JEFF LOWENFELS

Dirt debuts: Vegetable and petunia you don't dead-head

I always dislike those columns where the authors review what is new for the season. Usually, it turns out, these are nothing more than a rehash of the press releases from the seed companies. Countless dollars are spent trying to get people to write about plants and seeds being introduced.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Red wigglers enrich composting experience

There were no frowns or disapproving looks among this group of people, no squeals of disgust or moves to empty out the stacked containers full of worms into the dust bin.

Gardening blog: Talk Dirt To Me

JEFF LOWENFELS

Readers send in favorite Web sites about gardening

We are at the end of a month of catalogs and Web sites. I have so far listed some of my favorites, but I did get quite a bit of e-mail suggesting others' favorite catalogs and Web offerings as well.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Alaskans share their sources of inspiration

I can just feel my mood lightening with the increase in daylight and the seed catalogs are pouring in, so it must be time to think about planting already.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

January garden calendar

JEFF LOWENFELS

Catalogs offer fascinating garden tools

Some gardeners really get into gardening tools and gadgets. It shouldn't come as any surprise to the rest of us that there are catalogs and Web-o-logs that specialize in gardening tools. These are really winter reading material. Not only will you be amazed by what is available, a good tool catalog can stimulate gardening thoughts in the middle of winter.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Upcoming events for horticulturalists

Heads Up! Take note and mark your calendars for these upcoming spring events, conferences and workshops of interest to Alaska gardeners. Check the Talk Dirt blog for links to Web sites, more info and online registration as they becomes available.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

January garden calendar

JEFF LOWENFELS

Homer nursery's gardening catalog among Web's best

Let's face it. There is a reason we all eventually fall under the spell of perennials. They are the easiest plants to grow and maintain, sure, but they are also the ones that produce the most beautiful flowers. This latter trait translates into really beautiful catalogs and Web-o-logs.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Vole presents dilemma for gardener

During final desperation cleanup this fall -- the kind of deal-with-God gardening where you promise not to ask for one more gardening thing before spring in exchange for six hours before freeze-up -- a Disney mouse came rocketing down the side of the house.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

January garden calendar

JEFF LOWENFELS

Check catalogs for Alaska-hardy tomatoes

You can learn a lot from seed catalogs. Let me start the month of catalog columns with tomatoes. Let's face it, growing tomatoes is one of the main reasons people get into gardening. Unfortunately, it isn't the easiest thing to grow in Southcentral.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Planning for 2010 planting?

It is finally that time of winter to start thinking about spring and summer gardening catalogs and their electronic counterparts, web-o-logs. Many of these are great vehicles for increasing your garden knowledge because they not only sell seeds, plants and equipment, but -- if they are any good -- contain all sorts of wonderful pictures and lots of useful cultural information about how to grow what they offer.

JEFF LOWENFELS

What's Christmas without a few plants?

'Twas the night before Christmas in our house. The plants were all in their places. All was well.

Here you go, last-day shoppers: Great gifts for gardners

Did you wait until the last minute to shop? Stumped for gifts for your favorite gardener? Here are some ideas to help you out that should be easy to find in town.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Enjoying the winter wonderland

Every winter I grudgingly give in to admiration as snow blankets the landscape. I hate it when it first begins to snow, but once it's landed, it works it's way into my heart.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

December garden calendar

JEFF LOWENFELS

Magazine gift ideas for gardeners

OK, It is getting awfully close to the end, but for those who are still looking for a suitable gift to please a gardener or three on the list, let's start with some great publications I get myself and think you and your giftees will enjoy as much as I do. You could order these and simply make a nice card indicating the first copy is on its way.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Rhubarb's roots in Alaska run deep into history

In a Talk Dirt interview with Jill Shepherd, the master gardener and writer discusses the history of rhubarb in Alaska.

Gardening blog: Talk Dirt To Me

December garden calendar

TALK DIRT TO ME

Tough love is needed to get rid of those pest pigeons

The first one arrived in my backyard on Friday and by Monday there were four of them. Pigeons. They've been called everything from rats with wings to war heroes. A pure white one is the icon for peace and the Holy Spirit.

December garden calendar

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

JEFF LOWENFELS

Christmas gift ideas for the gardeners on your list

Ah, it is the time of year when non-gardeners spend time trying to think of what gifts to give the gardeners in their lives. Choosing the right gift is difficult, of course, because each gardener has his or her own tastes.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Make the most of poinsettias during holiday

Poinsettias, of course, are always the biggest source of questions this time of year. No wonder. Almost 70 million of them are going to be sold this season. There is a very good chance that you will have at least one in your home or office. Even though most people do not keep holiday poinsettias much longer than the holiday season, it does make sense to know how to care for them. Sooner or later, you will own one.

TALK DIRT TO ME

An easy-to-tend garden must start with planning

When Valerie Easton's husband of 30 years threw down the shovel and quit as her yard boy to have more time to do the things HE liked to do, Valerie realized just how weary she was of tending her quarter-acre yarden. Soon after her youngest graduated, Valerie and husband downsized to a smaller home and a MUCH smaller yard.

Gardening blog: Talk Dirt To Me

JEFF LOWENFELS

Today's a great day to give thanks for gardeners

I know that there are different claims as to who held the first Thanksgiving. There was apparently, for example, a Spanish Mass followed by a bean soup meal with Native Americans more than half a century before the Pilgrims broke bread, or whatever, with the good Squanto and his Wampanoag friends. There are others. Almost all of these are harvest celebrations.

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings