Take is easy with perennials.

One of the harder things about gardening is having to put in new plants for every season. It's not that we don't love it (we absolutely do), but it is a lot of work. You can ease some of that pain by planting perennials that are capable of sustaining themselves year-round or that come back with little to no assistance. Here are some of our Gulf Coast favorites. (Names of plants, except for siam tulip, link to websites where you can purchase seeds/bulbs)

Canna

from eattheweeds.com

Leeks

from figjamandlimecordial.com

Shallots

from kids.brittanica.com

 

Rosemary

from manataka.org

 

Rose Campion

from southernexposure.com

 

Siam Tulip

from beechwoodlandscape.blogspot.com

 Mint

from wikipedia.org

 Caladium

from pacificbulbsociety.org

Dahlia

from theflowersociety.com

Holed up from the hurricane? Try this take on Chicken Pot Pie: Chicken Cobbler!

Food genius, Mark Bittman is not a lazy man. As the author of almost 15 books on food and cooking, host of a NY Times weekly web-based cooking show, and an avid blogger and occasional columnist it is no secret that Mark Bittman is a man who knows how to get things done both in and out of the kitchen.



from nytimes.com



However, Chicken Pot Pie, that delicious, down-home, classic dish is something he is just too lazy to do. His solution? Chicken Cobbler. And, whether you'll take the advice of Mr. Bittman and go with the cobbler, or stick to your great-grandmother pot pie recipe, there's no avoiding the fact that these dishes are a great way to take care of some long-forgotten frozen vegetables or (preferably) some delicious veggies straight from the garden.

photograph by Brandon McLeod

Check out this video of Mark explaining his disdain for the laying out the dough for a pot pie and his solution of a quick biscuit topping.




If you're stuck on how to make the vegetable soup, check out this recipe from food4wibowo.blogspot.com based on Mr. Bittman's recipe.

Are your plants hurricane ready?

Let's face it. When a hurricane comes, your plants will almost inevitably take a beating. However there are things you can do to save some plants, and help others weather the storm. So, after you get your water, food, batteries, and flashlights ready, it's time to take care of your flora friends.

For potted plants:

• Any plants that you can move into the house, or an enclosed are that will not flood nor get sweltering hot.

• Any plants that cannot be moved inside, try to move them against the side of the house or against a sturdy fence to block much of the wind.

• Stabilize any outdoor plants with stakes, twine, or by covering with a sheet of plastic that has slits or small holes in it to prevent being taken by the wind and is also secured to the ground. It is also a good idea to lay large potted plants down, to drastically reduce wind damage.

For trees:

• There's really only one thing you can do, last minute, to protect your trees. Prune. Reduce the length of branches so they are more difficult for the wind to break the limbs or even the whole tree.

However, there are some things you can do, for trees, early on that will help when hurricane season rolls back around.

Here's some sage advice from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.

• Plant tree species that are high quality, have good structure and are more wind resistant such as:

• Crape myrtle
• Cabbage Palm
• Dogwood
• Live Oak
• Southern Magnolia
• Sweetgum

• Match recommended species to the local site conditions. Consider soil properties (soil depth, water table and compaction) and aerial space needed for a mature-sized tree. Avoid planting trees near power lines or close to buildings.

• Consider planting trees in groups of five or more as opposed to individually. But be sure to give trees adequate rooting space with no obstructions.

• Plant a variety of species, ages, layers of trees and shrubs to maintain diversity.

• Establish a structural pruning program early on. This will reduce the length of branches competing with the main trunk, promoting optimal tree health.

• Take a look at this IFAS Extension manual on Assessing Damage and Restoring Trees after a Hurricane for more information about preparing for and recovering from a hurricane.Click here for hurricane preparation tips for nursery growers.

Worried About Weeds?

For every weed, there's a weed control technique 

(maybe even several). 

A lot of people have the problem of not knowing what the weed is and how to prevent it from coming back. 

Some weeds, like the Florida Betony or Rattlesnake Weed, need special care, or they'll keep coming back.

