Last year I moved — house, garden, husband and about one-tenth of the accumulated possessions of some fifty years of wedded bliss.

Among the more important things we attempted to move were cuttings or divisions of unusual plants, pots of herbs without which I could not cook in the new kitchen, a big leaf magnolia tree which we had carefully transferred to a pot, some plants that were gifts from treasured friends, a cutting from a rose that was a gift from a now deceased brother, and a wisteria vine without which this once southern girl would not feel at home.

We did a little landscaping in front of the “new” house so there would be something green in the spring, but we were not counting on a water main break on Christmas Eve, or on the squirrels. Although we were politely told that our west side squirrel family was not welcome over here, they obviously sent e-mails to their cousins, or maybe they tweeted.

The east side squirrels don’t like the front garden design and have been diligently working to relocate the bulbs and corms we so carefully planted. They also have decided we don’t have enough trees in the front yard so they have been planting oaks, maples and gingkoes. I admire gingko trees, but one in a neighborhood is enough, especially if it is a female.

When the city trucks arrived to repair the water main the squirrels all left. However, they returned a couple of weeks ago.

We have planted 450 spring bulbs: daffodils, tulips, a few grape hyacinths and crocus in the front garden so far. I don’t know why I keep planting crocus bulbs, as I’ve never been able to grow them successfully.

The squirrels on Western Avenue regarded crocus as caviar and nothing — wire mesh, animal repellents, red pepper spray — seem to deter them. When we tried the mesh, the squirrels just waited until the bulbs came up and chewed off the tops. Hopefully, the new neighborhood squirrels don’t have such refined tastes.

For our backyard garden, which already contains a beautiful holly tree and some fiddlehead ferns, I am dreaming of a friendship garden.

As you undoubtedly know, a friendship garden is made up mostly of plants gifted, begged, borrowed or stolen from one’s friends. It’s not a very big backyard so maybe I won’t be reduced to theft and anyway HerbFest is coming up on April 27. The vendors there always have beautiful healthy plants.

I would like to rely on perennials for color through the seasons, but like many gardeners I have always filled in with stalwart annuals such as marigolds and impatiens to perk up the flowerbeds in between the blooming period of most perennials. It takes a little extra planning to develop a sequential perennial garden, and the University of Illinois Extension has a perennial gardening website that can help you plan yours at: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/perennials/.

So we are starting with a holly tree, a fence, a fountain and a pile of mud — garden talk for a rag, a bone and a hank of hair.

Oh, and an entire colony of squirrels, old squirrels too, and they seem absolutely fearless. There is not much traffic in our circle and I swear one of the clan thumbed his nose at me as I slowly backed out of our still unfamiliar driveway.

I expect you are tired of hearing about my (losing) battles with the squirrels, but I have a new house, a new garden and a new lease on life and we will see who wins this time.

All this talk about squirrel problems reminded me that I probably need to revisit the University of Illinois Extension “Living with Wildlife” website to find research-based recommendations on how to reduce their damage. The website can be found at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/.

If you have questions about your gardens, call the University of Illinois Extension office in Charleston at 345-7034.

Jackie Record is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener.

Last year I moved — house, garden, husband and about one-tenth of the accumulated possessions of some fifty years of wedded bliss.

Among the more important things we attempted to move were cuttings or divisions of unusual plants, pots of herbs without which I could not cook in the new kitchen, a big leaf magnolia tree which we had carefully transferred to a pot, some plants that were gifts from treasured friends, a cutting from a rose that was a gift from a now deceased brother, and a wisteria vine without which this once southern girl would not feel at home.

We did a little landscaping in front of the “new” house so there would be something green in the spring, but we were not counting on a water main break on Christmas Eve, or on the squirrels. Although we were politely told that our west side squirrel family was not welcome over here, they obviously sent e-mails to their cousins, or maybe they tweeted.

The east side squirrels don’t like the front garden design and have been diligently working to relocate the bulbs and corms we so carefully planted. They also have decided we don’t have enough trees in the front yard so they have been planting oaks, maples and gingkoes. I admire gingko trees, but one in a neighborhood is enough, especially if it is a female.

