Category Archives: Ozarks Travel Examiner

travel through the Ozarks platteau in 5 states.

Superbena® Verbena hybrid

Posted on December 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on Superbena® Verbena hybrid

Look For This Plant

Superbena® Royale Iced Cherry Verbena hybrid

Last spring three superbena® Royale Peachy Keen Verbena hybrid plants arrived for trial from Proven Winners. Three superbena® Royale Iced Cherry Verbena hybrid plants arrived at the same time. The beautiful, healthy plants that were delivered to my address do not get special treatment.

The joy in growing trial plants is that I get to see new introductions a year before they are available in our local garden centers. When you see the plant locally, I can tell you about how well it will do in your garden.

These superbena® plants went right into 14” hanging baskets filled with a good quality light potting soil. Each basket had a dose of slow release fertilizer mixed into to potting soil. They were watered regularly, but there was no additional fertilizer put into the baskets.

These plants are self-cleaning, which means no deadheading needed. They don’t need pruning, but I trimmed the Iced Cherry, or cut it back. It did become a little fuller with more branching, which meant more flowers.

I did not give the Peachy Keen verbena a “hair cut”. This plant does well without pruning. So, I won’t bother when I grow these Superbena again. Peachy Keen has a wide color variation which I think would be a great advantage in mixed containers or in a flower border.

There were no diseases or insect problems with either plant. Planting in hanging baskets usually eliminates any concerns of powdery mildew. If you are starting with clean potting soil and not over crowding the plants, there is no reason to expect any disease or insect concerns.

If ever there was a trial for heat tolerance 2010, (zone 6) was that test. Day after day of

photo PBH

oppressive heat and in full sun, the superbena® Royale series Verbena continued to bloom and thrive.

Superbena comes in a variety of reds and purples. They will faithfully flower all summer. Plant them anywhere you would grow summer annuals like geraniums and zinnias. Choose a location where you can appreciate their color variationsPWlogo

I would buy these plants again. I do recommend them. Be sure to stop by the online PW site to see all the colors of superbena® Verbena.

Here is a PW I’ll be looking for: Superbena® Burgundy – Verbena

 

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Posted in My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted on December 14, 2011 by | Comments Off on Wordless Wednesday

Buck Trent

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Posted in Ozarks Travel Examiner

My Garden Bloggers Food Day

Posted on August 16, 2011 by | 1 comment

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day shows off all the blooms in my garden on August 15 2011. Even more than blooming, this month is about what happens after the bloom. The produce, fruit or seed that is created after the flower.

Rosa Bianco eggplant, tomatoes, Clairimore zucchini

I am trying to stay ahead of the of the zucchini production by picking them small, like the two little ones on the right. The blossoms are still attached to these Clairimore variety. The bigger ones became chocolate zucchini cake or zucchini and black walnut cake with lemon glaze.

This year, is not a good year for my garden. I couldn’t water enough to keep up hardy production.

Rosa Bianca Eggplant

Rosa Bianca Eggplant, a mild italian eggplant

The garden plants are stressed and more suseptible to insects and disease. Flea beetles are eating up the plants faster than the plants can produce eggplants.

I only got in a couple of pickings  of green beans before a gang of bug thugs moved in and trashed the bean patch.

I’ve planted a few more beans, hoping to get in a late crop of  haricots verts (skinny and tender French

Flea beetle damage. The little tiny holes in leaves and roots.

green beans) And a couple more cucumbers and squash to replace the ones killed by insects. It’s just a gamble to see if they produce before a killing frost. The space was empty and I had extra seed. We shall see.

Tomato plants did not set blooms because it was so hot. So, I will have a smaller than anticipated harvest. I’ll make some tabouli and a batch of gazpacho. Plus, I have enough to share with neighbors.

I won’t have enough to can or put up as salsa. But I did have enough for a couple of taste testings with the nine different varieties of heirloom tomatoes.  I’ll eventually review them all in my HubPages. There is a lot of good tomato information.

Best Home Garden Tomatoes: Paul Robeson

Best Home Garden Tomatoes: Royal Hillbilly

Next year, I’ll grow a few of the best tomatoes from this summer. And, I’ll grow some heirlooms I’ve never tried before.

The real reason I grow thin skinned, rich flavored, juicy heirloom tomatoes is simple:

BLT

Sourdough bread, crisp lettuce, oven baked thick sliced bacon.

Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches and

Insadada Caprese

Heirloom tomatoes, mozzerella cheese, balsamic vinegar, olive oil.