Not everyone is a botanist, or even someone who knows how to navigate a field-guide, so the helpful folks over at Garden.org have compiled a Weed Library of some of the most common weeds (with pictures) in North America. You can identify the weed by the images provided, then follow their extremely helpful guidelines to get the bugger out of your yard!

Check out the website by clicking the link above, or simply by scrolling down! You can also use these quick-links:

• Grassy Weeds
• Broadleaf Weeds
• Woody and Vining Weeds

(Don't forget to check out the last section on the page for various weed control measures)

Tea Time - Herbals

Herbal tea is not only delicious, it's can also be extremely healthy.

To prepare, just put one or two teaspoons of dried herbs into a teapot or mug (preheated with warm water), then pour in boiling water and allow it to steep for three to five minutes.

Herbs have been used as natural remedies for thousands of years. (Remember, before taking any herbal remedy, consult your doctor!)

Here are some great herbal teas and how they can help you.

• Basil
• Fights colds and the flu; eases migraines; and relieves stress

from rozannegold.wordpress.com

• Dill
• Soothes upset stomachs; eases muscle spasms; and freshens breath

from howstuffworks.com

• Garlic
• Kills bacteria; clears lung congestion (phlegm); lowers blood sugar and cholesterol; and boosts circulation

from garliclover.com

• Ginger
• Fights nausea; helps with motion sickness; eases pain from diarrhea and gas; eases migraines; kills germs

from reedsinc.com

• Rosemary
• Boosts energy

from appetizinglyyours.wordpress.com

• Sage
• Fights fevers; and helps mouth ulcers, sore gums and throats

from hort.purdue.edu

• Tarragon
• Helps rheumatism; may lower blood pressure

from simplysuzannes.blogpsot.com

• Thyme
• Fights germs that cause sore throats, colds, and congestion

from azdiranbitkiler.gen.tr

Fall Vegetable Gardening Seminar

Mobile Botanical Gardens is hosting a 

Fall Vegetable Gardening Seminar 

Saturday, 25 August. 

from mobilebotanicalgardens.org

The cost is $25 for members and 

$35 for non-members (seriously, you're not a member?).

The seminar will cover:

 a planting calendar, 

recommendations for the Mobile area, 

and a field demonstration (weather permitting).

Pre-registration required. Call 251-342-0555 or email mbg2@bellsouth.net to register.

What To Plant Right Now!

It's time to plant for the fall. Along the gulf coast, that means you should be planting the following varieties in August.

Winter Squash

from whatscookingamerica.net

Pumpkins

from expatriotskitchen.blogspot.com

Melons

from foodsubs.com

Cucumbers

from flowerdalenurseries.blogspot.com

Corn

from thedailygreen.com

Pole beans

from gurneys.com

Lima Beans

from southernexposure.com

Beets

from indieogdenutah.com

Carrots

from housebeautiful.com

Collards (and some other leafy greens)

from edenbrothers.com

Can You Name This Flower?

from eaglebluff.wordpress.com

Can you name this flower? If so, you could win a spot at our next container gardening seminar! Just respond via the blog, facebook, G+, or twitter! And remember, if you haven't checked out our website, you can do so at www.planting-the-seed.com

Alabama Red-belly

As you know, taking care of gardens doesn't stop at your property line. Everything in nature is intrinsically connected. If you don't care for the plants and animals in your area, you're indirectly endangering your own plants. It is for this reason that many people are trying to conserve both plants (heirloom and organic) and animals (endangered species).

Today I'd like to highlight the Official Reptile of the State of Alabama.

Photograph by Bob Moul 2007

The Alabama Red-belly Turtle has been on the endangered species list since 1987 and was adopted as the state reptile since 1990. These beautiful turtles reside mainly in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, but they can also be found along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Check the map from US Fish and Wildlife Services below and find out what other species are endangered in your state here).

The most distressing part of this creature's plight is that it is man-made. For the Alabama Red-belly, the number one cause of death is automobiles. That's right, even with all of the alligators, herons, feral hogs, fish crows, and raccoons out there preying on the hatchlings, more of these turtles are killed by our own cars than anything else.

from outdooralabama.com

There's good news, however. In 2008, a fence was erected along the causeway to help protect the baby turtles. And help it did! According to Dr. David Nelson of the University of South Alabama, 94 babies and 15 adults were hit by automobiles in 2007. In 2008, those numbers dropped to 19 hatchlings and 9 adults--an overall reductions of 80%!

from savetheredbelly.org

from savetheredbelly.org

from savetheredbelly.org

This news is especially good, since a recent study concluded that roughly 6% of all drivers will actually swerve to hit animals in or near the road. 

