The Inside Dirt at iloveplants.com - August 2004

In This Issue:
*Our Top Website Choices for August on Sunflowers
*Using Water Wisely in the Garden
*All-America Rose Selections, Ames True-Temper Product Recall, Kid�s
Gardening Grant Deadlines
*Books on Annuals
*Garden Bargains

Greetings fellow gardeners and a warm welcome to all of our new subscribers! August is the quintessential summer month. Hot weather, summer showers, fresh cut grass and flowers - lots of flowers! And what flower best represents summer than the one we are featuring this month - the sunflower. We've included great articles on growing sunflowers and watering wisely in the garden, plus some current information on the All-America rose selections and kid's gardening grant deadlines. The nurseries are running their summer clearance sales this month, so there are plenty of garden bargains to be had. Check out our Garden Bargains section for the latest offers!

Soaring Sunflowers

There is not another flower that epitomizes summer better than the sunflower. Its warm sunny-yellow color and super-sized flower is a real attention grabber. Sunflowers are fun to grow and they even provide a tasty treat.

Our viewers have given these 3 websites on sunflowers top ratings.

The National Sunflower Association (Rated 9) website offers a brief history of the origination of the sunflower, as well as a helpful FAQ�s section. An added bonus is a printable coloring book for kids called �The Story of the Sunflower.� You will discover some amazing things about the sunflower on this website. For instance, did you know that the roots on some sunflowers can run as deep as 9 feet?

Growing Sunflowers (Rated 10) by Ohio State University Extension is a good starting point for information on sunflowers. They provide information on the plants uses, species, culture, diseases and pests, harvesting, and roasting the tasty seeds.

Another good source of information on sunflowers by Colorado State University Extension is provided in their article entitled �Sunflowers � Growing Sunshine.� (Rated 10) This brief article provides a little history, plant uses, growing information and some helpful hints. It is well written and gives a good overview of the sunflower.

See our Sunflower page for more great websites with information on growing these beautiful flowers, as well as some mail-order sources with a good variety of seeds to choose from.

Our Top Website Pick for Garden Information

Many areas of the country are experiencing less rainfall than normal which can make gardening a bit of a challenge. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service has compiled some very beneficial information to help gardeners conserve water while still helping gardens to flourish. In their article �Using Water Wisely in the Garden� you will find a number of simple, but helpful tips to help conserve water in the flower beds, vegetable garden, trees, shrubs and lawns.

Using a rain barrel to collect rainwater for later use in your garden is a practical solution. You can either make your own or purchase one. Gardener�s Supply Co.�s Deluxe Rain Barrel comes with lots of great features that you would usually pay extra for. It features a huge 75-gallon capacity, safety grid and removable debris screen, a 4-ft hose with on/off thumb valve. And it�s made of durable UV-stable recycled material.

The Gardener�s Bookshelf

Check out these insightful books on GROWING SUN-LOVING ANNUALS. They�re bubbling over with tips and advice.

ANNUALS: A Growing Guide for Easy, Colorful Gardens by Emma Sweeney. It is a BIG book at a very good price with plenty of wonderful pictures, a plant encyclopedia and lots of information on garden design, annuals, perennials and bulbs.

A GUIDE TO GROWING AMAZING ANNUALS by Richard Bird contains descriptions of 75 annuals chosen for easy care, availability, and variety. You will also find a monthly calendar of tasks, a table of the dates of first and last frosts in North America, and a basic garden glossary. This is an extremely practical growing guide that new gardeners will use, wear out, & enjoy.

More Information on Gardening

All-America Rose Selections for 2004

Visit the American Rose Society�s website to view the 2004 winners. The three beautiful winners are: Memorial Day (hybrid tea), Day Breaker (floribunda) and Honey Perfume (floribunda).

Ames Garden Product Recall

Ames True Temper recall information for certain wheelbarrows made by O. Ames between 1993 and 2000. These products contain a plastic wheel assembly that has been known to rupture and cause serious damage.

Kid�s Gardening Grant Deadlines

The �Hooked on Hydroponics� grant award deadline is 9/30/04. Click here for more information and an application.

Garden Bargains

Visit our GARDEN BARGAINS page for the lastest special offers, discounts and sales offered by nurseries and garden products companies.

In closing, long hot summer days remind me of cool crisp salads with fresh tomatoes, sweet melons and berries. Stay cool this month and enjoy the refreshing tastes of the summer garden.

