THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511230112
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
THE FREE POINSETTIA tours at White's Old Mill Greenhouses will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday. One-hundred thousand poinsettias in red, white, pink and novelty colors can be seen in this guided tour of White's growing houses at 3133 Old Mill Road, Chesapeake. If you need directions, call 487-2300. DISSUADING DEER
When I visited Carole Alberts' garden in Southern Shores, N.C., a few years back, she was having problems with deer eating everything she tried to grow, including tomatoes. But when I saw her at Manteo Booksellers this month, she told how she'd solved the problem.
If you can identify the spot where deer are coming into your garden (which isn't always possible but was for Carole) tie a rope or string across that area about chest high. Then tie long white strips of rags every foot across the rope. The white rags show at night and blow in the wind and have kept deer out of Carole Alberts' garden. BEAUTIFUL GARDEN CALENDAR
Many local gardeners have visited and admired beautiful Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. If you'd like to relive your visit, they have a beautiful calendar now being sold. Cost is around $10 per calendar, including shipping, but because the exchange rate fluctuates, I suggest you use your charge card for ordering. To order a calendar, write to Butchart Gardens, Box 4010, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8X 3X4 or phone (604) 652-4422; fax (604) 652-3883. COVER YOUR COMPOST
Some folks cover their compost piles with plastic this time of year. It helps heat up the pile and keeps winter rains from making the pile too soggy. AFFORDABLE HEIRLOOMS
The Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit group that saves heirloom vegetable seeds. For the first time, they've published a small catalog. The free publication lists two dozen varieties from eastern Europe and another group of American varieties including Grandpa Admire's lettuce and Big Rainbow and Stump-of-the World tomatoes. Price per seed packet is $2.50 plus shipping. Send your request to Seed Savers International, 3076 N. Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101. MONEY FOR THE BIRDS
Wild Birds Unlimited have teamed with The Nature Conservancy in a ``Dollars for Nature'' program. The Nature Conservancy protects land that harbors rare or endangered species throughout North America. Donors to the conservancy's ``Dollars for Nature'' program receive discount coupons that can be used toward purchases at Wild Birds Unlimited in January. Fifty percent of the money raised will be used for projects in Virginia. Wild Birds Unlimited has two stores in this area: 620 Hilltop West Shopping Center, Virginia Beach, and 1426 Battlefield Blvd. N., Chesapeake. Call 422-3215. 3 TOOLS IN 1
Just in time for picking up all those fallen leaves comes a new electric-powered weed-eater/super blower/mulcher. It's called the 2595 Barracuda and is listed as the most powerful blower/mulching vacuum available. It functions as three tools in one: a leaf and lawn blower; a vacuum for picking up yard debris; and a mulcher that claims to perform up to 50 percent better than its competitors. Suggested retail is $79.95 at Lowes, Wal-Mart and True Value stores. In the past, most electric units have not been powerful enough to get the job done but this one is supposed to overcome that weakness. GET TO THE ROOT OF IT
If you have a silver maple, poplar or magnolia, you know each is famous for producing surface roots. They're hard to mow over and the naked roots do not add to the beauty of a landscape. Protruding roots are usually caused by compacted or waterlogged soil, confined root space or light watering.
Michigan State University specialists say you can raise the soil level to cover the roots, but it needs to be done gradually, adding no more than 1 inch per year to avoid suffocating roots. The roots will keep growing, so it's a chore that may never end. The university suggests that a better alternative is to remove grass from under the tree and plant a creeping ground cover such as ajuga, lamium, mondo grass or liriope. Any of them look better than naked roots and mediocre grass. DON'T FEED SEED TO THE PESTS
If you have grass seed left over, make sure you put it in an airtight metal or plastic container. Mice, rats and some insects love to get into grass seed, especially in winter when other food is hard to find. Take precautions now. TEST GROUND FOR PERENNIALS
There are new perennial beds at the Hampton Roads Research Center on Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach. They're directly behind the colorful annual beds you see from the road. The perennial beds test many All America selections of daylilies, iris, phlox, etc. Although the bloom period for most perennials is finished, there are many ornamental grasses flourishing. You're invited to inspect these new gardens any time. EXOTIC FINDS IN OHIO
Often readers inquire where to buy an exotic houseplant they can't find I'm told by those who should know that this firm has exotic indoor plants. Their description/price list is free. Write to Glasshouse Works, Church Street, Stewart, Ohio 45778-0097. Call (614) 662-2142. FOR THE BIRDS
Do you know a school or group that could use back issues of ``The Bird's Eye reView?'' It's a newsletter about feeding, watering and observing birds. The National Birdfeeders Society has hundreds of leftover issues that can be used for scout projects, supplemental reading, etc. They will send you as many as you want if you'll send a shipping address, number of copies needed of the 16 issues available, dating from 1990 through 1993, and $5 to defray mailing costs. Mail your information to NBS, P.O. Box 23, Northbrook, Ill. 60065-0023 ILLUSTRATION: Photo
An array of poinsettias will be displayed during free tours of
White's Old Mill Greenhouses on Saturday and next Sunday.
by CNB