Finally – something else to do rather than post to the IAL blog! On to today’s photo (and I apologize for its blurriness).
The tree in this photo is alive, and as you can see has structural roots perched well above the soil. How might this have happened? There are multiple possibilities. And secondly, is there a negative impact on the tree, and if so, what? Answers and another photo on Monday!
Have a nice weekend!
We just don’t have enough excitement on the blog, so I thought I’d bring up two new items that just crossed my virtual desk. The first is today’s Garden Rant posting from Susan Harris. I won’t spoil her well-written blog, but if you’ve been following the debate on the disease-control properties of compost tea, you’ll be interested in reading it.
The second was in an email from a colleague at the EPA on a new journal article. … Continue reading this article “Two new postings on compost tea efficacy – and safety”
Occasionally one of the GPs will blog about a book that’s particulary good – or not. I was given a copy of Ruth Stout’s No-Work Garden Book a few years ago and frankly hadn’t given much more than a passing glance. But last week I thumbed through it and was immediately struck by the quality of science this self-taught gardener brought to her writing.
Much of Ruth’s gardening practices included the use of organic mulch on vegetable gardens, and she regularly wrote to scientists to ask for their interpretation of “expert” advice. … Continue reading this article “The No-Work Garden Book”
Yes, not my day to post, but I just received an email with a link to a new product called Packing Pearls. These are polystyrene balls that fill the bottom of large containers so they aren’t so heavy. They are promoted as “improving water drainage and oxygen flow.” You can find a link here
The “pearls” are separated from the soil and plant roots with a pot liner (composition unknown). We’re told that the roots can’t grow through the pot liner. … Continue reading this article “Packing Pearls”
To no one’s great surprise by now, the white substance in Friday’s photo is mesh:
Like so many “instant” lawns that never really establish, the original grasses in this sod have died, leaving only weeds, debris, and the netting used as a matrix to support bunchgrass production.
(I have a personal grudge against sod netting, having removed the tenacious remains of black plastic netting when we replaced our lawn with alternative groundcoverings. Like Velvetta and Twinkies, this stuff never dies.)
A few years ago when I was in Lisle, Illinois I took this photo of turf:
Can you see the filmy white substance within the turf? What is it?
Answer and another photo on Monday – have a great weekend!
Last week I posted a short message about this company, asking you to do a little homework. Bryn, CP, and Karen all have teased out some details that agree with my skepticism on how reliable this company is for soil testing and analysis. (See last Wednesday’s post and comments if you haven’t read them already.)
To back up a little bit, I received an email from LB last week, along with the attached soil test, analysis and recommendations. … Continue reading this article “International Ag Labs – who are they and what do they do?”
We’re back to civilization, so I can finally post the answer to the puzzle. I’ve been without cell service and our only computer access was dial-up at a glacial 37.2 kbps. Yes, kbps.
Back to our puzzle. Here’s a larger version of Friday’s photo:
It is bark, as many astute readers pointed out. As far as I know, it’s a London plane tree (Platanus), but given the promiscuity of the genus, who knows exactly what species or hybrid it is?… Continue reading this article “Friday puzzle solved…finally”
I was asked earlier today to comment on the Garden Rant blog regarding the issue of nonnative plants and insect survival, specifically in reference to Dr. Tallamy’s research. Though I haven’t read his popular book (Bringing Nature Home), I did read one of his most recent papers (DW Tallamy and KJ Shropshire, 2009. Ranking lepidopteran use of native versus introduced plants, Conservation Biology 23(4): 941-947). The authors argue that lepidopterans prefer native to alien species for egg laying. … Continue reading this article “Native vs. introduced species – the discussion continues”
I thought it would be fun again to do a “what is it” photo:
Answer and a larger photo on Monday…if I can. I’ll be on a dial-up modem and who knows if I can actually get anything posted. If I can’t, it’ll be up Tuesday.
And from all of us Garden Professors, have a happy Valentine’s Day!
