Resource Library
1. Great Big Greenhouse scroll down to "In the Dirt with Doug", and “Bonnie's Garden" • www.greatbiggreenhouse.com |
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3. U.S. National Botanical Garden, Washington, D.C. • www.usbg.gov |
4. My favorite premium garden which is a series of outdoor rooms: Hidcote Manor, Cotswolds, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IofrAwQVZqM, view separately or for enitre 1+ hour video of heaven! Video of 3 of England's Greatest Gardens: Hidcote Manor, Gloustershire at the beginning, beginning 24:08 minutes on video Mollisfort Abby, Hampshire
beginning 38:18 minutes Sissinghurst Castle, Kent.
Note: You may enlarge to full screen at bottom right hand corner...or go back & forth between the 2 for more detail. There are several ad interruptions, be prepared to click in bottom right corner to skip ad in ad screen. Also, manually adjust your screen position for best color. ENJOY! |
5. LIBRARY of CONGRESS, Science Reference Services (48 web gardening ref. sites) lists: Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, Societies and Associations, Internet Resources, Local Interests • www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/garden.html |
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7. Old Farmer’s Almanac, planting charts and gardening tips • www.almanac.com/gardening.
Fresh Foundations / Virginia Gardener: Foundation plantings (usually evergreen shrubs) have always had a reputation for being boring. To make matters worse many are now also suffering from a host of disease and insect problems • www.statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/articles/fresh_foundations |
8. Chanticleer Garden is always in the top 5 gardens in the United States. Every season proves superb display!
Explore the whole web site: www.chanticleergarden.org
For specific excellent information you may go directly to:
A. Artistry in the awesome Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania voted in top 5 gardens in United States year after year.
www.chanticleergarden.org/artistry.html
B. Plant list of Chanticleer Garden and their sources for ordering:
www.chanticleergarden.org/pdffiles/2016ChanticleerMasterInventory.pdf |
9. Virginia Cooperative Extension - Publications & Educational Resources: Many topics, subjects for research. http://ext.vt.edu/pubs |
10. American Horticultural Society: www.ahsgardening.org which has a wealth of information. |
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12A. Our famous Philadelphia Horticultural Society has a wonderful with beautiful colored photos. You can access about the Philadelphia Flower Show, information about their McLean Library, etc. The overall web site is: https://phsonline.org . In addition, you may log into many and varied gardening questions OR submit a question via email! http://pennhort.libanswers.com/index.php
12B. Kathleen Ganan of Bernardsville, New Jersey is an expert and grower of peonies. Richmond Council of Garden Clubs’ program for December 2017 was on the 4 types of peonies, www.peonysenvy.com, with complete information, growing, selecting, and caring for peonies.
There are 16 chapters for the care and growing of peonies in Kathleen Ganan's site: http://peonysenvy.com/peonycare.html Everything you would ever want to learn! |
13A Virginia Tech, Agriculture College: RESEARCH
a. Virginia Tech Agriculture and Extension Service has a very broad range of topics for purview. There are many topics and subjects to select for your interest.
Below are some of those that are of interest to gardeners. https://www.cals.vt.edu/research/focus-areas.html
c. Research and development to address the growing problem of "bed bugs", which are now readily found not only in homes, apartments, and hotels, but in health care facilities like medical care facilities, women's shelters, dialysis centers, and lower-income elder care facilities. (The elderly are high risk due to reaction to bites and/or poor eyesight or mobility.)
http://news.cals.vt.edu/229-report/2016/09/28/taking-the-bite-out-of-bedbugs/
13B. Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Virginia Beach, Virginia (Just off US Route 13 on the approach to Bay Bridge)
Numerous research projects from lawn grasses to both ornamental to food producing,
Aquatic plants, those for purifying, erosion control, etc.
Experimental Gardens, Master Gardener maintained show gardens,
Tree display of types of trees to grow requiring low canopies, and
Aquatic plants for filtering water sources.
https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/hampton-roads.html (click on various points that interest you.) |
14A. National Wildlife Federation: Native Plants
Explore Butterflies, Native Plants, Certified Habitats (access each with a click)
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants
14B. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation:
Native Plants. Native Plants vs. Aliens. Where to find Native Plants.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants
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15A. Silver Springs State Park, Florida: official site: (North of Orlando)
Silver Springs has 5 to 7 springs that pumps over 6 million gallons of water a day which flows out to the Silver River and out to the Atlantic. As of 5 years ago, it is a Florida State Park; they restored 6 glass bottom boats for tours and have a museum. State Park Rangers are available for park tours. Historically, Silver Springs is the oldest Florida tourist site. In one of the springs, Spanish coins were found; it is called the Spanish Spring.
http://www.silversprings.com/
http://www.silversprings.com/about/
http://www.silversprings.com/gallery/
Capt. Tom of Custom Charters is a naturalist, guide, activist, 30 years plying the waters of the Silver River and Silver Springs.
