Happy 1st Day of Summer!

Happy 1st day of Summer. Whether the weather decides to agree with that statement might be a topic of discussion. Planting time is still going and the shrubs and trees are just happy to go from our place to yours. We have many perennials and hardy shrub roses still available.

I am sure you have noticed that this year the bug and leaf problems have increased considerably than in past years. If your plants are young and do not have the root system on them they will need to be treated. Keep in mind that once the leaf is chewed on or discolored from a disease it most likely will not return to its normal shape or color very soon. Please bring in a sample of what you are having problems with and we will try to help you with the proper treatment.

Putting down a systemic insecticide is a very good idea and it is time to do so if you have not already. Adding root stimulator to your water will help any new or sad looking plants.

Until later. Have a safe and happy day, keep planting. Donna

It’s Never Too Late to Start an Herb Garden!

Herb gardening is fun and easy. It can provide a great variety of foliage, texture and it doesn’t require a lot of space! You can start an herb garden in a small garden bed, in a patio pot or even in a hanging basket.

If you can ever remember a time that you’ve gone to the spice rack/drawer/etc in your kitchen and realized you were out of a certain item, then it might be beneficial to start an herb garden! Herbs can be grown from seed or you can purchase herbs from your local nursery, such as Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery. We carry a wide variety of herbs: basil, chive, cilantro, dill, lavender, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, spearmint and thyme.

This is a picture a customer sent us of her herb garden. She has oregano, cilantro and basil in a patio pot on her deck. Notice the mulch in the pot. This will really help her out on hot hot summer days when she forgets to get out and water, the mulch will help to keep the soil cool and prevent it from drying out faster. Also notice the little flowers on the oregano, in the top left of the picture, time to pinch that oregano!

Herbs do not need a lot of fertilizer. Plant your herbs with a good fertilizer mixed in with the soil at the beginning for best results. Keep in mind that the more fertilizer that is added, can change the oils in the plants which give them their flavor. Be sure to check the individual plants for watering specifications, but generally most herbs prefer a dryer soil, unlike a tomato that prefers to have moist soil.

Harvest your herbs in the morning, to avoid warm weather shock. Plants should only be harvested when there is enough remaining foliage to maintain growth. Regardless of if the herbs will be used fresh or dried to be used later, they should be washed in cold water after being pinched off of the plant.

If you are looking to dry your herbs, hang them upside down after washing to allow the water to evaporate. Remove the lower leaves from the stems and tie the bunch together with a rubber band or twine at the stems. Be sure not to overcrowd your bundle of herbs, as they need proper ventilation to be able to dry out. You’ll want to find a dry and dark place for the herbs to dry out, a place that is temperature warm but not humid. Herbs need between 1-3 weeks to fully dry out. The herbs are done drying out when you can crumble a leaf between two fingers.

Store your dried herbs in an airtight jar. Remove the leaves from the stem and place them in the jar. They can be kept whole or finely crushed between your fingers. They can be kept for about a year. Happy Herbing!

Earth Day!

Celebrating Earth Day, better late than never. Rather than celebrating Earth Day on the traditional 2011 date of April 27, this Coon Rapids middle school chose to celebrate it closer to the end of the school year with warmer weather. We were along for the ride to help with green tips, gardening tips and the actual planting of the flowers and shrubs on the property. Each class period throughout the day had a different activity to participate in. Some groups planted flowers, pulled weeds around the building and picked up brush and debris from a nature trail. Other groups picked up trash on the premises and prepped and planted shrubs.

All in all, it was a very fun and successful day. The weather stayed clear and beautiful and all of the students stayed involved in the task at hand. They even learned quite a bit about planting flowers! Below are some pictures of our day..

Our planting area in the first steps.
Baskets and pots had to be weeded and new soil was mixed in.
Students getting involved in the planting process.
Breaking up roots and planting at the correct depth for success!

The science class had started some plants from seed.
We pulled mature plants from the classroom indoor garden and planted them outside.

Our finished products!

Hanging baskets as well as pots are among the fern and iris already in the ground

Nearing the end of our day. Weeds are pulled and the mulch around the tree area has been raked up. Colorful flowers fill the planters and hanging baskets. Students added additional mulch to the planters to prevent soil from drying out over the weekends.

Baskets filled with impatiens, begonia and lobelia.
Thanks for letting Lynde be a part of your day!

Maple Grove 5K & Half Marathon

We recently were at the Maple Grove 5K & Half Marathon as a sponsor! The weather wasn't the best, but we had a blast being out in the community at this event. We brought some bright blooming flowers to brighten up the gloomy day and a whole slew of pictures of our projects. Below are some pictures we snapped throughout the day!

Our Sponsor Area

Flowers!

Our Participants!

Random Candid