Quotation of the Week: "There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments." — Janet Kilburn Phillips

From the Flower Shop

The Marantaceae Family (Prayer Plant)
Calathea	Ctenanthe
Stromanthe	Maranta
The marantaceae family consists of 4 closely related members or “genus”- Calathea, Ctenanthe, Stromanthe and Maranta. Pictures above are just examples of each, as there are many varieties. These outstanding plants all feature spectacular colored foliage, ranging from pinks, purple, white to almost black. Their requirements are similar to one another. The common name “prayer plant” describes their habit of folding up their leaves at night. Plants in the Marantaceae family all have some kind of bloom, from a small flower to some that have very showy colorful blooms. The native habitat is Central and South America.
Light: Good bright indirect light. Too much light will fade color on leaves.
Water: Keep moist at all times, never allow it to dry out, or stand in water. The soil must drain well. Misting is a good idea as well as placing the container in a saucer of wet gravel to help provide humidity.
Temperature: Minimum temperature of 65 degrees to a maximum of 85 degrees.
Fertilizer: In the growing months feed every 2 weeks with a diluted liquid fertilizer, in the winter months feed less often.
Tip: Your chances of success are greatly improved with occasional rinsing off of leaves at the sink or in the shower, household dust in an invitation for a host of insects.

Easter Entertaining

Weather Wise

Woody Hayes, the famous football coach, was once asked why he preferred running the ball to passing it. He pointed out that when a ball was passed, five things could happen and only one of them was good.
Gardeners would be wise to keep Woody's dictum in mind when planting tomatoes and other tender plants early in the season. If the weather cooperates they may grow, but if they stall out due to cool weather or soil then bad things begin to happen: frost and hail damage, root rot, fungus infections, insect infestations and a general failure to thrive. Plants are tough and many will survive gardeners who misjudge the weather (as we all have from time to time), but the odds can be improved with a few products that aid plant growth in early spring. Hotkaps are useful little waxed paper caps that can be popped over individual plants to protect them. The top can be cut open as the plant grows. Wall O' Water ia a series of plastic tubes that are filled with water to form a conical greenhouse for new plants. Plant & Seed Blankets can be used to cover individual plants or rows to protect crops from inclement weather and even insect damage. Cloud Cover spray provides quick frost protection. All of these products will allow for the circulation of air and the passage of sunlight necessary for plant growth. They can be removed when the plants are big enough to fend for themselves.

Good Enough to Eat: Rainbow Sorbet(TM)

By Tamara Galbraith Looking for a breathtaking rose that is as beautiful as it is tough? Take a taste of 'Rainbow Sorbet,' one of the 2006 All-American Rose Selections winners. Developed by hybridizer Ping Lim of Bailey Nurseries, this upright floribunda provides a splash of color that keeps going all summer long. The cupped, 3" flowers are edged in deep pink, with each petal fading to yellow-pink, then burnt orange in the center. Glossy, deep green leaves accompany the delicate flowers on this 5' shrub. Speaking of leaves, 'Rainbow Sorbet' is especially good at holding off black spot, which makes it an excellent choice for gardeners in humid areas. Some noses have reported Sorbet's scent as being strong, while others describe it as "lightly sweet." One thing is for sure...you'll find 'Rainbow Sorbet' to be a carefree garden treat that looks good enough to eat.

Recipe of the Week: Melon Ambrosia

What You'll Need: 1 cup watermelon balls 1 cup cantaloupe balls 1 cup honeydew balls 1/3 cup fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. sugar 2 tbsp. honey 1/4 cup coconut, toasted Fresh mint, optional

Step by Step:

In a bowl, combine all melon balls. In another bowl, combine the lime juice, sugar and honey; pour over melon and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with coconut. Garnish with mint if desired. Yield: 4 servings