From SOU News: “The Buzzway map helps visualize pollinator habitat connectivity – a vital element in helping native pollinators such as butterflies, bees and moths to navigate the urban landscape. The map also encourages people to create new gardens by showing areas with no certified pollinator habitat, and shares stories about how existing gardens were created.”
Tag Archives: plants
DIY: Seedling Mix
Seed starting mix is known as a soil-less mix , and unlike garden soil or potting soil, it is a sterile pathogen free growing mix. This is important because pathogens can kill seedlings while they are germinating, so growing seeds in a soil-less mixture increases their survival rate. After your seeds have germinated and grown two true leaves, then they can be transplanted into containers filled with potting soil.
DIY Seedling Mix recipe:
4 parts screened (mature) compost
1 part perlite
1 part vermiculite
2 parts coir (coconut fiber)
Use hands, or trowel to mix until ingredients are well combined.
Wet the seedling mix only until you can form a loose ball (water should not be dripping from the mixture)
Fill pots, or trays, with seedling mix
Plant seeds to the depth shown on the seed packet, cover seeds with seedling mix, then use a spray bottle to gently water the seeds.
Label your pots or trays with seed variety.
Article and photos by Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member
Horticulture Report: Allium acuminatum
Plant Name: Allium acuminatum
Common Name: Hooker’s onion
Plant type : Deciduous Perennial Herb
Height: 0’ – 2’
Spread: 0’ – 1’
Bloom Time: May – July
Flower Color: Purple, White, Pin
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Dry, well-drained; sandy/loamy
Water Needs: Occasional Summer Water
Attributes: Bulblets reproduce easily; strong onion smell; deer resistant; attracts pollinators: bats, butterflies, birds; nectar source for butterflies
Note: Flowers appear on long stalks after leaves have died; goes dormant in summer after going to seed
Uses: Rock Garden; Dry Open Meadows; Habitat Restoration; Green Roof
Native to: Western United States
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone 5 – 9
Ashland Oregon: USDA Hardiness Zones
Choosing the right plant and planting it in the right spot in your garden is a difficult decision, but you can be assured you are buying the right plant suited for your garden by checking the hardiness zone on its label. By buying plants rated for your hardiness zone you’ve increased the plant’s survival rate and its ability to thrive in your garden.
This is true for vegetable seeds too. Each seed packet has the plant’s hardiness zone printed on the back.
Ashland has 3 hardiness zones: 7b, 8a, 8b. Check your zone by location here: https://www.plantmaps.com/en/us/f/hz/state/oregon/plant-hardiness-zones
Also, be ware that nurseries and stores sell plants that are not rated for the climate where they are being sold.
Art in the Garden
Ashland Garden Club member, Tsutae Novick’s art in the garden.
Tsutae enjoys making art and doing whatever brings love and joy into her life;
she enjoys meeting with people & making friends, traveling, singing, cooking, gardening; she likes animals, tea ceremonies, healing, spirituality, and sculpting with clay. She especially likes making little buddhas, which the Japanese call “Jizou”.
Tsutae’s Gallery: https://sairam414.weebly.com/gallery.html
Photos by: Lynn McDonald
Post by: Carlotta Lucas
Heirloom Garden Lavenders
Ashland Garden Club’s Community Service: Thanks to all who helped purchase and plant 80+ new lavenders in N. Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden. October 8, 2024
Bill Viki Carol Lynn