When the city trucks arrived to repair the water main the squirrels all left. However, they returned a couple of weeks ago.

We have planted 450 spring bulbs: daffodils, tulips, a few grape hyacinths and crocus in the front garden so far. I don’t know why I keep planting crocus bulbs, as I’ve never been able to grow them successfully.

The squirrels on Western Avenue regarded crocus as caviar and nothing — wire mesh, animal repellents, red pepper spray — seem to deter them. When we tried the mesh, the squirrels just waited until the bulbs came up and chewed off the tops. Hopefully, the new neighborhood squirrels don’t have such refined tastes.

For our backyard garden, which already contains a beautiful holly tree and some fiddlehead ferns, I am dreaming of a friendship garden.

As you undoubtedly know, a friendship garden is made up mostly of plants gifted, begged, borrowed or stolen from one’s friends. It’s not a very big backyard so maybe I won’t be reduced to theft and anyway HerbFest is coming up on April 27. The vendors there always have beautiful healthy plants.

I would like to rely on perennials for color through the seasons, but like many gardeners I have always filled in with stalwart annuals such as marigolds and impatiens to perk up the flowerbeds in between the blooming period of most perennials. It takes a little extra planning to develop a sequential perennial garden, and the University of Illinois Extension has a perennial gardening website that can help you plan yours at: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/perennials/.

So we are starting with a holly tree, a fence, a fountain and a pile of mud — garden talk for a rag, a bone and a hank of hair.

Oh, and an entire colony of squirrels, old squirrels too, and they seem absolutely fearless. There is not much traffic in our circle and I swear one of the clan thumbed his nose at me as I slowly backed out of our still unfamiliar driveway.

I expect you are tired of hearing about my (losing) battles with the squirrels, but I have a new house, a new garden and a new lease on life and we will see who wins this time.

All this talk about squirrel problems reminded me that I probably need to revisit the University of Illinois Extension “Living with Wildlife” website to find research-based recommendations on how to reduce their damage. The website can be found at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/.

If you have questions about your gardens, call the University of Illinois Extension office in Charleston at 345-7034.

Jackie Record is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener.

Gibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Festival ushers in spring with the largest display of daffodils in the country. Beginning March 1 and running through April 15, the Gibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Gardens are “the most spectacular display of blooms this side of Holland . . . the most stunning daffodil gardens ever!” according to Southern Living Magazine.

Ball Ground, Georgia (PRWEB) February 15, 2013

Simply put: the gardens are amazing. More than 50 acres of daffodils blanket rolling hillsides and fields, flow along streams and border woodland nooks and crannies. Hundreds of cherry trees, forsythia, spirea, quince and thousands of mature dogwoods will come into bloom to create nature’s own spring bouquet during the six-week daffodil season.

Jim Gibbs – the owner, designer and developer of Gibbs Gardens – began planting daffodils in his gardens in 1987. “We’ve planted nearly 4 million bulbs of more than 60 varieties over the years, often planting more than 250,000 bulbs a year.”

Because Gibbs plants only bulbs that are naturalized for southern growing conditions, the bulbs divide each season to double in number year after year, creating a landscape bursting with an estimated 16 to 20 million lush daffodil blossoms. Gibbs Gardens is a very special place “where hillsides drip with gold and silver each spring,” says Southern Living.

The 300-acre Gibbs estate garden in Cherokee County includes 220 acres of breathtaking gardens set in mature rolling woodlands dotted with ponds, springs, streams and waterfalls. Visitors to Gibbs Gardens are amazed by the diversity and breadth of its 16 artistically designed garden venues and dazzled by the four feature gardens:

•     Japanese Gardens, at more than 40 acres are the largest in the nation.
•     Monet Waterlily Gardens, featuring 140 varieties of unique lilies and a replica of the bridge in Monet’s Garden at Giverny (outside Paris).
•     Arbor Crest Manor House Gardens, located on the highest ridge in northeast Cherokee County, where seven flowering terraces flow seamlessly down 150 feet of elevation from Arbor Crest Manor House to the Valley Gardens.
•     Daffodil Gardens, 60 varieties of daffodils sweep across more than 50 hillside acres under a canopy of flowering dogwoods and cherry blossoms.

