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PLANTING THE SEED

PT(L) Language: Landscape Design and Plant Terminology

That's right! Today is PT(L)!


So it's time to brush up on your Landscaping Lingo!
(Answers at the bottom)


Let's start with an easy one! 


1. What is a gazebo?
a) A roofed structure that offers an open view of the surrounding area.
b) A kind of zebra.
c) A fancy name for an outhouse. 






2. A man-made cavern or cave is called what?
a) The bat cave.
b) The Temple of Doom. 
c) A grotto




And today's final question:


3. The Latin hortus deliciarum means:
a) The delicious horticulture.
b) Garden of delights.
c) The delicate horticulture.




Keep checking the blog for more landscaping/gardening facts, fun, and what's ups!

Give up? The answers are 1)a 2)c 3)b

It Costs How Much?! How Expensive are Fruits and Vegetables

We all know that food prices have gone up. In addition, more and more people are becoming concerned about how our food is grown. Home gardening isn't just a popular trend, it's a great way to save money and eat the most delicious food you've ever tasted.

When was the last time you had a home-grown tomato? 

When was the last time you had a tomato from the store that tasted as good as a home grown tomato?

How much did you spend on fresh groceries last month? 

Here's a chart from the Economic Research Service for the United States Department of Agriculture:

How Expensive Are Fruits and Vegetables?

(To make a long article short: Fresh food is actually often cheaper per serving than frozen or canned!)

(Now think how much more you can save if you pay only a dollar or two for a pack of seeds!)

Not Your Average Quat!

In the spotlight: Kumquats!

Kumquats (Cumquats) are small edible fruits from the kumquat tree. They look and feel like oranges, but they're only about the size of an olive. The kumquat flesh has a slightly sour citrus taste, while the skin (Yes, you eat the skin too!) has a sweet citrus taste. Kumquats are the only citrus commonly eaten skin and all.

From easybloom.com

If you're strong-willed enough to not eat all of them directly off of the small trees, you can make them into kumquat jellies, marmalades, and even liquors. They also make a great addition to lunches or make healthy snacks. 

From meyerlemontree.com

The trees are extremely hardier compared to other citrus trees and can easily withstand Mobile winters. 

Raised Bed Gardening!

From www.mastergardenproducts.com

What is raised bed gardening?


Raised Bed Gardening, or intensive gardening, is a type of cultivation that elevates the gardening surface from the ground to a more comfortable and more efficient level. Raised bed gardening has been around for thousands of years, but it's making a modern-day comeback. 

     


Advantages:

From www.donnan.com

• Since it is not necessary to use native soil, the quality of the soil is able to be manipulated--giving you the best soil to work with.
• Raised beds drain better than in-ground gardens.
• The soil doesn't get compacted from being stepped on--this helps sustain the soil quality and also allows the roots to grow more easily.
• Raised beds warm more quickly in spring, giving you a longer growing season.
• It is easy to custom-tailor raised beds to meet the needs of specific plants.
• After the initial construction, raised beds require less maintenance than conventional in-ground gardens. 

As you can see, raised bed gardens can utilize a variety of forms and materials. It's easy to customize your raised bed to fit your taste. The versatility and usability of the raised bed garden makes it the top choice of many of today's urban, semi-urban, and, especially, organic gardeners.  


Want to start your own raised bed garden, but don't know what to do? Contact us for a landscaping consultation!

From http://irish-oriental.blogspot.com

Association of Professional Landscape Designers

Did you know we are the only official member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers in the Mobile area? Yep, we sure are, and are proud to be a part of such an inspiring group of designers. Check it out- click the logo and see for yourself!

http://www.apld.com/

PTS: Give Away

We are excited about our new year with our blog, and we would like to thank you for joining us by offering a complimentary container gardening session devoted to our readers in the Mobile, Alabama area. Leave a comment below telling us what you like about our blog, and you will have a chance to win a space at the next session!

Thanks again! 

PT(G): Planting the Goal: Morris

How are your 2012 Resolutions going? If you haven't yet- be a follower of our blog right now, and help us with our resolutions... twitter and facebook if you are feeling like an A+ student!

The great benefit of being our "friend" is seeing gardens like these every week- and having one of your own.