Jan Cashman Increasing your knowledge of horticulture can help in your quest for a more beautiful, colorful yard and a more abundant vegetable garden. There are many ways to learn about gardening—from talking to your neighbor who has a green thumb, to taking classes, to studying books and magazines. Today, the internet is an unlimited … Read more
by Jan Cashman 11/21/10 Wreaths have been used for decorating for thousands of years; their unending circle symbolizes eternity. Wreaths worn as headdresses were used as awards in the ancient Olympics, or to celebrate religious holidays. Germany, the initiator of many of our Christmas traditions and decorations, started the Advent wreath, where a candle is … Read more
In the spring, after a long winter, we are all thinking of gardening and planting. And we know, in Montana, spring is a good time to plant. But, is fall also a good time to plant? We, at Cashman Nursery, have had good success with late summer and early fall planting. For spring flowering bulbs, … Read more
Ever wonder how the trees and shrubs you purchase at the garden center were grown? If they are in a pot, was the seed planted directly into that pot? Or was the plant moved into the pot at some point or dug from the ground and placed in the pot? Trees and shrubs can be … Read more
by Jan Cashman No flower is showier than a dahlia. The colors of these showy flowers range from white to rich yellow through pinks and red to purples, and sometimes are bicolored. They bloom in August here and continue to bloom until the first frost. Native to Mexico, they were first imported to Europe by … Read more
By Jan Cashman With the increased interest in gardening, especially vegetable gardening, we are also seeing an increased interest in growing in raised beds. Our seminars on raised bed gardening always draw crowds. Local climate and soils make raised beds a great way to garden here. Why a raised bed? The soil in a raised … Read more
by Jan Cashman A tree branch that is 2 feet off the ground this year will move higher up the trunk as the tree grows; crabgrass is prevalent in Bozeman area lawns;ants are needed to open peony blossoms. None of these are true. There are a lot of misconceptions about gardening. Some are harmless, but … Read more
by Jan Cashman Every time I open a magazine lately I see articles about “green living” or “sustainability”. What do they mean by “green”? What is “sustainability”? And what is this thing called our “ecological footprint”? I wasn’t sure so I looked them up. Simply put, “green” means “environmentally friendly”. “Sustainability” means that we don’t … Read more
by Jan Cashman At their New Year’s Day brunch, our neighbors, Harry and Dottie Mann, served slices from oranges grown on their own tree inside their house. What a treat! Dottie says citrus trees are easy to grow indoors; she doesn’t give hers any more can than she gives her other house plants. Here are … Read more
by Jan Cashman There are 16 elements which plants require for survival, growth, and normal development called “essential elements”. Three of them-carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen-are found in the air and water. The other thirteen are provided by soil and/or fertilizers. Six of these thirteen are listed as “macronutrients”, required in large amounts by plants; the … Read more