40 Waterwise Plants and Natives by Flower Color

04/30/2016 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener We’ve all seen  dreary, low-water landscapes. Though well-intentioned, the only color is gray to gray-green, with plants that look brittle and bone-dry. But water-wise gardens can be vibrant, colorful, and yes, even lush-looking. Although…

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Classic Corn

04/29/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Growing Corn – “Knee high by the 4th of July” is an old benchmark for corn progress. The truth is, depending on your sowing date, several of our varieties could be harvested for your Independence Day barbeque! Whether you are looking…

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Don’t Over Do these Veggie Plants

04/29/2016 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener This week we start the official planting season in the summer vegetable gardens.  Tomato demonstrations, garden classes on growing your own groceries, non-GMO radio interviews, organic talks with a HUGE buildup of vegetable plants…

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Lobelia Cambridge Blue Flowers

04/27/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Loves growing in mountain gardens. The soft, light blue flowers of Cambridge Blue Lobelia are perfect for any spot in the garden, hanging basket, container, window box or border. The pale green foliage is not often seen because of the profusion…

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Rose Gardening 101

04/21/2016 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Mother’s Day is just three weeks away and almost all mothers love flowers, especially roses.  Watters has stocked up with hundreds upon hundreds of roses in preparation for Mother’s Day, and the choices can…

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Muskmelon, Cantaloupe & Honeydew – what’s the difference?

04/19/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Summertime Melons in the Garden What we call cantaloupes are really muskmelons. True cantaloupes are hard-shelled melons from Europe. Honeydew melons are different from muskmelons in that the skin is smooth, the flesh is green, and the scent is markedly different.…

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Roses Explained – Four Major Rose Types

04/11/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Which Rose Is Right For You? Roses can be grown in any location, and there are sizes that accommodate any landscape environment. There are too many sub-varieties to show them all here, but this column has space for a list…

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Inner Soul of a Gardener, the Reason for the Hobby

04/09/2016 Ken Davis

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener This week’s column is intraspective, philosophical and downright soulful.  The poet side of this gardener is released in a reflection back at why I garden, and who took interest in sharing the passion that…

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Ken Lain – The Mountain Gardener

04/06/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener Read More

Shasta May Daisy or Leucanthemum x superbum

04/05/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

She may look like a typical perennial daisy, but look again at her large, snow white Leucanthemum superbum flowers with blankets of amazing buds along every flower stem. With her stronger branching and waves of buds,…

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