Hostas

Hostas are great plants for shade gardens. In the summer, they have spikes of lavender or white blooms. While the flowers are pretty, hostas are best known for their beautiful leaves. These lily-like plants are native to Northeast Asia. They are named in honor of the Austrian botanist, Nicholas Thomas Host. There are more than 2,500 varieties.

Here are a few of the most popular: Gold Standard (yellow leaves with green edges), Francee (green leaves with white edges), June (blue green leaves with creamy centers), and Sum and Substance (chartreuse yellow leaves). Most hostas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. In general, blue leafed hostas require shade, while gold, yellow, and white-leafed hostas can tolerate more sun.

Hostas grow best in a rich, organic soil that is well drained and slightly acidic. They should get an inch of water per week. Hostas can be propagated by dividing them. This is best done in early spring.

The hosta plant is round in shape and can range in size from a few inches in diameter to 8 feet wide. They reach full maturity in 4-8 years. Unfortunately, hostas are a favorite food for deer, slugs, and snails. Try to plant them in areas where deer do not wander. If slugs are a problem, you can try slug poison which can be found at garden supply stores, or you can try putting out a shallow dish with beer in it. Slugs can't seem to resist beer, and when they drink it, they usually drown in it.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are located in Norfolk, Virginia. They cover about 155 acres. There are forty themed gardens scattered over the property. Some focus on a single plant (like roses). Others focus on plants from a specific region (like Japan).

One of the themed gardens, is the World of Wonders Children's Garden. This place is fabulous! It's three acres of fun for little ones. Kids can follow the world's Trade Route and find plants from different countries. They can also visit the dirt factory, which is a great place to dig and climb. And what kid doesn't like dirt? There's also a big treehouse where kids can learn about bugs and plant seeds. If you visit in the summer, be sure to bring a bathing suit. Kids can have fun splashing through the fountains and jet sprays.

The garden is open October through March from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and in April through October from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Admission is $9.00 for adults and $7.00 for children.

Gardens at Washington Park

The Gardens at Washington Park are located in Sandusky, Ohio. They're a nice place to visit if you happen to be in that part of Ohio (the amusement park, Cedar Point is nearby). Although it's not big, there are some very pretty flower displays. Visitors can see a sunken garden, a greenhouse displaying tropical plants, and the well-known floral clock that even spells out the date.

The garden is open year-round from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

Biddulph Grange Garden

The Biddulph Grange Garden, located in Biddulph, Staffordshire, England, is a Victorian garden created by James Bateman in the 1840s. Bateman was an avid collector of plants from around the world. He built the gardens to feature his impressive collection. Visitors will take a global journey from Italy, to Egypt, to Scotland, to China.

In addition to the international gardens, there are beautiful rose gardens, a topiary garden with rocks and tunnels that children absolutely love, a cherry orchard, and gardens with rhododendrons and azaleas which are simply spectacular in the spring.

The gardens are open daily from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission for adults is 7.35 Britsih pounds. Admission for chldren is 3.70 British pounds.

How to Make a Salad Container Garden

I really enjoy summer salads. It's so nice just to walk out onto my back porch and pick whatever I need. You don't need a lot of space to make one. You can even do it it you live in an apartment and have a little outdoor area. Here's how you make one:

1. First, figure out what kind of vegetables you want to grow for your salad. Lettuce, tomatoes, bell/banana peppers, green onions, carrots, and cucumbers are some ideas. 2. Then figure out how much space you'll need. You can make a container garden a couple of differents ways. You can use multiple containers, or you can use one very big container. 3. If you're using multiple containers, get some of varying heights. I like to use a low,wide bowl-shaped container for the lettuce. Use larger containers for tomatoes and cucumbers. Position your vegetables so that the tallest plants are in the center or back, and scale down from there. This allows your plants to all get enough sunlight. 4. If you're using one big container, make sure it's big enough to fit several plants. 5. Make sure your conatainer has good drainage. It helps to put a layer of small rocks on the bottom before you fill it with potting soil. This allows for better drainage and circulation. 6. Add potting soil 3/4 of the way to the top. 7. Put your tomato plant in first, along the back. Add a cage or trellis so it has someplace to grow upward. 8. Add cucumbers and peppers next to the tomato. Make sure you give them enough space. The cucumber is going to do some rambling, so make sure it can trail off over the container. 9. Add carrots, onions, and herbs. 10. Lettuce should go in the front, since it's the shortest. 11. Water thoroughly!

Geraniums

This week, I just planted my geraniums outside. They look just lovely. I like geraniums, because they are an unusual-looking flower, and they add such a nice splash of color. Geraniums grow in any kind of soil, as long as it isn't saturated with water. They prefer slightly acidic soil, though, and like to be in full sun. They are hardy in zones 8-10, which means that if you don't live in those zones, every year, you'll have to buy new ones - unless you learn how to propagate them.

My mom taught me how to do this, so I'll share it with you: 1. Fill a small container with about 4 inches of moist rooting medium. You can buy this at a garden supply store, or make your own using sand, perlite, and vermiculite. 2. Cut 3-5 inches off the tips of several healthy shoots. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Keep in mind that some of your shoots may die, so have enough to allow for that. 3. Dip the stems into a commercial rooting hormone, which can also be bought at a garden supply store. 4. Push a pencil into the rooting medium about 2 inches deep. Then insert the prepared cutting and firm the medium around it to hold it in place. 5. Place the container in a warm location that receives indirect sunlight. 6. Check the plants to make sure the rooting medium is moist. Do this several times a week. 7. Once the roots are established, you can transplant them into larger containers. How do you know if the roots are established? Just give the plant a gentle tug. If it doesn't want to come out, the roots are established.

Did you know that geraniums can come in a variety of scents? Yes they do! Lemon, rose, apple, and mint are some of the interesting varieties. Next time you visit your nursery, see if you can find them. Rub their leaves and have a sniff!

New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is located in Bronx, New York. It was founded in 1891, and coveres about 250 acres. Visitors will see waterfalls, hills, rivers, woods, ponds, and of course, lots of plants and flowers.

Located within the garden, is the Everette Children's Adventure Garden. There's a Boulder Maze that kids can climb, and a touch tank for getting up close to water-loving plants. There's also an indoor lab for doing experiments.

The garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6:00 PM. Admission is $1.00 for children, and $6.00 for adults.