The next time you're down on the bay and you see one of our friends trying to cross the road, stop the car and help them out. I promise you'll feel great for the rest of the day!

from outdooralabama.com

It's Time to Save Your Seeds!

You've worked hard this summer and you've had some beautiful and delicious plants because of it. Don't let all of that work go to waste! Take steps now to harvest and save your seeds for next year. Not only is it a great way to be more involved in your garden (and allow you, if you're brave, to try and create your own varieties), but it will also save you money on seeds next go 'round.

Saving seeds is especially important if you're growing heirloom fruits, vegetables, or flowers. Heirloom plants are growing ever closer to extinction and by you saving (and hopefully sharing) your seeds, you can personally keep that from happening. Some of the varieties we have today have been saved from extinction by single families! You may not feel like a hero, but you can be one by planting, harvesting, and sharing heirloom seeds.


Not all seeds were created equal, so some of them require special care, but for the most part basic steps are the same. Be sure to check one of the guides below before harvesting your seeds. We don't want you to waste your time and not do it properly.

The Basics:

1. Cut open the vegetable or fruit.
2. Remove the seeds. 
3. If the seeds are large enough, clean them with water in a colander or a wire mesh sieve. If they are very small (like tomato seeds), you may need to soak the seeds in water for a few days first, to discourage bacteria. The goal is to remove all plant matter that is not part of the seed.
4. After the plant matter has been removed, dry the seeds in a towel, paper towel, or on a paper plate for a few days until they are dry. 
5. Put the dry seeds into a paper container (like the ones you would receive seeds in when you purchase them). Label the container with the type of seed and the date. After seeds are more than one year old, the yield rate drops drastically and you'll have to use many more seeds to achieve the same results.
6. Finally, put the seeds into the freezer or refrigerator. You need to keep them dry and cold.

Watch this great video from Cliff Middleton about how to save tomato seeds:

Tips!

• Don't save hybrids! Hybrids are unpredictable and you don't know what you'll get the next year. To be safe, use only heirloom seeds.
• Save seeds from plants that are ripe, but not overly so. If the plant is over-ripe, the seeds may already be germinating. If the plants are not ripe enough, the seeds won't be ready.
• Choose the absolute best-of-the-best from your garden to save. These are the ones whose qualities you'll want to pass on to the next generation. If you pass on eating it now, you'll have even better ones to eat next time.
• If the plant has suffered blight or any other wilting disease and has survived and produced a beautiful fruit or vegetable, it's okay to save seeds from that plant. Don't worry, nature is tough!

Here are some good guides for saving seeds:

How to Save Bean Seeds

How to Save Cucumber Seeds

How to Save Eggplant Seeds

How to Save Lettuce Seeds

How to Save Melon Seeds

How to Save Pepper Seeds

How to Save Pumpkin Seeds

How to Save Summer Squash Seeds

How to Save Tomato Seeds

How to Save Winter Squash Seeds

REMINDER: 

It's time to plant for the fall. Why not try some heirloom seeds from our friends over at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange?

Plant In Spotlight - Siam Tulip "Curcuma alismatifolia"

I don't know if anyone told you, but the Siam tulips have been blooming like crazy this year and that is such a wonderful thing! 

from 123rf.com

Siam Tulips, scientifically named Curcuma alismatifolia, are not actually related to the tulip. They're actually a type of ginger and are fairly close to turmeric.

from beechwoodlandscape.blogspot.com

Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Monocots

(unranked): Commelinids

Order: Zingiberales

Family: Zingiberaceae

Genus: Curcuma

Species: C. alismatifolia

This ginger can stand the Gulf Coast heat and, if cared for properly,
will come back on its own year after year.
 Because of that, and the breathtaking blooms,
 we highly recommend this ginger variety for your garden.

You won't regret it.