Helpful Web links
RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Locally, the Guilford Horticultural Society has excellent monthly speakers and an annual Symposium the last Saturday in February. See their website for meeting times and speakers. www.guilfordhorticulturalsociety.org
FAQs about Soil Testing (FREE in NC) http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/stfaqs.htm#q12
Excellent pictures to help you identify bad bugs. Safe methods for controlling these are discussed in the second half of the publication. http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1317/F-7313web.pdf
My favorite Horticultural Fact Sheets available from Colorado State University. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/pubs.html
Virginia Tech Extension publications lndex http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/index.html
Pruning shrubs – http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-459/430-459.html
Pruning trees – http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-458/430-458.html
Edible Flowers Chart and Recipes http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm
A Chart of Crape Myrtles by size and color. Choose the right variety for your space and there is no need for “Crape Murder” pruning! http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/databases/crapemyrtle/crape_myrtle_varieties.html
This video has incredible photography regarding many different kinds of creatures that cross pollinate plants – you will be surprised! Educational and Beautiful to watch. http://www.youtube.com/v/xHkq1edcbk4
About.com Gardening This site has loads of information – good late night reading. http://gardening.about.com/
Here is a link to lots of information about Shade Gardening. Pay attention to the information sources (some are research based, some are not), but the plant lists are very good!
MAGAZINES & GARDEN BLOGS
Fine Gardening magazine – Great magazine & website. There is an online plant guide that lets you search herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs by climate zone (we are Zone 7A), by flower characteristics, evergreen or deciduous and more. There are educational videos too.
http://www.finegardening.com/pages/
Horticulture: The Art & Science of Smart Gardening – another great magazine and website.
http://www.hortmag.com/
Carolina Gardener Magazine http://statebystategardening.com/carolinas/subscribe/
Garden Design Magazine – The focus here is DESIGN: structure, hardscaping, patio furniture, pools, fireplaces and suppliers.
http://www.gardendesign.com/
The Avant Gardener monthly newsletter – good for keeping up to date on new plants and trends. http://www.avantgardener.com/news/index.html
Tony Avent’s Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh, NC has a very educational newsletter and blog. Find it here and subscribe for FREE: http://blog.plantdelights.com/category/newsletters/
GARDEN TOOLS
Lee Valley Tools – Good quality pruning tools, trowels, deer fencing, and everything else you could ever think of! http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/Index.aspx?is=L
Gardener’s Supply Company – Online catalog has interesting trellises, and other handy gardening stuff. http://www.gardeners.com/Who-We-Are/5445,default,pg.html
SEED & BULB CATALOGS
Pinetree Garden Seeds – A very good selection of veggie & flower seeds in smaller, less expensive packets for the home gardener: www.superseeds.com
Territorial Seed Company – Order the catalog! It has excellent information on the cultural requirements of every vegetable. They sell flower & herb seed,tools and supplies. www.territorialseed.com
Johnny’s Seeds – Beautiful catalog, excellent selection.
www.Johnnyseeds.com
Brent & Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester, Va is a very reliable source of bulbs for every season. They are in a similar climate zone and I have had good success with their bulbs overwintering. They are also excellent about answering bulb-related questions by phone. www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
Baker Seeds – over 1400 varieties of heirloom seeds.
www.rareseeds.com
Open-pollinated varieties of flowers and veggies had been hard to find, but there is a recent resurgence. Google “heirloom seeds” to find more sources.
Field and Forest Products – If you have shade and enjoy fresh MUSHROOMS, this catalog is for YOU! www.fieldforest.net
LOCAL NURSERIES
Click here for Gethsemane Gardens Nursery and Online Plant List. Janice Nicholson specializes in many unusual shrubs and perennials for shade and sun.
New Garden Nursery in Greensboro, NC offers top quality plants and landscaping services. Check their website for excellent information about caring for your garden: http://www.newgarden.com/blog/
NOTE: There are many LOCAL SOURCES of nursery trees, shrubs and perennials, that offer a wide variety of plants of better quality than you will find through most mail order sources. The internet is a great resource for learning about specific plants, just “Google” the botanical name. If there is particular plant you want, I can help you find it locally. Ellen
MAIL-ORDER PERENNIALS & FRUITS
Tony’s Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. at Juniper Level Botanic Gardens – Order exotic perennials by mail, but this Botannical garden outside of Raleigh, NC is a “Must See”. Open to the public 4 times per year. Get on the mailing list! www.plantdelights.com.
Niche Gardens, Chapel Hill, NC is a wonderful source of native perennials available at reasonable prices. www.nichegardens.com.
Ison’s Nursery in Georgia has a wonderful variety of fruits for your garden including what may be the BEST Muscadine grapes. Make sure to check plant climate zones. http://isons.com/
MULCH & SOIL AMENDMENTS in or near Summerfield, NC
You will need compost, lime, and natural fertilizers such as the Espoma brands, plus rock phosphate, blood meal and mulches. Below are some reliable local sources.
Greensboro Mulch Supply, SE corner of Hwy 150 and US 29, Browns Summitt
(336) 656-7067 Bulk topsoil, compost, potting mix, mulches.
Southern Exposure, Hwy 150 and Lake Brandt Road in the Old Brick Store. (336) 451-4969 Pete Bryant owns this professional landscaping firm. If you want a quality turn-key project complete with stone fireplaces, retaining walls and patios, they can deliver it! They carry bulk top soil, mulch and pine needles and will deliver.
Summerfield Feed Store, downtown Summerfield across from the high school.
(336) 643-4776 Bulk mulches including from tree service companies (inexpensive), pine needles & wheat straw. Also bagged soil amendments including lime, natural fertilizers & more. Bulk seed is sold for 25 cents a scoop! This family-owned farm store will take you back in time – totally worth a visit if you haven’t been.
Southern States, Hwy 150 & Lake Brandt Rd. (336) 644-7610 Offers bagged soil amendments, bales of pine needles and straw (for lawns), and fertilizers.