(Very informative and interesting video!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHJypzBd-I
15B. Bok Towers and Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida (South of Orlando and east of Tampa)
Bok Tower is the highest elevation in Florida. Begun in 1928...interesting beginnings and story. Mr. Bok employed Landscape Architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to lay out the garden. https://boktowergardens.org/ 15C. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Ft. Meyers, Florida (West coast)
Thomas Edison's 21 acre winter estate in Ft. Meyers on the Caloosahatchee River has been preserved and features the homes of Edison and Henry Ford, the experimental gardens, Edison's laboratories and an interesting historical museum. Henry Ford idolized the 16 year older Edison, and built a house next to his. Edison patented in 60 straight years well over a 1000 patents. One of his quests in Florida was to find a quicker way in which to grow and harvest rubber in case of a national emergency.
He finally found it by hibernated a 20 foot goldenrod plant. A lot to explore! www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/
15D. Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, Florida (West coast)
They are very proud to have received the youngest botanical garden "Award of Excellence 2017". Fabulous Children's Garden and various tropical and themed gardens appeal to children of every age with life-sized ancient animal sculptures.
On day of visitation there was a beautiful special exhibition of the Naples Ikebana International's designs. https://www.naplesgarden.org/
History of the garden below: Click and scroll through website for a good overview of the garden.
https://www.naplesgarden.org/gardens/about-the-garden/
15E. McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, Florida (East Florida coast: very pleasant experience)
Home page & 3 minute video of overview of 80 acre garden begun in 1932 by developers McKee & Sexton. Today it is 18 acres. They have an excellent children's discovery self-tour. The cafe is excellent!
https://www.mckeegarden.org/index.php
Landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, from the esteemed firm of Frederick Law Olmsted designed it. https://www.mckeegarden.org/about.php
Current exhibit until April 28th, 2018: renown metal sculptures of exotic life-like animals.
https://www.mckeegarden.org/current-exhibition.php
15F. Coastal Georgia Botanical When Gardens, Savannah, George (south of Savannah on U.S. Rt. 17)
Very interesting garden. It began in the 1850s with the collecting of bamboo plantings which grew into a grove.
There are 2 types of bamboo: 1. Runners 2. Clumping. The property developed into now having over 60 different varieties of bamboo, each
used for different uses: fiber, tubing, scaffolding, reeds, furniture, etc. The
botanical part of the gardens are new (5 years old). It is interesting to see the beginning or bones of a new garden.
Georgia Extension Service has been doing research for years here on bamboo, orchids (greenhouses), and other plants. At the top of the web page, click on various subjects to explore the site.
http://www.coastalgeorgiabg.org/gardens.html |
TICK INFORMATION
16B. Mar 6, 2017 ... The culprit: Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a blacklegged tick. ... Next you want to figure out if you picked up the tick in an area where ... you tube video for steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_EJaHLGXZE
16C.Virginia Tech site: click on chart on the extreme right of photos of ticks. After accessing the page, click on the very bottom symbol to make the page bigger. You can click as many times as you like to make the page as large as you like. You can decrease it too.
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/2906/2906-1396/ENTO-250.pdf
16E. Tick testing lab: There is also a Virginia 800 number at the top of the page you can call to speak with them. 866 713-TICK
https://www.tickcheck.com/landing/lyme-disease
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WILD FLOWERS
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TEA GARDENS
18A.) How to grow a tea garden. Herbs for an herbal garden. How to prune. How to over-winter.
Natural insect control. Caring and protecting for Herbs. Different types of herb gardens: English, French, Greek, Mexican, also Ancient Herbs, etc.
Site covers: How to prune, Winterizing and protecting, Watering in pot or in ground, Growing in a pot, Harvesting, Uses of herbs & rosemary.
Growing as shrubs, Creating a hedge, Growing rosemary as a vine.
Herbs like rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, high scented herbs are deer detractors. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/hgen/tea-plants-for-garden.htm]etractors
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HOLIDAY INFORMATION
19. C) youtube: How to plant and grow Christmas Armaryllis and Paper Whites. (5 minutes, by Ohio Univ. Master Gardeners)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1F4mwR_UI |
HOUSE PLANTS
January is a good time to contemplate the benefits of growing and having house plants. Finding time to take care of house plants in the spring and summer when our gardens call to us, make winter a good time to give our plants some tender loving care, and/or to select some new plants, for aesthetics and health benefits. Also in winter a slightly warm shower for most house plants is a great idea for healthy plants (as well as putting some moisture in our homes). If repotting, make sure to scrub your container and let soak in a little bleach solution to kill potential problems. Gently wash the plant in some mild soapy water by submerging the plant and not forgetting to include gently washing the back of the leaves.
