Gardener

Ireland is a land of such beauty that to
not visit it is to leave your life
incomplete. Ireland is just that nice.
Having been over to the Emerald Isle
several times, I know all too well the
many memorable sights that bless this
ancient, captivating land. And maybe it is
time that you, too, succumb to the beauty
of Ireland and think about making your
own memories. I can help make that
happen. If you are interested in a trip to
Ireland, please feel free to contact me by
email at: lajackson1@gmail.com to find
out when the next "adventure" will be. If
you are part of a group that wants to
venture to the this grand land, contact
me about special group rates and the
dates your party (And I guarantee it will
be a party!) would like to go. If you need
more incentives for a trip, click here to
see what awaits you.

Greetings, Gardeners!

Welcome to my garden world. As a Southeast garden editor,
writer and lecturer for over 20 years, I have discovered that
there is not only a lot to learn about plants in our region, but
there is also certainly plenty of knowledge to share. So, in the
true spirit of all that is green and growing, here is a website full
of tips, information and updates that I hope will help make your
garden just a little bit prettier, just a little bit more successful. If
you have a particular question about gardening, I even have an
"Ask L.A." page to help solve your problems. I update this site
monthly, so don't forget to add it to your bookmarks!

Designing a
Container Garden

Color, texture and
flower form are the
basic elements in
designing a
container garden.
With color today,
anything goes. Gone
are the days when
pink and scarlet
clashed—today you
can combine any
colors you want in a
pot or in a grouping.

Texture is often
best brought out by
including foliage
plants such as
leather-leaved
ferns, or asparagus
sprengeri with its
long lacy fronds. Let
trailing plants spill
over the edges of
the containers to
soften and
de-formalize
plantings. Some
perennial ground
covers offer
interesting textures,
and can be dug up
and replanted in the
garden in the fall
when annuals have
died back.

Flower forms can be
grouped into three
basic shapes. Line
forms like Salvia
spendens or
snapdragons are tall
and spiky. Mass
forms such as
daisies, petunias or
marigolds have
many small or large
flowers. Focus
forms, such as
African marigolds or
a spectacular
geranium plant, are
characterized by
large or distinctive
flowers.

One example of
combining these
forms would be a
large container of
red salvia (upright
form and tall), pale
blue petunias (round
masses of flowers,
medium height), and
white alyssum
(small, lacy flowers,
low and trailing). Or
use tall blue
lavender for height,
and white petunias
and red creeping
phlox for color.

National Garden
Bureau

On the Road with L.A.

Like a rolling stone, I gather no moss
because I am constantly on the move to
experience the best gardens not only in
the Southeast but the rest of the country
as well as the big, beautiful world beyond.
You see, my philosophy is that, since
plants don't know anything about county,
state or even country boundaries, why
should gardeners? So with that in mind, I
believe the perfect gardening experience
should include enjoying what you grow in
your own yard as well as seeing what can
be found in other gardens, whether they
are down the block or halfway around the
world. Beauty, like plants, knows no
boundaries. So, the latest feature garden
from my wandering ways is:

Duthie Park
Aberdeen, Scotland

First opened in 1883, Duthie Park is a
44-acre all-season attraction situated on
the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeen on
the east coast of Scotland. One of its
main features, the David Welch Winter
Gardens, is comprised of large tropical and
arid houses that contain world-class
collections of cacti, bromeliads, ferns and
temperate plants. In the summer when the
weather warms, the Japanese Gardens are
the perfect place for a quiet stroll. And
then there is Rose Mountain. In the spring,
masses of crocuses and daffodils hold
visitors' attention, until the "big
show"--the blooming of over 120,000
roses planted on an old flagpole mound.
It's quite a sight, but Duthie Park is quite
a botanical treat to visit anytime of the
year!

* Now is a good time to prune dead branches off
of trees. When pruning large branches, always
undercut a third of the branch before finishing the
cut from the top. This will prevent the limb from
splitting and tearing away bark from the main
trunk.
* If you have any small trees or shrubs that you
think would look better in another location, now is
the prime time to move them. If you didn't root
prune last fall, for a better chance at successfully
transplanting, be sure to dig up as much of the
root ball as possible.
* Lots of lawn to mow? While the grass is dormant
and relatively easy to remove or till under,
consider enlarging flowerbeds and natural areas to
tame the trouble of too much turf.
* Any lawn to mow? If you have grass that has to
be cut, you have a lawn mower, and if repairs or a
tune-up are necessary, now is a good time to put
your grass-muncher in the shop before the spring
rush.
* If you would like to try a quick D-I-Y project
with your lawn mover, change the oil--a good idea
anyway if it hasn't been done in at least two years.
The oil drain plug is usually located on the bottom
of the mower, underneath the deck cowling. This is
also where the blade is, so as an extra safety
precaution, disconnect the spark plug before
starting work.
* Looking for efficient irrigation? A rain barrel or
two can work wonders in home gardens constantly
subjected to water restrictions.
* If you have any tender plants such as coleus,
fuschia, begonia, geranium and lantana
overwintering indoors, now is a good time to enjoy
more of what your already have by taking cuttings
and rooting them for use in the spring garden.
* Smooth-leafed, indoor plants such as rubber
plant, dracaena and philodendron will benefit from
having their leaves wiped with a moist cloth to
remove dust, which interferes with their
photosynthesis process.
* The cool-season vegetable garden can really heat
up about the middle of this month with plantings
of turnips, spinach, onions, radishes, rutabagas,
Irish potatoes, mustard, lettuce, carrots and
cabbage.
* You can even get warm-season, annual
vegetables and ornamentals growing at the end of
this month. Not outside, of course, but rather in
the warm indoors in seed trays under growing
lights or in a sunny window. For better
germination, provide bottom heat. Commercial
heating cables for seed trays are available, but if
you have easy access to your hot water heater, you
can place a small tray or two on top to take
advantage of the escaping heat
* Any leftover pots that will be used for spring
seeds or plants need to be sterilized. Soak them
for 30 minutes in a solution of one part bleach and
ten parts water, and then allow to air dry before
using them in your planting projects.
* Clean out window boxes and patio planters,
wash them thoroughly and paint, stain or varnish if
necessary.
* Keep the bird feeder regularly stocked with nuts,
fruit, seeds, suet and breadcrumbs. Also, be sure
to wash and refill the birdbath at least once a
week.