Insadada Caprese.

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Posted in Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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Time for Four o’clocks

Posted on July 28, 2011 by | 1 comment

Many people have memories of four-o’clocks in their family garden. These beautiful flowers have been popular plants for generations.

photo Renees Garden

Four-o’clocks (Mirabilas jalapa) self seed. Often you can find them still growing in a long-abandoned garden spot. It’s an old Southern tradition to plant them near the front door. These jasmine-scented flowers will greet your guests.

In South America, where these flowers originated, four-o’clocks are used as a dye. The root is used medicinally and is said to be a hallucinogen. In herbal medicine, parts of the plant may be used for diuretic, purgative or vulnerary (wound-healing) purposes. I can’t speak for any of these herbal or medicinal uses—I have only enjoyed the flowers and their fragrance.

I’ve also read that the flowers are used in food coloring. The leaves may be cooked and eaten as well, but only as an emergency food. An edible crimson dye is obtained from the flowers to color cakes and jellies.

7-26-2011-four o'clocks
Four-o’clocks are also also known as the ‘Marvel of Peru’.
Photo courtesy Renee’s Garden

Four-o’clock ‘Broken Colors’ are a special variety with starry, 2-inch blossoms that are beautifully splashed with showy, contrasting colors. Their delicio7-26-2011-renee's garden four o'clocksus jasmine fragrance floats on summer breezes. These flowers are both easy to grow and reliable. You can find the seeds on Renee’s Garden’s website for $2.79 a packet.

Before planting, soak the seeds in water overnight to speed the sprouting. These flowers are trouble-free, love full sun and have only moderate watering requirements.

Your four-o’clock flowers probably won’t bloom at exactly 4 p.m. Mine bloom at about 6 o’clock. The blooming time depends on your time zone and the plants’ exposure, but whenever it blooms it will stay consistent. You can count on your flowers to bloom at the same time every day. However, if it is cloudy or rainy, it may throw their solar clock askew.

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Posted in Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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How to stop bugs from eating my garden

Posted on July 23, 2011 by | Comments Off on How to stop bugs from eating my garden

I started a giant pot of herbs from seed. No sooner had the herb seedlings ememerged, than a bug began feasting on them.

Usually, herbs don’t have insect problems. The grown basil plants, just 10 feet away, were not bothered. I used Insectisidal Soap and two days later, there was new growth. I lightly sprayed insecticidal soap again, just in case new eggs should hatch. Safer Soap, is a contact killer, so I lightly sprayed insecticidal soap again, just in case new eggs should hatch. I’ll keep an eye on this pot for two reasons.

Basil

Italian basil seedlings. photo by PBH

It’s hot hot hot and plants in containers are very vulnerable drought. And I want to keep an eye on the container to stay ahead of any reinfestation.

A curious note: the lemon basil growing in the sale pot, was never subjected to insect damage. Safer has a FaceBook page.

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Posted in Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, Herbs in the kitchen, My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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A First Look at Superbells, Calibrachoa

Posted on July 21, 2011 by | 1 comment
Superbells Grape Punch

Superbells Grape Punch, a Calibrachoa hybrid introduced by Proven Winners is attracting hummingbirds. Photo PBH

I couldn’t wait to tell you about this little petunia-like flower because the humming birds and I have already decided this is a perfect plant for my patio. It’s continuous color with no added work.

I’ll blog about Superbells Grape Punch, a Calibrachoa hybrid, after it withstands our dry, hot, humid August in Southeast Missouri. (zone 6) It is supposed to look good through fall, until that first hard frost.

Calibrachoa hybrid, summer-long little fade proof purple trumpets. photo: PBH

Last summer, I told you about my patio Containers – Calibrachoa and Coleus  and Look For This Plant Superbells® Coralberry Punch Calibrachoa, so, I am familiar Calibrachoa.

It is my honor to trial Superbells® Grape Punch, for Proven Winners this summer. Read more about this annual after the trial.

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Posted in My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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Coffee in Springfield MO

Posted on April 22, 2011 by | Comments Off on Coffee in Springfield MO

The Cup window watching the baker decorate cupcakes. photo: PBH

 

It’s impossible to know how many coffee shops there are in Springfield. They pop up and disappear quickly. You’ve got to sell a lot of coffee to keep the doors open. Here are some of the established Businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Shots I Coffeehouse Roundup in Springfield Missouri

I. The Coffee Houses: The Coffee Ethic, Hebrews Coffee, The Mudhouse

Heros: WAKE UP. DO GOOD. REPEAT photo by PBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot ShotsII Coffeehouse Roundup, Springfield MO

II. The Coffee Houses: The Dancing Mule, Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso, Heros and, The Potter’s House.

