Blog edition . The whole newsletter is available here.
In the News
- New evidence that ingredients in Roundup are hurting humans. Read about this big news in Scientific American.
- Here’s news that rooftop farms are taking off in New York City, and that veg gardens are considered desirable amenities for suburban subdivisions. Lordy, it’s a new world.
- Yielding to factual evidence – that only about 3 perfect of rainwater falling on houses reaches streams – Colorado is relaxing its strict prohibition on the collecting of rainwater. This story in the New York Times shows what a nonsensical mishmash water laws in the West still are, though.
- Purdue has promising news – that its new hybrid of the American chestnut tree might just revive the almost-extinct species AND sequester a whole lotta carbon, too (because they grow so much faster than other hardwood trees). The new hybrids have the blight-resistance of Chinese chestnuts, while retaining 94% American genes (somehow). Source: Science Daily.
Found on the Web
- On Treehugger, a good comparison of drip irrigation with xeriscaping.
- Plantwerkz is dedicated to architecturally beautiful plants, defined as plants that are visually aesthetic, that "command attention to themselves, causing all background to fade away in their presence." Yum!
On GardenRant
- The "garden’ at the American Indian Museum is actually one of the exhibits – recreations of natural history and human history in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It’s a great success.
- Human pee is explored as a low-cost deer deterrent, and even demonstrated by Joe Lamp’l.
- With all the attacks on lawn lately, Roy Blount, Jr. rises to defend the stuff.
- Veggies are Amazing! Update from a Newbie shows off some very impressive-looking produce, I must say. And as always, I ask for advice from readers and get it.
My So-Called Second Career
I’m busy writing an actual magazine piece – for Fine Gardening, my old fave. It’ll cover plants that can be used to replace lawns – yay! This topic’s near and dear to me and I got a chance to tackle it at the American Hort Society recently – and got great suggestions from Brent and Becky Heath, and a very knowledgeable horticulturist who works there. Seems only natural to do a book on the subject, right?
And some of you will be amused to know that I’ve finally given in to social pressure and the advice of lots of smart people and have begun tweeting. Sure, I tried once before and gave up but this time I’ve installed the much-recommended Tweetdeck, which promises to make it all soooo easy. (More will be revealed.)
Here’s the thing, though. I’m DO write or contribute to 8 blogs and websites, so I may still fail at this social networking thing. (Unless I give in to my lust and get an iPhone. Seeing Carol Michel wield hers planted a seed that wants to grow!
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