THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407150080
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
WATCH OUT for pelicans, warns the June-July issue of The Water Gardener. A Norfolk woman was stunned when she looked out her window at her fish pond and saw a pelican scoop up a mouthful of fish. She called her husband, who arrived as the pelican was taking a second helping. When they checked their pond, there were few fish left. So add pelicans to the list, along with herons and raccoons, of water garden problems.
The Water Gardener is a good read. Cost is $15 per year, mailed to P.O. Box 6004, Norfolk, Va. 23508. BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL
A Butterfly Family Festival will be held July 31 at the Virginia Zoological Park. Sponsored by The Butterfly Society of Virginia, it's from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the zoo, 3500 Granby St. in Norfolk. There'll be children's activities, butterfly garden tours, lectures and butterfly and caterpillar exhibits. In addition, plants that attract butterflies will be sold. The only charge is regular admission to the zoo: $2 for adults; $1 for age 62 and above and for children 2 to 11. Call 441-5227. BACK IN PRINT
One of the most user-friendly books ever written about gardening is Midge Keeble's ``Tottering in My Garden'' (Camden House, $9.95 paperback.) It's back in print with a new eight-page color insert. Here's Keeble's view of gardening: ``It is by no means a ladylike pursuit and anyone who would follow in my footsteps had better be prepared to put more than trowel to earth and be well equipped with a sense of humor.'' The book brims with laughter and contagious enthusiasm. Any bookstore can order it for you. FREE CATALOG
White Flower Farm has its 1994 Fall Garden Book ready for you. Among 500 plants listed are 60 introductions. The colorful catalog is free; call 1 (203) 496-9600 or write P.O. Box 150, Litchfield, Conn. 06759-0050. FLOWERS FOR DRYING
It's time to pick annual flowers for drying. Michigan State University authorities say those eligible include calendula, cockscomb, dusty miller, marigold, baby's breath, flowering onion (allium), lavender, lemon verbena, beebalm and butterfly weed. You can dry these by hanging them upside down in bunches or standing them upright in jars.
Annuals for drying in sand or borax include annual asters, balsam (touch-me-not), candytuft, Canterbury bells, annual dianthus, coreopsis, cornflower, cosmos, gloriosa daisy, pansy, stock, snapdragon and zinnia.
Perennials to be dried this way include perennial asters, balloon flower, columbine, coneflower, coral bells, delphinium, painted and Shasta daisies, peonies, mums, daylilies, iris, gladioli, lilac, lily of the valley, tulips and roses. PROTECT YOUR FRUIT
Fruit on local trees is ripening. People with fruit will be interested in a report from Jill Hannum in the June issue of Fine Gardening magazine. She lost all her fruit to raccoons year after year until someone told her to to use stovepipe, citing its use by ``old timers.''
Collar your trees with 4-foot lengths of 8-inch diameter stovepipe and the pilfering stops. Apparently even a grown raccoon is tall enough to hook its front paws over the top of the pipe. But since most of its weight is in its rear, it can't get hold of the trunk with its hind claws to haul itself into the tree.
Old stove pipe can be had from anyone who uses wood-burning stoves. Eight-inch pipe opened at the seams fits easily around tree trunks. A twist of wire holds it securely, but the pipe has to be at least 4 feet tall to be effective. If your trees are like mine, you'll have to prune up the lower branches enough to get a 4-foot section of stovepipe into place. BONSAI BOOK
The art of bonsai continues to grow, so much so that Sunset Publishing Corp. has published a new paperback on the subject. (``Bonsai,'' Sunset Publishing, 96 pages, $9.99) It says that in less than a century, bonsai has progressed from a little-understood curiosity to a widely enjoyed art form. The book contains information on plant selection, plant needs, shaping techniques and suggestions for displaying your prize plants.
A bookstore can order it for you, or call 1 (800) 227-7346. LILY PROBLEMS
If some of your lilies are not producing flowers this year, Genie Diller, lily test chairman for the Garden Club of Virginia, offers an explanation: ``It is due to frost damage to the buds, which happens when protection such as bags, pots, sheets, etc., rests directly on the growing point of the lily. Next year, they will flower as usual if properly protected and cared for. Another interesting point is that the plant might produce stem bulbils, using the energy that would otherwise produce flowers. The bulbils can be planted.''
I've found that many lilies produce bulbils every season and that if you plant them, you'll have many more lilies in a few years. Lilies should be watered and fertilized every 10 days to two weeks from the time they are several inches high until mid-July. I use Miracle Gro. It makes for better flowers and greener foliage. BEETLE TRAPS
Do traps for Japanese beetles really work? According to most state universities, you're better off to save your money. Traps attract more beetles to your property. If you don't empty traps daily, you attract many more beetles than you catch. The traps contain a potent, perfumed sex attractant. by CNB