Off to the Home and Garden Show

 

I am so anxious to get out and visit the Central Ohio
Home and Garden Show tomorrow.
I have not heard any reports about it as yet but
I hope it will live up to all my expectations.

Last night and this morning was a stormy mess here
in Ohio. With lightening, high winds and thunder storms
for the last day of February. The creeks were flooding and
the electricity was off for a few hours this morning.
I was almost afraid to look out the windows at daylight from fear of what I would see. To my surprise everything was
still standing up and only a few rotten limbs were littering the yard along with the ever sailing oak leaves.
Now I am glad I did not clean the flowerbeds off when I was tempted last week.

 

I hope to take a lot of pictures at the Garden Show tomorrow to share with everyone later, sooooo

 Until Next Time,
Lona

Gardening Folklore

 

Many of you may not have grown up into farming or
gardening families where Folklore was the Bible for
how to plant, when to plant or what not to plant but in
my poor farming family many folklore traditions were
held to when it came to gardening.
After I posted the article on the myth about “Peonies and Ants”, I got to thinking about some of the other folklore, myths or old wives tales that I grew up hearing.
I am wondering if any of you have heard some of them
and for those of you how have not maybe they will at least make  you shake your head or bring on a smile.

•  Don’t plant your garden until the oak leaves are the size of  mouse ears.
  Now this one may be a safe reminder.
  
• Bury nails around the roots of hydrangeas to make the blooms blue.
  Was it from nutrients of  the rust?
  
   
•  To keep the crows from eating your corn, kill one and hang it in the field.
  My Granddaddy always did this one.
  
• Always plant your potatoes on Good Friday.
  This one was kept to at extremes and they thought the potatoes would do badly if not planted on that day.
  
• A snowy winter portends a good year of crops.
  It may be a bumper crop season for most of the states then this summer.
  
  
  
• And then Tomatoes should be planted on Memorial day.
  This would be safe after the last frost deadline here of May 18th.
  
• After planting a hill of beans , press the soil with your foot for good luck.
  I think he really did this one to mark where he was planting. LOL!
  
   

•  Never say ‘thank you’ if someone gives you a plant cutting or flowers.
  I have heard this one told to me so many times.
  Do you know how hard it is to not automatically spurt out thank you?
  
• Finding a four leaf clover is good luck.
  I use to spend a lot of time searching for them.I think it was to get us out from under foot.
  
• Hanging horse shoes upside over the door to catch good luck.
  Heaven forbid it should turn around the other way or fall off. 
  
• Never plant vegetables that sound alike together,
  like potato and tomato.
  Oh, I don’t know…
  
• Spit on your hand while chopping wood brings good luck.
  Not to mention the axe doesn’t slip out of your hands as easy.
  
• Planting the Three Sisters: corn, beans and squash or pumpkins.

•  If a bird pecks at your window it is a sign of a death.
  Thank goodness this one is wrong.
  
• Not to mention girls do not go near the kraut or pickles at certain times.
  Sounds like a very good excuse though not to have to check the crocks.
  
• The higher the hornets nest the deeper the snow.
  
• Pounding nails on the northern side of your fruit trees will bring a higher yield.
  
• If two peoples hoes hit together , they will work in the same field next year.
  Grandpa always hit my hoe with his when we were planting and hoeing together.
  
  
  
  
  And what was up with all of these….
  Blackberry winter, Dogwood winter, and Whippoorwill winters?
  Planting in the dark of the moon and in the light of the moon.
  Do you have any old folklores that you remember?

 Happy Gardening,
Lona

Peonies and Ants

 
How many have heard of the old wives tale about ants
being required in the opening of peony blooms?
Or that peonies will cause an infestation of ants?

When I was a child every old garden had peonies in them it seemed.
I  have always lived in or near this small town, you all know that town where they say if you blink when passing through it you will miss the whole town?
Well that is my small town.
I think everyone had peonies because they were a pass around plant and the women sharing their garden plants and roses was just the normal, economical and kind thing they did.
I remember both my grandma’s had them  growing along the fence that surrounded their vegetable gardens or by the front porches.

So Peonies are a sentimental flower to me just because they
a bring back memories of Grandma’s garden so it is only natural that I had to have at least one peony growing in my flower garden.

I also remember that  the peony buds were always full of these big black ants.So when the ants started getting on my peony buds I got curious and living in this great age of computers and Google I did a search about ants and peonies.
Little did I know that there was this idea that peonies had to have ants to open the blooms. Another claim was not to grow peonies because they cause an infestation of ants.
I had to chuckle about all of the stories that were flying around out there in cyber space about peonies.
So when in doubt you go to the source and
Peony grows should know all of the facts.

In this instance I went to the Heartland Peony Society website. Low and behold they have a fact sheet just on the
subject of Ants on Peonies.
On both subjects of needing ants to causing ant infestations
it seems they both may be an old wives tale.
The ants are attracted to a nectar that is produced by the blooms but the ants are not required to open the buds for the peonies to bloom. And in fact the ants are attracted to some peonies but not all peonies so they do have their favorite buds. And although the nectar attracts the ants to the buds they leave when the blooms are open and move on to other delicacies so you will not get infested with ants because of growing peonies.
But I kind of like the old wives tale and like to think that just maybe the peonies need the ants to open their blooms.
So just enjoy your big beautiful peony blooms and determine your own ideas or tales about them.
What can it hurt?

