Plant Name: Centranthus ruber
Common Name: Jupiter’s Beard ( aka: Red Valerian)
Plant type: Perennial
Height: 1 ft – 3 ft
Spread: 1 ft – 2 ft
Bloom Time: May
Flower Color: ‘Ruber’ – Pale to Deep Rosy Red, ‘Albus’- White
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Drained Soil- Prefers Alkaline Soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies & other insects,
Showy Flowers, Good Cut Flower, Fragrant leaves.
Note: Easy to grow, Self-seeds freely, Reported as “suspected” on the Oregon invasive plant list!
Uses: Containers, Rock Garden, Mixed Flower Bed
Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, Asia Minor
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Author Archives: Ashland Garden Club
What Makes Plants Happy?
Interesting article last month in the New York Times.
Article by Margaret Roach.
Spiders
Two Articles from the Oregon Department of Agriculture about Oregon spiders.
Oregon Spiders Fact And Fiction 
Myth Busters
Nine experts from Oregon State University Extension Service bust some common gardening myths. Read this article to get some research-based answers to 10 common misconceptions.
http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2017/02/gardening_myths_debunked_by_or.html
Home Remedy
Aphid Control
Pour 2 tablespoons liquid dish soap into 1 gallon water. Stir the dish soap into the water and transfer the contents into a plastic spray bottle.
Spray the affected plant’s leaves on both sides with the soapy mixture. Pay attention to coat the underside of the leaves with the mixture, as this is where you’ll find the highest concentration of aphids.
Spray the soapy mixture directly onto any aphids you notice falling from the leaves. The aphids are small, and it’s necessary to shoot them with the soapy water to kill the unwanted pests.
Rinse away the soapy residue after one to two hours. Allowing the soap to remain on the leaves for longer than a few hours can cause damage and burning. Use a garden hose or spray bottle filled with plain water to remove the residue.
Reapply the mixture every few days, or as necessary, to keep the aphid infestation under control.
Tip: Add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil to the mixture to increase the mixture’s density and make it stickier, helping it attach to and kill the aphids more effectively.
Warning: Test the soapy mixture on a small leaf before a larger application. If the plant shows sign of wilting or damage, don’t use this mixture.
Reprinted from SFgate online: http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden