The Real Dirt

References to the plant genus Dianthus go back as far as the Greek botanist Theophrastus.  He named these plants from the Caryophyllaceae family “divine flower” (dios = divine plus anthos = flower). 

Boysenberries are a delicious, low-sugar treat, appreciated by pie and jam connoisseurs alike. The Boysen berry is classified as a blackberry along with the Olallie berry and the Marion berry.

The beauty and order of the earth's natural rhythm bring us once again to springseedtime-- and the promise of new life embedded within each seed.

If you are starting a list of plants to put in the ground this spring or fall, you might want to add a salvia or two. With just under 1000 varieties, Salvia is the largest genus in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Commonly known as sages, Salvias come in a dizzying variety of forms and colors.

Do you have a nectarine tree that has a history of producing scarred misshapen fruit? If so, the damage to the fruit is probably caused by western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and the time to think about controlling these pests is sooner rather than later.