Ramsey County

July 2, 2009

Howdy!!!

By the time you read this another July 4^th will have come and gone.  I am not sure what is going on but each holiday seems to come faster and faster.  It seems only yesterday that we were struggling to get our crops planted, garden planted and just plain old get the air temperatures to warm up.  It is funny as we talk about warming how grandchildren know when to warm up to you and when to say away and especially at such a young age.  Our newest one, Hadley, is not quite old enough for that yet but let me tell you the other two sure know how.  Plants can react in the same way, they show off their stuff and when the tough comes they let you know in a hurry they need help. 

I talked about Hosta’s on the radio a week or two ago and gave a good slug receipt for you to use.  The combination works very well and is something you should try.  The recipe is one part ammonia to 10 parts water.   Spray the new recipe around the ground of the hosta and it should get rid of the problem.  If not do again.  Speaking of Hosta’s, Deb and my hostas are starting to look very good.  It really is funny how what you get and what is written on the plant id market can vary so much.  I bought a hosta last year that said it should be a very tall and wide brim hosta turns out to be about 5 inches tall at best and about 6-7 inches in total plant diameter.  Then we have another that is suppose to like sun and did not like sun at all and yet others I have found don’t mind some sun.  I have really turned into a hosta guy.  All the years I farmed or lived in an apartment  I did not like gardening but have found myself really getting into it and still knowing that I have a tremendous amount yet to learn.  I get many questions asking what kind of flower this is or how tall does that one get and my answer is usually, I need to look it up.  I have however found myself getting to know more and more of these annuals and perennials.

The storm that came through last weekend was very hard on our perennials.  Any taller perennial actually either tip over or broke off at the base of the plant.  There are some differences however and if you attend the Relay for Life garden tour, you will see many flowers that took the wind better than others.  Speaking of Relay for Life garden tour, the tour will be held on July 16^th beginning at 4pm and ending approximately 9 pm.  Tickets are $7.00 in advance or $8.00 at the door.  This is a great time to check out new ideas and plants and also a great time to visit with your neighbors.  I know of garden clubs coming from Esmond all the way to Grand Forks.  It should be a really good time.  You will find things undone in our yard as I have been so busy this summer and can not find time to get these projects done before the tour.  But then they always say a garden is a work in progress.

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - NDSU.Ramsey.Extension@ndsu.edu

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