Wednesday, July 28, 2010
THREE SISTERS GARDEN
 posted by admin at 20:36 || under Gardening
Wampanoag Method of Gardening
Submitted by Janice Ellis
History
Three Sisters Gardening is an ancient American Native method using an intercropping/companion planting system growing corn, beans, and squash crops simultaneously in the same growing area. The crops are grown in mounds with a saucer-like depression on top of the mound to hold water.
Corn is the oldest sister. She stands tall in the center of the mound.
Pole Bean is the second sister. She climbs up the corn stalks stabilizing the corn in the wind while the corn provides the "pole” for the climbing bean plants. The corn consumes large amount of nitrogen from the soil and the bean plants add this back to the soil.
Squash is the third sister. She grows around and over the corn/bean mounds, protecting her sisters from critters that hate the prickly stems, keeping out invading weeds and shading the soil from the sun with her ...>> full...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
CRAPE MYRTLE
posted by admin at 19:50 || under Gardening
"The Lilac of the South"Dynamite Crape Myrtle | Crape Myrtles are a popular choice for gardeners. They require very little maintenance and provide beautiful color in the heat of the summer. Crape Myrtles are most popular in the south, gaining the nickname the lilac of the south, but are enjoyed by gardeners across the country. Their scientific term, Lagerstroemia, was coined in 1759 in order to honor Magnus von Lagerstroem, an avid naturalist. The common name in America, Crape Myrtle, is derived from the crape-like appearance of the flower. The Crape Myrtle was introduced to Charleston, South Carolina from China and Korea, in the late 1700's by the French botanist Andre Michaux. Today there is a crape myrtle to fill every landscape need, from specimen type trees to fast growing dwarf types. In the United States it can be seen anywhere south of USDA Zone 6, doing best and avoiding fungal diseases ... |
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Friday, March 12, 2010
EARLY SPRING AT CLARK GARDENS
posted by Carol at 16:12 || under Gardening
More and more flowers, trees, and shrubs are blooming each day. Bring your family and enjoy the sites, sounds and smells of Spring.   Daffodils Pear Tree   Flowering Quince Hyacinths
Friday, March 12, 2010
2010'S FIRST BLUEBONNET
posted by Carol at 16:04 || under Gardening
Looks like the adage about Spring is true for this year..."In like a lion, out like a lamb!!" We can certainly hope for the lamb. I found our first bluebonnet this morning. She's a beauty. 
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
THE WINTER GARDEN
posted by Carol at 8:42 || under Gardening
As I put the finishing touches on this month's newsletter it is midday and the temperature is 70 degrees. Was it really in the lower 10’s just two weeks ago? Gee Whiz!  I enjoyed a walk around the garden yesterday and took some photographs. Too often we think of our winter gardens as absent of color but that’s simply not true. It is truly a great time to come visit the gardens. We have many different types of evergreen trees and shrubbery which provide a beautiful backdrop of greenery. One of the smaller evergreen shrubs is the Mahonia bealei, commonly called the leather leaf mahonia. It is a member of the barberry family. It grows to be about 4-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It has large, pinnately compound leaves with erect, unbranched, stiff stems. It is a native of China and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. It grows ... >> full...
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