What happened to my shrubs? – Bark Split
If you grow ornamental shrubs (especially those that are marginal in winter hardiness like rosemary, lavender cotton, heaths, evergreen azaleas, etc.), then you may have observed bark splitting.
March was here, but where is Spring?
Written by Mary Free, Certified Master Gardener After one of the warmest winters on record, the March Shade Garden (pictured below) in Bon Air Park was awash in color with …
Audubon at Home in Arlington and Alexandria
The Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary Program (AAH) helps people create and maintain natural habitat (for birds, amphibians, reptiles and the insects that support them), around their homes and community space. Our own backyards provide an opportunity for conservation, even as natural habitat is decreasing. Key components of the program include conserving water, removing invasive plants, using native plants where appropriate, reducing the use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides, and providing habitat via shelter, water and food.
Audrey Faden, Master Gardener Emerita
Audrey Evans was born on a coffee farm outside the town of Nyeri in Kenya in 1941. She recalls the “small” 600-acre farm as a beautiful place, with steep hillsides, rivers, bush, and a view of Mt. Kenya. Her father, who went to Kenya from South Africa, started the farm in 1911. Her mother, his second wife, went to Kenya in the 1930s from England as a nurse and met her future husband when he was a patient in the Nairobi hospital where she worked. “He fell in love with her voice,” as the story goes.
Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Gardening
While it’s time to put many of our garden beds to rest for the winter, some gardeners may enjoy perusing Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Gardening by Katie Elzer-Peters to help them plan their plantings of edibles for the spring growing season.
It’s Not Too Late to Plant Bulbs!
By Christa Watters Procrastinators rejoice! Though those of us who grew up in colder climes may think it’s too late to plant our bulbs for spring bloom, it’s really not …