Dancing Mule photo: PBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Shots III Coffeehouse Roundup, Springfield MO

III The Coffee Houses: Fog City, The Hub, The Buzz

Big Mamma's Plenty of room for conversations, or working on that American history exam. photo: PBH

 

 

A cappuccino is an Italian coffee drink prepared with espresso, hot milk, and steamed-milk froth. The name Cappuccino comes from the Capuchin friars for their brown garb and ring of brown hair, hence, the name Cappuccino.

 

 

 


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Posted in Eat Here, Go Away, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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Garden Magazines

Posted on March 31, 2011 by | Comments Off on Garden Magazines

Missouri Gardener 2011 March/April

I have a story in this months March/April 2011 edition of Missouri Gardener. That makes me proud and happy.

I think what makes me love this magazine even more, is the fact that this is the second edition, the second month that this magazine has published. When magazines and news papers a disappearing daily, State By State is rolling out monthly magazines about gardening to an ever increasing number of  states.

Today I was in Springfield, where Barbara St Clair lives.

Barbara's Dahlia

I bought a copy of the magazine to take to her and say thank you for allowing me to share her garden with the public. Barnes and Noble bookstore in Springfield has copies of the Missouri Gardener.

She too is a Master Gardener and has donated many (hundreds of) hours to the new Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center in Springfield, Missouri’s Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park and the Xeriscape Garden.

She told me that because the article mentioned her and the Master Gardeners, The Botanical Center had decided to start carrying Missouri Gardener magazine. I was happy to hear that news. I hope theword gets out about Missouri Gardener.

If you have never been to the xeriscape garden sponsored by Springfield Master Gardeners or the Botanical Center.

Make time to see them this gardening season. Become a member or donate online.

I think the Botanical Gardens are a destination site, worthy of a day trip or weekend get away. When you go, tell me what you think.

You can subscribe to your state by state gardening magazine on line.

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Posted in Gardens (not mine), Go Away, My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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Gardeners solution to dry hands

Posted on March 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on Gardeners solution to dry hands

Working in garden soil sucks the moisture out of my hands. Frequent hand washing only dries my hands even more. I tried Udder Ointment to soothe the dryness. I like Dr. Hess Udder Ointment in the 4 ounce tube. I keep a tube in my garden tool box.

Owner Polly Tribe also sent a sample of the Udder Stick, a Lip Balm with SPF 15. I was happy indeed to discover the flavored lip balm in Original Vanilla, Mango, Pomegranate and Vanilla Mint. I think it lasts longer than the usual over the counter brand of lip balm I used to buy. The Udder Stick is my new everyday spf 15 lip balm.

The Great Grand Daughter, Polly Tribe now owns Dr Hess Products. Read the story of udder ointment on their website. Originally developed in 1893 for treating chapped teats and udders of dairy cattle, farmers were soon remarking as to the healing effect it had on their own hands.

I use Udder Ointment on my hands and feet at night before bed. Magic happens overnight.

Go to the website to learn where you get your hands on Dr Hess Products.

Dr. Hess Products, LLC, 23 N Scenic Hills Circle, North Salt Lake, UT 84054, Fax – 801.295.7313

Dairy farmers discovered this ointment helped their dry hands.

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Posted in Gifts, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner, Product reviews

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Ground-hugging Minus Thyme

Posted on March 13, 2011 by | Comments Off on Ground-hugging Minus Thyme

Minus Thyme Thymus praecox articus ‘Minor’

Minus Thyme Thymus praecox articus 'Minor'

Minus Thyme is a perennial, hardy in zones 5-9. The evergreen, ground-hugging thyme is covered with pink flowers in late spring. One of the lowest growing thymes, it never exceeds 1”. Minus can take light foot traffic making it a good choice along pathyways and between stepping stones.

I bought a plug pack of 12, two years ago from Richters Herbs. The plants did so well, I ordered another plug pack last spring. Then, I divided the tiny thyme that I had planted between stepping stones. It is growing enthusiastically between stepping stones and is easily divided.

The spaces need weeding until the thyme fills in. This very slow process will take a couple more years to fill all the spaces between the stepping stones. I could speed the process by dividing the thyme clumps more often.

Minus Thyme with Cobra for size comparicon

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Posted in Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

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