Clara B. Rees Iris Society will be holding an iris rhizome sale on Saturday, August 2nd, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. There will be hard-to-find bearded iris varieties in a multitude of colors. Most are the "tall bearded," but "median" varieties, will also be available.

For those who like an extra bargain, they have grab bags too! Have your questions answered by experts in the field of cultivating and growing iris for the home garden. A don't miss event for iris fans!

In the summertime, when the weather is hot, heat-loving annuals will dazzle your gardens with vibrant colors. They are the sun-bathing beauties of any garden. With so many different flower forms, colors, sizes and foliage shapes available, every gardener will have a dozen or two favorite annuals blooming in the garden to brag about.

Versatility is their name; garden pizzazz is your gain. Annuals can make themselves at home in your garden beds, around your trees and shrubs, and in containers of all kinds. Some annuals are groundcovers, some are midsized and perfect for borders, and some will stand tall in the rear of the garden bed or as a focal point.

For a huge colorful impact, plant in swaths or waves. Or plant in patterns and create a colorful design. Use your imagination and don't be afraid to try new arrangements. Unlike perennials, annuals don't hang around for years. So experiment! If you don't like one effect, you can always try something else the next time you plant. You can do the same with potted annuals, of course--and those are even easier to rearrange.

If you plant your annuals in the ground, we recommend using a good planting mix like Gardner & Bloome Planting Mix. Most annuals need regular water, as they don't have the time to develop extensive root systems.

Fertilize with Max Sea All Purpose Fertilizer to encourage continuous blooms. Also, to keep your annuals blooming all season long, "deadhead" (which means to pluck off the spent flowers). This will keep the plants from thinking that it's time to spend all of their energy developing seeds for the next season. Remember that annuals are plants that grow and bloom within one season.

Whatever your garden style or colors, we have annuals for you! Come in and pick out your favorites. Arrange them in your gardens for a spectacular summer flower show!

One of the most versatile herbs one can use in cooking is basil. Most cooks agree that it is definitively a must-have herb. Basil is used to add flavor to salads, soups, sauces, marinades, and dressings. When combined with olive oil and pine nuts, it becomes the key ingredient for making pesto sauce.

Basil is a tender herb that is originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is a prominent part of cuisines throughout the world, including Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian. The leaves taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, fragrant, sweet smell, but the flavors vary and are distinct between varieties.

Basil is very sensitive to cold, but can be grown successfully as a warm season annual in just about any climate. It prefers a warm, sunny location and, while it will do just fine in the garden, performs exceptionally well in containers where the heat from the side of the pot keeps the roots warm and happy. Almaden Valley Nursery has a great perennial variety called Roman Coliseum.

In fact, it's very easy to plant three or four different varieties in the same pot for a colorful patio container and a diverse set of flavors for your cooking. You can even plant a number of pots in combinations of distinct flavor categories or colors. It's completely up to you; the key is to have fun and let your taste buds run wild!

Gardening can give you a great workout, especially when you incorporate all the weight lifting that comes from schlepping plants, packaged soil, mulch and wheelbarrow loads of garden clippings. It can also lead to injury or muscle soreness if done incorrectly, so it's very important to lift smart when gardening.

When lifting heavy items, squat down, get a firm grip and lift using your legs, not your back! By lifting with your leg muscles you'll gain more lifting power and save yourself a trip to the chiropractor. Don't be afraid to ask for help if something looks too heavy; it's a smart way to save yourself from injury.

Use a wheelbarrow as much as possible when hauling bags of mulch, rocks or large plants from your car to your garden. With packaged soils, either empty bags from your car directly into the wheelbarrow and shovel it out where needed, or haul the bags to the work site, cut the bags open lengthwise and then dump them where they are needed.

Lifting or carrying heavy rocks or plants can place a real strain on the back and shoulders. Try tipping your wheelbarrow forward as close to the plant container or root ball as possible. Gently roll or rotate the plant into the wheelbarrow and then bring the wheelbarrow to a standing position. Then simply take it to the planting site and reverse the process.

Remember to prepare the hole first. Then all you have to do is remove the container and slip the plant into the hole. With ball and burlap plants, you can roll them directly into the hole and then cut the rope and excess burlap. This will help protect the plant roots as well as minimize the stress on your body.

Remember to pace yourself and listen to your body. It will tell when you when it has had enough and it's time to quit. Doing one project at a time will help to keep you from overworking. Don't forget to stretch when you are done to help reduce muscle soreness. Then go treat yourself to a nice bath or shower and a great meal. After all, gardening should have its rewards!

What do the numbers on a bag of fertilizer mean?

Answer:
The numbers on a bag of fertilizer are called the "guaranteed analysis." They represent the percentages of the three key ingredients in (most) fertilizers, which are referred to as NPK: the N is nitrogen, P is phosphorus, and K is potash¹.

If you have a bag of fertilizer labeled 16-16-16, it would contain 16% nitrogen (for growth and green color), 16% phosphorus (for root development and flower/fruit production) and 16% potash (for plant health and foliage cell structure).

The guaranteed analysis varies from brand to brand and product to product, with different combinations of NPK used for different types of plants and lawns.

¹ For those of you who want to know why K is for potash, "potash" is commonly used for the soil fertilizer forms of potassium, which has the chemical symbol "K" (from the Latin, which is kalium).

Jim was born in Santa Clara, California. He was raised on a small farm where is family grew apricots, cherries, almonds, and prunes. He majored in English and Political Science in college but eventually went to work in the photography field. After fourteen years at Eastman Kodak, Jim took a chance and quit to begin a long-term career in the nursery business.

Jim is a passionate environmentalist and vegetarian. He regularly participates in volunteer projects in his spare time, building fences, repairing trails and ridding parks and preserves of non-native invasive plant species. His long-term goals are to become a published author while continuing his work and passion for the environment.