JAN/FEB 2014
7
you’re contemplating putting some
in come spring, consider planting
three separate bushes relatively
closely to each other so that they
grow together to make an impressive display.
Winter Dreams of Spring Gardens
While awaiting thaw, perusing gardening catalogues
can be therapeutic and inspiring
by Frank Kourt,
Staff Writer
Despite the wintry
breezes, icy bushes
and the cold, hard
ground that dominate these days,
we gardeners can dream … can’t
we?
mistakes, miscalculations and outright disasters may have occurred
last growing season, we gardeners
can take a page from the book
of legendary die-hard Chicago
Cubs fans and chant their mantra:
“There’s always next year!”
Thus, perusing the many catalogues that are likely to be stuffing
Sure, we’re dealing with a frozen
our mailboxes this time of year
landscape, but this is the time
can be not only be a therapeutic
of year that most of us get those
form of escapism, but can actuglorious gardening catalogues in
ally benefit our future gardening
the mail, promising us thebest that you can be with
endeavors.
Be the wonders
that will bloom in spring.
I always look for varieties of either
fitness
Yes, of course, those folks studio
are prey- vegetables or plants that have been
Providing Private and Partner
ing upon the innate optimism that Training
improved over time. Good exand Classes
is second nature to every triedamples of this are newly developed
• Kettle Bell
and-truecgardener.eht eB matter what bush varieties of things such as
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squash plants that take up so much
less space in our plots than did
their old-fashioned vining cousins.
You should also look for varieties
of plants that have been improved
in the areas of disease resistance
and hardiness to weather conditions. There are plants that we can
grow as perennials in our particular
climatic zone these days that could
never have thrived here years ago.
For my money, one of the most
remarkable developments in plant
improvement is the Knockout
rose, which has given us a plant
that not only blooms throughout
the entire growing season but
doesn’t need deadheading and is
disease-resistant and hardy as well.
Speaking of Knockout roses, if
This “planting in threes” technique
of landscaping is something I first
noticed after moving to Kentucky,
and it’s a great one. When we
bought our property here nearly a
decade ago, we found the landscapers had planted our burning
bushes in clumps of three on various spots on the lawn. The result
is a spectacular display of crimson
each fall.
By looking through gardening
catalogues, you can study the available plants and their properties,
such as height, length of growing
season, need for sun and other
qualities that will help you decide
if you want them and what the
optimal location will be when it
comes time to plant them.
One of the great things about
ordering from many of these
catalogues is that you don’t have to
worry about having your merchandise arrive too early for planting
in your climate. Many of these
companies will take your order
now and time the plants to arrive
at your house at the optimal planting time for your area.
So don’t let the snow, ice and north
winds deter you from dreaming
about the gardening season to
come. Open up those catalogues
and start planning for spring.
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Personal Best
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250 Walton Avenue • Lexington, KY 40502
fitness studio
Providing Private
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and Classes
8732-325 )958(
moc.xelts anosrep
• KettleeblBell.www
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www.personalbestlex.com • 250 Walton Avenue • Lexington, KY 40502
(859) 523-2378
Eastland Shopping Center 1020 Industry Rd. Ste 10 Lexington, KY 40505
859-253-0012 Mon 9-7, Tues-Sat 9-6