July 4, 2014

July 2014

Celebrate the 4th of July with Color!

Add a festive touch to your deck or patio with colorful annuals.

Annuals 20% off (excluding hanging baskets)
All flower pots and containers 20% off
2 for 1 Whitney Farms™ 1.5 cf. Organic Potting Soil

June 30th – July 5th. MD will be closed for the 4th of July! We wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Marigold Cafe is now open!

Stop in for a coffee, breakfast, light lunch or dessert. Café is open from 8-4, Monday to Saturday.
More information on theMarigold Facebook page.

Big Zucchini Contest

Back by popular demand, our Big Zucchini Contest will take place August 16. Bring in your homegrown zucchini for judging between 9:00 am and noon. Zucchini must be grown in Teton County Idaho or Wyoming. Contest is free to enter and fun for all ages. The winner gets bragging rights and a $50 MD gift card. Limit of one entry per household. (left: Eric Schroeder with last year's 10.2lb winner!)

Product of the Month: VegiBee Pollinators

VegiBee is designed to help pollinate tomatoes, peppers, peas & beans. Using sonic technology, a vibrating wand is used to collect flower pollen. The pollen can then be redistributed onto the other flowers. This method will increase garden productivity allowing for a greater yield.

Top 10 Plants for Pollinators

It is estimated that one out of every 3 bites of food we eat is derived from a plant that requires a pollinator. For home gardeners, zucchini, beans, peas, berries and fruit trees all need pollination to bear fruit. While pollinating insects are able to find a fruit tree or tomato blossom, planting additional flowers to attract pollinators will increase the chances of a good harvest. Beyond bees, pollinators include moths, butterflies and humming birds. Planting more flowers will attract more pollinators and will look beautiful too! Here are the top ten plants to attract pollinators in our yards. For more information, go towww.pollinator.org.

Penstemon
Salvia
Yarrow
Gaillardia
Echinacea
Oregano
Bee Balm
Aster
Sunflower
Catmint

Perennials in Pots:

Summer is finally here and we can mark the occasion with beautiful pots of flowers! We love the colorful annuals that bloom all season, but perennials have their place in containers too. Many combine beautifully with annuals and as a bonus, can be lifted and planted out in the garden once the season winds down. Here are a few favorites that that ‘play well’ with others, but try experimenting on your own to find a winning combination.

Lamium: Variegated foliage contrasts beautifully with many plants. Use Lamium as a trailer to cascade over the edge of a pot. Blooms are usually white or pink, depending on the variety. Replant in part sun or shade. Lamium makes a great ground cover.
Heuchera: There are many varieties of this gorgeous foliage plant. Deep purple, black, peach and lime green are some of the options. Thin spikes of dainty flowers rise above the foliage. Re-plant in a partially shady spot.
Salvia: Gorgeous spikes of purple rise above bright green foliage. Salvia thrives in hot, sunny spots.
Astilbe: Striking plumes of white, pink or red flowers top these beauties. Plant Astilbe in a shady spot.
Hosta: Big, bold foliage will be the star of your container. Hostas love to grow in shade.

Perennials can be overwintered in pots, but are subject to root rot, lack of moisture and temperature extremes. For the best chance at overwintering perennials in pots, chose a big, frost proof pot. A shady spot with ample snow cover will help protect perennials from temperature extremes and moisture loss.

Recipe Corner: Arugula Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a bright, fresh sauce originally from Argentina. It is a delicious topping for grilled steaks, shrimp or lamb. This arugula version makes use of this tasty green from the garden:

2 cups arugula
1 cup fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt and pepper, to taste
Pulse arugula, parsley and garlic in a food processor until combined. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the other ingredients. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.

What Bugs Us: Slugs

Slugs are a common garden pest that climb onto plants at night and feed on their leaves. Slug damage is characterized by irregular tears and holes in the foliage. A dried up trail of ‘slime’ can sometimes be spotted as evidence of slugs feeding. There are a number of ways to reduce slug populations in the garden:

Reduce slug habitat: Spent foliage, dead leaves and decaying plant matter provide great cover for slugs. Getting rid of the slugs’ hideouts will help to keep them at bay.
Diatomaceous Earth: Composed of ground up diatoms, this fine powder is akin to shards of glass for a slug. The sharp edges of the diatoms cut the soft body of the slug and cause it to die. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base of plants. Remember to always follow label instructions.
Beer traps: Slugs are attracted to the yeast and sugar in beer and will crawl into it and drown. Submerge a container near the plants you want to protect so the lip of the container is level with the soil surface. A big yogurt container works well. Fill it with beer to within an inch of the lip. The idea is to get the slug to stretch its body to reach the beer, then fall in and drown.
Commercial Slug bait: Sprinkle bait around infested plants. Slug bait can also be applied in a strip as a barrier. Always follow the instructions on the label!