Keep a Garden Journal

One of my most indispensable tools in the garden isn’t a hoe, shovel, or tiller … it is a book.  To be specific, I use a couple of books.  I have a day planner that I use to plan out my daily tasks, and I have a notebook that I use for bigger projects.  (I’m writing this draft in it right now.)  This time of the year gardening starts to occupy more space in my notes.

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The Great DST Debate

Are you ready to “spring forward” this weekend?  I am!  I’m not a morning person, and it will be nice to actually enjoy some daylight when I get home from work.  However, in both spring and fall we see in the media and online a debate about whether to do away with Daylight Saving Time, stay on Standard Time, or switch to some other plan altogether.

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The Meaning of Rose Colors

I have a confession to make.  My wife and I watch The Bachelor. I think I like it more than her, but for totally different reasons.  It is the best comedy on television!  I think the producers are wise to this. That’s how the crazies stick around for so long!  We all know they made Arie keep Krystal around for the ratings.  Anyhow, I think Arie should give out colored roses to let the ladies know how he feels.  That would really crank the drama up to 11.  Here’s why…

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Caring for Hippeastrum

Hippeastrum have large extravagant trumpet shaped blooms on tall thick stems. In general they will produce 2 stems with at least 4 large flowers per stem making an impressive display.  Popular around Christmas and New Year, they flower easily and their showy flowers are sure to brighten up any room or Christmas dining table.

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How an Appalachian Apple Became The Gold Standard

It’s fall.  Here at Bob’s this means three things – pansies, mums, and apples.  Apples are pretty amazing.  We owe modern apples to central Asian farmers thousands of years ago who first domesticated apples.  However, we can look a little closer to home when it comes to the most popular varieties of apples today.  Two popular varieties have their origin right here in West Virginia.  Grimes Golden and Golden Delicious, West Virginia’s official state fruit.  In 2013, the Golden Delicious was one of four apple varieties featured on 33-cent stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

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