Backyard Viewsthebackyardgardeners.org/uploads/TBG_summer_newsletter...©©Patti McCambridge...
Transcript of Backyard Viewsthebackyardgardeners.org/uploads/TBG_summer_newsletter...©©Patti McCambridge...
Calendar of Events
Garden Talks, 6:30-8 pm
Chesapeake Library
298 Cedar Road
June 16 Amanda Lotas ,Sheila Williams
Tower Garden "Aeroponics...The New Path to
Health"
July 21 Rogard Ross
Friends of Indian River "Urban Parks and Backyard
Habitats"
August 18 Ed Bradley
Chesapeake Master Gardeners "Three Best Native Trees"
. James Dent
The Backyard Gardeners, Inc. was
established in 2007 as a
non-profit organization to
provide free education to
homeowners in the Hampton
Roads area on gardening and
horticultural practices, designs and
techniques in order to
encourage conservation of our
natural resources, the enjoyment of
gardens, garden-related
activities and creative garden art.
Low Water Woes by Patti McCambridge
Few environmental conditions strike fear in the hearts of gardeners like DROUGHT
does! Those unwelcome periods of little or no precipitation can ruin landscapes and drive
homeowners crazy. The fact a drought can be declared in as little as 15 days makes the
uninvited visitor even more menacing. However, use of common sense and good garden-
ing practices can reduce the negative effects significantly.
Preparing the soil properly, creating an efficient landscape design and placing “the right
plant in the right place” can help plants tolerate unfortunate temperature spikes. Grouping
plants with similar cultural requirements and using native plants will also create more
water-wise landscapes. In the coastal areas of Virginia and North Carolina, a number of
perennials have been shown to be successful in drought conditions. Below are six color-
ful and beneficial plants that will thrive in coastal areas with full sun or part, well-drained
soil and low water conditions.
√ Blue Star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)-grows to 1 to 2 ft. tall, blue flower blooms in
May, has bright gold fall foliage color
√ Blanket flower (Gallardia)-grows 1 to 3ft. tall, blooms from summer through fall in
shades of yellow, red and orange, is deer resistant
√ Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantia)-grows to 18 in. tall, makes a great ground cover, the
silver/gray color of leaf is a good background for other color plants
√ Lavender (Lavindula angustifolia)-aromatic, culinary herb that grows 1 to 3 ft. tall,
attracts bees and butterflies, has a variety of health and medicinal usess
√ Mystic Blue Spires (Salvia)-grows to 3 ft. tall, attracts bees and butterflies, has a
lengthy bloom time from spring through summer
√ Yarrow- (Achillea)-grows from 10 inches to 4 ft. tall, is pest and critter resistant and
blooms in white, yellow, pink and red
Planting in the fall will help establish a strong root system that will help plants survive
better in times of low water. Mulching with 2-3 inches of a good organic material and
watering efficiently and deeply to encourage strong root growth will also help create
stronger plants and a more water-wise garden. Unfortunately for gardeners, water woes
will never disappear, but the stress both we and the plants feel in higher temperatures can
be minimized with a few wise choices and careful planning.
Backyard Views The Backyard Gardeners Summer, 2015
©www.freeflowerpictures.net ©Patti McCambridge ©Stoon|Dreamstime.com ©Patti McCambridge ©Patti McCambridge ©Patti McCambridge
Garden Hints by Patty Bennett
√ Weed weekly to keep those annoying visitors from be-coming too comfortable in your gardens.
√ Give heavy feeders like roses a monthly dose of fertil-izer. Adding a top dressing of compost is also benefi-cial.
√ Check plants frequently for insect damage and treat immediately. Use the most environmentally friendly methods of control like hand picking and insecticidal soap sprays when possible.
√ Trim and divide bearded iris to rejuvenate older plants. Sharing with friends is an added benefit.
√ For more information and seasonal gardening tips, check our website at www.thebackyardgardeners.org.
Spotlight on Gardens
You may request to be added to the newsletter mailing list at
www.thebackyardgardeners.org
or by emailing [email protected].
Best Summer Gardens
The best garden to visit in the summer is in your own backyard...literally! You spent the winter season pruning, designing
new garden areas, combing the seed and plant catalogs for the newest and best plants and tools and dreaming of warmer
days. Once spring started and the ground warmed up, time was spent weeding, planting, fertilizing and watering those
newly found treasures. Now, it’s time to enjoy the fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers of your labors. Relax in the ham-
mock or take a book and sit quietly in the shade of your garden. Breathe in the warm air, feel the gentle breeze, smell the
roses and eat those cute little juicy cherry tomatoes right off the vine! Yes, there are challenges like heat, humidity and mos-
quitoes, but dodging these obstacles is worth the trouble to drink in the joys of your own summer garden.
Once you’ve enjoyed the beauty and bounty of your own garden, venture out to enjoy the
bounty of other’s gardens. Hitting the local Farmers’ Markets will fill the bill. Summer
brings some of the best eating of the year with choices that range from apples to zucchini,
you can find something to tempt anyone's taste buds. It’s an alphabet of goodies!
