THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9409300066
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
ORGANIC GARDENING magazine has been quick and severe in criticizing treated landscape timbers but never offers an alternative.
A thoughtful reader from Illinois named Larry Grabowski, writes in the July/August issue: ``Here is a fantastic solution. A company in Iowa Falls, Iowa, makes many recycled plastic products, including plastic timbers in various sizes, made completely from recycled plastic. To find the nearest dealer, call Hammer's Plastic Recycling Corp. at 1-800-338-1438. GUIDE TO GARDENING
The ultimate in gardening books will arrive in bookstores Oct. 18 when ``Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening'' will be released (Houghton Mifflin Co., $60 hardback). It contains 1,300 color photos and an encyclopedia of more than 3,000 plants. It's said to be the first modern gardening encyclopedia written by and for North American gardeners. The contributing editors are a who's who in American gardening. This book could be a Christmas gift for a new gardener or a gift for newlyweds. AZALEA PLANTING TIME
October is the best month for planting azaleas and camellias in Southeast Virginia-Northeast North Carolina. Select those you want from a garden center and get them planted.
I have 25 copies of Rusty Averett's list of azaleas, listed by their hardiness. Averett prepared the list after the winter of 1983 and has rated them all from excellent to poor on how azaleas survive in a severe winter. I will mail them to the first 25 people who send a stamped, addressed envelope to this column, attention ``Azalea list.'' If you're looking for unusual azalea varieties, Averett probably has them. Call 464-1824. RAINBOW OF LOBELIAS
Thurman Maness of Pittsboro, N.C., specializes in cross-breeding Lobelias (cardinal flowers). Instead of the traditional red, his Lobelias come in a variety of colors, including peach, pink and lavender. For a plant list and price list, send a stamped, addressed No. 10 envelope to Maness at Rt. 3, Box l165, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312. MEDITATION GARDEN
This afternoon at 3 p.m., the Association for Research & Enlightenment, will dedicate a Meditation Garden that includes a bridge, waterfall, walkways and special lighting. It was made possibly by a donation from Dr. Samuel D. Harris of Detroit. Refreshments will be served and the event is free and open to the public. The ARE is at 67th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Call 428-3588, Ext. 187. ALL ABOUT MAGNOLIAS
Interested in magnolias? Then you'll want to register for Roger Gossler's presentation titled ``Magnolias - A Southern Garden Tradition'' at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Norfolk Botanical Garden auditorium. Gossler owns Gossler Farms Nursery, one of the country's foremost breeders and propagators of magnolias. He raises 500 varieties in his nursery and continues to breed unusual cultivars.
Registration is $7.50 for members of the Botanical Garden and $10 for others. Send checks to NBG, Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, Va. 23518. Call 441-5838. by CNB