MID-AUTUMN THOUGHTS, REMINDERS AND TIPS FROM CORVALLIS EVENING GARDEN CLUB (EGC)

   PLANT BULBS now through early December for spring beauty.  Try the less common Fritallarias (Checkered Lily) and Alliums in many sizes.  Remember the Snowdrop’s early spring magic!  Globemaster & Ambassador alliums are still available through Ruby Moon at Golden Crane to support CBUF.   Fritillaria below…

 When selecting TREES AND SHRUBS for your yard, remember winter and look for interesting bark, branch color or shape and/or berries.  In evergreens, look for golden varieties that make it look like the sun is shining even in the rain!

  It’s time to MULCH BEDS FOR WINTER!  Adding a layer of organic material, such as compost, shredded leaves or straw over bare soil at this time of year will give the worms a chance to incorporate it, giving you better tilth in spring.  Pull mulch away from trees, along with leaf litter, to avoid extra moisture at the base and deter rodents. See:

     https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/how-to-mulch-your-garden

   This is a good time to DIG AND DIVIDE OVERGROWN PERENNIALS, replanting what you need and sharing the extra bounty with your neighbors. 

    DIVIDE & SHARE DAY — Saturday, October 28, 2017 1:00 - 2:30 pm at The Giving Garden, 2650 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. Bring your plant clumps to divide, pot up, exchange and share. EGC will provide potting soil, pots and blank labels.  Be sure to bring plant information: Plant name: Latin or common name, flower color, height, Culture - sun/shade etc. A flower photo would be an extra bonus!

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

Cool Flowers: How to Grow and Enjoy Long-Blooming Hardy Annual Flowers Using Cool Weather Techniques  by Lisa Mason Ziegler

She suggests you seed out hardy annuals now for earlier cut flowers in spring. Try chartreuse Bells of Ireland to mix well with anything in a bouquet.  Also recommended: sweet peas, foxgloves, Sweet William, snapdragons, larkspur, delphinium and bupleurum (below)

 From the Corvallis Evening Garden Club – 

Membership Meetings: 

1^st Monday Oct-May, 7 p.m., ALS Building, Basement Hort. Lab, OSU. 

Club supports community gardening grants and OSU Horticulture scholarship. Tours, Holiday Greens Party, Socials.  

         

More at www.EGCCORVALLIS.ORG