The Inside Dirt @ iloveplants.com - February 2006
In This Issue:
* Featured Website: Perennial Resource
* Featured Flower: Rose
* Featured Vegetable: Leeks
* Featured Herb: Rosemary
* Garden Folklore: The Language of Flowers
* Garden News: Great Backyard Bird Count
* Garden Wisdom: Landscape Design Tips
* Garden Bargains: Save on Landscape Design Software
* Garden Blog: Takoma Gardener
* From my garden..
* See What's New at iloveplants.com
Greetings fellow gardeners and a warm welcome to all of our new subscribers!
February always makes me think of flowers. I suppose it�s because of Valentine�s Day but also because spring is right around the corner and I love flowers. One can never have too many flowers in the garden. The web site we are featuring this month is all about flowers. If you love perennials, you will love this web site. And we�ve got more on flowers - the new roses for 2006 and the magical language of flowers. You will also find information on growing leeks and tips on landscape design.
Beginning this month we will feature a new �garden blog� each month. There are so many interesting blogs out in the blogosphere that I am delighted to bring them to you. And news From my Garden can be found on my garden blog, a link for which I have included in this newsletter.
Treat yourself to a fresh bouquet of spring flowers, a new rose bush or some love-in-a-mist, heart�s ease, sweet pea or forget-me-not seeds. Afterall, it is February!
I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and that it contains some helpful gardening information. Drop me a line anytime you like with requests for future information or just to say hi and let me know what's growing in your garden.
Susan
"A flowerless room is a soulless room, to my way of thinking; but even a solitary little vase of a living flower may redeem it. - Vita Sackville-West
FEATURED WEBSITE: Perennial Resource
Perennial Resource brings you the latest information on perennials � how to use them and how to grow them. And who better to do this than Walter�s Gardens, a field grower of perennials. At Perennial Resources you�ll find over 1,000 plants in their perennial library, growing information, images of gardens and plant combinations, as well as landscape designs for creating beautiful perennial gardens. Click here to visit Perennial Resource.
FEATURED FLOWER: Rose
Roses (Rosa) have existed for some 35 million years according to discovered fossils. Over the years they have become symbols for love, beauty and war. With over 150 species available in today�s market, there is a rose for everyone. The new roses selected as winners for 2006 by the All-America Rose Selections � Julia Child, Rainbow Sorbet, Wild Blue Yonder and Tahitian Sunset � are a collection of warm, rich jewel-toned colors. Click here to view the All-America Rose Selections for 2006.
FEATURED VEGETABLE: Leeks
Leeks are a member of the alum family (Allium porrum) which includes all types of onions and garlic. They are best known for their cleansing and detoxifying effects. Naturally low in fat, they supply more vitamins and minerals than onions or scallion. Their mild sweet flavor is perfect as an addition to soups. Click here for information on growing leeks by doityourself.com.
FEATURED HERB: Rosemary
Derived from the Latin word meaning �dew of the sea,� rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a native of southern Europe. It is a symbol for friendship. At one time it was thought to keep away evil spirits. It adds an aromatic fragrance to flower bouquets and a unique flavor to bread or marinades. Click here for information on growing rosemary by ehow.com.
Purchase flower and vegetable seeds from Park Seed Co. Providing vegetable seed and perennial seed to American gardens since 1868. Click here to order from Park Seed Co.
GARDENING WITH THE MOOM
Full Moon � February 12th
New Moon � February 27th
PLANTING DATES:
Flowers & Above Ground Vegetables: January 29 � February 12
Flower Bulbs & Root Vegetables: February 13 � February 26
GARDEN FOLKLORE: The Language of Flowers
Flowers have always been given to express a person�s sentiment. We use flowers in lieu of words to express love, friendship, sympathy or some other meaning. In 1818, Mme. Charlotte de la Tour of France published the first dictionary of flowers titled Le Language des Fleurs or The Language of Flowers.
While a red tulip stands for love, a yellow tulip says �I am hopelessly in love!� There are many ways to say I love you other than with red roses. If you wish to express the perfect sentiment to your valentine this month, me2u.com�s extensive list of flowers and their meanings will help you create a personalized romantic message. Click here to learn more about the language of flowers.
�Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.� John Harrigan
GARDEN NEWS: Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled for February 17 � 20th. You can join in and report your backyard findings online at the Audubon Society and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Click here for information on the Great Backyard Bird Count.
GARDEN WISDOM: Landscape & Garden Design Tips
Now is a great time to begin the daunting task of designing a new landscape or redesigning an existing flowerbed. Landscape & Garden Design Tips by Landscape USA comes to the rescue with their detailed step-by-step list that simplifies the process. Click here to read the Landscape & Garden Design Tips by Landscape USA.
GARDEN BARGAINS ONLINE: Save on Landscape Design Software
Save up to 16% on Garden Design Software at Amazon.com. Great selections to choose from as well as many other new bargains at Garden Bargains Online. Click here for a selection of landscape design software.
GARDEN BLOG: Takoma Gardener
The garden blog community is bringing gardeners together from all around the world to share their love for gardening. It is with great delight that iloveplants.com will feature a garden blog each month. In a world of negative news, it is uplifting to see people who are passionate about gardening and happy to share the beautiful environment they have created. As you read each blog, you�ll begin to feel as though you know these gardeners personally. It�s fun to share with like-minded people and many bloggers welcome your comments.
The TAKOMA GARDENER blog penned by Susan Harris in her Maryland Garden is a collection of posts on gardening, gardens, horticulture clubs, nature and plants. Susan told me, "I started my blog as a way to share my photos and experiences of gardening, but love it now for the community, which is worldwide and growing."
She writes as though she is speaking directly to you, sharing her excitement of the latest bargain she found at a favorite nursery or a recent visit to a public garden. Her enthusiasm for gardening shines through in every post. Click here to visit the Takoma Gardener.
FROM MY GARDEN..
I have now taken to the cultivation of my own garden blog. Please visit Simply Susan! to see what�s happening in my zone 9 garden and please be sure to leave your footprints by posting a comment. I would love to hear from you! Click here to visit Simply Susan!
Click here to read more garden blogs at iloveplants.com.
Click here to create your own FREE garden blog at Live Journal.
Click here to see what�s new at iloveplants.com
�Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.� - Hans Christian Andersen
posted by Susan @ 6:34 AM
