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Check It Out:
Local efforts are under way to help Oklahoma tornado victims. Find out how you can help here .
Drip irrigation is an excellent choice for vegetable gardens
Every plant has its own light, space and water requirements. Supply the m in the right amount and your garden will be successful. Of the three , providing the right amount of water requires the most effort from a gardener . Particularly when it comes to vegetables, rainfall is often not sufficient to grow healthy plants. You can, of course, just fill a watering can, but hand watering is time-
Out & about: Ken Farmer Appraisals
The appraisal tickets may be sold out, but that shouldn’t stop antiques lovers from heading to the South County Library on Wednesday to see Radford’s own Ken Farmer in action. Farmer, owner of Ken Farmer Auctions and Appraisals, is a regular appraiser on the popular national PBS television show “Antiques Roadshow.” He will appear at the library for a two-hour session of appraisals in front of a live audience. The
This year, why walk when you can take the trolley?
The Star Line Trolley, which uses biodiesel-powered buses decked out like old-fashioned trolley cars to ferry passengers around downtown, has been a big hit with Roanokers. Although most riders are Carilion Clinic employees (the trolley shuttles run between Carilion Roanoke Memorial and downtown Roanoke), Cyndi Fletcher, chairwoman of this year’s Roanoke Historic Garden Week in Virginia tour, said some of her south Roanoke neighbors use them, too . She was
The views and vision of Roanoke Valley's Rockledge
As the owners of Rockledge, the landmark stone house that sits prominently on Mill Mountain, Kevin and Nancy Dye feel a certain responsibility to their fellow Roanokers, even the ones who don’t quite realize the house is a private home. “We want to be good stewards of the property,” Nancy Dye said. “We know how much it means to people.” In that spirit, they’ve hosted many events for local civic
Roses can be bloomin' easy
As with many other gardeners, my mother's favorite flower was the rose - specifically, a yellow rose. My mother grew beautiful roses. With a flower this gorgeous, there is a tendency to assume that it must be finicky. My mother taught me that roses are actually quite easy to grow. Essentially, they are just like any other shrub. Give them space, light and water and you'll be rewarded with a
Bulbs light up the summer
Mention bulbs to a gardener and most of us think of the beautiful tulips and daffodils coming into bloom this time of year. But there are also bulbs for summer that bloom after spring’s flowers have faded away. Lilies, irises, dahlias, cannas and caladiums are easy to grow plants that bloom during the heat of summer. They provide showy and reliable blooming in flower pots, window boxes and garden plots,
Conscious re-creation is a rare privilege here on our planet
The old has gone, the new is here! — Corinthians 5:17 White Man celebrates something that happened 2,000 years ago.... Indians celebrate what’s happening now. When the sacred strawberries come up in early spring, that’s what we celebrate.... They’re the Creator’s gift to his children. — Chief Louis Farmer, Onondaga Swimming laps, early in Holy Week, while snow blew across the high windows, I thought about the “new creation.” It’s
Gardening Calendar
SATURDAY Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Field Trip The group will visit Arcadia and identify plants. This field trip will also include a group of Girl Scouts. Bring water, a snack and rain gear. Although the walking will be short and not difficult, it is on uneven ground. When: 9 a.m. to noon Where: Meet at Bojangles, 5 Kingston Drive, Daleville Cost: Free Contact: www.brwfs.org TUESDAY Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Field
Orchids are an addictive, exotic houseplant
Orchids have always struck me as intimidating plants. Although I admire their beauty, I've never attempted to grow one myself. I'm aware that there are some varieties that are easy to grow as houseplants and, judging from how often I see them for sale in grocery stores and home centers, those varieties are plentiful. However, my intellect wars with my emotions on this one plant, and I allow myself to
Gardening calendar
— sunday — l Gardening for the Birds Bill Leaning, a retired veterinarian and active nature photographer and gardener, will discuss planting and landscaping to attract birds. When: 3 p.m. Where: Discovery Center, Smith Mountain Lake State Park Cost: $7 Contact: 297-6066 — wednesday — l New River Valley Bird Club Jerry Via and Bill Akers will explore the relationship between coffee and birds who often spend winter in coffee
We work hard at entertainment, but is anyone having fun?
