Si Pak Tani

by Vicki Barney The north side of my house is a poor spot for a garden, receiving very little sun and used for winter snow storage.    When a number of plants sprouted here, I was surprised.   They must be tough plants. Utility workers disturbed this inhospitable area a few years back and subsequently, it was graveled. A few weeds sprang up, mainly prostrate knotweed and prickly lettuce, but no worrisome weeds.   In the middle of the gravel, flowering plants appeared: Hollyhocks ( Alcea rosea ), Common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ), and Spreading dogbane ( Apocynum androsaemifolium ).   These plants grow elsewhere without my help and tend to be aggressive but, since they are thriving and draw pollinators, they are welcome here. Nothing grew in the least hospitable spot - along the wall – until this last spring.   Graveled and shady most of the time, it receives a little moisture as it is directly under the roof’s dripline.   Surprisingly, this little...

by Ed Powers    As many of our readers know I travel areas of the Rocky Mountains annually and enjoy the abundant flora at all elevations.  I have really fallen love with the Indian Paint Brush flowers.  The plants are simple but the flowers are amazing and they come in several colors. Originally, I thought the different colors were a result of the altitude and soil condition, but I have come to learn each color is a different species.    Indian paintbrush flowers are named for the clusters of spiky blooms that resemble paintbrushes dipped in bright red or orange-yellow paint. Growing this wildflower can add interest to the native garden. About the Indian paintbrush, also known as Castilleja , Indian paintbrush wildflowers grow in forest clearings and grasslands across the Western and Southwestern United States. Indian paintbrush is a biennial plant that usually develops rosettes the first year and stalks of blooms in spring or early summer of the second ye...

by Vicky Barney The berry shrubs are loaded with fruit this year, most noticeably the serviceberry, whose branches are drooping under the weight.   In the wild and in my yard, I’m looking forward to watching the berries disappear and will be paying particular attention to my currants. Golden Currant Currants ( Ribes spp .) are deciduous shrubs with 3-5 lobed leaves and edible tart fruit historically used by Native Americans for food and medicinal purposes.     In my yard, two shrubs have the distinctive leaves and berries, and similar looking arching branches.   Their pea sized berries are growing in small clusters, each with a “pigtail” which is the remnant of its flower.   Both shrubs are thorn less, drought tolerant, and, to date, of no interest to deer, moose, or bear.   But the shrubs have some differences that lead me to think they are different varieties of currant.   On the east side of my yard, a small currant shrub is growing.   About 3...

Untuk mendapatkan hasil pemupukan yang memuaskan, tidak hanya penting memakai dosis pupuk yang tepat saja tetapi juga penting diketahui cara pengunaan pupuknya. Dengan berkembangnya teknologi pertanian dan industri, telah melahirkan berbagai produk yang cara pemberiannya lain dari biasanya, namun secara garis besar dapat dikelompokkan menjadi dua cara pemberian/memupuk, yakni: Memupuk dengan cara pemberian melalui akar Memupuk dengan cara pemberian melalui daun 1. Memupuk melalui akar Yaitu segala macam pupuk yang diberikan kepada tanaman lewat akar. Tujuannya tentu sudah jelas, yakni mengisi tanah dengan hara yang dibutuhkan oleh tanaman, supaya tanaman yang ditanam di atasnya tumbuh subur dan memberikan hasil yang memuaskan. Pada umumnya pemberian pupuk melalui akar dapat dilakukan secara: 1. Disebar (broad casting) Pupuk yang disebarkan merata pada tanah-tanah di sekitar pertanaman atau pada waktu pembajakan/penggaruan terakhir, sehari sebelum tanam, kemudian diinjak-injak agar pup...

by Vicky Barney There’s something magical about seeing butterflies and hummingbirds feasting on flower nectar, or watching birds foraging for berries.   Observing a bear, moose, or deer browsing on aspen or berries is a real treat.   But when their browsing removes the flowers intended for pollinators or the berries for the birds, or when all the strawberries disappear from the carefully tended patch, the magic is gone. My “gardening for wildlife” strategy needs some work. Butterfly visiting garden My yard is surrounded by native shrubs and trees and was an attractive feature when purchasing the house several years ago.   I imagined watching wildlife pass through the yard from one wild space to the next, stopping to nibble aspen volunteers or newly planted native bushes. The plan was to create a place where wildlife would linger, preferably while I was watching.   Red-osier dogwood was planted (deer and elk’s “ice cream bush,” says Karen Vail in Edible & Medicina...

Verbascum thapus  ( Common Mullein, noxious!) by Cherie Luke The genus Verbascum has some good garden plants and one noxious weed that should never be planted.   Verbascum thapus , also known as common mullein, is a member of the Scrophulariaceae, figwort family. Currently  Verbascum thapus is on the “C” list of Noxious Weeds of Colorado.  This means it is already widespread throughout the state, and should at least be suppressed when possible. It is a biennial that reproduces by seed that can live up to 80 years. It is native to Asia but it is thought that it got here by way of Europe. It has long furry leaves and a tall yellow flower stalk. It is well known among herbalists. Mullein tea is a treatment for respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and chest colds. Because it is a noxious weed, one can harvest unlimited quantities, but be sure that they have not been sprayed. The roots and seeds of this plant are toxic and should never be used for any re...