DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                TAG: 9704150522

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: REMINDERS

SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

A STIFF DRINK HELPS KEEP PAPER-WHITE NARCISSUS UPRIGHT

FOR YEARS I'VE pooh-poohed the idea of adding gin or vodka to the water around paper white narcissus, but it appears I've been wrong (which delights my wife).

Dale Rohman, who appeared at the recent Tidewater Home & Garden Show and is known as America's Flower Man, said that adding 1 tablespoon of white liquor, such as gin or vodka, makes the stems stiff so they stay upright and keeps them shorter, both of which are desirable with paper white narcissus.

He also said to use the same formula for cut tulips or any plant with long, bendable stems.

The shorter the stem on a flower in water, the longer it will stay fresh, he noted. KING'S GRANT PLANT SALE

The King's Grant Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the King's Grant Presbyterian Church on Little Neck Road. Annuals, hanging baskets, herbs and perennials will be featured. Profits are used to maintain the entrance to the King's Grant area and for beautification of Kingston Elementary School. Rain date is April 26. Call 486-2581. SOUTHERN LIVING GUIDE

Southern Living magazine has published ``Southern Living Garden Guide,'' available on newsstands from now through June 3. It covers rose growing, tomatoes and courtyard gardens, among other subjects. Cost is $4.95. GREAT BIG VEGETABLES

If you like to grow really big vegetables, there could be $35,000 waiting for you from the Giant Growers Association of the Southeast. Categories include the heaviest watermelon, pumpkin, squash, cantaloupe, tomato and gourd or the largest diameter head on a sunflower.

You must belong to the Giant Growers Association (dues $25) to compete. To join, send a check to Giant Growers Association, P.O. Box 37457, Raleigh, N.C. 27627. VISIT MAPLEWOOD GARDENS

Maplewood Gardens, 6118 Seaside Road in Nassawadox, has its spring open house from 2 to 6 p.m. today. They remind readers that if your dwarf Alberta spruce starts to yellow, mix a capful of dish detergent in 1 gallon of water and splash it on. This will help eliminate red spiders that spoil Alberta spruce in hot, dry weather. GARDEN VIDEOS

The Larkspur Co. offers a collection of videos called ``America's Best Garden Videos.'' Included are ``Summer Perennials,'' ``Glorious Gardens of the Wine Country,'' ``Growing Good Roses'' and ``English Cottages and Gardens.'' Cost per video is $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping. Call (800) 772-4884. CHECK THE SPARK PLUG

Is your lawn mower hard to start? If so, check the spark plug. It should be replaced each season. Champion Spark Plug, the original equipment supplier for Briggs & Stratton and other popular small-engine makers, has introduced a spark plug specifically for lawn mowers, weed trimmers and other small-engine applications.

``Champion E-Z Start is the first redesigned spark plug this market has seen in many years,'' said John Nielsen, director of technical services for Cooper Automotive. ``Instead of four pulls on the cord, it takes one.'' It's available at outlets servicing lawn-care equipment. DIVIDE OLD MUMS

As your chrysanthemums green up, it's time to divide and transplant older, larger clumps. Failure to do so can result in weak, spindly growth with few flowers. ufbr,14][sic] ANOTHER CELEBRITY ROSE

Tennis buffs may want to plant ``Chris Evert,'' a melon-orange/blushing-red hybrid tea rose described as a ``grand slam.'' It has a slight fragrance and comes from Weeks Roses. It's available locally at Wedgewood Garden Centers. Call 587-4481. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ROBERT STIFFLER

``Scatterbrain'' is the name of this new peach-colored, double

daylily, grown and sold by Janet Hong of Pine Ridge Perennials in

Chesapeake. It grows 32 inches tall and is listed as a rebloomer.

It flowers first in July and then blooms again at least once later

in the season. Its soft color and the number of petals make it

unusual. Call 421-0097.

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