Using containers to grow a vegetable garden with little space
One of the most frequent suggestions I’ve had for an article is one on growing vegetables in containers. Many of you long for a vegetable garden, but simply don’t have the space in your yard. This is a subject I’m familiar with, as I have a friend who faced this problem and chose to grow in containers, rather than sacrifice her veggie dreams. Over the years, she’s grown virtually every
There’s more to squash than just zucchini
In a period of about 36 hours this week, I picked five sizeable zucchini from my vegetable garden. Now, before you email me to suggest that I should plant fewer zucchini plants next year, you should know that I have one zucchini plant in my garden. One very large zucchini plant that has begun to bear, and, apparently, to bear heavily. Perhaps you are also awash in zucchini, and, if
Getting the berry best out of your garden
For many of us, summer is not complete without the taste of fresh berries. This treat can be expensive to purchase and makes a good choice for gardeners looking to add more edibles to their landscape. Berries cost very little to grow at home and take far less work than most plants in your vegetable garden. They don’t require much space, need minimal care and, once planted, bear quickly and
Gardening calendar
SATURDAY New River Valley Garden Tour A self-guided tour featuring eight gardens: six in Blacksburg and two in Christiansburg. Master gardeners will answer questions at each stop. Tickets are available at libraries in the New River Valley and the Salem Library. Proceeds benefit the summer reading programs. Tour maps can be found online. When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Start at any of the homes How much: $12 advance,
Gardening calendar
SATURDAY Garden Tour The Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs will host a tour of five gardens in the Sugar Loaf area, and the Blue Ridge Daylily Society will hold a sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Garden Center at 3640 Colonial Ave. Proceeds benefit the grounds at the Garden Center. Tickets will be available at all tour stops. When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Start at
New River Valley Garden Tour grows inspiration
One week from Saturday, one of my favorite garden events happens, with the 18th annual New River Valley Garden Tour. Here’s an opportunity to visit eight area gardens to get inspiration for your own home. The event is sponsored by Montgomery County Friends of the Library, and funds raised are used for special adult and children’s programs, as well as the Summer Reading Program. Here’s what you will see on
Gardening calendar
SATURDAY Landcare Learning Series 2013 Lance Clark, Roanoke Cement’s Environmental Manager, will update the group on plans to enhance Catawba Creek flowing through its farm. When: 10 a.m. Where: Catawba Community Center, 4965 Catawba Creek Road, Catawba Cost: Free Contact: nedjanet@gmail.com FRIDAY Butterflies at 5 A casual, after-hours and behind-the-scenes presentation “Pollen feeding in longwing butterflies,” about the museum’s butterfly garden, under the guidance of the lead animal care specialist
Gardening calendar
SATURDAY 9th Annual Garden Gala: Wine and Roses A benefit for the Hahn Horticulture Garden with live and silent auctions of rare plants, garden art, vacations and more. There will also be live music by The Bakery Boys and “garden party” attire is requested. When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Hahn Horticulture Garden, Virginia Tech Cost: $70 Contact: 231-5970 Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Field Trip: Rhododendron Day on the Blue
Heirloom varieties are some of the tastiest tomatoes
For many gardeners, a vegetable garden is just not complete without a tomato plant or two. Based on sales at local garden centers, folks in this area love their tomatoes! Ask long-time gardeners for their favorite varieties of tomatoes and you will nearly always hear a laundry list of heirloom varieties. Most gardeners are growing tomatoes for the taste — that wonderful taste of summer that you just won’t get
Gardening calendar
SATURDAY First Saturday Bird Walk Bring binoculars if you have them. Wear sturdy shoes and expect to cover about a mile of uneven terrain during this two-hour walk. When: 8 to 10 a.m. Where: Blacksburg Heritage Park & Natural Area, Glade Road Cost: Free Contact: www.nrvbirdclub.org LettUs Grow Roanoke Master Gardeners will guide, instruct and help you grow your garden organically and be water-wise. Casual Q&A sessions open to all
Crow's Nest Greenhouses helping gardeners buy local
The locavore movement has taken off with foodies in recent years as folks balance their love of good eating with a desire to be environmentally conscious. Have you ever considered that the benefits of buying local extend beyond the tomato to the tomato transplant? Many garden centers actually grow very few of the plants they sell, but instead purchase their plants from specialty nurseries that do the growing. Plants may
Drip irrigation is an excellent choice for vegetable gardens
Every plant has its own light, space and water requirements. Supply the m in the right amount and your garden will be successful. Of the three , providing the right amount of water requires the most effort from a gardener . Particularly when it comes to vegetables, rainfall is often not sufficient to grow healthy plants. You can, of course, just fill a watering can, but hand watering is time-
Out & about: Ken Farmer Appraisals
The appraisal tickets may be sold out, but that shouldn’t stop antiques lovers from heading to the South County Library on Wednesday to see Radford’s own Ken Farmer in action. Farmer, owner of Ken Farmer Auctions and Appraisals, is a regular appraiser on the popular national PBS television show “Antiques Roadshow.” He will appear at the library for a two-hour session of appraisals in front of a live audience. The
This year, why walk when you can take the trolley?