20. A) http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html
20.B) https://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for
20.C) https://www.houseplant411.com/houseplant |
FLORAL PHOTOGRAPHY
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HUMMINGBIRDS
22A.) Incredible Hummingbird footage with interesting information, YouTube. ttps://www.youtube.com/embed/ FPRswRWZ23Q
22B.) Smithsonian National Zoo site: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/hummingbirds
22C.) Defenders of Wildlife: https://defenders.org/hummingbirds/basic-facts |
BOTANTICAL ARTS
23A.) Botanical Art www.botanicalartandartists.com/what-is-botanical-art.html
DEFINITION: “BOTANICAL ART” IS...Art
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Which has an aesthetic appeal, exhibiting the elements and principles of artistic design
• With the intent of eliciting an intellectual or emotional response from its audience having its prominent subject being the scientifically accurate portrayal of one or more plants or fungi.
• To scale (actual size or scaled enlargement or reduction).
• Free of animals except those which are interdependent with the plant and subordinated to the plant in their depiction.
• Free of backgrounds except: solid colors, textured substrates or portrayal of the natural habitat of the plant and subordinated to the plant in its depiction. Reflecting intimate knowledge and understanding of the subject based on firsthand observation by the artist.
Definition of Botanical Art according to the Strategic Plan of the American Society of Botanical Artists
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FAST GROWING TREES AND SPRING PLANTING FOR WINTER
24A.) Fast Growing Trees It is possible to plant a tree we can see mature and enjoy sooner than later. www.fastgrowingtrees.com
24B.) Winter Flowering Plants: We can plan ahead to plant winter flowering plants for color.
www.winterfloweringplants.com. |
READYING FOR AN NGC STANDARD FLOWER
25A.) Photos of designs of National Garden Clubs of a Standard Flower Show. You may click on the photo to enlarge and study the design. http://www.gardenclub.org/schools/fss-design-examples.aspx
25B.) The principals of a NGC Standard Flower Show, the Study of Design (prepared by Bartram’s Garden Club in PHL). Classes included in a flower show; Principals of design, Examples of designs, Educational exhibits and Horticulture. http://bartramgardenclub.org/new-page
25C.) Basic Flower Show Designs in the National Garden Club (NGC) way. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/4538
25D.) Web site for you convenience of the National Garden Clubs, INC. http://gardenclub.org/ |
ORCHIDS AND PREPARING FLOWER BEDS FOR WINTER
Note: a.) In accessing the videos below, if an ad pops up first, look toward the bottom right hand side of the video screen, click on it and you can click to 'skip ad'.
b.) Ads will not come up every time. There is a whole series of "orchid videos", and if the topic does not come up at first back out and access again to get to the topic you are interested. Extremely useful info but could not rectify it going directly to the single orchid entry each time.
26A.) Video: how to make a hand-held holiday bouquet by P. Allen Smith of tv's 'At Home'
(near the bottom right hand side of the video screen you may click on box to skip ad)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIlj2wsmMas
26B.) Video: How to rejuvenate dehydrated Phalaenopsis Orchids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhz0kCf9zA
26C.) Video: 10 ways to almost destroy orchid plants and how to fix them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhz0kCf9zA
26D.) Video: How to have your orchids to bloom constantly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axU3OpUIFWc
26E) How to prepare your flower beds for winter and be ready for spring.
https://premeditatedleftovers.com/gardening/how-to-prepare-your-flower-gardens-now-for-next-spring/ |
FORCE FLOWERING BRANCHES, SHRUBS & TREES
27) How to Force Flowering Branches, Shrubs, Trees It is great fun to cut flowering branches to bring inside to force spring blooms to chase away the winter doldrums! This website will answer every question that you may have in how to achieve the amazing miracle of an early spring unfolding the magic up close for you.
https://www.thespruce.com/forcing-spring-flowering-trees-and-shrubs1403583
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28) Garden Blog, a member of National Garden Clubs and has been rated in the top garden blogs in the country.
https://thegardendiaries.blog/ |
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CHEMICALS
30) We hear so much about our environment. There are some things that are very legitimate indeed. One is the number of chemicals we use in each of our own environments. When you see a beautiful, perfectly manicured green lawn for instance, do you automatically think "chemicals". That is actually what has transpired to attain that picture-perfect vista. The entries below are ways to improve your property by clicking on each web site displayed.