Less than an hour’s drive from Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens is already considered “one of our regions most treasured landmarks.” The gardens are open from March 1 through Dec. 15. For more information, go to http://www.gibbsgardens.com. Gibbs Gardens is located at 1998 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground GA, 30107. Phone 770-893-1880 or 770-893-1881.

Forty-year dream comes true:

Jim Gibbs, the owner, designer and developer of Gibbs Gardens, is the founder of Gibbs Landscape Co., one of the largest, oldest and most successful landscaping firms in Atlanta. Gibbs and his company have received more than 250 awards for landscape design excellence, including two national awards presented at White House receptions

.

“I’ve dreamed of creating a world-class garden in the Atlanta area for more than 40 years,” says Gibbs. “After spending six years finding just the right property and another 30 plus years designing and developing Gibbs Gardens, that dream came true when we opened Gibbs Gardens to the public in March 2012.”

Facts about Gibbs Gardens:

Gibbs Gardens is conveniently located less than an hour’s drive north of Atlanta, between SR 400 and Hwy 575. Visitors will enter Gibbs Gardens off Yellow Creek Road in Cherokee County, from Hwy 53 on the north or SR 369 on the south.

The Welcome Center adjacent to the parking area includes The Seasons gift store, ticketing and restrooms. Just steps away, The Arbor Café offers a selection of sandwiches on fresh baked bread, desserts and daily specials on baked goods.

Gibbs Gardens will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday from March 1 until April 15 (closed Monday for maintenance) and Wednesday through Sunday from April 17 through Dec. 15 (Closed Monday and Tuesday for maintenance).

Tickets to visit the gardens are $20 for general admission to all 16 garden venues. Seniors (65 and older), tour groups of 10 or more and children 4-17 can visit the gardens for $18. Children 3 and under are free.

There is no charge for parking. Trams — $5 for a day pass — will be available to take visitors between the Manor House Gardens and Valley Gardens and along other garden routes.

Gibbs Gardens Seasons of Color:

Gibbs Gardens “Seasons of Color” will begin in March 2012 as the Daffodil Gardens cover acres of hillsides with millions of blooms. The following is a Bloom Calendar for 2012:

•     Daffodil Festival, March 1-April 15 – One of the largest daffodil gardens in the United States covering more than 50 acres and featuring more than 3 million bulbs.
•     Cherry Blossom Festival, two weeks in March – More than 500 cherry trees planted.

Fern Dell Festival, from April through November, one of the largest natural ferneries in the country presents a more than half-mile display of fern varieties along streams and paths in the Valley Gardens.

•     Dogwood Festival, two to three weeks in April – Thousands of mature native dogwoods throughout 292 acres.
•     Azalea Festival, April into Fall – More than 1,000 azaleas, including Kurume, Indica, Satsuki and native azaleas.
•     Rhododendron Festival, two to three weeks in May – More than 150 varieties and more than 1,000 rhododendron plants.
•     Rose Festival, May through November – More than 1,000 roses in bloom.
•     Hydrangea Festival, May through October – More than 150 varieties totaling more than 1,400 plants.
•     Waterlily Festival, May through November – More than 140 varieties comprised of hardy and tropical waterlilies in all colors.
•     Daylily Festival, June through August – More than 500 varieties and thousands of daylilies.
•     Annual and Perennials Festival, July through November. Hundreds of varieties of annuals and perennials bloom each season in Gibbs Gardens, especially in the Manor House Gardens where en amazing display of lush bloomers fill sever terraces that flow 150 from the Arbor Crest Manor House to the Valley Gardens.
•     Crape Myrtle Festival, July through August – More than 1,000 trees bloom in shades of pink, red, white and lavender.
•     Wildflower Festival, September through November – 20 acres of rolling topography feature Golden Rod, Asters, Sumac and Ornamental grasses.
•     Oktoberfest, October through November – Thousands of trees covering 292 acres provide spectacular fall color. By the end of October. Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, Japanese Maples Festival when thousands of Japanese maples representing more than 75 varieties come into color.

