BUY IT
A gardening classic like George’s
A replica of George Washington’s watering can first sneaked onto the shelves of Mount Vernon’s gift shop late last summer, as the garden season was drawing to a close. Now is a perfect time to use the $86 hammered copper can, which holds 2 1/2 gallons of water. Two original watering cans that belonged to the father of our country, a lover of all things horticultural, are part of Mount Vernon’s permanent collection.
To purchase, go to mountvernon.org.- The Washington Post
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READ IT
Learn to look beyond that bluegrass
Bluegrass lawns use more water in a summer than most swimming pools, yet even in times of drought, homeowners can’t seem to see beyond the turf. Jennifer Bennett, a gardening editor and author, tackles Xeriscaping in “Dryland Gardening: Overcoming Tough Conditions” (Firefly Books, $24.95) with the hopes of convincing folks Xeric is not a dirty word. She discusses terracing, mulching, watering and wetting agents to help the soil hold moisture. The book also is a guide to herbs, ground covers, bulbs, perennials, vines, shrubs and annuals – all suited to climates where the soil is dry for days, then gets freezing rain or snow the next.
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READER TIP
Bucket helps protect your clematis
To keep the “feet” of my clematis in the shade, I use a gallon-size plastic bucket (the kind you get when purchasing a plant at the nursery), cut out the bottom and split the side, then wrap it around the base of the plant. In the winter I put mulch inside the bucket for protection.
– Patricia Larsen, Idaho Springs
Have a gardening tip to share with others? Send it to GROW, c/o Cynthia Pasquale, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202, or
cpasquale@denverpost.com. Include name address and telephone number. If we use your tip, we’ll send you a gardening book as a thank-you.
