Flowers (annual and perennial)

Marshmallow Plant

A new plant this year, the marshmallow plant which is related to the hollyhock. Grown as an annual reaching 4 to 5 feet with hollyhock-like blooms. The candy origin comes from this plant. The ancient Egyptians boiled the root to extract the sweet jelly. Europeans took the plant for cottage gardens. They took the sap from the roots, added eggs and sugar to make the cany marshmallow. The marshmallows you can buy now are not made of this plant, however, go can buy ground marshmallow roots.

Easy to grow if I can grow it but does like moist soil. They like full sun but are tolerant of some shade. Once growing, very little care is needed.

Garden Pests

Three “Bugs” in Gardens this Week

Larva of the Cabbage Butterfly on Brocoli

Three “bugs” are showing up in gardens this week. One is the cabbage butterfly. It is a white butterfly with a couple of black spots on the wings. The butterfly is harmless; however, they lay eggs on cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants. These eggs hatch and now you have the cabbage looper (caterpillar) which can ruin plants of your cabbage family of plants in a few days. Also, you have their green poop all over. A routine of Sevin spray controls these pests. You can use a biological spray called Thuricide which is a spray of bacteria that will kill the caterpillar and not harm other insects. I have not found this in town, so you will have to order it from a garden center. You can also crush the little yellow eggs beneath the leaves.

Nymphs (young adults) of the Squash Bug

The other is the squash bug. These are the little grey soft-bellied bugs you find around the base of squash plants. They suck the plant juices out stunting the plant. Early detection of critical. If you see them, use a spray of Sevin or Malathion. If you have a problem, varieties like Butternut and Royal Acorn are resistant.

Striped Cucumber Beetle

Lastly the cucumber beetle. These black and yellow striped or spotted beetles will eat most vining crops but like blossoms of watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumbers the best. They carry a disease called cucumber wilt, which will kill a cucumber vine overnight. The plant will wilt and turn brown. If this happens remove the vine immediately. Use Sevin when you first notice the beetles. There are some traps that lure the beetles to it.

Landscaping, Landscaping decor

Using Stone and Rocks in your Landscaping

Using stone and rocks in your landscaping gives the area another interesting element. This is called hardscaping, using a material other than living plants. The term rock is much bigger than a stone which is smoother due to weathering.

I have used a large piece of petrified rock as an anchored center to the flowerbed which surrounds it. The use of rocks as a rock bed with native grasses cuts down on the water. Also if weeds come through, use can spray with a 2-4, D which will not harm the grasses.

Different colored stones can be used in planting beds on perennial and shrub areas. The colors separate the areas for a better focal point.

A stone pathway will be attractive and a way of keeping your shoes clean coming in from the garden. Adding different colors of stone provides more interest. You can even use stones landscaping a dry creekbed.

If you can get your hands on a large “field” stone, use it to change a dull area in your back or front yard.

Using rocks as a mulch around trees and borders will not wash or blow away in storms, so lowers the maintenance which in turn lowers the cost over time.