Press Release submitted by Click Ready Marketing.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/2/prweb10435251.htm

Gibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Festival ushers in spring with the largest display of daffodils in the country. Beginning March 1 and running through April 15, the Gibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Gardens are “the most spectacular display of blooms this side of Holland . . . the most stunning daffodil gardens ever!” according to Southern Living Magazine.

Ball Ground, Georgia (PRWEB) February 15, 2013

Simply put: the gardens are amazing. More than 50 acres of daffodils blanket rolling hillsides and fields, flow along streams and border woodland nooks and crannies. Hundreds of cherry trees, forsythia, spirea, quince and thousands of mature dogwoods will come into bloom to create nature’s own spring bouquet during the six-week daffodil season.

Jim Gibbs – the owner, designer and developer of Gibbs Gardens – began planting daffodils in his gardens in 1987. “We’ve planted nearly 4 million bulbs of more than 60 varieties over the years, often planting more than 250,000 bulbs a year.”

Because Gibbs plants only bulbs that are naturalized for southern growing conditions, the bulbs divide each season to double in number year after year, creating a landscape bursting with an estimated 16 to 20 million lush daffodil blossoms. Gibbs Gardens is a very special place “where hillsides drip with gold and silver each spring,” says Southern Living.

The 300-acre Gibbs estate garden in Cherokee County includes 220 acres of breathtaking gardens set in mature rolling woodlands dotted with ponds, springs, streams and waterfalls. Visitors to Gibbs Gardens are amazed by the diversity and breadth of its 16 artistically designed garden venues and dazzled by the four feature gardens:

•     Japanese Gardens, at more than 40 acres are the largest in the nation.
•     Monet Waterlily Gardens, featuring 140 varieties of unique lilies and a replica of the bridge in Monet’s Garden at Giverny (outside Paris).
•     Arbor Crest Manor House Gardens, located on the highest ridge in northeast Cherokee County, where seven flowering terraces flow seamlessly down 150 feet of elevation from Arbor Crest Manor House to the Valley Gardens.
•     Daffodil Gardens, 60 varieties of daffodils sweep across more than 50 hillside acres under a canopy of flowering dogwoods and cherry blossoms.

Less than an hour’s drive from Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens is already considered “one of our regions most treasured landmarks.” The gardens are open from March 1 through Dec. 15. For more information, go to http://www.gibbsgardens.com. Gibbs Gardens is located at 1998 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground GA, 30107. Phone 770-893-1880 or 770-893-1881.

Forty-year dream comes true:

Jim Gibbs, the owner, designer and developer of Gibbs Gardens, is the founder of Gibbs Landscape Co., one of the largest, oldest and most successful landscaping firms in Atlanta. Gibbs and his company have received more than 250 awards for landscape design excellence, including two national awards presented at White House receptions

.

“I’ve dreamed of creating a world-class garden in the Atlanta area for more than 40 years,” says Gibbs. “After spending six years finding just the right property and another 30 plus years designing and developing Gibbs Gardens, that dream came true when we opened Gibbs Gardens to the public in March 2012.”

Facts about Gibbs Gardens:

Gibbs Gardens is conveniently located less than an hour’s drive north of Atlanta, between SR 400 and Hwy 575. Visitors will enter Gibbs Gardens off Yellow Creek Road in Cherokee County, from Hwy 53 on the north or SR 369 on the south.

The Welcome Center adjacent to the parking area includes The Seasons gift store, ticketing and restrooms. Just steps away, The Arbor Café offers a selection of sandwiches on fresh baked bread, desserts and daily specials on baked goods.