Susan Myers

The Inside Dirt at iloveplants.com - July 2004

In This Issue:
*Our Top Website Choices for July on Tomatoes
*Weather in the Garden
*Free Trees and Plants
*Kid�s Gardening Project � Pressing Flowers
*Books on Perennials
*Summer Garden Bargains

Greetings fellow gardeners and a warm welcome to all of our new subscribers!

Summer is humming along. The flowers are in full-bloom and the vegetables are ripening. The tomato is by far the most popular vegetable grown, and this month we have included 3 websites with super information on growing tomatoes. You will reap tons of information, helpful tips and cures for whatever ails your tomatoes.

You will also find some NEW summer garden bargains to save you dollars in the garden, as well as some information on a new project that puts �free� plants and trees into the hands of gardeners, while at the same time helping workers with disabilities. We�ve also included a fun kids project on pressing flowers. A great project for kids from age 3 to 99!

We�ve got lots of good information, so let�s get started!

Tomatoes with Taste

There�s nothing better on a summer salad than fresh delicious homegrown tomatoes. So whether you grow them in the garden or in containers, these websites offer a variety of information on growing these flavorful fruits.

Our viewers have given these 3 websites a top rating of 10!

Tomato by the University of Illinois Extension contains the ultimate information on growing tomatoes. Its 18 pages are packed full of information on recommended varieties, when to plant, the proper spacing & depth, care, harvesting, common problems, growing Q&A, selection and storage, nutrition, preparation, home preservation and recipes. This detailed guide is guaranteed to turn you into a tomato-growing expert.

Growing Tomatoes by Daisy Moore is for the gardener who is short on time. This two page article is brief but contains enough information for a novice to successfully grow tomatoes. She provides an explanation of the different varieties, planting, staking, moisture & light requirements, as well as common problems.

Tomato Disorders by the Texas Cooperative Extension is a guide to the identification of common problems. This article is comprehensive in that it addresses problems you may experience with the various aspects of a tomato plant: green fruit, ripened fruit, leaf, stem or root.

See our Tomato Page for more great websites with information on growing tomatoes, as well as a list of 18 mail-order sources to purchase seeds from.

Our Top Website Picks for Garden Information

Weather is a BIG factor in our gardens during the hot summer months. The Weather Channel website is gardener friendly. Their website contains the information you would expect such as rainfall forecast, drought conditions, dew points, etc., but it also contains a lot of information on gardening for your particular area.

Weather.com now offers its viewers comprehensive and timely local weather information available online. Their Desktop Weather Platinum features no advertising, up-to-the-minute personal pan-and-zoom radar, local video forecasts and customizable severe weather alerts all for a very affordable price. Try it FREE for 7 days to see if you are satisfied.

The Gardener�s Bookshelf

Check out these highly favored books on growing tasty tomatoes.

The Great Tomato Book by Gary Ibsen. This book includes tips on growing tomatoes successfully, including seed starting, soil preparation, watering and fertilizing. A glossary of 85 tomato varieties is provided and 27 appetizing recipes.

Let�s Grow Tomatoes by Jacob R. Mittleider. Growing from seeds, transplanting, close planting, vertical growing, automatic watering, proper feeding, weeding, and pruning are all covered with hundreds of pictures to reinforce the important lessons. A must-have for anyone who loves tomatoes.

More Garden Information for July

Free Plants & Trees!

Garden photographer, Cheryl Richter started Project Free Trees and Plants to help save unsold high-quality nursery plants and help workers with disabilities. Visit her website to select from many types of plants and trees. The Plants are FREE, you pay only shipping and processing.

Kid�s Project Pressing Flowers

This is a great project for kids. Bestgardening.com gives easy instructions on how to press flowers and create bookmarks, cards, sun-catchers and decorate boxes.

Garden Bargains

Visit our GARDEN BARGAINS page for the latest special offers, discounts and sales offered by nurseries and garden product companies. For your convenience, this page is always current.

In closing, the fruits (or blooms) of your labor are reaching their peak during the warm summer months! Take a few minutes to grab your favorite cold beverage, take a front-row seat and enjoy this special gift from nature.

Susan Myers

The Inside Dirt at iloveplants.com - June 2004

In This Issue:
* Our Top Website Choices for May on Perennials & Kid�s Gardening
* Garden Bargains for June
* All-America Daylilies for 2004, Great Backyard Bird Count Results & Garden Conservancy
Open Garden Days.
* Books on Perennial Gardening

Greetings fellow gardeners and a warm welcome to all of our new subscribers!

