NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2010

NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2010

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GARDEN RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET PART II

BY GEORGE EDGAR

In Part I, I wrote about the websites I use the most to research information about a particular plant or topic. Mainly I wrote about “UNL Extension Catalog of Publications” (http://ianrpubs.unl.edu), and the UNL Extension Service” website (http://www.extension.unl.edu). In Part II I will mention some other web sites that I have found to be helpful.

First, some of you may be turned off by these articles because you do not have a computer or you do not know how to use one. May I suggest that there is lots of information out there and if you want some of it, most libraries have computers and someone that can help you get the information you want. Or ask your granddaughter or grandson to look something up for you. My 14 year old granddaughter does very well on the computer. And our son in New York works with computers for General Electric so is a big help for me. I am sure you can find someone to help you.

Iowa State University has a good horticulture web site (www.hort.iastate.edu/extension). The most useful has been their on-line magazine “Horticulture and Home Pest News” (www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews). I have found the articles in the “HortNews” to be very practical and timely. You can access the latest issue for a timely topic or in the search box type in name of a topic such as tomatoes, or squash bugs, or blossom end rot for example. These articles are usually short (one or two pages) and very practical. For example, the article on harvesting, curing, and decorating ornamental gourds (What Are You Going To Do With All Those Gourds?) I found very useful. They also have an article on what is the best temperature for germinating seeds, and one on the life expectancy of seeds if properly stored. The article “Gardening on the Web” has some good links you may want to check out. You can even sign up to get an e-mail alert when a new issue is posted on the web. Another is the wildlife publications website (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife/publications.html

Other, mostly local web sites, that I have found useful include:

1. Backyard Farmer (www.byf.unl.edu) with access to the answers asked of the panel on past TV programs and pictures of Gladys Jeurink ’s flower of the week.

2. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (http://arboretum.unl.edu). Be sure and check out the link to the Great Plants Program which is a joint effort of the Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. They select and promote exceptional plants that are reliably hardy in our area, easy to care for, and ornamentally worthwhile as Plants of the Year and for their GreatPlants Releases and Introductions. You can see colored pictures of the deciduous trees, perennials, shrubs, grasses, and conifers selected for this year and past selections.

3. Nebraska Forest Service (www.nfs.unl.edu). Check out their very helpful publications on trees, and shrubs for this area.

4. Most County Extension Service offices maintain a website just for that county or group of counties. Check out the one for your county. Go to http:// (name of County).unl.edu. You will find a current article, past publications, address of the office, and links to many of the websites I have mentioned.

5. Landscape Plants for the Upper Midwest from the University of Wisconsin Extension (www.midwestlandscapeplants.org). On this website you can search for pictures and descriptions of many trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers that can be grown in our area.

Most commercial seed and nursery companies have websites with information about plant culture in addition to lists of seeds, trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals for sale. Using one of the search engines you can find a link to many of these seed companies such as Thompson and Morgan Seed Co., Johnny’s Seed Co., Burpee Seed Co., Shepherd’s, and Park Seed Co.

Don’t forget to look at your local seed companies and nurseries such as Earl May Seed and Nursery (earlmay.com), Great Plains Nursery in Weston (www.greatplainsnursery.com), Finke gardens in Lincoln (www.finkegardens.com), Mulhalls in Omaha (www.mullhalls.com), Faller Landscape in York (www.fallerlandscape.com), and Campbell ’s Nursery in Lincoln (http://www.campbellsnursery.com/1000.htm).

There are also many specialty seed companies, such as Totally Tomatoes (www.totallytomato.com), and Tomato Growers Supply Company (www.tomatogrowers.com) that have websites. If you like tomatoes, these two companies have seeds of new varieties, old varieties, heirloom varieties, and very strange looking tomatoes. You can order on line or request a free catalog. Many of the other companies I have mentioned above also have free catalogs and many have on-line-help where you can send an e-mail to ask a question about a particular plant.

The last website has a personal connection for Gladys and me. It is maintained by Gary Jeurink, Gladys’ son. He builds and maintains websites for companies in Grand Island , Nebraska , and his website (www.ShopGI.com) reflects this connection,. At the bottom of the home page is a link to pictures of Gary and Mary ’s garden and these pictures change with the seasons.

Back on their home page if you click on “Gardening” you will get a website with a banner (Gardening Tips from George and Gladys ) and on the right side of the banner you will find links to our last three articles. If you click on the banner you will find links to most of our past articles that he has archived. Also on the Gardening home page you will find links to many garden supply companies, garden centers, and seed companies. Last year I found the information here that I wanted about Rain Barrels. Check out this website.

In these two articles I have written about “Gardening on the Internet”, I have not covered water gardens. Also I did not list many specific websites dealing with insects, diseases, and wildlife. Maybe I can get to these at another time. You may have noticed, I prefer web sites that are University based (website ends in .edu) and websites that have links to other websites. I find it much easier to click on their links than type in a long list of letters and numbers. If I like a particular web site or run across one I want to check out further, I will bookmark it so I can return when I need to find an answer next week.

In closing I leave you with the following blessing:

May the surf be up for you and easily accessible.

May you not crash or have a virus interrupt your quest for accurate information. May your harvest of ideas and information

make your gardening easier and more enjoyable.