Sustainable Gardening News – July 2008

The July issue is out, and here’s what’s new to this blog:

In the News

• Found on Open Register: Proposed EPA guidelines pan water features.   

  

• Gas prices increase appeal of alternative mowers, also via my favorite source of garden-biz news.
• McDonalds in Chicago isn’t just serving fresh lettuce – they’re growing it on their living billboard.
• First there was the report that pesticide poisoning had put a bunch of folks in the hospital.  Then came the follow-up story with the facts – that the culprit was the lovely weed Datura.
• The news that the head gardener at Versailles is "environmental" got our attention.
• The New York Times reported on a totally new way of looking at invasive plants - as passengers.
• Buffalo’s co-op garden center Urban Roots celebrates its first anniversary. They’re teaching permaculture and water conservation and all that good stuff.
  
• Ellen Goodman interviews Roger Doiron of Kitchen Gardeners International.

On the Blogs

• Mr. Subjunctive takes us on a tour of flood-ravaged garden plants in Iowa, then shows us more photos of destruction in Cedar Rapids. 
• Amy Stewart revealed the results of her organic herbicide testing (orange oil v. vinegar) and lots of smart comments followed.
• I reported on Pogo Organics and their compost-heated greenhouse.
• Elizabeth covered gardening with slugs.
• Look what they’ve done to the organic lawn care demo on the National Mall! is a story that made it to Washington’sCity Paper.

New on Sustainable-Gardening

• Container Gardening includes design considerations, planting, care, and plant choices.
• Plants and Design for Screening includes my favorites and recommendations from Scott Aker of the National Arboretum.
• Gardeners have no choice but to Deal with Mosquitoes.
• In answer to questions from several coaching clients, I wrote Removing Stumps the Safe and Easy Way.
• In Seating Makes the Garden I try to convince you to use more chairs, benches and dining sets in your garden; even a hammock if you’re into napping.  And I show off all my own outdoor furniture.