Miscellaneous

Are the spindly weeds with the medium blue blooms currently growing alongside the roadways and in unmowed areas the same chickory that is harvested in Louisiana for chickory coffee?

can someone give me some advice on this bougainvillea?bougainvillea: Can someone give me some advice as to what is going on with my bougainvillea?

Here's an interesting question from a reader. We've never had this one before. Does anyone have any suggestions? -- Craig

I am looking for a caterpillar to show my son stages of metamorphosis. Can you tell me where can I get that.

My wife and I have had success growing herbs on our deck in small containers, but for the past two years, our cilantro has pretty much flopped. It grows great early in the season, starts to bloom out, which we were told to pick off the flowers to keep it growing, then just seems to die out. It loses its color and the leafs fade color and die. We water it pretty much in the same pattern we do other herbs that grow well.

Any tips for keeping cilantro healthy in our climate?

I have a beautiful hibiscus tree that is over 5 ft tall. I prune it in the fall, bring it in the house and prune it in the spring and put it outside.
This year the leaves are turning yellow and as of mid July there aren't any blooms. All the leaves completely fell off this spring when I took it outside. I lose most of the leaves when I bring it inside also.
Last winter I had a mite problem but treated it as soon as I took it outside.
Why are the leaves turning yellow and eventually falling off? Am I under or overwatering?
Help, please.

From Susan:

My mother is a flower freak and she is coming to visit me from Nebraska next weekend. I have taken her to Powell Gardens and she loved it, just a little bit too much walking. Do you have any suggestions on where I could take her that could live up to that but something new.

Does anyone have any advice on adding goldfish to an outdoor pond. I have a small pond about 6" by 5" and 2 1/2" deep. I have put goldfish in twice and they died the next morning both times. What am I doing wrong? The pond is 2 years old. I have a lilly plant and some oxygination plants in it. I have a pump and filter.

what kind of flowers are the best to use to get the effect i am trying to get? i love the way the flowers look as if they are spilling out of the barrel . please help ddar in oklahoma

Was given some Ranunculus tubers as a gift.
My question:
Can I plant them in July?
Would they do well in a container?
Can they survive KC winters?

Love your KCgardens Web page...thanks. Al

I am having a major problem with aphids on my tomatoes. I have picked them off, washed them off and shook them off. They keep coming back.
I have a chemical called Orthene Systemic Insect Control labeled for aphids, but the label says don't use on plants that will be fed or eaten. How about the fruit of the plants? HELP

Results of Excess MoistureThe rain and cooler spring has been nice but some times we have to say enough is enough. We are starting to see problems with the excess moisture. Water logged symptoms pretty much match those of drought.

Look for wilting of the foliage and yellowing. Most plants can suffer ill-effects of the water logged soils but tomatoes in the garden and yews are some of the most susceptible.

What can you do? No much just wait it out. Prolonged rainy periods such as this is when good soil prep to help increase drainage and soil aeration begin to pay off.

I have an unknown plant or plants that sprouted this spring in my whiskey barrel planter. It has spread to take over much of the barrel & drapes over the side, & it has several very small white flowers that are blooming now. What could it be, & if I want to grow it in other pots or baskets, how can I do that?

I have been trying for the last month to purchase rain barrels. I found an internet site and orderd 2, 75 gallon barrels and then they sent me the wrong order and I do not want to wait another month!! My barrels would have been filled by now with all this rain. Can you help me find anywhere in the KC area where I can purchase rain barrels?

Actually - this may never even get seen. It would be a great site, I liked the list of videos listed, but - wait! None of them are live!!!

Please either fix the video site or take it off.

I would like to change my back yard into a place where only native plants grow. What plants should I grow, where is the best place to get the correct seeds and how do I go about getting rid of the grass in the yard? Also do I need to add fertilizer after the grass is gone. I want this to be as organic as possible. Thank you

Over the past few years we have purchased glass containers where the bulbs (generally tulips) grow in water. However, once they grow and bloom we are left with a container.
Is there someplace we can go to get bulbs that will grow in these containers? Thanks.

I didn't get around to planting all of my tulip bulbs last fall. Would I be able to plant them with any success this fall?

Hi, I bought a "white bird of paradise" from a local nursery a few months ago. I put it on the floor in front of an east window. It's been doing good until lately I noticed one of the four leaves started to curl inward. I did some research about this. It says when the leaves curl up but stay green the plant probably doesn't get enough sun light. Then I put it on a small table and made sure it got all the morning light it could. Now all 4 leaves are curl. I keep the soil moist but not soggy. Do you have any suggestion? Thank you.

What is the best mulch to use around thornless blackberries?

I think I may have poison ivy in parts of my landscape. Do you have any pictures that could help me identify the plant? If it is poison ivy, what is the best way to remove? Is digging it up most effective or should I use a chemical to kill it? If so, any recommendations on what to use? Thanks for your help!

Diane