THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412160153
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
ROBERT B. McCARTNEY, a former member of the landscape staff at Colonial Williamsburg, now is an owner of Woodlanders, which carries the largest collection of native and unusual plants for the South.
He writes: ``There is an excellent opportunity for gardeners in our region for fresh information because of the vast variety of excellent plant material which can be grown in your region. Gardeners should be encouraged to consider many of the Zone 8 plants which we offer. Gardeners in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina can grow many plants which are not hardy northward or westward.''
Woodlanders encourage fall planting. Their current catalog features material collected on an expedition to Argentina. Catalog cost is $3, mailed to 1128 Colleton Ave., Aiken, S.C. 29801. Call (803) 648-7522. MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Hoe, Hoe, Hoe. Next Sunday is Christmas, but these mail-order sources say you still have time to get the gardener on your list a series of gifts, gathered with the 12 days of Christmas in mind. Some of the ideas don't seem practical at this late date, but you could fill in the missing days with some ideas of your own. Here's some to get you started: 12 organic seed packs, (800) 957-3337; 11 worms a wiggling from WorldWorms, (401) 782-8747; 10 beneficial nematodes from BioSafe, (800) 821-8448; nine ladybugs dancing from Gardens Alive, (812) 537-8650; seven children's gardening kits, (800) 635-8379; six organic fertilizers from (800)-SHAKLEE; or five tubs of Zoo Doo by calling (800)-I Luv Doo. ROSES ON A MINIATURE SCALE
The miniature rose Jean Kenneally remains America's best rose, claims the American Rose Society. If you like miniature roses, grow them in pots, indoors or out, and place them near eye level to enjoy them more. The society has named Jingle Bells, from Jackson & Perkins, as the best miniature rose for 1995. It is available from Jackson & Perkins catalog and will be in garden centers next month.
The American Rose Society publishes a 1995 Handbook for Selecting Roses, collected by thousands of rosarians nationwide who have grown and evaluated the roses. To receive a copy, send $3 to American Rose Society, 1995 Handbook Dept., P.O. Box 30000, Shreveport, La. 71130-0030. PRUNE TALL ROSE BUSHES
If you have tall rose bushes, it's time to prune them back to at least 18 inches so they won't blow in the wind and become loose in the soil. Be sure to prune out overlapping branches that rub one another. THAT RASCALLY RABBIT
Jean Turmel of The Heritage Foundation writes: ``We received helpful information regarding rabbits from BIRC, BioIntegral Resource Center, P.O. Box 7414, Berkley, Calif. 94707. Call (501) 524-2567. We still have a rabbit problem - but the information from BIRC helped.'' Readers with rabbit problems may want to contact that source. RESOLVE TO BE A BETTER GARDENER
If you'd like to be a master gardener and live in Norfolk, register for the 1995 course on Jan. 10 or 11 at the Larchmont Library. The class starts Feb. 2, and class size is limited. Call 683-2816. TURFGRASS COURSE
The Virginia Tech annual ``Turfgrass Ecology and Management Short Course'' will be in Blacksburg from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3. Registration deadline is Jan. 16. Cost is $365, which is tax deductible if it is necessary to improve your professional skills, according to Virginia Tech officials. Call (703) 231-5183. CLEAR OUT THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
If you haven't cleaned out your vegetable garden, do it now before it gets any colder. Cut or hoe out all plants and vines and destroy them. They often harbor diseases and insects you don't want next summer. by CNB