http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening RSS Feed for Inq H&D Gardening en-us Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:21:28 GMT http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081121_A_gift_that_keeps_on_giving_.html Eileen Boyle takes a bird's-eye view of the fall garden. She sees it as a bountiful buffet of fruits, nuts and seeds. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081121_Learning_to_make_your_own.html Catherine Bosk took Eileen Boyle's natural holiday-wreath workshop a year ago and is already planning her 2008 wreaths. That's plural, yes, for Bosk will be making one for herself and helping her grandchildren - Gianna and Chris Vitale, ages 10 and 8 - make others to give their teachers for Christmas. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081121_Garden_Calendar.html Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Jan. 10 Treefest 25 theme-decorated trees, plus music and a visit by Santa; 5 to 7 p.m. Free. Runs daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bucks County Visitors Center, 3207 Street Rd., Bensalem; 1-800-836-2825; www.visitbuckscounty.com. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081121_Garden_Q_A.html Question: My Caryopteris incana has done very well in sun and well-drained soil. I wonder if it's good to cut it back every year. Right now, it's about three feet tall, and I'd like to see it shorter, with new growth next year. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081114_Nothing_dim_about_these_bulbs.html And you thought gardening was for gentle souls. What about forcing bulbs to bloom when they're trying to sleep? In the case of paperwhites and amaryllis, don't fret. They don't sleep. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081114_Time_to____.html Resolve not to be so late next year, but you can still plant spring bulbs. Stop squirrels from digging them by watering after planting (wetted-down soil isn't such a giveaway) and/or dusting the surface with cayenne pepper. A longer-lasting tactic is to use gravel: Cover bulbs with an inch of soil, then an inch or more of preferably sharp gravel, and a final soil layer. (This is unnecessary for narcissus, for which squirrels have no taste.) http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081114_Garden_Calendar.html Monday, Nov. 17 What Does Paws Farm Do, Anyway? Program with Pat Halbe; 10:30 a.m. Free. Mount Laurel Library, 100 Walt Whitman Ave., Mount Laurel. Information: http://mtlaurelgardenclub.tripod.com. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20081114_Tips_on_forcing__pure_enjoyment__bulbs.html As Sue Chapin says, forcing paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs is "pure enjoyment" - and just a little work. Here's how to do it: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20070126_Garden_Calendar.html Today Last day to see photographs of entries in Pennsylvania Horticultural Society City Gardens Contest, at kiosks at the Gallery at Market East, lower level, Ninth and Market Streets; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_design/gardening/20070126_Garden_Q_A.html Question: What can I expect from my daffodils come spring? With the recent warm spell we have had here in the Philadelphia area, some of the daffodils were up about four to five inches, and some even started to show buds.