It was during the Victorian Age that gardeners began their love affair with growing blubs indoors. The sweet scent of paperwhites and the simple elegance of a single amaryllis bloom grown in a glass of water brought the spring garden indoors during the dark days of winter. Even the most novice gardener can plant and enjoy one of nature’s simple pleasures.

Paperwhites do not need a cold storage period. Simply fill a shallow pot (3 to 4 inches deep) halfway with gravel, stones or soil. Choose bulbs that have some green shoots showing. Set the bulbs gently in the growing medium, pack more soil or gravel around the bulbs, leaving the tips visible. Water thoroughly. If planted in water, be sure that the water remains below the base of the bulb.
Place your paperwhites in a cool (50 – 60 º) dark spot for 3 to 4 weeks or until the bulbs have budded. This allows the roots to develop and helps the flower stems to stay shorter and thus less likely to fall over.
Place your container where there is plenty of light and watch them develop into bloom. If the paperwhites do start to fall over, tie them with a raffia bow, support them with some twigs from the garden, or grow them in a tall vase.

 Start some this week and you will have blooms for Thanksgiving. Start some every other week and you will have blooms all winter long.

I have found that organic gardeners are so much more aware of what is going on in their gardens. Moreover, learning something new never stops. Since we are fortunate enough to be able to watch the migration of the monarch butterflies both in spring and fall, we make sure we have some milkweed plants (Asclepias curassavica) blooming in our gardens at those times. The monarchs lay their eggs on this plant. The larvae, or caterpillars that result, feed off the plant leaves. As the flowers mature, they form long pods. When dry, they break open, releasing little flat seeds.

Last week, as Alec, one of our grandsons, and I were watching a large monarch feeding, I pointed out to him the large, yellow aphids that were all over the plant. This is not unusual; aphids love asclepias, and usually do little harm to the plant. Yesterday, we went back to look at the aphids. They were mostly gone. We did see one ladybug larvae scooting around the plant. What surprised us even more were the several clusters of milkweed bug nymphs. Our research taught us that these bugs feed on the seeds of the milkweed plant. We both had just learned something new.

If you have roses that sport lovely rose hips, do not deadhead your last crop of blooms. You will not only have rose hips to use for teas and preserves, those left on your bushes will provide food for such birds as the cedar waxwing and mockingbird.

Did you know that rose hips are a superb source of vitamin C? I vividly remember my mother talking to me about some of her experiences in England during World War II. At that time, citrus products were not readily available, so children were sent out to pick rose hips. The hips were then given to the Ministry of Health who in turn made rose hip syrup that was provided free to all the children of England. She remembers in particular an Alexander rose – a flat rose that grew wild in the countryside.

Some of the roses that I know that will produce great hips are Ballerina, Iceberg, Mutabilis, Old Blush and Seven Sisters.

In 1793, Martha Randolph wrote her father from Monticello and complained of insect damage in the garden. Jefferson’s response summarized a basic philosophy of gardening:

“We will try this winter to cover our garden with a heavy coating of manure. When earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yields in abundance, and of the best quality. I suspect that the insects which have harassed you have been encouraged by the feebleness of your plants; and that has been produced by the lean state of the soil. We will attack them another year with joint efforts.”

Obviously, organic gardening is not new. In fact it is gardening the way great grandmother used to do it. Our goal in gardening organic is to enrich the life of the soil by adding organic matter on a regular basis so that plants can take the nutrients they need when they need them. Jefferson was right-when the earth is rich, plants thrive. When plants thrive, there is no need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Of course, the other major benefit of organic gardening is that it’s better for the planet and its residents. In our landscape business we service over 300 homes on a regular basis with our organic fertilization service. The overriding reason people sign up for that service is that they don’t want their kids and/or pets exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides.

The fall is a wonderful time to begin an organic program. Spread a half-inch of quality organic compost over the yard and planting beds. Plant roots continue slow development during the winter months. The nutrients from the decaying compost will percolate down slowly to the root zone and encourage healthy root development. Then, come spring, your lawn and perennial plants will come on stronger than ever.