THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503030071
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
WORK OFF SUNDAY dinner by taking a walk at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Starting next Sunday and continuing through the month, the 4 p.m. walks are guided by experts in various fields. The schedule is as follows: March 12, learn about ``The Magic and Medicine of Plants,'' with Sybil Kane; March 19, tour the camellia collection, one of the best in the country, guided by Kunso Kim; and March 26, learn how the garden produces annuals with a tour conducted by greenhouse supervisor Mike Andrucsyk. The only cost is garden admission, $2.50 per person. Call 441-5838. TOMATO TIME
Early-bird gardeners can start putting tomatoes in the ground within a few weeks, if they use some wind and cold protection around the plants. Tomato plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. If they don't get enough sun, few blossoms will form and they may drop off before setting fruit.
Vegetable specialists at Louisiana State University recommend pouring one cupful of a starter solution in the holes where you are transplanting tomatoes. Make your own by mixing 1/2 cup of 8-8-8 fertilizer in 2-1/2 gallons of warm water. Commercial soluble fertilizers are also available. This will encourage the establishment of a strong root system and faster growth. A SHOW WORTH SEEING
If you missed the Maymont Flower Show in Richmond last month, you missed an excellent show, probably its best in six years.
The importance of water in gardens was evident throughout the show, with large pools or fountains in most all gardens.
An interesting addition to the show was the Monumental Festival of Flowers at historic Monumental Church. It was decorated with flowers like it was once done in England. Huge arrangements adorned the balcony rails and the cross. Graves inside the church were massed with cut flowers. Each pew was decorated by the family that used it. There was no overall theme - just masses of cut flowers used to make it a true festival. NEW MAGAZINE FOR GARDENERS
Better Homes and Gardens has released a new magazine titled Home Garden. You may have noticed that the parent magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, has been more ``home'' than ``gardens.'' That led to the launching two years ago of Country Home Country Gardens. Now comes Home Garden, at newsstands for $3.99. Five issues will be published this year.
Editor Doug Jimerson is the former garden editor for Better Homes & Gardens. The publisher says Home Garden aims ``dead center at America's 68 million gardeners, those who enjoy gardening, but aren't out to re-create Versailles.'' TIME TO PRUNE THE ROSES
The time to prune roses is after the last killing frost, which should be about now. Here's a brief lesson in rose pruning. First, prune to control size, but also to remove dead and weak canes and encourage healthy growth. Use sharp, clean shears. First take a good look at the complete bush. Cut out diseased or injured wood and canes that are overlapped or misplaced in some other way. Shorten remaining canes to within 12 to 18 inches of the soil.
If you want some practice pruning roses, go to the Norfolk Botanical Garden from 9 a.m. to noon this week and help prune the 3,400 roses there. Al Lutz, the garden rosarian, will give instructions on pruning. The roses will be pruned each weekday through Friday, weather permitting.
Volunteers should call Lillian Eastman at 441-5830. by CNB