Great Sunflower Project tracks bee population

SFGate: Great Sunflower Project tracks bee population

Sunday, May 30, 2010 Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer

We're a bit hung up on bees at The Chronicle this year. Between the rise of urban beekeeping and the decline of bee populations worldwide, Home & Garden Editor Deb Wandell and I have hopes of someday starting a hive on our rooftop.

Until then, we're satisfying our bee fancy by planting one of their favorite sources of nectar and pollen; sunflowers. And in the name of science, no less.

It's all part of the Great Sunflower Project, a volunteer-based study founded two years ago by San Francisco State University Professor Gretchen LeBuhn.

LeBuhn's goal is to track bee populations across the United States and Canada by creating a network of backyard bee observers, and it couldn't be easier to participate.

Home gardeners simply sign up online, plant 'Lemon Queen' variety sunflower seeds in their yards, decks or rooftops, then report bee activity once the flowers bloom.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/30/HOCF1DJP3P.DTL

New in our nurseries this week: May 28th! (continued)

Pictured: assorted alstromeria, smoke plant and red carpet roses, box planter and orange geraniums

New in our nurseries this week: May 28th!

Pictured: begonia fuchsioides, coreopsis, endless summer hydrangeas and orange zinnias

66 Things You Can Can Grow At Home

66 Things You Can Can Grow At Home: In Containers, Without a Garden
From apples and figs to bananas and guavas -- and hops.

Planet Green
By Rachel Cernansky | Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:55

Growing your own food is exciting, not only because you get to see things grow from nothing into ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, but you also don't have to worry about the pesticides they might contain, and you definitely cut down on the miles they—and you—have to travel.

As it turns out, with pretty minimal effort, anyone can be a gardener. My boyfriend and I are essentially first-timers this season and so far have the beginnings of strawberries peeking out, tomatoes are on their way, the basil's about ready for a big batch of pesto, and once the last frost hits, the peppers, kale, spinach, chard, and mesclun will be on their way, too. All on a tiiiny little terrace (with the help of a little DIY carpentry).

f you're up to the challenge—and it really isn't much of one—growing your own food can be Iso rewarding. And so much cheaper! Just be sure to choose the right planter or container, learn how to maintain it properly, and go find yourself some seeds! (Or starter plants.) Like this idea? Be sure to check out these 6 Crazy Concepts for Micro Gardens That Actually Work to get inspiration for designing your own garden in a small space.

Here's a starter list of all the crazy things even urban gardeners, without space for a garden, can grow at home.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/sixtysixthings-growhome-containers-withoutgarden.html

Asparagus fun facts

Asparagus fun facts
By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Wednesday, Apr. 21 2010

You think you know asparagus, that harbinger of spring? Did you know that asparagus is a member of the lily family, along with onions and garlic? Did you know that asparagus can grow up to 10 inches in a 24-hour period?
　
Here are some other factoids you may find surprising.
　
— Asparagus historically was heralded as an aphrodisiac, probably because of
its shape.
　
— Recent research suggests eating asparagus can help ease hangovers and
protect liver cells against alcohol's toxins: Asparagus boosts levels of key
enzymes that break down the alcohol.
　
— About 40 percent of people notice strong-smelling urine after eating
asparagus, a sulfurlike odor that results from the digestion of certain
amino acids. Some people are genetically unable to smell the odiferous
urine.
　
— Five ounces of asparagus contain 60 percent of the recommended daily
intake of folic acid, which prevents heart disease and birth defects. Other
possible benefits include preventing cancer and urinary tract infections and
easing arthritic pain.
　
— White asparagus comes from the same plant as green asparagus, but it is
grown underground to block sunlight and prevent photosynthesis, thus
inhibiting production of chlorophyll. Purple asparagus is genetically
modified; once you cook it, it turns green.
　
— The German town of Schwetzingen claims to be the "Asparagus Capital of the
World," and holds its annual Spargelfest (asparagus festival) in May. The
person who grows the heaviest stalk is named Spargel King or Queen.
　
Sources: California Asparagus Commission, Institute of Food Technologists,
Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, "The Food Encyclopedia."

English Laurel

English Laurel is now available at our Kentfield location in 15 gallon cans! These are the first in California after quite some time. They are deer resistant, evergreen, fairly drought tolerant once established and relatively pest free.

Pottery Pictures

More vegetables ready to plant

Pictured: Colorful planter, hot peppers and horseradish

Vegetables ready to plant

Pictured: Green beans, grape vines and corn

Caring for roses during the month of May

These deciduous shrubs needs lots of sun, good air circulation, regular water and lots of fertilizer (Maxsea, EB Stone Rose and Flower Food). Only the climbers should need staking (plant ties).

Roses are prone to fungal diseases like rust, powdery mildew and black spot. You can use either the Citrus/Fruit/Nut Orchard Spray or Rose Defense. Both should be applied late in the day to avoid killing any beneficial insects and burning the leaves from the hot sun overhead. Water before noon to help control fungus.

