 Late February 2020 saw the United States Postal Service release new stamps celebrating the gorgeous flowers of 9 different orchids. The Wild Orchids stamps, which are the “Forever” type (always equal to the price of one-ounce First Class Mail), join a long list of USPS stamps that share the beauty of flowers, plants and gardening. Orchids are beloved by plant experts and casual flower lovers alike for their gorgeous colors, unusual look and delicate features. Part of the largest family of plants on Earth, orchids grow in many climates and thrive under a variety of conditions. There are more than 30,000 species of wild orchids in the world, with more than 100 species native to North America. Many orchids native to North America are endangered or threatened, making sightings in their natural environment increasingly rare. These striking flowers are native to damp woodlands and numerous organizations across the country are working to preserve their habitats. Orchids also thrive in cultivated gardens or as houseplants. Resource: United States Post Office AuthorNCMGV ~ Carla TePaske
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Want to get a little fancier with your raised bed? We are sharing the design for the tiered planter originally built for the Teaching and Display Garden at the Spooner Ag Research Station. The tier planter box is constructed using 2' x 6' cedar and assembled with deck screws. Click here for complete plans. Contributed by: Russ Parker, UW Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
 I recently stopped in at my local library and checked out, Growing Your Own Tea Garden .. by Jodi Helmer If you enjoy tea and growing herbs you will find tips to create your own tea garden. You Love To Drink Tea. Why Not Grow Your Own? If you’ve ever considered raising your own tea, this comprehensive guide is the place to start. Growing Your Own Tea Garden is packed with inspiration and practical instructions for cultivating and enjoying delicious teas. Author Jodi Helmer helps you plan and plant a productive backyard tea garden, with sample garden designs and cultivation advice. She shows you how to choose the right crops for your soil and climate, starting with the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and going on through a comprehensive survey of tisanes, or herbal teas. Discover how to grow the full range of herbal infusions that make wonderful teas, from flowering chamomile and lavender to chicory roots, rose hips, lemon verbena, peppermint, aromatic bergamot and more. Jodi... Source: Publisher Tea Time Because being a grown - up is hard. AuthorNCMGV ~ Carla TePaske
 "Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower." John Harrigan It is that time. The seed catalogs are starting to arrive in the mail. We are starting to get out the pencil and paper to start our draft of what to plant where in the garden this season. Something to think about in that planning is winter. What do you want to look out at during the winter months? Each season I plant sunflowers and zinnias, I leave them in the garden during the winter for the birds and other critters surviving the winter. I also enjoy looking out at what the snow has created on the plants.  As we wait for spring.. let us enjoy the beauty of winter in our gardens. Watching the birds eat the seeds, woodpeckers peck on our stems of the sunflowers and those bunnies who all of a sudden are cute. If you had a real Christmas tree this season, think about placing it in the garden for a touch of color, protection and place to feed the wildlife in your yard.  Photos and text .. by NCMGV ~ Carla TePaske
 Photos by: NCMGV Sheila Squires of her sweet momma in the Sunflower Patch! Photo Opportunity Say "Sunflower" at the garden. Come on out to the Teaching and Display Garden and take your photo in the sunflowers. A fun back to school photo. A family Christmas card photo. Memories of the Summer of 2019 photo or a just because photo. Come on out and say "Sunflower!"  AuthorCarla TePaske ~ UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer  "Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat." Laura Ingalls Wilder You never know what you are going to see at the Teaching and Display Gardens. I spotted this butterfly resting by a morning glory at the Straw Bale Garden. The gardens are full of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and more. Take some time to come visit this summer. Come on out and take a stroll in the gardens. AuthorCarla TePaske ~ UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
If you are traveling in the Philadelphia area I highly recommend this list of gardens, all quite different. Seeing woodland spring ephemerals in different settings taught me a new appreciation for what I tend to take for granted here at home. Anytime during their long growing season these gardens will teach, display and provide pleasure to their visitors. Morris Arboretum – As the name implies the arboretum is a teaching and research facility of the University of Pennsylvania. It is set on the historic grounds of the summer home of John and Lydia Morris. They have informative displays of trees, shrubs, and woodland perennials. Longwood Gardens – One of many du Pont family gardens in the area. The gardens are spread about on 1,100 acres of highly manicured display gardens. We were there for six hours, more than enough time to see almost everything and spend time in their excellent garden shop. According to their website they raise 75 percent of the plants used in their displays onsite producing about 110,000 plants of 1,000 different varieties. Nearby is Kennett Square, a tidy small town with many retail shops and restaurants. Mt. Cuba Center – The Center is set in the rolling hills of the Delaware Piedmont near Wilmington. The property was developed by Mr. and Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland. Mrs. Copeland is quoted in their intention for the property: “I want this to be a place where people will learn to appreciate our native plants and to see how these plants can enrich their lives so that they, in turn, will become conservators of our natural habitats.”. If you go, I recommend scheduling a tour by one of their very knowledgeable tour guides. If you can’t go to Mt. Cuba Center, you can still learn much by going to their website. I have bookmarked as one of my favorites the native plant finder. Winterthur – The home of Henry Francis du Pont, the 1,000 acres near Wilmington, DE includes 60 acres naturalist gardens, a research library, shops, museum, and the mansion chock full of American textiles and furniture. The gardens are more in the background of Winterthur given all the other attractions of this property. Chanticleer - This garden was the last we visited, and I think the best. Chanticleer is set on 47 acres of the former home of the Rosengarten family, members of the family still guide the foundation that manages the property. This unique property employs seven Horticulturists who are each responsible for an area of the grounds. Chanticleer advertises itself as a pleasure garden and definitely lives up to that name. We felt as if we were invited guests, the horticulturists and grounds staff were about the grounds ready to answer our questions. What a treat to have visited these gardens, each one unique in its own way. And the Winnebago Master Gardener Volunteers are wonderful traveling companions.
Author: Sue Reinardy, UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer |
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