Quotation of the Week: "An optimistic gardener is one who believes that whatever goes down must come up." — Leslie Hall

Putting the "Ah" in "Dahlia"

By Tamara Galbraith If there isn't a shape, size or color of dahlia that takes your breath away...well, you need to keep looking, because there's one out there that will. Dahlias (Dahlia variabilis) are one of the most diverse types of flowers in existence. What's even more amazing is that most varieties start from an ugly, potato-looking tuber before developing, swan-like, into a tall, lithesome beauty. The color range alone is outstanding. While developing a true blue dahlia continues to evade hybridizers, gardeners can find just about everything else: red and white peppermint striped petals, peach with maroon tipped petals, pure white, pale yellow, burnt orange, soft pink...the list goes on. Dahlias range widely in flower shape and petal arrangement, as well. There are spiky cactus dahlias, playful round pompon dahlias, waterlily dahlias, peony dahlias, orchid dahlias, and more. Some are considered "formal" as opposed to "informal". Some have petals which curl inward, while petals on others curl under, or maybe not at all. The list is endless and, of course, most gardeners can't -- and shouldn't -- stop at just one plant. The dwarf varieties make great border accents, and also tend to do well in hotter, drier regions of the U.S. All dahlias prefer full sun, but make plenty of room for them - some varieties can get up to six feet tall! Lastly, dahlias are fabulous cut flowers and make a colorful, festive arrangement for any occasion.

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Consider Daylilies

Daylilies are one of the most popular herbaceous perennials grown. They are hardy, relatively free from serious pests, have a long blooming period, and adapt well to home landscape plantings. Plants are available in a wide variety of flower colors and growth habits. Their adaptability makes them useful almost anywhere in the garden. Keep in mind the color of your building material or other landscape plants when selecting varieties. Bright flower colors such as yellow should be used against redwood, brick, or dark backgrounds, and dark flowers used against white or light backgrounds. Daylilies over 36 inches tall are suitable for foundation plantings, the back of daylily beds, or as mixed borders. Medium daylilies (16 to 36 inches) can be used in most settings. Dwarf daylilies (12 inches or less) are best used for border plantings. Most daylilies prefer full sun. Although they tolerate part-shade conditions, they require about six hours of direct sun per day for best blooms. They prefer a good, well-drained soil. Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of about 12" and add a good soil amendment such as Whitney Farms Planting Compost.

The Coolness of Cucumbers

By Tamara Galbraith Believe it or not, there is truth behind the expression "cool as a cucumber." Generally consisting of more than 95% water, the inside of a cucumber can be as much as 20°F cooler than the outside air. Cucumbers are perhaps second only to tomatoes in vegetable diversity. You can make everything from pickles to soup to...well, facial masks with them. And they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes too, depending on their function. Obviously, slicing and pickling cucumbers are named for what they're good for, although some types are useful in both salads and the pickling process. Armenian and Japanese cukes are longer, more slender and better for cooking. The lemon cucumber is an heirloom variety with fruits resembling a bright yellow tennis ball...but that's as close to a lemon as they get. The flavor is pure cuke and the plants are incredibly prolific. Look for transplants of the new, disease-resistant varieties that have been developed with the home gardener in mind: 'Armenian', 'Burpless', 'Slicemaster', and 'Soo You' are a few to look for. Also, many new hybrids are advertised as "burpless," whereby the general bitterness has been removed for a better - and quieter - cucumber-eating experience. Whitney Farms Vegetable & Tomato Food will help your cucumbers grow more efficiently.

What You'll Need: 1 boneless pork butt (1-1/4 lb) cut into 1-inch chunks 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes in puree 1 envelope beef-onion soup mix 2 tbs. sweet paprika 2 tsp. garlic, minced 1 tsp. caraway seeds 3/4 cup sour cream 3 tbs. snipped fresh dill 1 bag (16-oz) frozen Italian-style meatballs

Step by Step:

Mix pork, tomatoes, soup mix, paprika, garlic and caraway seeds in a 3 or 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours until pork is tender. Stir in sour cream and dill. Serve with egg noodles or mashed potatoes to soak up the juices. Yield: 6 servings