2010 King County Master Gardener Plant Sale & Learning Fair

If you live in the Seattle area you may want to attend the Master Gardener Plant Sale and Learning Fair. It’s being held at the Center for Urban Horticulture on May 1-2.

• Plant Sale – edibles and ornamentals marketplace
• Ten-Minute “show and tell” demonstrations
• Bring-a-Plant-Problem diagnosis
• Personal shoppers and advice from 100 Master Gardeners
• Garden art
• Children's activities
• Preview Party on April 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ($35 fee)

Visit their website for more details.

2010 Mississippi Garden Shows

If you live in the Mississippi area you may want to attend one of these garden & patio shows.

Biloxi
February 26-28
MS Coast Coliseum

Hattiesburg
March 12-14
Lake Terrace Convention Center

Jackson
March 19-21
MS Trade Mart

Visit the Mississippi Nursery & Landscape Association website for details on admission hours, price and directions.

Protect Your Shrubs From Winter Damage

This week in New York we had a major storm that dropped about 16 inches of snow in our area. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the light and fluffy kind. It was the wet heavy kind that has the potential to damage plants. The following photo shows my Arborvitae which are bent over under the weight of the snow.

I’ve read that you shouldn’t try to remove the snow because you might break the branches. I don’t agree. I use a soft broom to gently shake the snow off the branches. If you’re careful, you won’t cause any damage. I do the same thing for most of my shrubs. I’ve never had a branch break while removing the snow. The worst that happens during the shaking process is that I end up with a lot of snow down my jacket and in my boots.

Don’t Forget To Fill Your Bird Feeder

Last summer I installed a bird feeder in my garden with the hope that the birds would eat the bugs that munch on my plants. I’m not really sure if the birds are eating the bugs. They are, however, eating a ton of bird seed. My husband and I decided to keep the feeder going throughout the winter. Here’s a shot of a male Cardinal taking a short break from his feeding frenzy.

Plant Profile: Liriope Muscari Variegata

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Botanical Name: Liriope Muscari Variegata
Common Name: Lily Turf
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Full Shade
Special Attributes: Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance
Zone: 5-10
Growth Rate: Average
Height X Spread: 12" H x 18" W
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Description: Purple stems with spikes of violet flowers. Dark purple berries in autumn.
Foliage Description: Dense clumps of linear dark green leaves edged with white.
Soil: Well drained, average to acidic soil
Water: Regular
Tidy: Shear in early spring
Fertilizer: All Purpose
Fertilizing cycle: Early Spring and Mid Summer
Divide: In spring
Propagation: Spreads naturally by rhizomes. In spring, sow seed in containers outdoors or divide plants.
Pests & Diseases: Anthracnose, leaf spot, root rot, and slugs

Notes: Liriope is an easy to grow, low maintenance plant that works well as an edging plant or ground cover. It tolerates a wide range of light and soil conditions and also tolerates heat, humidity and drought making it a great choice for any garden.