Grand Valley Garden Club

Pollination is the process that allows plants to reproduce. In some cases, the wind and rain blows pollen between plants, which causes pollen to transfer to the female reproductive part of the plant. However, most plants need bees and other insects to pollinate from one plant to the next. When a bee, or other insect lands on a flower, small particles of pollen stick to its legs. As the bee flies to the next plant, it transfers the pollen over with it. Plants rely on bees and other insects to make this happen. If they ever stopped pollinating, it could damage the plants that bear fruit and produce oxygen. People need the bees, the plants, and food they provide to survive and preserve the planet.

DIY Tire Flower Planter Projects This is a great idea for upcycling! Materials: ... Old tire Spray Paint Potting soil Flowers of your choice Landscape Fabric Optional: chain and s-hook or rope for hanging Give the tire a good scrubbing with soap and water and let it dry. Then give it a couple of coats of spray paint (paint + primer). Let dry. 1/2 inch drill bit to drill 6 holes into the ‘bottom’ of the tire for drainage. To hang from a tree: Use chain (double hanging length, add about 10 for in the tire and more for the size of your tree limb). Wrap chain around the tree branch and secure end pieces inside of the tire with an s hook. Enjoy !

Happy Earth Day ! A day to appreciate the planet we live on . What will you do today to contribute to our earth to make it a better place ? Comment below and share your ideas !

The dove-tree, HANDKERCHIEF TREE, pocket handkerchief tree, ghost tree, or Davidia involucrata. This is a tree for the gardener who wants something out of the ordinary and has room for it to display its potential. It tends to branch low but usually creates a pleasing open structure. This species is now placed in the Dogwood family which has other members with showy bracts. ... It was first discovered by (and named for) Father Armand David, a French naturalist, in 1869 and sent to Europe and eventually North America in 1904. Found in moist forests in southern China, it likes moisture especially when getting established. Form: Broadly pyramidal/oval tree with a spreading layered appearance. Foliage type: Deciduous with simple heart shaped leaves. Strongly veined, dentate. Height/Width: 15 metres (50 feet) tall and spread of 12 metres (40 feet.) Hardiness Zone: Zones 6 9. Exposure: Full sun to light shade. Flower colour: White bracts surrounding a compact cluster of reddish flowers. Leaf colour: Medium green with variable fall colour of pastel red/orange. Flower time: May. Preferred soil & watering: Moist but well drained soil. Regular watering. Wilts in hot dry weather. Other: Flowering often delayed for ten years or more. Basically pest free. Young leaves are scented.

Garden for Daylilies To prepare the soil for planting, add compost, peat moss, well-rotted manure or other organic matter and mix deeply at the site. Dig a hole large enough to spread the roots without crowding them. Make a mound in the center of the hole and place the plant in the mound. The crown (the part where the roots and stem meet) should be no more than 1 below ground level. Water thoroughly. Daylilies grow best in full sunlight, although they can deal with partial... shade. While they are drought tolerant, most flower best with adequate water and fertilizer. A few outstanding cultivars are: H. 'Stella’s Sparky': An early bloomer in rose and apricot hues that will re-bloom throughout the summer. It grows to approximately 22" high with a blossom size of approximately 3-3/4". H. 'Strawberry Candy': One of the most prized and popular daylilies. Its strawberry-pink bloom has an unusual deep-pink eye and golden-green throat that make this a favorite. It grows to approximately 26" high with a 4-1/4" flower. H. 'Point of Divergence': This has a stunning ivory cream bloom with an indigo violet eye. It grows to approximately 30" high with a 4-1/2" flower. H. 'Red Suspenders': Stands at approximately 32" high with an enormous 11" fragrant flower. The bloom's graceful petals pinch together down their length. The graceful ‘Red Suspenders’ daylily adds interest to the garden. Good grooming is essential. Clip stalks after flowering and dead-head (remove spent blossoms) to ensure an attractive appearance for the entire season. If your daylilies are not flowering well or if the clump is too large, they can be separated in the fall or spring. Make sure to leave each division with at least three stems before replanting. In colder zones, late-fall planting will not give the plant enough time to become established before the first frost.