The Star Line Trolley, which uses biodiesel-powered buses decked out like old-fashioned trolley cars to ferry passengers around downtown, has been a big hit with Roanokers. Although most riders are Carilion Clinic employees (the trolley shuttles run between Carilion Roanoke Memorial and downtown Roanoke), Cyndi Fletcher, chairwoman of this year’s Roanoke Historic Garden Week in Virginia tour, said some of her south Roanoke neighbors use them, too . She was
The views and vision of Roanoke Valley's Rockledge
As the owners of Rockledge, the landmark stone house that sits prominently on Mill Mountain, Kevin and Nancy Dye feel a certain responsibility to their fellow Roanokers, even the ones who don’t quite realize the house is a private home. “We want to be good stewards of the property,” Nancy Dye said. “We know how much it means to people.” In that spirit, they’ve hosted many events for local civic
Roses can be bloomin' easy
As with many other gardeners, my mother's favorite flower was the rose - specifically, a yellow rose. My mother grew beautiful roses. With a flower this gorgeous, there is a tendency to assume that it must be finicky. My mother taught me that roses are actually quite easy to grow. Essentially, they are just like any other shrub. Give them space, light and water and you'll be rewarded with a
Bulbs light up the summer
Mention bulbs to a gardener and most of us think of the beautiful tulips and daffodils coming into bloom this time of year. But there are also bulbs for summer that bloom after spring’s flowers have faded away. Lilies, irises, dahlias, cannas and caladiums are easy to grow plants that bloom during the heat of summer. They provide showy and reliable blooming in flower pots, window boxes and garden plots,
Conscious re-creation is a rare privilege here on our planet
The old has gone, the new is here! — Corinthians 5:17 White Man celebrates something that happened 2,000 years ago.... Indians celebrate what’s happening now. When the sacred strawberries come up in early spring, that’s what we celebrate.... They’re the Creator’s gift to his children. — Chief Louis Farmer, Onondaga Swimming laps, early in Holy Week, while snow blew across the high windows, I thought about the “new creation.” It’s
Gardening Calendar
SATURDAY Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Field Trip The group will visit Arcadia and identify plants. This field trip will also include a group of Girl Scouts. Bring water, a snack and rain gear. Although the walking will be short and not difficult, it is on uneven ground. When: 9 a.m. to noon Where: Meet at Bojangles, 5 Kingston Drive, Daleville Cost: Free Contact: www.brwfs.org TUESDAY Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Field
Orchids are an addictive, exotic houseplant
Orchids have always struck me as intimidating plants. Although I admire their beauty, I've never attempted to grow one myself. I'm aware that there are some varieties that are easy to grow as houseplants and, judging from how often I see them for sale in grocery stores and home centers, those varieties are plentiful. However, my intellect wars with my emotions on this one plant, and I allow myself to
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
8. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
THE ROANOKE TIMES
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