Pink Sorbet
I have enjoyed this pink Sorbet peony for many years now
and the ants come and they go.
I have planted a couple more peonies in the last year but they have not matured to give me blooms as yet so I am holding on to the hope that just maybe this spring…

Happy Gardening,
Lona

Almost A Bloom

 

Well it looks like this is as close as I can get to having an actual bloom in the house at the moment.

I rescued this amaryllis from the clearance isle last
month to at least have one amaryllis in bloom since
my others refused to bloom for me this winter.
Hopefully this one will be the Peach Blossom
that I was expecting last winter which turned out to
be a Red Lion when it then came into bloom.
Last year was such a strange year for surprise blooms.

We have two days in the sixties here now and it has been
so nice but a bit windy.
It did get me out into the yard to see if anything green was
coming up for Fertilizer Friday but the pickings were
slim to nothing.

I could see the tips of a few daffodils trying to make it
up through the frozen soil and a tulip or two but that was about it. But it is just enough to let me know there will be blooms in the spring.

With the winds blustering about those old oak leaves were
blowing up from the woods and had filled in the small pump pond so I did get it cleaned out but thoughts of getting the rake out and cleaning the beds again would have been futile   attempt to only have to be redone again later so
I refrained from that temptation though I was ready
and wanting to get right to it.

A check of the rose bushes showed some greening buds
so they look like they have survived this very cold winter.

 

The seedlings are growing well indoors so there is hope
summer blooms.

My daughter and I were able to get out for a walk also this week with the warmer temperatures and although there were still some icy trails it was good to get into the park
again for some much needed exercise.
The ice on the falls and rock walls were starting to
melt away.

But with cold weather and the prediction of snow next week
it is a reminder that winter is still here for another month.

Until Next Time,
Lona

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Happy Gardening,
Lona

 

Technorati Tags: Orchids,Franklin Park Conservatory

The Color Meanings of Roses

 

Well I do not have a honey but it is Valentines Day and I am a sentimental sap so I had to show off some flowers for the occasion.
Different colors of roses are thought to hold different meanings for consideration when they are given to someone.
To me they are all beautiful and who cares what they mean
but others may take the colors to heart so let us begin.

Red roses are the traditional symbol for love and romance, and a time-honored way to say "I love you." The red rose has long symbolized beauty and perfection.

 

The pink rose is often given as an expression of admiration. Pink roses can also convey appreciation as well as joyfulness.
And as a symbol of grace and elegance.

 

 

 
White roses represent innocence and purity and are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings. The white rose is also a symbol of honor and reverence, and white rose arrangements are often used as an expression of remembrance.

The bright, sunny color of yellow roses evokes a feeling of warmth and happiness. The warm feelings associated with the yellow rose are often akin to those shared with a true friend.

 

 

Lavender roses are a perfect symbol of enchantment. The lavender rose is also traditionally used to express feelings
of love at first sight.

 

Orange roses are the embodiment of desire and enthusiasm. Orange roses often symbolize passion and excitement and are an expression of fervent romance.

 

  So are you getting mixed signals if the roses are
Red and White?

Or maybe Pink and Yellow?

So do not get hung up on their meanings too much
and just enjoy and be thankful for the flowers.

I hope you all get roses  this Valentines Day.

And plenty of Chocolate too!!!!

Until Next Time,
Lona

It Is Almost Time & A Giveaway

 

With winter still stretching its icy claws I have been
counting down until the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show is held to get out and have a fun day amongst
the flowers and just to leave winter behind for a day.

I need to see tulips ,

lots and lots of tulips.

And  Rhododendrons in bloom.

I am ready to see hydrangeas in bloom and

beds of begonia’s.

I need to get away from winter and see some water
fountains flowing or….

hear the water falls.
So I am counting down to the end of this short month.

This is just a little reminder for those who wish to get away
with me to see some wonderful floral displays.
This year inspiration will be “Gardens That Rock”.
With 13 full-size living landscapes, each garden will feature one of rock's greatest icons, eras or legendary songs. Show guests will enjoy landscape elements and aspects that embrace the rock 'n roll theme.

The show runs from February 26 – March 6.
It will be closed on Monday  February 28th.
The new times for the show will be noon to 8 p.m. weekdays, Tuesday through Friday. Weekend show hours are Saturdays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and opening an hour earlier, Sundays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m..

 

Back by popular demand, Tracy DiSabato-Aust will once again enlighten guests with her deep horticultural knowledge and her vibrant stage presence. DiSabato-Aust will appear at the 2011 Central Ohio Home & Garden Show on the Garden Stage, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011. She'll follow both of her lectures with an autograph session and book signing, featuring all three of her books, which will also be available for purchase.

The Central Ohio Home & Garden Show features more than 400 exhibits, attractions, and presentations.

Tickets are $12.00 and you can go to the Columbus Dispatch Events website and get a coupon for $2.00 off the admission price.
A full event schedule is also listed to help you plan
your visit.

I am thrilled to have been given tickets again this year to promote the show.
Maybe some of you who have never been there
would like to attend or some of you are planning a return visit. Well I can help the costs of attending by giving out a few tickets.
There are no gimmicks or comments to write to receive your tickets.  All you have to do is to send me an email with your
name and address and I will get you two tickets  mailed out.
The tickets will be on a first serve bases until they are all
gone so get in touch with me early.
Maybe I will be able to see some of you there.

 Happy Gardening,
Lona