Author - The Journal

Cyclamen will brighten up winter

There are a group of plants I call the “grandmother plants.” They’re the ones that you probably remember seeing on your grandmother’s windowsill when you were growing up. It seems like every...

DATE: Nov 13, 2021 | CATEGORY: Living

It’s November. Prepare for spring

The arrival of November means that gardening season is truly over for most of our area. However, there are a few things you’ll still need to do to prepare for winter. Avoiding these fall gar...

DATE: Oct 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Living

Hard freeze signals time to clean up

One of the chores that should be on your list for fall cleanup is cutting back your perennials. This is an important task for a number of reasons. Cutting back some perennials now will help ...

DATE: Oct 15, 2021 | CATEGORY: Agriculture

Give mums their due

It’s difficult to think of the fall season without having beautiful mums come to mind. Mums are a versatile addition to any fall garden and, along with fall pansies, they’ll take you through...

DATE: Oct 1, 2021 | CATEGORY: Agriculture

It’s time to put down some roots

Think about how it feels when your feet hit icy water in a river. Then consider how they feel if they are plunged into a warm foot bath. It’s the same with your plants and it’s the reason th...

DATE: Sep 17, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Whiteflies can be year-round pest

A whitefly infestation can be one of the most annoying problems in the plant world. These little white, fly-like insects love houseplants, vegetables, annuals and many other things, and they...

DATE: Sep 4, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Easing the stress in your yard

It has already been a hot summer and plants, like the rest of us, don’t always take the heat well. They will respond in several ways and this week I’d like to talk about how to recognize hea...

DATE: Jul 23, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

The summer of the aphid

Camouflaged bugs can be hard to spot. Here’s how you flush them out

DATE: Jun 26, 2021 | CATEGORY: Living

Gail Vanik: Add mulch in a drought to retain moisture

One of the easiest things you can do to help you garden successfully during a dry year is to simply add a layer of mulch after you’ve finished planting. Mulches do a great deal more in your...

DATE: Jun 11, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gail’s Garden: What to do in a drought

As planting season approaches, like anyone who lives in our high desert climate, we are keeping a close watch on the water situation this summer. At the garden center, one of the most freque...

DATE: May 15, 2021 | CATEGORY: Living

Gail Vanik: Don’t zone out on zones

When you walk into any garden center to shop this spring, more than likely the first question you will be asked is, “What zone are you in?” If you are going to be a successful gar...

DATE: Apr 30, 2021 | CATEGORY: Living

Gail Vanik: Don’t let snow hang too low

The arrival of the heavy, wet snow recently has been a very welcome sight not only for the water reserves for next summer, but also for the ski areas and recreationists as well. E...

DATE: Feb 19, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News