INVASIVE SPECIES
31A) Halyomorpha hylys (origin: China, Japan, Korea, etc. Asia) Very destructive on plants, fruits, vegetables, and grasses....our lawns....but not poisonous, justa very unpleasant odor when disturbed, their defense mechanism against birds and other prey https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/invertebrates/brown-marmorated-stink-bug
31C) Brown Stink Bug: University of Maryland Extension tips for dealing with Brown Stink Bug. Unfortunately, there is little that is effective for eliminating them. Chemicals are not very effective and actually, more dangerous to us than the hard-shelled brown, 6-legged, pre-historic-looking stink bug. It is BEST to be aggressive in disposing of them as soon as you see them for they can have 2 hatchings per season in Virginia. Site below discusses it thoroughly. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/tips-dealing-brown-marmorated-stink-bugs
MIDLOTHINA GARDEN CLUB ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
32) We have received a letter of recognition and thank-yous from the Director of Media Research of the North York Library in York, Maine. I researched rather extensively the source and found that Mr. Harry Rizzo is rather an outstanding employee for the library. Not only does he aggressively seek sources and contacts, but has reached out to us to commend our 'resource' library, and likewise I found in my research that he has sent on information and sources that would be beneficial to other various organizations. He is involved in an after-school mentoring organization in Maine that encourages and tutors students. It is all rather impressive and wanted to share with you the wonderful reach of our web page, our content, and our Midlothian Garden Club Electronic Library. We are making an impact not only for our club, our community, but to other organizations across our country. You should be very proud of our club to have such recognition. Below is part of his e-letter for your interest. As a thank you, he has included 2 sites that he wanted to share with us his students found that may be of interest to us: one on pollinator gardens, one on butterfly gardens. It is a pleasure to add them to your Electronic Library!
Exert from letter: As a library media specialist up here in Maine, I wanted to thank the Midlothian Garden Club for putting together your resource library.
Our library is hosting a special 'Spring Gardening Planning & Preparation' workshop next month, and I'm putting together a resource guide for the attendees. We wanted to make sure we included some information on creating pollinator gardens and wildlife habitats. I have some student volunteers helping me, and your page led us to some great sites to check out! As a thank you, I wanted to pass along these pollinator garden guides our students found...
18th CENTURY IMPACT OF VIRGINIA HORTICULTURE
VIRGINIA DOGWOOD AND REUSING POTTING SOIL
34) Very pleased to have 2 very important aspects of a Virginia garden! Our state flower from our beloved Dogwoods; and the basic concern in gardening, our soil, be it in our gardens or in our gardening in pots or in potted houseplants.
34A) Dogwood Diseases and Insect Infestations Now is the time to treat the problem. Clemson University in South Carolina has completed a study of Dogwoods and their diseases which think you will find most helpful. Most people attribute the signs as age of the tree is the malady. Insects do not as usual cause a threat to dogwoods, but if so, the time to apply fungicides is spring. https://lhgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/dogwood/diseases/insects/pests/
34B) Soil: Paying attention to our gardens and her needs points us to one of the most important, our soil. This site is a most complete article on soil: recycling potting soil, preparation, description and treatments of insects or fungus we may find in our soil. You will find it very valuable for our soil use needs! https://www.springpot.com/reusing-potting-soil/
BIRD WATCHING OR FINE FEATHERED FRINEDS
PREMIER FOR GROWING, CARING, PRUNING, AND ENJOYING ROSES
36A) https://www.almanac.com/plant/roses
(Note: An added hint for you. When your blooms are almost spent, pluck them, spread the pedals out in a basket to dry. Later you can run your fingers through the dried petals that you displayed in a bowl and capture the scent of that moment you enjoyed from the warmer seasons.)
36B) YouTube gives a wonderful and well touted site of the art of deadheading your roses for increased blooms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9il4CCLaN5k (Just click on this site to access your video.) NEW METHOD FOR PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS There is NEW- well researched and a NEW - method of planting trees and shrubs!! AND, it all makes very good sense. After all, our grandfathers and grandmothers definitely did not have all the new additives AND chemicals we have today You will love this new method, easy peasy.