Warm weather has arrived and gardens are beginning to burst forth in colorful blooms. Perennials play an important role in the garden, providing plenty of color year after year. This month we have included some timely information on these dependable beauties. And since school is out, we have not forgotten the kids. Lots of activities and items sure to create a love for gardening and nature can be found in this month�s newsletter.

You will also find some NEW summer garden bargains this month to save you dollars in the garden, as well as an update on the latest and greatest daylilies, the results of the Great Backyard Bird Count and private gardens in the United States and British Columbia open for the public to tour and enjoy in the Garden Conservancy�s Open Garden Days Directory.

AWESOME BLOSSOMS � Gardening with Perennials

Who wouldn�t like a summer garden overflowing with the awesome blossoms of perennials. Include perennials in your garden for a continuous symphony of color throughout the lazy hazy days of summer.

Our viewers have given this website a top rating of 10!

Perennial Resource is the source for inspiration and information on perennial gardening. You will find plenty of information here on perennials, including new ways to use them in your garden, outstanding new introductions and growing information. And most of all, you won�t want to miss their Perennial Library which includes over 1,000 plants with stunning photos and companion plant suggestions.

See our Perennial Page for more great websites on perennials, as well as 80 mail-order sources to purchase plants from.

Our Top Website Picks for Gardening Information on - Kid�s Gardening

School is out and the kids are looking for something to do. Gardening is a natural for kids, especially since they love bugs, dirt, butterflies and experimenting.

A favorite website article listed in our Garden Information Directory that viewers have rated a 10 is:

FOR KIDS by the University of Illinois Extension contains some really cool ideas to get kids interested in gardening and nature. My First Garden includes tips on the FUNdamentals of creating a kid�s garden. The Adventures of Herman the Worm is an adorable look at a worm�s history, family tree, anatomy, facts and fun on the squiggly wiggly worm. And don�t miss the audio versions for: Trees are Terrific, Exploring the Secret Life of Trees, A Walk in the Woods and Let�s Talk About Insects. Not only are they educational, but kids and adults will find them lots of fun.

Our Top Website Picks for Garden Products

National Gardening Association�s Gardening with Kid�s Store has some great items that are guaranteed to get kids interested in gardening and nature.

Kids will love these items: Create a Butterfly Kit, Grow a Frog Kit, Gardening Journal, Worm Habitats, Stepping Stone Kit, Herbal Cooler Headbands, Kid�s size Waterproof Mudd Gloves, Set of 3 Mid-sized Garden Tools and lots more! You will also find some great books, such as the Wonderful World of Wigglers, Consider the Earth, The Butterfly Book and Weather Forecasting for Kids. There site is also loaded with gardening information for kids, as well as a KidsGardening e-newsletter which contains activities, projects and discounts!

The Gardener�s Bookshelf

Check out these highly-rated (five star) books on gardening with perennials.

Continuous Blooms by Pam Duthie. �This book covers 272 perennials, including traditional perennials, selected bulbs, ferns, grasses & shrubs. Each �plant portrait� provides the scientific and common names of the plant; details of its flower, foliage, care, uses, and propagation; plants to combine it with; and problems, insider�s tips, and a good color photograph of the perennial.�

Perennial All-Stars: 150 Best Perennials by Jeff Cox (host of HGTV�s �Grow It!). In this book you will find a selection of flowers and grasses with information on planting, propagating, hardiness zone, blooming season, size, color, light and soil requirements.

Garden News

All-American Daylilies for 2004

Visit the All-American Daylilies website to view photos of the 2004 selections: Lady Lucille and Chorus Line. The daylily winners are scientifically proven for superior performance nationwide.

The Great Backyard Bird Count Results

Results for the February Great Backyard Bird Count are now available. See how many different varieties of birds were reported for your neck of the woods.

Garden Conservancy Open Garden Days

Summer is a great time to visit some �private gardens� located throughout the U.S. and British Columbia. Browse the Garden Conservancy�s website for information on gardens listed in their 2004 Open Days Program.

GARDEN BARGAINS

Visit our GARDEN BARGAINS page for the latest special offers, discounts and sales offered by nurseries and garden product companies.

Summer is here and soon our gardens will be peaking with colorful blooms. Take a little time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. I wish each and everyone of you a bloomin� good summer!