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More Floriferous Roses
Climbing roses need nitrogen to stimulate formation of strong new canes to train over arches and arbors. When I was a young horticulture student in Northern California, in between classes my aged...
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A History of Growing Roses
June is the month when, in most areas of the Pacific Northwest, roses will be at their peak bloom. Portland, Oregon calls itself “The City of Roses” and the Portland Rose Society is celebrating its...
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Paul Parent Garden Club To Feature Black Gold!
“Good Morning, Gardeners!” is the cheery Sunday morning greeting familiar to over half a million radio listeners in New England and more from the rest of the United States, from “Mr. Nice Guy”, Paul...
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Double Digging for Flawless Fall Root Crops
Root crops such as ‘Lunar White’ carrots will be long, straight and easy to pull when grown in your newly double dug beds. Root crops grow best in soil that is as fertile and deep as possible. Higher...
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Begin Saving On A Rainy Day By Installing Rain Barrels
A well-placed rain barrel offers a practical solution for water catchment. Photo courtesy of Schultz Communications. It is a small project, but installing rain barrels onto your downspouts will capture...
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Banana Plants in Oregon!
Banana Plants in Portland – Photo Courtesy of Kathy and Harvey Anderson In the late 1990’s, I was surprised to learn there was a banana plant that was hardy enough to thrive in Portland, Oregon. Yes, I...
View ArticleJuly 8, 2012: Blair Busenbark On The Paul Parent Garden Club Radio Show
Blair Busenbark visited with The Paul Parent Garden Club again on Sunday, July 8th, 2012 at 9:00 AM EST. This time he discussed Black Gold soil amendments and organic fertilizers with gardening expert...
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Identifying and Beating Tomato Late Blight
LEFT: ‘Striped Roman’ tomato with tomato late blight on fruit and foliage. RIGHT: Tomato late blight lesion on ‘Striped Roman’ tomato. Photos by Jessie Keith Tomatoes with oily patches and plants with...
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Black Gold At the Summer Green Road Show in Hickory, NC
Teamwork at the Summer Green Road Show provided by: (left to right) Wayne Bagwell, Sun Gro Professional Products Rep. for North Carolina; Pam Beck, Black Gold Community Expert Garden Writer; Scott...
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Growing Okra in Oregon?
Okra in Oregon – Photo by Susanne PopeOn my weekly radio show, I not only get questions from gardeners, but I often get comments and information that others want to share. It is especially interesting...
View ArticleAug 8-9: 2012 Summer Green Road Show in North Carolina
CLICK HERE to read Pam Beck’s full summary of this event. Sun Gro Horticulture’s District Manager of Southeastern Retail Products Scott Pace and Black Gold Community Expert Garden Writer Pam Beck were...
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Late Summer Gardening Tips
Now that the spring season is over and we are already into August, I wonder “where did the summer go”? With so many things going on in the spring and early summer garden, now is certainly the time to...
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Pistachio Hydrangea is the Winner
At the recent Farwest Show (national nursery trade show held in Portland, Oregon), there was a section call “New Varieties Showcase”. New and recently introduced plants were exhibited and participants...
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Hardy Hibiscus
We often think of Hibiscus as tropical plants from Hawaii and other warm weather states. While this Hibiscus can be grown there, it will not survive our winters and gardeners often plant this and...
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Late Summer Foliage Color
Here it is, mid-September and in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather has been warm with little or no rain. This is the time to visit gardens and observe what is performing well at this time of...
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Japanese Maples for Southeastern Gardens
You’ve seen them exquisitely depicted in the finest gardening books, admired them in arboretum collections, and envied them in private landscapes. However, because of their delicate appearance and high...
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Plants for Great Fall Color
From mid-September through October, here in the Pacific Northwest, we have an abundance of plants for great fall color. Whether it is foliage, stems, bark or flowers, the color array is almost...
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Growing Figs in the Garden
Growing figs has yet to become commonplace in American gardens, although figs (Ficus carica) are surprisingly easy to grow and even easier to eat. This is largely because many consider figs...
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Ideas for Native Plants in Home Gardens
Whenever I hear someone speak of ideas for native plants in home gardens, it always makes me wonder what is considered “native”. I live in Oregon, so when a gardener tells me about native plants in...
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Add Viburnums to Any Landscape
What exactly is a Viburnum? Viburnums are trees or shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, that may be diminutive, three-foot globes or grow 60 feet tall. Their leaf texture varies from smoothly shiny to...
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