September 2008 Issue

                       Kurt Bluemel's Home, mid-September

In the News

• The EPA finally issued its new emission standards for mowers and blowers, as reported here.

• Still more reports of lawn wars, this time in Ottawa.  Oh, and this one in Lansdale, PA.

• The NY Times shows us a sustainable landscape, and reactions to it differ.

• Great update in the Chicago Tribune on plastics in the ag and hort industries, only about 1% of which are recycled (versus 25% or more in the beverage industry).  Lots of encouraging signs at the end of that article, though.

On the blogs

• GardenRant had a meaty debate about street trees.  First, the con position from our California contributor, then the pro-street-tree position from Buffalo.

• Gardeners weigh in on the term "invasive" and what information they really need about plants.

• Gardeners tell wonderful stories (in the comments) about their favorite wildlife encounters in the garden.

• Golf, will it ever be green?

• Another hot discussion of faux lawn, after learning that celebrity environmentalist Ed Begley has one.

• Great reports of hummingbird-attracting plants in the comments, and feeder instructions galore.

• On the Sustainable Gardening Blog I rave about the gorgeous native smartweed;  defend tent caterpillars against (my own) accusations of tree murder, blast two thugs in the garden, Bishop's weed and houttuynia, and give the mid-month flowering report.

New on Sustainable-Gardening

• It's time for some VINES.  Like crossvine, a great American native, or American wisteria, the better behaved alternative to the Asian types.  Plus, climbing hydrangeas, and hardy kiwi vine.

• Check out Stuart Robinson on "Using Rubber Mulch in the Garden".

• Lise Mahnke in Denver explains the "7 Principles of Xeriscaping".  She also contributed "How to make your own solitary beehouse".

• New contributor Billy Goodnick provides a fair-and-balanced overview in "Pro's and Con's of Faux Turf" - in his usual lively style.
  

My So-called Second Career

• On the writing front, I delivered my first article to the nice folks at Organic Gardening  Mag - scheduled for April of '09 - about spring garden coaching.  And I have another coaching story in the works for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 

• I talked about urban and sustainable gardening to an Elderhostel group visiting D.C. and they were great - living up to the many good things I've heard about them. 
  

• Next up - the speaking gig Amy Stewart and I have in Portland, Oregon this week at the Garden Writers Association annual meeting.  The topic we've been asked to cover is "Blogging Success Stories"