Garden Hour Led online by SDSU Extension horticulture team Begins Tuesday, May 7th, 7:00 -8:00pm (each week) Ends August 27th Register free at https://extension.sdstate.edu/events Search “Garden Hour” Lots of plant-related topics of the growing season and Q/A.
Filed under Uncategorized …
Lilacs and Climate Change
The light fragrance in the air, some trees growing new leaves, and the swath of lavender for several hundred feet leading to Lewis & Clark Recreation Area are predictable signs of spring in this region. Lilacs remind me of smiling youngsters with handpicked bouquets for their favorite adults at a park picnic. The common lilac (Syringa … Continue reading
Daffodils and Sunshine
No wonder Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) are a common sign of spring. We can see the sunshine that flows through them. Daffodils grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8 and beyond in the United States. Their bulbs require cold before they break dormancy, so they are planted in the fall. Daffodils, with their vibrant blooms, emerge and grace sunny areas … Continue reading
Dibbles and Bits
Before seed planting, it is a time to catch up on garden articles. These three topics talk about everyday plant-related organisms that contribute more than we realize to our well-being. Monarch wing markings make some more efficient flyers. Some common sedum herbs may have antioxidant properties. Selecting plants that impact our backyard environment may become as common as looking for … Continue reading
Dibbles and Bits
Flowers are in bloom around us at Plant Exchange blog and where we go. Today’s topics refer to common flowering plants that we may often see. (1) An early success as a gardener was planting zinnia seeds in the soil. The easy-to-grow plants produce colorful composites with various ray and disk flowers. Zinnia flowers attract pollen … Continue reading
Dibbles and Bits
Parks, leaf color, and busy wild turkeys are topics today at Plant Exchange Blog as Autumn transition continues. Parks may add an important nature experience because more than 83% of Americans live in a city. Brooklyn Bridge Park of 85 acres along New York City’s East River is featured in the September/October 2022 Horticulture Magazine. Landscape challenges included … Continue reading
“At My Door the Leaves are Falling”
Fall color was replaced this week by “leaf drop” of many green leaves before they turned. Rapid decreases in temperatures and drought conditions convinced trees to cut their losses. These are leaves from nature-planted woods nearby. Some trees are known for dropping many of their leaves at once in fall. We happened to walk by … Continue reading
Sunflowers for a Happy Harvest
A sunflower represents the Plant Exchange Blog for several reasons: A field of South Dakota sunflowers smiles west at the end of the day. The flowers reset and face east in the morning. This plant movement is due to water pressure in cells of a stem segment below the flowerhead. Plants that move, how amazing! Annual … Continue reading
Garden Vegetables this Season
Perennial coneflowers and yellow gaillardia are having a party in the early August flowerbed. But let’s look at the progress of plants in the vegetable garden since early June. Beans have been bearing for about three weeks. We prefer planting several varieties of bush green beans due to unexpected pests or diseases. Fresh beans are … Continue reading
Outdoor Container Garden Nursery
Garden flowers or vegetables you plant together in a container take a little time to look their best before they are displayed. These succulents are an example. Container flowers and vegetables mature at different times, and it’s handy to have a dedicated space, a nursery, with adequate sunlight and water nearby to care for them … Continue reading
Plant Exchange Blog 