All-America Selections Announces The First AAS Winners For 2012

Watermelon Faerie F1 is the All America Selections 2012 winner in the vegetable category. / Photo courtesy of All America Selections

Are you starting your list of new flowers and vegetables to try in 2012?  Here's a place to start:

All-America Selections Announces The First AAS Winners For 2012

 

 

Only those entries with superior garden performance are granted the honor of an AAS Award.

No More Latin Descriptions for New Botanical Species!

I'm sure all you plant nerds will have an opinion on this one.  Botanists who discover new species no longer have to provide descriptions in Latin and can publish their information on line!

And why is this important you might ask?

Read all about it here!

The Supertrees of Singapore by Elaine Lockey

photo by Wong Maye-E, AP

 Singapore is currently constructing an astonishing botanic park, integrating massive tree sculptures in with their gardens.  Dubbed “supertrees”, they range from 82-164 feet and weigh hundreds of tons. These mega trees are made of concrete and metal rods, with steel frames on the trunks to host huge vertical gardens.  

The Supertree Grove will support flowering climbers, epiphytes, ferns and other plants that can do well in such an environment.  Eventually when the supertrees project is complete, there will be 18 trees covered in over 200 plant species, giving the feeling of a woodland grove. Huge built tree canopies will provide shade to the live plants and ground areas. There will be rainwater catches added to the trees and some of the trees will have solar panels to provide lighting to the gardens. Aerial walkways will connect two of the trees and a treetop bistro will give visitors a great view of the gardens and the bay. 

Ice-melt Salt and Magnesium Chloride Cautions by Carol King

The winter season is in full swing along the Front Range.  Using ice melt to clear pathways seems like a good idea.  However there some cautions.  Here's a good article from Horticulture Magazine.


If you live near a roadway where magnesium chloride is routinely used, here's another caution from CSU Extension.

Seed Savers Exchange for Heirloom Vegetables

I know many of you are vegetable gardeners who are interested in growing heirloom vegetables. You might want to consider becoming a part of Seed Savers Exchange.  It is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. Its members have collected and distributed thousands of samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners since 1975.

Here's the site with all the info on how to join.

Sudden Aspen Decline Explained

A mysterious malady has killed off nearly one- fifth of Colorado's aspens. But forest ecologists have struggled to explain the widespread die-off, known as Sudden Aspen Decline.
A new study from researchers at Stanford University and the University of Utah may provide a breakthrough in understanding the decline and how it kills trees.

Read the whole story here.

Challenges of Mountain Gardening by Molly Nevin

 “ The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.”  Michal Pollan

Is this a true statement for the residents of Jefferson County that reside in the Front Range Mountains? Is a vegetable garden possible in the Jefferson County Mountains? Several questions must be answered before turning the first spade of soil.  Since most mountain residents are on wells drilled after 1972, a must do requirement, is to research what kind of a permit you have for your well.  Most wells are restricted to household use only, no outside irrigation or watering of livestock. This water restriction alone makes a traditional vegetable plot a non-viable option. Besides water restrictions, other issues are faced by our mountain gardeners: a short growing season, cool night temperatures, wind, slopes, foraging wildlife, and creating defensible space around your house for fire protection – an important priority.

Welcome 2012!

Get the Dirt on Dirt by Jim Rohling

Jim Rohling Demonstrates Soil Gathering for Soil Test to Lakewood resident, Ted Struzeski

January is not too early to start thinking about your 2012 vegetable garden. A lot of thought, planning, and work goes into a successful productive garden.  Did you know that in Colorado, 80 percent of plant problems are due to soil problems?

CSU Extension recommends a  soil test as the best way to check the growing potential of your garden. You can bring home the best looking and attractive plants from the garden center or order the best seeds, but they won’t give the best results if your soil lacks the proper nutrition or qualities the soil should have.   A soil test gives you a baseline to work from to improve your soil nutrition, soil texture, and soil tilth. Over-fertilizing is a common problem. It is expensive and may harm your garden’s production and our environment.

The soil test is just one part of the soils class being taught as one of the six classes at the Jefferson County Master Gardeners 2012 Spring Gardening Symposium. We will also cover a good soil profile, soil compaction/tilth, soil amendments, soil and plant nutrition, and compost and mulching.

Join us at the Spring Gardening Symposium on January 28, 2012, Vegetable Gardening A –Z: Hitting the Basics.  It is a full day of six classes and covers Soil Preparation & Amendments, Vegetable Basics, Starting your Garden from Seed or Transplants, Tomatoes, Container Vegetable Gardening and Mountain Vegetable Gardening.  All this plus handouts, seeds and lunch for $70.  There is an optional lunch and learn class on Basic Flower Gardening for an additional $10.  Spend the day Colorado Master Gardeners who have access to the best research based gardening information, and in addition learn how the Jefferson County Master Gardeners can assist you with your gardening adventures all year long.  Call the Master Gardener line (303-271-6632) for more information.

A Holiday Gift to You: Wings of Life!

Pollination: it's vital to life on Earth, but largely unseen by the human eye.  As  gardeners,  we know the importance of this feat of nature. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images. Here's his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.


Enjoy the film and Happy Holidays!

Real Christmas Tree Industry Needled by Growing Artificial Tree Sales by Elaine Lockey

Christmas tree farm

There has been a downward trend in real Christmas tree sales in the US, from 40% of homes purchasing one in 1991 to just 23% last year (National Christmas Tree Association). The main reason? More people are buying artificial trees. In the recent Wall Street Journal article, "Fir Real? Christmas Trees in Crisis", changing demographics are contributing to the decline - baby boomers are less inclined to buy real trees as they get older. Buyers of real trees are buying smaller trees now which are less profitable. The economy is also playing a role as tree growers planted a surplus of trees when the economy was doing well but now there is an oversupply of trees with fewer buyers.

Real Christmas trees have a long and illustrious history.  The first known decorated tree was in Latvia in 1510.  Since then, Christmas trees have held a place in countless homes and outdoor displays. A Christmas tree has been displayed in the White House annually since 1914, when President Franklin Pierce began the tradition.

There are over 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the US that employ 100,000 people.  Almost half a million acres of land are grown for Christmas tree production. So what is the industry doing about the decline in sales? 

The Science Behind Your Christmas Tree by Elaine Lockey

photo courtesy of SeattleTimes.nwsource.com

Going to pick out a Christmas tree is always an exciting holiday tradition.  It’s one my family never really took to though.  My father preferred the variety of tree that didn’t drop needles or require watering.  Once I had a home of my own, I decided that I wanted a “real” tree from then on – I sought the fresh smells and natural beauty that an artificial tree just can’t provide. 

As I perused the tree lots looking for the right tree, I have to admit, it never crossed my mind to think about why the choices are Douglas Fir, White Fir and Scotch Pine for the most part. What makes them the tree of choice to adorn my living room?  And once I brought the tree home, what can I do to keep it greener longer?

It turns out, there is an incredible amount of research behind the selection of trees specific for growing as a Christmas tree, and another whole body of research into how trees can behave more to our liking when growing in a tree stand - way more than the time that it takes me to pick out the perfect tree.  Just who is doing the research?  One such place of research is the Christmas Tree Research Center at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.