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Perennial Flowers for Michigan Summers The best heat tolerant summer flowers to plant in Michigan are native. These perennials evolved to grow in the state’s summer weather and require less care and watering than non-native species. Wild lupine – Growing up to 3 feet (1 m.) tall with striking blue spikes of flowers, lupine plants thrive in dry, sandy soil. It is also the only plant to host the caterpillar of the Karner blue butterfly, a threatened native species....

What is a Food Desert? The United States Government defines a food desert as “a low income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.” How do you qualify as low income? You must meet the Treasury Departments New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) to be eligible. To qualify as a food desert, 33% of the population (or a minimum of 500 people) in the tract must have low access to a supermarket or grocery store, such as Safeway or Whole Foods....

Alcohol and Bulbs Homo sapiens aren’t the only life form that enjoys a tipple or two. Strangely, bulbs appear to produce shorter but sturdier stems when given a nip of vodka or even rum or gin. Keeping those leggy paperwhite bulbs upright might be as simple as getting out the shot glass. The science behind the trick is actually so basic even a garden writer can explain the benefits. Keeping amaryllis from flopping over may be accomplished with a slender stake or skewer but there is real evidence that forcing bulbs in alcohol can achieve the same effect....

April in the Northwest region may be fraught with rain and temperatures that fluctuate but with the assistance of some cloches or low tunnels, the veggie garden is foremost on a gardening to-do list. This isn’t the only chore in need of being done, however. Northwest Gardening in April April in the Northwest brings with it warmer temperatures, albeit for many regions lots of rain. For the diehard gardener, a little rain isn’t an issue and April gardening tasks wait for nobody....

What is a Graft Collar? The union in a graft is a lumpy, raised scar that should be just above the surface of the soil or just under the canopy. It is caused when the scion and rootstock are united. The scion is the variety of the species that produces and performs the best. The rootstock is a consistent propagator chosen by nurseries and breeders. The purpose of grafting is to ensure that varieties that do not come true from seed will retain the properties of the parent plant....

About Grape Hyacinth Plants Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is a perennial bulb that blossoms in the spring. It is a member of the Liliaceae family (lily) and is native to southeastern Europe. Its common name is in reference to the small, bell-shaped, clusters of cobalt blue flowers that resemble a bunch of grapes. The botanical name of Muscari hails from the Greek for musk and is an allusion to the sweet, aromatic scent emitted by the flowers....

Get some tips on planning for your spring garden so you are ready to shoot out of the gates on the first warm day. Groundhog Day for Gardeners Although groundhogs in the garden are seldom welcome, Punxsutawney Phil is a ground hog with a mission. If he doesn’t see his shadow, that’s a perfect Groundhog Day for gardeners. That portends an early spring, which means we have to get cracking on garden prep....

French Herb Varieties The first things you will want to do are to look at a list and obtain the most common herb varieties necessary for replicating French dishes. Some “must-have” French herb plants include: Thyme Rosemary Basil Tarragon Marjoram Lavender Summer and winter savory Chives Parsley Chervil Bay leaf is also a nice addition to the French herb garden. Most of these herbs are native to the Mediterranean and are used in combinations to create three classic herb blends....

How Peanut Plants Improve Soil Fertility Nitrogen is a key ingredient in the formation of soil organic matter. Peanut cover crops release nitrogen into the soil as the plant decomposes. Microorganisms decompose the plant and release the nitrogen into the soil as they die. Most crop residue contains far more carbon than nitrogen and soil bacteria need both. Improving the soil with peanut planting allows around 2/3 of the fixed nitrogen to be left in the soil, which is then available to the following year’s crops....

That said, the plants are attractive and produce deliciously rich, sweet fruits that are excellent fresh or in desserts. Given enough guava tree information, it is possible to grow these small trees in a greenhouse or sunroom and reap the benefits of their Vitamin C-rich fruits. Guava Plants and Guava Tree Information The guava fruit grows on a small tree with a wide, short canopy and a sturdy single- to multi-stemmed trunk....