According to Buy Fresh Buy Local Hampton Roads (BFBLHR), June brings beets, black-
berries, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, May peas, onions, peaches,
peppers, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, sugar snap peas, summer squash, Swiss chard,
turnips and zucchini. The heat of July adds blueberries, butter beans, cantaloupe, figs, grapes, okra, raspberries, sweet corn,
tomatoes, watermelon and wax beans to the mix ,and in August you can find the early apples. Check the 2015 BFBYLHR
Guide for locations of markets, the products they carry and even local restaurants that use their crops. Celebrate Summer!!!!
Tool Corner by The Backyard Gardeners
At some point each summer, it
becomes necessary to add sup-
plemental water to the garden
Capturing rainfall using a rain
barrel has become a popular
method for meeting the need.
The Chesapeake Master Gardeners offer monthly
workshops on how to make your own. Classes are of-
fered at the Agriculture Extension trailer located at
the corner of Holt and Shea Drives at 10 a.m. on Sat-
urday, June 20; Saturday July 18; and Saturday, August
15. Registration is required and space is limited. The
fee is $55.00 and includes the barrel, hardware. And
instructions. Click here for the application.
Once you’ve made your rain barrel, there is more fun
to be had...click here for instructions on how to
paint your newly made tool.
©Gordon Jankulov
Summer Calendar of Gardening and Outdoor Events 2015 compiled by Nancy Radcliffe
June
Bike Nights at Norfolk Botanical Gardens every Monday/Wednesday/Thursday from 4 – 7 pm
thru October 15th.
5-6 Seawall Music Festival- Portsmouth
5-6 Virginia Bonsai Society Exhibit & Sale at Norfolk Botanical Gardens
5-7 Norfolk Harborfest
6 Clean The Bay Days
11 Hermitage Museum & Gardens – Sunsets on the River : Jesse Chong 5:30 – 9 pm
12- Butterfly House Opens at Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Sept. 20
13 McDonald Garden Center- String Garden Workshop at Year Round Locations $30
13 Summer Celebration Wine Festival – Lee Hall Mansion, Newport News 11 am –
6 pm
16 The Backyard Gardeners – Garden Talk at the Chesapeake Central Library from
6:30 – 8 pm
18-21 Boardwalk Art Show & Festival – Virginia Beach Oceanfront
19 Virginia Beach History Museums Celebrates Juneteenth at the Francis Land
House from 6 – 9 pm
21 2015 Daylily Show & Sale at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
20- Chesapeake Farmers’ Market opens every Wednesday/Saturday from 8 am-
Nov 25 1 pm at Battlefield Park at 120 Reservation Road and Chesapeake City Park
25 Hermitage Museum & Gardens – Sunsets on the River: Michael Clark Band 5:30 –
9 pm
26-28 Hampton Jazz Festival
27 McDonald Garden Center – Petals & Popsicles Workshop at Year Round Loca-
tions $10
27-28 Knotts Island Ruritan Clubs 24th Annual Peach Festival
July
3 Celebrate Freedom – Concert & Fireworks at Chesapeake City Park
4 Stars & Stripes Explosion at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
7 Hermitage Museum & Gardens – Sunsets on the River: Rare Mixx 5:30 – 9 pm
11 2nd Annual Butterfly Festival and Plant Sale at Norfolk Botanical Gardens
17-18 Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival – Surry
18-19 McDonald Garden Center- Crepe Myrtle Festival
21 The Backyard Gardeners – Garden Talk at the Chesapeake Central Library
from 6:30 – 8 pm
23 Hermitage Museum & Gardens – Sunsets on the River: Major and the Moon-
backs 5:30 – 9 pm
24-26 Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival
29-30 90th Annual Pony Swim & Auction- Chincoteague
August
15 McDonald Garden Center – Venus Fly Trap Workshop for kids at Year Round
Locations $15.00
18 Elizabethan Gardens – Virginia Dare’s Birthday Gift Shoppe Sale
18 The Backyard Gardeners – Garden Talk at the Chesapeake Central Library
from 6:30 – 8 pm
For a complete listing of gardening related events presented by local Master Gardening
groups, click the links below.
Chesapeake Master Gardeners Check the homepage and Programs and Events tab
Hampton Master Gardeners Check homepage for updates on events
Norfolk Master Gardeners check homepage and MG Projects tab
James City County/Willliamsburg Master Gardeners Master Gardener Projects tab
Newport News Master Gardeners Check homepage and Calendar of Events tab
Portsmouth Master Gardeners Events Calendar tab
Suffolk Master Gardeners Programs and Events tab
Virginia Beach Master Gardeners Events Calendar tab
York/Poquoson Master Gardeners Check homepage for events
North Carolina
Currituck Master Gardeners Events tab
Dare County Master Gardeners
Pasquotank County Master Gardeners
Click on each garden center for updated gardening events:
White’s Garden Center
McDonald’s Garden Center
Enchanted Forest Garden Center