Gibbs Gardens will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday from March 1 until April 15 (closed Monday for maintenance) and Wednesday through Sunday from April 17 through Dec. 15 (Closed Monday and Tuesday for maintenance).

Tickets to visit the gardens are $20 for general admission to all 16 garden venues. Seniors (65 and older), tour groups of 10 or more and children 4-17 can visit the gardens for $18. Children 3 and under are free.

There is no charge for parking. Trams — $5 for a day pass — will be available to take visitors between the Manor House Gardens and Valley Gardens and along other garden routes.

Gibbs Gardens Seasons of Color:

Gibbs Gardens “Seasons of Color” will begin in March 2012 as the Daffodil Gardens cover acres of hillsides with millions of blooms. The following is a Bloom Calendar for 2012:

•     Daffodil Festival, March 1-April 15 – One of the largest daffodil gardens in the United States covering more than 50 acres and featuring more than 3 million bulbs.
•     Cherry Blossom Festival, two weeks in March – More than 500 cherry trees planted.

Fern Dell Festival, from April through November, one of the largest natural ferneries in the country presents a more than half-mile display of fern varieties along streams and paths in the Valley Gardens.

•     Dogwood Festival, two to three weeks in April – Thousands of mature native dogwoods throughout 292 acres.
•     Azalea Festival, April into Fall – More than 1,000 azaleas, including Kurume, Indica, Satsuki and native azaleas.
•     Rhododendron Festival, two to three weeks in May – More than 150 varieties and more than 1,000 rhododendron plants.
•     Rose Festival, May through November – More than 1,000 roses in bloom.
•     Hydrangea Festival, May through October – More than 150 varieties totaling more than 1,400 plants.
•     Waterlily Festival, May through November – More than 140 varieties comprised of hardy and tropical waterlilies in all colors.
•     Daylily Festival, June through August – More than 500 varieties and thousands of daylilies.
•     Annual and Perennials Festival, July through November. Hundreds of varieties of annuals and perennials bloom each season in Gibbs Gardens, especially in the Manor House Gardens where en amazing display of lush bloomers fill sever terraces that flow 150 from the Arbor Crest Manor House to the Valley Gardens.
•     Crape Myrtle Festival, July through August – More than 1,000 trees bloom in shades of pink, red, white and lavender.
•     Wildflower Festival, September through November – 20 acres of rolling topography feature Golden Rod, Asters, Sumac and Ornamental grasses.
•     Oktoberfest, October through November – Thousands of trees covering 292 acres provide spectacular fall color. By the end of October. Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, Japanese Maples Festival when thousands of Japanese maples representing more than 75 varieties come into color.

Press Release submitted by Click Ready Marketing.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/2/prweb10435251.htm

February 15, 2013

THE DIRT ON GARDENING; Raised bed gardens can create visual pleasure

Anonymous


THE GOSHEN NEWS
The Goshen News

Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:00 PM EST

Are you planning a raised-bed garden this year? Well congratulations — not only for your decision to grow your own but also for incorporating the raised bed design that has become so popular.

Raised bed gardens are the rave anymore because of the convenience, ease of harvesting and the neatness they provide to a homeowner — especially city dwellers.

While any garden that is well-maintained creates a visual kind of pleasure, a raised bed that is well placed in a more convenient spot, like outside your back door, will if properly maintained, fit right in to other landscaping and flower gardens.

A bed of this type doesn’t necessarily have to be the ho-hum garden with the standard vegetables one would ordinarily see in a garden for a food source.

Try to make your garden interesting by incorporating some unusual twists that separate it from the neighbors.

Flowers in the vegetable garden — well why not? I always ringed my garden’s outer edges with alyssum (Easter Basket Mix) that gave it a more finished look. I also planted a few marigolds to ward off insects. I filled an end with zinnias one year (the cut-and-come-again variety) just to make the garden a little more eye appealing and cosmos another year.

