What do you want to hear about first? Our sweet, energetic 10 month old? Gardening? Recipes we've enjoyed? I can't decide.
...10 minutes later. Let's go with gardening advice.
I always find opportunities to take pictures for my job as a horticulture educator. Ask Davis. This past week, here is what I've found:
Can we talk about these crapemyrtles? I had to run to Target the other day and of course my eyes go to these poor crapmyrtles (intentional spelling). Let me offer this advice: one should never commit crapemurder - that is, to cut back a significant amount of branches, making them look like stubs all the way across. Crapemyrtles are meant to keep their seed pods on (although you can remove them if you wish). Really, the only pruning that should be done on these beauties is to cut the suckers growing from the ground, leaving about 5-7 permanent trunks. Also, remove any dead and diseased branches, any branches growing inward, crossing branches that rub together, and any branches growing on the lower part of the trunk. Still apathetic? Check out this research-based information HERE, from North Carolina State University.
As an Arkansas girl, I found this to be funny. Okies have to pay for their rocks? That. Is. Very. Unfortunate.
Last week, I planted our one, and only tomato plant. This is a Juliet tomato. It is an indeterminate tomato. You may have heard this label before. Indeterminate tomatoes are ones that keep growing and keep producing all season long. Determinate tomatoes are the ones that grow to a certain height, usually the bush tomatoes, and produce one time during the growing season. A single growing season for most plants will last from May to September. Now, when I planted this, I stripped the bottom three stems and planted it pretty deep. Tomatoes are one of the few plants you can do this to. Provided enough moisture, the hairs along the stalk will grow into roots. Why do we do this? It provides more stability for the plant, as well as lets the plant put more energy into rooting and top growth.
I caught this on the news Tuesday night while storms were rolling in. (See, I can find opportunities anywhere.) To the untrained eye, nothing is wrong in this picture. My eyes went to the double staked trees in a storm. Trees need to learn to be flexible (much like ourselves), so normally, if a tree absolutely has to be staked, it should have one stake and only for the first year after planting. Why? Because Universities say so.
Left: You guessed it, poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
Right: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Both of these were found in abundance at the park near our house. Don't confuse the two, and when in doubt, avoid them both. Poison ivy has 3 leaves, whereas Virginia creeper usually has 5 leaves. If you're having trouble identifying it, send me a picture and I'll help: courtney.sidwell@okstate.edu
You may be noticing these pretty flowers on the side of the road. This is showy evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa). It can have white flowers, as well. Aren't they beautiful?
If you look really close at the dead spot in the center of the photo, you will notice some white mushrooms growing around the edge. Most likely, a tree was cut down at some point, and now the mushrooms are benefiting from the decaying wood underneath the soil. What should you do when you see this in your yard? Absolutely nothing. Let the fungi do its work.
That's about all of the horticulture wisdom I can impart today. I hope you've enjoyed our revived blog.
