Your National Gardening Association weekly news for May 13, 2017

Planning for Peaches

"Few gastronomical treats come close to the season's first bite into a peach: the faint tingle of fuzz on your lips, the flesh, softer and sweeter than you remembered, and the trickle of juice down your chin, warm, sticky, and wonderful."

All About Rosemary

"Rosemary means dew of the sea, an appropriate name for this popular garden herb, watered by the ocean mists in its native habitat along the arid coastline of the"

Weeds: Annual Bluegrass

"Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a cool-season annual that forms dense clumps that are lighter green than cultivated turf grasses. Unlike perennial bluegrass, the tips of annual bluegrass leaves show a slight curve, like the bow of a boat."

Super Summer Squash

"Summer squash is one of the most gratifying crops to grow in the vegetable garden. Simply stick in a few seeds, wait a while, and suddenly you're harvesting tender green and gold squash by the armload."

Gardening Tips for Attracting Birds

"The National Wildlife Federation has designated the entire month of May as Garden for Wildlife Month. Next up in our weekly series about creating wildlife habitat gardens are some tips on attracting birds from the Federation’s Naturalist David Mizejewski."

Planting a Child-Friendly Garden

"Gardeners love to share their interest in gardening, and sharing with their children can be particularly rewarding. Even 2- and 3-year-olds can help plant their own little patch, and watch as life unfolds around them. Here are some suggestions for making gardening enjoyable-and safe-for young children."

Ripening and Harvesting Tomatoes

"One of the great joys of gardening is reaching for the first red-ripe tomato on the vine and biting into it. There's a flavor, juiciness and pleasure you'll never find in a supermarket tomato. Because tomatoes ripen from the inside out, when the outer skin is firm and red, you know you've got a beautiful ripe one."

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Vesper')
By Calif_Sue:

Photo of Tulip (Tulipa 'Tres Chic')
By mellielong:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Earth Angel')
By zuzu:

Photo of Lily (Lilium 'Fusion')
By William:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Under My Spell')
By Moiris:

Photo of Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Minnesota Mixed-Up Kid')
By Lestv:

Photo of Golden Shrimp Plant (Pachystachys lutea)
By krobra:

Photo of Tulip (Tulipa 'Light and Dreamy')
By William:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Sweet Prairie Wind')
By shive1:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Sun Silk')
By lovemyhouse: