Over the course of 130 years, spanning from 1893 to 2023, the cultivation of giant pumpkins has undergone a remarkable evolution. In 1893, the exploration of oversized pumpkins was in its nascent stages, marked by growers experimenting with novel approaches. Fast forward to 2023, and the quest for world records in giant pumpkin weights has burgeoned into a global phenomenon. […]
Trees with Red and Purple Foliage
Placing trees of these colors needs great care, but their colors mingled with the multitude of others in autumn are effective and of great beauty; they do not blend well with the normal greens, particularly if used in quantity. They should, therefore, be used sparingly in isolation at points where they will inevitably catch the eye. A number have clear […]
1000 Pound Pumpkin or a Pie
In their quest for the world’s heavyweight champion, some pumpkin growers will do almost anything. Don Black lives a four-room house in upstate New York, only a few miles from the Canadian border. To say his House is a bachelor pad is to be polite. Don’s walls are bare – except for a few world-champion pumpkin plaques. Don used to […]
Why we plant a trees
We plant trees for their beauty of leaf, whether green in Summer or red in the Autumn; for their bark which becomes particularly fascinating. We plant trees because we love them. Some trees linger in our memories as old friends, from whose branches we have swung and “skinned-the-cat”; under whose cool shade we have rested from play or work. Some trees seem to have moods, changing […]
Biggest Pumpkin Growing Books
We were fortunate to win at Half Moon Bay, California this year. The competition was intense with 80 entries, 10 of which were over 1,000 pounds. The weigh-off is always on Columbus Day. The winner stays until the following weekend to participate in the HMB Pumpkin Festival . Over 250,000 people descend on the small coastal community for the parade, […]
Common to Botanical Names Bu-C
A-Br A-Br Bu-C D-Go Gr-J K-O P-R S T-Z 172k 190K 160K 123K 145k 120K 158k 169k Buchu Agathosma betulina Buchu Barosma betulina Buchu Barosma crenulata Buchu Barosma serratifolia Buck Parsnip Lomatium triternaturm Buck’s Horn Plantain Plantago coronopus Buckthorn Rhamnus catharticus Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula Buckthorns Rhamnus Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum Buckwheat Bush Eriogonum Buffalo Gourd Cucurbita foetidissima Buffalo […]
South America Hardiness Zone Map
A hardiness zone is a defined geographical area in which a specific category of plant life can grow, according to the climatic conditions, including its ability to withstand certain minimum temperatures of the zone. For example, a plant is described as “resistant to zone 10” which means that the plant can withstand a minimum temperature of -1°C (30 F). A […]
Decorative bark and good foliage color
Broad-leaved ACER CAPILLIPES Young bark striated with white; young growths coral red, leaves turning crimson in autumn. A. davidii, young bark shiny green, striated with white; leaves usually turn yellow and purple in autumn. Long chains of keys striking. A. griseum, paper bark maple , the outer bark peeling in papery flakes to show the copper-colored inner bark; opening leaves […]
Europa Hardiness Zone Map
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Columnar or Fastigiate trees
Columnar or Fastigiate trees To the botanist, the word fastigiate means ‘with parallel, erect, clustered branches’. It has become more widely used in a more generalized sense for trees with narrow crowns. All those mentioned are derived from natural sports and do not come true from seed (if that is produced). They are propagated as cultivars. They generally need careful […]