There are a number of things that you might do to set your garden off from the same ‘ole, same ’ole. Purchase a teepee style trellis for a vining flower or vegetable. There are simple ones and there are elaborate ones available to choose from and it will give your garden a handsome focal point. When doing this, always keep in mind the size of your garden and don’t overwhelm it with a giant behemoth.

Incorporate cement figurines for talking points like frogs, toads, turtles, angels or fairies. Place a gazing globe in a corner spot or plant flowers in an old galvanized sprinkling can and place it in a spot that can easily be seen. In other words, make it a fun place for yourself and one that neighbors and visitors will enjoy and comment on.

One such item, in a previous article of a friend’s garden, was a pair of cupped hands lying flat in the garden that contained a small amount of dirt planted with dragon’s blood sedum — how neat is that? This same cement creation could contain a small amount of bird seed or simply left for water to collect in when you’ve watered the garden. The birds will love you for it.

When laying out a raised bed (or two or three) keep things in perspective and consider surrounding landscaping and beds — in other words don’t just throw one out there. Make it a part of the whole landscape and design.

Keep beds level even if it means using more timbers on one end or cutting it into a slope in the lawn. Try to retain equal measurements between beds and use a level when laying them out and a square to keep corners even.

Raised beds planted on a slope should be cut into the slope to keep them level rather than following the slope of the landscape. It just makes sense for incorporating even watering practices and the prevention of run-off of the soil inside the parameters of the enclosure.

Text Only

February 15, 2013

THE DIRT ON GARDENING; Raised bed gardens can create visual pleasure

Anonymous


THE GOSHEN NEWS
The Goshen News

Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:00 PM EST

Are you planning a raised-bed garden this year? Well congratulations — not only for your decision to grow your own but also for incorporating the raised bed design that has become so popular.

Raised bed gardens are the rave anymore because of the convenience, ease of harvesting and the neatness they provide to a homeowner — especially city dwellers.

While any garden that is well-maintained creates a visual kind of pleasure, a raised bed that is well placed in a more convenient spot, like outside your back door, will if properly maintained, fit right in to other landscaping and flower gardens.

A bed of this type doesn’t necessarily have to be the ho-hum garden with the standard vegetables one would ordinarily see in a garden for a food source.

Try to make your garden interesting by incorporating some unusual twists that separate it from the neighbors.

Flowers in the vegetable garden — well why not? I always ringed my garden’s outer edges with alyssum (Easter Basket Mix) that gave it a more finished look. I also planted a few marigolds to ward off insects. I filled an end with zinnias one year (the cut-and-come-again variety) just to make the garden a little more eye appealing and cosmos another year.

There are a number of things that you might do to set your garden off from the same ‘ole, same ’ole. Purchase a teepee style trellis for a vining flower or vegetable. There are simple ones and there are elaborate ones available to choose from and it will give your garden a handsome focal point. When doing this, always keep in mind the size of your garden and don’t overwhelm it with a giant behemoth.

Incorporate cement figurines for talking points like frogs, toads, turtles, angels or fairies. Place a gazing globe in a corner spot or plant flowers in an old galvanized sprinkling can and place it in a spot that can easily be seen. In other words, make it a fun place for yourself and one that neighbors and visitors will enjoy and comment on.

One such item, in a previous article of a friend’s garden, was a pair of cupped hands lying flat in the garden that contained a small amount of dirt planted with dragon’s blood sedum — how neat is that? This same cement creation could contain a small amount of bird seed or simply left for water to collect in when you’ve watered the garden. The birds will love you for it.

When laying out a raised bed (or two or three) keep things in perspective and consider surrounding landscaping and beds — in other words don’t just throw one out there. Make it a part of the whole landscape and design.

Keep beds level even if it means using more timbers on one end or cutting it into a slope in the lawn. Try to retain equal measurements between beds and use a level when laying them out and a square to keep corners even.

Raised beds planted on a slope should be cut into the slope to keep them level rather than following the slope of the landscape. It just makes sense for incorporating even watering practices and the prevention of run-off of the soil inside the parameters of the enclosure.

Text Only