37) A new and very informative web site to keep at your finger tips. Garden.org The article is "Gardening with Nature", featuring the wonderful Charlie Nardozzi. (Just click on Garden.org to access.) NATURE CAMP
38) The Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs after 2 years of brainstorming began carrying out a dream to instill the love and educational value of nature and its value to our youth and the continuing development of our upcoming citizens. Thus, the building of a camp in the George Washington National Park in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, which today is in the Big Mary's Creek area allowing for more campers. Today there are 4 sessions of 4 age related groups from 5th to 12th graders. Each session is 2 weeks where the campers decide their emphasis of study they want to pursue. It is very interesting to read about the transformation and the evolving "Nature Camp". The excellent leadership over the years have fine-tuned the concept to what it is today. Today 80% of the students who attend Nature Camp, which incidentally was the first of its kind in the United States, go on to careers in science, from biologists, various medical fields, science educators, environmentalist, etc.
The Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs and all the individual Garden Clubs have played the major role in this gem. Today there is the Nature Camp Foundation and with the support of Virginia Federation, individual Garden Clubs, as well as Richmond Council of Garden Clubs, and the strong Nature Camp Alumni who all keep Nature Camp strong and viable for building responsible young citizens of our beautiful nation.
Our Midlothian Garden Club has donated monies over the years to the camp and have been encouraging students to compete applications and an essay why they would like to go to the Nature Camp in Vesuvius, Virginia. Once the students attend, they want to return over and over again! After their days at camp, the students gladly come to share their experiences at camp!
Please click on the web sites to explore this wonderful heritage of Virginia garden clubs. The Home Page with its site menu: https://naturecamp.net/
**Highly recommend reading about the most interesting history https://naturecamp.net/about-us/history-of-nature-camp/
HOW TO FORCE FLOWERING BRANCES, SHRUBS, AND TREE CUTTINGS
39) It is great fun to cut flowering branches to bring inside to force for spring blooms to chase away the winter doldrums! This website will answer every question that you may have in how to achieve the amazing miracle of an early spring unfold the magic up close for you. https://www.thespruce.com/forcing-spring-flowering-trees-and-shrubs-1403583
THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GARDEN CLUBS AND THEIR HISTORY
40) We should all take time to acquaint or reacquaint ourselves with the history and historical significance of the different aspects of our federated garden clubs. We have always been part of the vast network of national garden clubs. It was always called the "National Federation of Garden Clubs" until a couple of years ago then it was shortened to read "National Garden Clubs”. The home office and headquarters has been in St. Louis, Missouri since 1958. It has both a lovely building, educational center, and of course a beautiful garden. Anyone is invited to visit it if you are in that part of the country.
The National Mission Statement is: National Garden Clubs, Inc. provides education, resources, and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility.
It began in 1891 in Athens, Georgia, the first garden club in the United States. You will enjoy reading about it on the web site: www.national garden clubs.org There are 3 categories you may select. The middle one is the "history". We recommend that you explore the whole web site. It is easy to move around in the site.
Under the National Garden Clubs are the Regional Garden Clubs. We are part of the SARS, which stands for Southeast Atlantic Region Garden Clubs, www.southatlanticregiongardenclubs.org. The State Garden Clubs come next after the Regional in the federated organization...which for us is the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, virginia garden clubs.org And within each state has districts. We are in the Piedmont District www.piedmontdistrictvfgc.org Our Midlothian Garden Club's web is midlothiangardenclub.com
I recommend that you look these up for they are very interesting. Even for veteran members, the web sites are always changing. The support from all these various levels are amazing as to the dept and scope of information. As you mature in your garden club membership, you will become very proud of our organization just as members of long-standing members have become. An organization is only as good or viable or stand the test of time as the infrastructure that stands behind it.
Midlothian Garden Club Electronic Library, September 2023
We are all definitely noticing the drastic increases when we food shop.Think seriously about beginning a "Fall Planting" of cool weather plants!Some suggestions are: lettuce, (so many kinds), your favorite green vegetable. Don't forget herbs, which are a perfect way to introducea new twist to your dishes. We have quite a long period of cool temps. click on site: https://www.almanac.com/how-plant-fall-vegetable-garden
Midlothian Garden Club Electronic Library, October 2023 Site for identifying horticulture:
Our own Amy Bosher has recommended plants.ces.ncu.edu, and found it very thorough. Here are some pointers to aid you in acquiring access: highlight the site, click on it for a drop-down menu, click on "go to ces.ncsu.edu" which brings you to the North Carolina Extension service. On the left side of your screen are various conditions for growing. Click on the left side of your screen. Various criteria gives you selections as to what you are looking for and/or in finding the plant you would like for your needs. As you click on each one, there are drop-downs to check a box that is pertinent to you. After checking each one of the topics, it gave me 2 suggestions that fit (some examples: soil, moisture, season, long bloom, and deer proof - coming up with all the different varieties and characteristics. The 4000+ entries gives hours of fascinating discoveries for your garden. |
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