Easy Recipes From The Garden

If you’ve been to your local big box home improvement store lately, you’ve probably seen a curious item in with the cypress and other mulches — rubber mulch. This product is made up of ground tire waste, and is supposed to be beneficial for soil moisture due to its non-porous nature. It is also said to reduce fungal growth can be a weed barrier, as weed seeds dehydrate in the mulch before reaching the soil.

The tires’ springiness make it a good fit for playground equipment areas.

However, the material is also a hazard if ignited — and can be difficult to put out. It may also leach chemicals that can be hazardous to your plants — and possibly you if you’re growing fruits and vegetables in it.

My verdict? I like to go natural and organic whenever possible, including in my garden. I will stick with organic materials as mulch — natural, renewable resources and chopped up garden waste. Fall leaves make an excellent mulch to get flower beds and other areas through the somewhat harsh winters in my climate, and best of all — it’s free!

As we try to go greener, we’re finding new ways to re-use and repurpose items around the house. A recent addition to our eco-friendly repetoire is saving our dish water. No, really. We keep a large, clean bucket in the sink and use it when we hand wash dishes. Then, when we’re done, we take the water outside and use it to water the garden. (It’s also a good time to take out the ever-filling compost container we keep on the counter as well - two trips in one!)

Be sure to use a biodegradable dish soap, such as Seventh Generation or Method.

One of every three bites the average American eats is directly attributed to honey bee pollination. More than 25% of the U.S. honey bee population has disappeared over the last several winters. This affects many nut, fruits and berry crops – important produce for farmers and food manufacturers, and key ingredients in many of the most popular Häagen-Dazs flavors. The ice cream maker reports that researchers believe causes for the decline in the bee population include:

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). More than 35 states across the continental United States and in two provinces in Canada, Belgium, and Spain have reported this condition.

Varroa Mites – Inadvertently introduced into the United States in 1987, these tiny brown parasites feed exclusively on honey bees.

Viruses– Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) is linked with CCD.

Chemical Exposure – Tests on pollen in CCD-affected hives show levels of 45 different types of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Lack of Nutrition – A limited supply of good pollen and nectar (due to drought) has had an effect on the honey bee population.

So what can we as gardeners do to help the honey bees? Create a bee-friendly garden with plants that are attractive to honey bees. Plants that are bee-friendly include lavender, jasmine, rosemary, violets, thyme, blue bells, wisteria, cone flowers and sunflowers – common and easy to grow perennials and herbs that will both add beauty to your garden and bees to the environment.

Consider planting one or a variety of these plants and help the dwindling honey bee population.

If you enjoy heirloom or organic fruits and vegetables, such as from farmers’ markets, try planting a seed or two from the produce. I recently planted a handful of seeds from a bag of organic Meyer lemons I bought, dreaming that someday I might have a Meyer lemon tree of my own to grow my own sweet and tart little fruits. Guess what - they have sprouted. Granted, it may not bear fruit for seven years, if at all, but it might still turn out to be a pretty house plant.

Heirlooms are such that the seeds have been saved and passed down from generations, thus the”heirloom” name. As such, the seeds can usually be planted and the plants will generate fruit. For best results, use seeds from self-pollinators such as beans, peas, peanuts, lettuce, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes.

Bee balm, or dotted mint, is an excellent plant for attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other nectar-seeking creatures into your garden. The tubular flowers on the plant’s rounded flower heads are a showy addition to flower gardens and borders, and the plant’s leaves and flowers can be made into tea. A perennial herb, the plant will return in the same spot year after year.

Bees and hummingbirds are valuable visitors to your garden. Both can help with pollinating plants, and butterflies and hummingbirds are enjoyable to watch.

Bee balm flowers are pink, red, or white; double-flowered forms are also available. Blooms will appear from early to late summer. The plant grows to be 2-4 feet tall, depending on the variety. Plant in spring in an area of your yard that receives full sun to partial shade and has rich, well-drained soil. Some bee balm varieties can tolerate wet soil and will thrive along a waterway or in a bog garden.