Justin W. Hancock

Watch for Hitchhikers

Written on September 26, 2011 at 6:22 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Every fall I bring into the house a large number of my favorite tropical plants from the summer season. Because I’m fortunate enough to live in a house with very large windows, I get enough light to keep most of my plants going through the cold months.

 

I’ve learned from experience that it’s vital to watch for pests — and treat them before they make it into the house. One of the most troublesome is mealybug. It looks like a little tiny white piece of cotton when young; it’s easy to miss. Mealybugs reproduce like wildfire — and just one hitchhiker can turn into a full-scale epidemic in just a couple of months.

 

Prevent pests from being problematic by:

• Hosing off plants with a strong stream of water from the garden hose before you bring them in.
• Carefully examining plants for the actual insects (a magnifying glass helps).
• Spraying plants with insecticidal soap (available at your local garden center), making sure to get the tops and bottoms of the leaves.
• Cutting plants back a bit, as many insects prefer to feed on the new growth.

Supporting D. Landreth Seed

Written on September 23, 2011 at 6:41 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s been in the news for a while now, but D. Landreth Seed Company, out of Pennsylvania needs help. The nation’s oldest seed company has a goal of selling 1 million catalogs by the end of this month to end the threat of being forced out of business.

Besides offering an impressive number of flower and vegetable seeds (including some very cool heirlooms), the company also offers spring-blooming bulbs such as crocus and daffodils.

Learn more about Landreth’s situation — or click here to learn more about Landreth!

Horticulture on a Grand Scale

Written on August 11, 2011 at 6:11 am , by Justin W. Hancock

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the folks at Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota. Perhaps best known for being the company behind Endless Summer hydrangeas, Bailey is a large wholesale company that does virtually everything big.

It’s amazing going to their growing fields and seeing thousands of plants in blocks, ready to be shipped off to garden centers around the country. Below is a block of gorgeous Endless Summer hydrangeas in their prime. They extend almost as far as the eye can see — and this is just one section. There are other sections like this of just about every variety they sell, including their roses. A block of hundreds of roses is breathtaking!

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I also had the great luck to see some newer varieties on the market — again, in their prime. Here’s ‘Pink Double Delight’ coneflower (which I love; it’s a fantastic performer in my garden!) — again this isn’t a planted bed, these are all individual pots.

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The Bailey Nurseries staff also let me see their gorgeous display gardens where they test out varieties before they sell them. Instead of planting everything in organized rows, though, the company let their staff have a little fun with garden design and created several acres of lush plantings. It was a feast to the eyes!

Wordless Wednesday!

Written on August 10, 2011 at 5:13 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s Wednesday…that means time to show off some fantastic photos from the BHG Share My Gallery.

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Wordless Wednesday

Written on July 20, 2011 at 5:54 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s Wednesday…that means time to show off some fantastic photos from the BHG Share My Gallery.

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Vegetable Garden Controversy

Written on July 14, 2011 at 5:55 am , by Justin W. Hancock

I admit that I’m a follow-the-rules kind of guy. I was raised with the belief that rules largely exist to help us know what kind of decision to make when we’re confused, to keep the world in order, and to prevent us from falling into deep, inescapable chaos.

But when I read the story of Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan, I silently gave her a thumbs up.

Julie Bass’ story is an interesting one: According to what I’ve read, she’s being threatened with a misdemeanor crime for violating city code and having a front yard vegetable garden instead of more traditional lawn and shrubbery.

Personally, I don’t find the pictures I’ve seen (view for yourself here) particularly unattractive. It’s not the most traditional approach to front yard landscape design, but it’s certainly not bare earth. And it’s not the first time I’ve heard of growing vegetables out front; in fact, you can see a picture of a front yard that incorporates herbs and vegetables in a front yard right here on BHG.com.

So what do you think? Is this brouhaha over nothing — should she be fined and forced to move her vegetable garden out back and replace it with lawn? Or should she be cheered for doing something a little different? Share your comments!