Dear $$firstname$$,

Covered with a blanket of snow at our offices in Greendale, Wisconsin, and with projected highs in the low ‘teens, spring seems far away. What’s a gardener to do? Dream! Flip through those catalogs, read our tips for ordering through the mail and check off your regional checklist to-dos. Winter isn’t as hum-drum as you think.

Got a great tip? Share your smarts with us. If we publish your “yard smart” tip in a future issue, we’ll pay you $25! Click here to send us your tip today.

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Happy Gardening!
--From the editors of your favorite gardening magazines

READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Question of the Month
• Mail Ordering Made Easy
• January/February Regional Checklist
• Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

Submit Your Story

photo: RDA, INC/GID

Plant of the Month

Harry Lauder’s walking stick
This unique shrub does have flowers in spring, but that’s not why gardeners plant it. The twists and turns of this plant’s branches make it a great choice to liven up winter landscapes.

Botanical name: Corylus avellana ‘Contorta.’
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring.
Hardiness: Zones 4 to 8.
Flower Color: Yellow.
Height: 8 to 10 feet.
Width: 8 to 10 feet.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Planting: Thrives in alkaline soil.
Winter interest: Unusual twisted stems and branches create drama in the barren landscape.

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Yard Smarts

For the Birds
We enjoy when feathered friends visit our feeders during the winter months. So we always look for festive ways to attract them when food is scarce.

We’re certain that the birds and other wildlife will find these edible snowmen delicious. They’re made of Cheerios, popcorn, cracked corn, birdseed, suet, dried cranberries, peanut butter and baby carrots. –Gwenn Phillabaum, Arcanum, Ohio

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Question of the Month

Cacti Conundrum
Q: My sister-in-law has a collection of cacti in her home, and during a recent visit, I took a photo of this lovely bloom (right). Can you help me identify it?  –Hazel Graham, Portland, Oregon

Melinda: Take a close look at the flower, and you can see why it is commonly called orchid cactus. This large group of cactus, known as Epiphyllum, contains many members that produce red, purple, white or yellow flowers that are fragrant in spring or summer.

It’s best to grow these in a bright location, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Keep the plant a little drier during its rest period (when it’s not actively growing) and slightly moister when in bloom. In winter, give the plant a break from flowering by moving it to a cooler (50 degree) location.

Cool temperatures and drier soil during the rest period will encourage blooms. Move it to a warmer location when the plant is flowering or actively growing.

See more of Melinda’s answers

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Mail Ordering Made Easy

There are scads of mail-order nurseries. These companies offer many more interesting plants, and different varieties of familiar ones, that you likely won’t find at the local nursery.

Are there risks? Not really. Most mail-order nurseries have packing and shipping down to a science, and have good guarantee and return policies.

Just so you’re not surprised, these retailers usually send dormant bare-root plants. Here are a few more hints before you order:

• Order Early. Do this to guarantee the best possible selection and get that special plant you had your heart set on. But remember this—an early order does not mean an early shipment. Mail-order nurseries ship to your growing zone only when it’s safe to do so.
• Inspect on Arrival. When your plants arrive, inspect the contents immediately. Because they’re dormant, you probably won’t see any signs of life in the upper part of the plants. But the roots should be crisp and white or tan, and in good condition. If they’re soggy and rotten looking, smell bad, or are black and wiry, the plant may not make it. Call the nursery for a replacement.
• Temporary Holding. If you are not ready to plant, or the weather won’t allow it, the plants can be held for a couple of days in a cool, dry, frost-free place, like an unheated porch, garage or even the refrigerator. Check the roots daily and sprinkle with water to keep them slightly moist.
• Prior to Planting. Rehydrate the plants by soaking them in a bucket of lukewarm water for a few hours.
• Planting Day. Choose a cool day after the danger of frost has passed. The ground should not be frozen or soggy. Bring the plants out to the planting spot in a bowl or bucket, so the roots don’t dry out. After they are in the ground, water them well. You may also shield them from drying sun and wind for a few days by placing a bushel basket of lawn chair over them.

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January/February Regional Checklist

There’s no better time to gather your resources and make your plans for the coming gardening season! Click your region for a list of things you can do right now!

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southwest
• Central
• Southeast

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Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

photo: RDA, INC/GID

Easy Plant ID’s
If you’re like me, you probably have lots of plants in your garden that came from friends. The only problem with this is that it can be difficult to remember the names of all those new plants.

I have lots of photos of my garden, so whenever I receive a new nursery or seed catalog, I page through it, looking for pictures of any “mystery plants.” When I match them up (like I did for this lamb’s ear), I cut out the information and tape it to the backs of my photos for future reference. –Dawn Neibarger, Mio, Michigan

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More from your favorite gardening/birding magazines:

• --Glen’s Seed Starting Tips
• --25 Planning Tips to Save Time & Money
• --Eye-to-Eye with Flowers
• --Garden Gallery

It’s Your Club. As a valued member, we want to hear your gardening stories, tips and ideas. Click here.

Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

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