This very attractive deciduous shade tree deserves to be planted more often, growing 40-60 feet high and 30-40 feet in spread. The Silver Linden has a medium growth pattern and is pyramidal in habit in its youth and matures to more of a rounded shape.
Medium-sized, dark green leaves with white smooth pubescence on the under surface turn yellow in the fall. This native of Europe has smooth grey bark in its youth becoming ridged and furrowed as it ages.
Performs best in full sun, this shade tree has a moderate water demand. Plant in well-drainded fertile soil. Tolerant to alkaline soils. The silver Linden is not immune to pests, like the rest of the Lindens this tree is susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, scale and mites. Planting this tree over walkways, parking or other pedestrian surfaces can generate complaints as the honeydew from the aphids make a mess. [click to continue…]
Hardy in Zones 5-6 this deciduous shade tree is quite drought tolerant once established, performing best in full sun. This excellent tree does very well in hot, dry summers and cold winters. Thick, dark green leaves with toothed margins turn yellow to purple in the fall. Adding to its striking features are the 2 inch long drooping brown catkins that emerge in the spring in addition to its edible nuts. Well-drained, loamy soils are best however it will tolerate alkaline soils. I have seen this tree performing quite well on the campus of Boise State University. [click to continue…]
This shade tolerant deciduous shrub grows to a mature height of 6-8 feet by 6-8 feet wide. Its upright arching habit and dark green leaf color make this a good choice for border plantings. Gray-brown bark on older stems exfoliates to give winter interst. Pale pink bell shaped flowers in early June are followed by brown hairy seeds that are persistent on the shrub well into winter. Its reddish fall color is rather insignificant. Performs well in rather sandy poor soils and once established is rather drought tolerant.
image source: Gertrud K.
The French marigold is native to Mexico and Nicaragua. In addition, it has been cultivated in Europe and the United States for its flowers and medicinal properties. The plant can grow in soil types from sand to clay, but requires well-drained soil. It is hardy to zone 9, is frost tender, and performs best in full sun.
The flower is an annual, growing to 10″ by 15″. Flowering from July to October, the seeds ripen in September. The flowers are perfect (having both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. They are noted for attracting wildlife.
From ghorganics.com:
French Marigold (T. patula) has roots that exude a substance which spreads in their immediate vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you want to plant dense areas of them. There have been some studies done that proved this nematode killing effect lasted for several years after the plants were These marigolds also help to deter whiteflies when planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses for the same purpose. Whiteflies hate the smell of marigolds. Do not plant French marigolds next to bean plants.
In the past couple of weeks I have planted, along with some assistance from the kids, several fruit trees and shrubs. Working for a nursery sure has its benefits. I bought an apple, plum, cherry and a fig along with some blueberries. Of all the fruit we have acquired I am most excited about the fig. I chose the Brown Turkey variety.
Hardy in USDA Zones 8-10, however with winter protection the Brown Turkey fig can be grown successfully in Zone 5. Even if frozen in the winter it will die back to the ground and can re-sprout from the ground and still produce a crop the following summer. For best production plant in part sun to full sun areas with well drained soils. Mulch liberally with organic material. Figs tolerate pruning and are often pruned heavily in the dormant season, controlling size and increasing fruit production.
Most cultivars of fig trees produce two crops, a spring crop on last season’s growth, and a summer or fall crop on new wood. Allow the figs to ripen on the tree before you pick them. Fresh figs have a very short shelf life, extend the benefits of figs by drying or even making some jam.
Nature Hills Nursery have the Brown Turkey Fig for sale here.
Excellent variety for home gardeners with limited space. Great fall foliage color. Chojuro Asian Pear trees have beautiful, golden fruit with a rich, butterscotch like flavor when tree ripened. Medium to large fruit ripens early in the fall Very productive; thin to increase fruit size. Ripe fruit keeps well for months. Fruit Salads, Fresh, Canning. Self Fertile.
Zones: 5-8.
This evergreen perennial features dark green, narrow foliage highlighted with silvery-white vertical variegation. Flowering in summer the pale purple flowers are followed by whitish-green berries. Well suited for use as a ground-cover or edging. Hardy in zone 6 this perennial grows to 10-12″ high and equal in spread. Keep evenly moist and plant in shade to part sun locations.
Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
A neat shrub/groundcover of trailing habit (2-12″ high), and with flowers resembling those of the Arbutus, but much smaller. The leaves are entire, dark green in color, and about an inch long, and obovate or oblong in shape. They are alternately arranged on the stems. Fruit globular, of a bright red, smooth and shining.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) – Flowers
Habitat.—In various soils and situations; sandy or rich woods, along the borders of peaty swamps. USDA 4-9
Habit.—Generally a shrub or small tree but sometimes reaching a height of 40-50 feet and a trunk diameter of 2-4feet; attaining a maximum in the southern and southwestern states of 80-100 feet in height and a trunk diameter of 6-7 feet; head open, flattish or rounded; branches at varying angles, stout, crooked, and irregular; spray bushy; marked in winter by the contrasting reddish-brown of the trunk, the bright yellowish-green of the shoots and the prominent flower-buds, in early spring by the drooping racemes of yellow flowers, in autumn by the rich yellow or red-tinted foliage and handsome fruit, at all seasons by the aromatic odor and spicy flavor of all parts of the tree, especially the bark of the root.
Bark.—Bark of trunk deep reddish-brown, deeply and firmly ridged in old trees, in young trees greenish-gray, finely and irregularly striate, the outer layer often curiously splitting, resembling a sort of filagree work; branchlets reddish-brown, marked with warts of russet brown; season’s shoots at first minutely pubescent, in the fall more or less mottled, bright yellowish-green.
Winter Buds and Leaves.—Flower-buds conspicuous, terminal, ovate to elliptical, the outer scales rather loose, more or less pubescent, the inner glossy, pubescent; lateral buds much smaller. Leaves simple, alternate, often opposite, 3-5 inches long, two-thirds as wide, downy-tomentose when young, at maturity smooth, yellowish-green above, lighter beneath, with midrib conspicuous and minutely hairy; outline of two forms, one oval to oblong, entire, usually rounded at the apex, wedge-shaped at base; the other oval to obovate, mitten-shaped or 3-lobed to about the center, with rounded sinuses; apex obtuse or rounded; base wedge-shaped; leafstalk about 1 inch long; stipules none.
[click to continue…]