Right now roses are being attacked by the Rose Curculio/Rose Weevil. This critter is roughly ¼ inch long, bright- red to dull black with a pronounced narrow, black curving snout.

Curculio damage will leave small holes in petals, stems broken just below the buds and buds with holes punched in them.

The larvae will drop to the ground to pupate in the soil over the winter. Apply Beneficial Nematodes under roses when the fall rains begin to control the single annual generation of adults that emerge in late spring.

To control the adults now you can apply Rose Defense or Greenlight Spinosad, applied late in the day.

You can also gently shake the canes/flowers over a bucket of soapy water to collect the adults. They may drop to the ground where they will ‘play dead’…don’t let them fool you. They will flip over when you turn and scurry away.

Remove spent blooms and hips and any damaged blooms to reduce the population. Rose curculios are most active in the late afternoon (4ish) and seem to prefer white, yellow or peachy blossoms.

Bristly Roseslugs appear when the weather gets warm and damage the rose leaves by chewing many holes, leaving behind a lacy remnant of a leaf. These little green critters stay under the leaves and resemble caterpillars…but they are actually a Sawfly larvae. They will not be killed by Bt (Caterpillar Killer) but can be controlled by any of the insecticidal soap sprays we carry. The spray must be applied directly on the critter.

6th Annual Dog Day on the Bay...sponsored by Sloat!

6th Annual Dog Day on the Bay!
Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Treat your pooch to a day on the Bay with spectacular views, gourmet cuisine and impeccable service. Hornblower’s crew has thought of everything -- from a bow-wow buffet and protective netting to a 'poop' deck from Sloat Garden Center and doggie entertainment. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit The San Francisco SPCA. Boarding will begin at 11am, and the ship sets sail at 12 Noon on the dot! Ship leaves from the Hornblower docks at Pier 3 in San Francisco.


To purchase tickets and for additional information, please click here.

Reserved seating at sponsorship levels available! Please call (415) 522-3564 or email specialevents@sfspca.org for more information.

In The Yard: Easy As Hell Lettuce And Strawberries

In The Yard: Easy As Hell Lettuce And Strawberries

One rule of thumb here in San Francisco is "If you're always planting, you're always harvesting." Whether its a fully grown head of lettuce in the ground, or a six pack of tomatoes in my window sill, you can have a continuous cycle of vegetable life all the time. It is easy and fun, and in this column for the SF Appeal, every Friday I'm going to show you how. But why should you listen to me? Well, let me tell you my story, and you can decide.

I grew up here in San Francisco and both parents were avid gardeners. I like to joke with my clients and say I have two green thumbs, one from each side of the family. As soon as I was old enough to walk, I was out pulling weeds and shoveling compost. In the summer I worked on my uncle's farm, where we transferred thirty acres of rhubarb into a variety of crops for the local farmers market.

Read more....

http://sfappeal.com/culture/2010/05/worm-strawberries.php

Tuck your plants into a raised bed with M Brace

It's not often a napkin holder sparks a business idea and career path, but that's what happened to Northern California high school teacher Jill Plumb.

"It was definitely one of those lightbulb moments," says Plumb, who recalls the day in January 2009 when she was working in her yard, came into her kitchen and an empty napkin holder caught her eye.

"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if you could slide boards and build a raised bed like the way napkins slide into a napkin holder?' " she says.

That simple but ingenious idea led her to create the M Brace, a set of four recycled steel corner brackets that can be used to create a raised bed for flowers or vegetables - without tools - in less than half an hour.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/16/HOU31D5PE3.DTL

Inspiration for your weekend

Happy Gardening this weekend!

August Beauty Gardenia

Stop in this month and receive two terrific coupons redeemable in June including: Buy 1, Get 1 FREE August Beauty Gardenia.

Add some fragrance with the August Beauty Gardenia. Nematode-resistant and able to absorb nutrients from the soil. This easy-care Gardenia will flourish in your garden and indoors!

National Herb Week and Compost Awareness Week

Did you know this week is National Herb Week AND Compost Awareness Week?

Check out these links to learn more:
http://www.herbcompanion.com/UnCategorized/National-Herb-Week-calendar.aspx
http://www.thenewgreeneconomy.com/articles/soil-food-a-agriculture/216-compost-awareness-week-2010

whimsical frame planter - make it at home!

Some paintings look so real they seem to burst from the frame. Here’s something that really does!

http://www.gardengatenotes.com/2010/05/04/

Garden blogs/articles we like...check em out!

Gardening & Nature Crafts for kids from family fun magazine
http://familyfun.go.com/gardening---nature-crafts/

DIY project: plant pot pick me up. Cool homemade containers
www.designspongeonline.com/2010/04/diy-project-garden-pot-pick-me-up.html

The plant hunter
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/garden/29garden.html?hpw

75 Outdoor Upgrades for Under $75
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20361592,00.html