What Does Grow Under Pine Trees? By Nancy Szilagyi

Everyone has seen those bare spots under pine trees.  Do you wonder why?  Perhaps you have heard that nothing likes to grow in such acidic soil.  The needles are thick under these trees. They must just make the soil too acidic for anything to want to live there. That’s what I thought.

Recently, I took an on-line class given by Dr. Tony Koski, professor at CSU and Extension Turfgrass Specialist.  I learned that our soil here in Colorado is very high pH--free lime.  Although pine needles fall in abundance, there could never be enough pine needles to lower the pH. Fallen needles may SLOWLY make the soil more acidic, but more likely for the better since it neutralizes the lime. It takes decades to change pH and will not decrease by more than .5 units. There goes that myth!

My Poor Beloved Currant Bush by Nancy Szilagyi

I love my Black Currant bush (Ribes odoratum ‘Crandall’)!  I have had it for eight years, and I have reaped several abundant harvests.  I have sat under it on a hot day and picked off currants until my hands were purple.  I have made currant scones and given them away to many friends and fellow gardeners.  I have made three batches of Currant Liqueur (Crème de Cassis) which have all been wonderful, even heavenly!  These have also made popular, sought-after Christmas gifts, although it is hard to share very much. 

In spring I wait for it to leaf out. I wait for it to bloom with its lovely, yellow, clove-scented blossoms.  I watch the blossoms wither, and wait for the berries to form.  I have seen branches so heavy with clusters of the shiny black fruit that they are bent almost to the ground.