“Are we having fun yet?” I can still hear some or other joker asking this through the years, in the cold pouring rain of a backpacking trip, or stuck on the road in a blizzard, or camping at the beach in a biting March wind, with gritty sand in the biscuits and iron in the spigot water and daylight winking out early with un-balmy starkness. In fact, back in those
Down to Earth: It’s time to start vegetable seedlings indoors
Although most of the vegetable garden is still months away from planting time, gardeners can begin enjoying the season now by starting their own seeds. Plants that require a long growing season, like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons and winter squash, can get a jump start indoors on a sunny windowsill. Plants like lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and basil don’t need a long growing season, but these, too, can be started indoors
Fieldnotes: Tireless contributions of the birds go unnoticed
Invisible life that sustains all, I awaken to life everything in every waft of air … The stars shine, Radiating with life-light. All creation is gifted with the ecstasy of God’s light. — Hildegard of Bingen February is not a great month for burning your old brush pile. But it is a fine month for seeing. The birds have already been returning and pairing up, locating nesting sites in what we
Down to Earth: All about sprouts
Those of us who like to grow what we eat can spend winter months longing for truly fresh produce. Although most edibles can be difficult to grow indoors with only a sunny windowsill for light, there are some options that will please the gardener and cook alike. Growing sprouts can be one of the easiest edible projects around. With a wide variety of seeds available, the home gardener can grow
The seeds of potential are within us
All the flowers of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today. — Indian Proverb They began arriving on the first day of winter, bringing into stuffy, over-stewed homes their snappy parsleys, red roses and pastel-blue morning glories. They delivered quaint old color-wash drawings of yellow squashes, tomatoes, blackberry canes and watering cans perched on a rock. They brought potted lime trees and pines, mosses and ferns, arbors clobbered with
Down to Earth: Read it and reap
For gardeners, January can only mean one thing: the new seed catalogs have arrived . With few other outlets available to indulge your gardening needs, nothing beats curling up on a cold winter day and planning your upcoming garden. Good seed catalogs contain so much information that experienced gardeners often refer back to them throughout the growing season. For novice gardeners, the choices can be daunting and sometimes downright confusing.
While growing up, grow down and deep
Sunset in the ethereal waves: I cannot tell if the day is ending, or the world, or if the secret of secrets is inside me again. — Anna Akhmatova The faded, lovely soulfulness of winter — especially noticed from a lonely, gold-weeded pasture, cradled by powder-blue mountains, or walking at sunset through a tan-white-and-gray woodland, or along a bleak, dank, chill-clammy riverbank — is never mentioned in the ads. It
Down to Earth: Branch out for next winter
This time of year, landscapes often suffer from a case of the blahs. Winter can be the most difficult time of the year to make your yard look attractive. This is a good time of year to assess your landscape for its winter appeal. Plan now to add color, texture and interest to next year’s winter landscape. Trees Showy displays of colorful fruit allow many trees to play an important
Down to Earth: Resolve to compost in the new year
No matter what type of gardening you engage in, and no matter how large or small your garden, every gardener should make a resolution to compost in the new year. Compost is partially decomposed organic matter, commonly made up of plants or plant-based foods, and sometimes the manures of plant-eating animals. Because compost is made mainly from plants, it usually contains the growth elements that plants need in roughly the
Fieldnotes: Stay pliable and reap the possibilities
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. — Isaiah 11:1 A spirit of fresh life and wonder pervades the book of Isaiah from the Bible. One verse interprets God saying, “Look, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” This God wants to try new things, work together, let bygones
1. Afternoon downpour turns downtown to a torrent
2. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli: Star CEO discussed taxes
3. Officials investigate after Roanoke County house fire Monday
4. U.S. Forest Service makes example of ATV rider in Bland County
5. Match is found for DNA at 2005 homicide scene
6. Handful of people at meeting protest 28.5% pay increase for Roanoke City Council
7. Baseball draft slight motivates Virginia Tech's Andrew Rash
8. Franklin County child porn suspect recovering after self-inflicted wound
9. Report faults development proposal for old Blacksburg Middle School site
10. Sick dog rescued from McAfee Knob trail
THE ROANOKE TIMES
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