Leave a bit of dirt to shelter native bees! by The Bees Waggle Last week I wrote about the importance of adding forage (flowers) to your yard. Shelter is another provision can easily met for various species of bees. Keeping native bees is very simple, just add a few things to your yard, and sit back […]
How to make your own Spectacular Flower Arrangement by Sandy Swegel Valentine’s Day is upon us and flowers are the highlight. A flower arrangement from a florist is magnificent but costly. You can pick up affordable flowers at the grocery and turn them into a work of art. Here are some secrets florists use. Start […]
by TheBeesWaggle Clover depends on bee visits to reproduce seeds. Why Bees Need Flowers 75% of all flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce seed and or fruit. Without insect-assisted pollination, many of the colors we enjoy in the natural landscape would disappear. 1/3 of the food humankind consumes has been produced by bee pollination specifically. […]
Heirloom Vegetable Seeds by Sandy Swegel It doesn’t take much effort to convince us we should grow Walla Walla sweet onions. Think about thick slices hot from the grill. Or cold on our hot cheeseburger. Dream of oven-roasted whole onions. Or be one of those brave people who bite into the Walla Walla like it’s an […]
EZ Indoor Seed Starting Setup Gardening Tips Indoor Seed starting is really easy and cheap. You get so many more plants by starting your own seeds. My mantra in my seed starting classes is “Seeds Wanna Grow.” You just have to give them a little help to mimic outdoor conditions. All seed-starting setups are pretty […]
All About Leafcutter Bees by TheBeesWaggle Any name with cutter in it seems frightening, but I am here to redeem these Leafcutter Bees of such a stigma by bringing understanding through education. Leaf-cutter bees are another native species of bees found in most parts of North America. They are smaller than a honeybee, and have […]
Garden is at it’s Peak by Sandy Swegel Most of the time in the garden I’m analyzing and thinking about what to do. What has to be done before it’s too late (weed thistles before seed heads mature), What should be done today (harvest zucchini before it’s a full-sized bat), What to do this evening […]
by Sandy Swegel Playing in the dirt is, of course, the most fun reason to garden. This week I’ve been playing in the compost which is doubly fun because I get to play with the earthworms too. What to do with Compost Weeds My compost style is very passive. I keep three big bins going. […]
Why Not to Fall Prune by Sandy Swegel September is the time of year I like to tell you to quit working. I want you to leave some leaves and debris on the beds to give ladybugs and lacewings a place to overwinter. I want you to have seed heads for birds to eat. And […]
Excellent Pollinators by Sandy Swegel There’s a native bee (especially in the Western US) that you’ll rarely recognize flying around, but almost everyone can tell when the bee has been in their garden. Leaves, especially of roses, have perfect little half-moons cut on the edges. The cuts are better circles than most of us can […]