferences did play in the results. Those living in the Midwest are most likely to choose red or orange (38% each), while North-Easterners are most likely to choose orange (44%). Those on the West coast are most likely to like yellow (20%), and Southerners have the highest propensity to like brown (16%).
These survey responses leave me wondering if those taking the survey were not answering what their favorite or preference was, but just reporting what is actually out there window each autumn. A brown leaf to me is a dead leaf, but maybe I'm missing something here. Any southern brown-leaf-lovers out there that can explain why this particular color affection?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Growing Moss Gardens and Lawns
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A Sunny Garden Bloggers Bloom Day
The zinnia at left was one I seeded very late in the season - ahem, August - in the sidewalk strip. It and a few of its sisters managed to live despite the drought and my neglect. I'll be collecting those hardy seeds as soon as they ripen.
These other three are:
- A bloom of the Little Blue Chip buddleia (aka miniature butterfly bush) that I'm trialing now. It is in a big pot and doing well.
- A sunflower blossom from a mixed seed back. I love how the long petals curl and it has such a tiny face.
- Verbena-on-a-stick (verbena bonariensis) still going strong and putting out more and more flowers. I shared a bunch of this with Green Home Tour attendees and expect it will self-sow well to return next year.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blandy a Bust
Thursday, October 09, 2008
A Little Squirrely
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
ArborFest: Trees are the Answer!
~ Blandy Experimental Farm is a research station for the University of Virginia Department of Environmental Science. The Arboretum is for public enjoyment and nature study, and also serves as a resource for the University.
~ The Tuleyries Mansion is the original estate of Graham Blandy, the New York stockbroker who left 700 acres of his 900-acre estate to UVA upon his death in 1926. The home and 200 acres remain private and are not open to the public.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Confessions of a Green Thumb - I Can't Cook
Harvest Collection Follow-Up
Thank you for your donation of fresh produce to the Maryland Food
Bank. Your donation will help us in providing food to the hungry
throughout the state.
Each week, over 50,000 different people rely on free food from soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other feeding programs to avoid going hungry. Annually, the Maryland Food bank provides emergency food for 235,000 different people.
Below are some demographics on hunger in Maryland:
77% of households served are food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. By contrast food security is
defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active
healthy life.23% of households served by Maryland's charitable food
providers are food secure. The reasons they are using emergency feeding sites
vary--it may be sudden job loss, high fuel costs or unexpected medical expenses.
These people are teetering on the edge of food insecurity.
Among households with children under the age of 18, 81% are food insecure or at risk of hunger. Among households with adults over 65, 50% are food insecure or at risk of hunger.Nearly half - 48% - of households have at least one employed adult.
67% of clients served have incomes below the federal poverty level; which is
$1, 613 per month for a family of four. 58% of all households have a monthly
income of less than $1,000.48% of clients served have completed high school and 20 percent have some higher education.
46% of clients served choose between paying for food and paying their mortgage or rent, heating costs or medical bills. 54% of clients have unpaid medical bills and 27% of clients have no health insurance. An additional 27% of clients use Medicare and the rest operate with some form of health insurance (be it private or state).
The racial composition of those seeking emergency food assistance in Maryland is 25% white, 42% black and 30% Hispanic. 53% of adults served are women.
We provide volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups to who want to help
our mission. Our volunteer opportunities provide a rewarding, hands-on
opportunity for individuals and groups, and offers team-building
experiences.
If you would like additional information on how you can help combat hunger in Maryland or for volunteer information, please visit our website at www.mdfoodbank.org.
Again, thank you.
Maryland Food Bank
2200 Halethorpe Farms Road
Baltimore,
Maryland 21227
(410) 737-8282
(410) 536-0438 Fax
www.mdfoodbank.org
Monday, October 06, 2008
DC School Garden Week - Grow Kids Grow!
I had the fun task of presenting the winners of the DC School Garden Photo Contest that I helped judge. Click on the DCUrbanGardener's site links below to see the winners:
Category I: Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Category II: 3rd-5th Grade
Category III: 6th-8th Grade
Category IV: 9th-12th Grade
The grand prize winning photo is pictured above - it was taken by Melissa Wood of Horace Mann School. I don't know about my fellow judges -- professional photographers Stephen Brown and Steve O'Toole, bloggers Ed Bruske and Christa Carignan, and gardening coach Susan Harris -- but I had a very tough time deciding on my top picks this year. I hope next year the number and quality of submissions increase even further and make it even harder for all of us judges.
Don't miss all the other great DC School Garden Week events including the Capitol Hill Walking Tour of School Gardens on Saturday, October 11. Three elementary schools in the Capitol Hill area welcome you to an "open garden." In this self-paced walking tour, discover how three different elementary schools in the Capitol Hill area are planning and planting educational gardens and greening their schoolyards. Visit one or visit all three, but come away with new ideas. Come anytime from 10:00am-12:00pm. Locations: Brent ES (301 North Carolina Ave, SE), Tyler ES (1001 G St, SE), and Watkins ES (420 12th St, SE)
Information: Contact Cheval Force Opp or call 703-395-1501.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Gift Basket of Goodness
Women and Infants’ Services and our basket will be part of the Silent Auction. There is also a
Live Auction and Car Raffle. Make your plans now to attend and bid.
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