Hardscape Garden Design Hardscapes can be formal or informal, depending on the style of your home and surrounding landscape. With hardscaping, textural variety is important and should be considered carefully. On the one hand, using only one texture or material can make the area appear dull and lifeless. Yet, using too many textures can make the surrounding area appear unattractive and cluttered. So what do you do? Find balance. It’s generally better to choose no more than two or three textures or hardscape materials....

Celery Seed Harvesting Celery seed has a long history of use as a medicament and spice. As an herb, it was thought to help with digestion and appetite, cure colds and flu, enhance liver and spleen health, treat arthritis and even help reduce water retention. Today, it is primarily used as a seasoning. When you know how to save celery seeds properly, fresh seed can last for up to 5 years....

Wearing Gloves in the Garden While training a new guy at a garden center/landscape company where I worked, I suggested that he get a pair of good-quality gloves for the work we do. This man’s silly reply was, “Gloves are for girls, my hands are tough.” I could not actually force him to wear gloves if he didn’t want to, but I wondered to myself, how “tough” he would feel if his hands were full of rose or barberry thorns, or covered in oozing lesions from fungal skin infections picked up from certain plants or gardening materials....

Some say they’ve planted trailing succulents around the edges of the container so they can spill over the sides. Others have created a mound of soil in the middle of the top to add height. Some have planted to continue attracting birds. Give thought to your purpose before you work out a design. Consider it the same as any shallow dish for succulents. How to Make a Succulent Birdbath Container Bore extra drainage holes if needed, being careful not to crack the part you’re planting....

The Difference Between Hay and Straw Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, hay and straw are different agricultural commodities. Straw is a byproduct of grain crops, namely wheat, oats and rye. Straw is essentially the stem of the plant after the grain head has been removed. Straw is uniform in color and the bales are composed of one type of plant. Hay is grown and baled specifically as feed for horses, cattle, sheep and goats....

Using Gardens for Meditating Gardens provide holistic peace and tranquility, so why not go one step further and bring in meditation garden ideas that will enhance the practice and place you in a space that encourages the technique. In fine weather, there are few things more peaceful than relaxing in an outdoor living space. Plants for meditation can enhance the therapeutic experience of being outdoors and open up a space to allow your mind to clear and your meditation practice flourish....

What is Root Rot? Root rot is a disease that attacks the roots of plants growing in wet soil. Since the disease spreads through the soil, the only root rot remedy for garden plants is often to remove and destroy the plant. However, you can try these corrective measures if you want to attempt to save a particularly valuable plant: Keep the soil as dry as possible. Don’t irrigate the plant unless the soil is almost completely dry....

Some of the more positive field pennycress facts reveal the plant has twice as much oil as soybeans, helps control some pests, and reduces nitrogen run-off. Yet, they are branded a weed by many farmers and have an invasiveness rank of 42 out of 100 from the Alaska Natural Heritage Program. If the plant is not useful to you and is invading your land, learn how to control field pennycress by first identifying the plant and then choosing your treatment....

Used in the United States primarily for ornamental purposes and often as a bonsai specimen, Calamondin trees are cultivated throughout southern Asia and Malaysia, India, and the Philippines for their citrus juice. Since the 1960’s, potted calamondin citrus trees have been shipped from southern Florida to other areas of North America for use as houseplants; Israel does much the same thing for the European market. About Growing Calamondin Trees Growing calamondin trees are small, bushy evergreens that can attain heights of 10-20 feet (3-6 m....

Frass Information Frass is a useful soil additive, is all natural, and can come from a variety of sources. What is frass? It is the excrement left by insects of all types. In many cases, it is so small as to be unidentifiable, but other bugs leave behind definite signs of gastric waste. This leftover product has beneficial amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and is easy to work into soil....