Strawberry Tree
Since moving to Washington, I have discovered a great number of new trees. One of my favorites is the Strawberry Tree ( Arbutus unedo ). It is a four-season tree with semi-glossy evergreen leaves and lovely mahogany bark. In autumn, clusters of white flowers appear, bearing a resemblance to Lily-of-the-Valley flowers. And then there are the little fruits, which resemble strawberries that appear at the same time as the flowers. I am not sure why, but I have only seen a few fruits on ours. I don't know if birds are getting them before I see them or what happens. The fruits are said to be edible but not very tasty (to humans). This year, our tree is loaded with flowers, the most I've ever seen. Bees absolutely love it and so do the hummingbirds. The flowers usually continue to appear straight through winter, and it can be blooming even during the coldest periods of winter. Aside from the fact that I have not seen much of the colorful fruits, the major negative note is the fact tha
Wonderful contest! I'd like to try the Safe Personal Care bundle (insect repellents). We sit on our patio virtually every dry evening here in North Carolina -- from April through October -- and beginning in June the mosquitoes make those evenings miserable. So we use Deep Woods Off, and it works, but we would love a natural alternative. Thanks for providing one!
ReplyDeleteI have to spray down my arms and legs every evening before I can do anything in the garden. If I forget I am soon reminded by stinging mosquito bites. I would love to try a product with natural ingredients. Enter me!
ReplyDeleteI would like to enter for a chance to win the "Safe Personal Care" bundle. Mosquitos are a huge problem during our long Virginia summers, and when I am in my backyard Woodland Garden, I wish to be able to sit out there on the deck in peace during the evenings. I work all day and when I get home before dusk, the Mosquitos are at their worst. Please Please Help Me! Thanks! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love the safe-home-value-bundle. My house sits on a cement slab, so being so close to the ground It's a constant battle with ants, spiders, and those gross little pill bugs. I'd love to try a safe product and compare it to all the chemicals I've used in the past.
ReplyDeletePhillip, thanks for making us aware of a great product! You know we've been trying to use more natural items. I think the Safe Patio Vaule Bundle would be amazing to win. With the amount of time we spend outdoors the insect repellent would be wonderful! Also, last week I discovered ants in our bathroom-very random :( It's always clean and I have not idea how they got in (and don't they die in the winter?!). Anyways, we had to use Raid, and then air everything out for awhile. Even though we moved stuff like toothbrushes out, I still replaced them because Raid is nasty!
ReplyDeleteI too would like to try the Safe Personal Care Bundle. We do alot of gardening and mountain biking and I'm always trying homemade rememdies to keep the skeeters at bay.
ReplyDeletemlangley@acgi.com
I would love the all natural insect repellants, so add me to the contest. I refuse to spray my skin with chemicals that carry warning labels. But I'm a gardener, and I live in Alabama! So it would be great to have these EcoSmart products.
ReplyDeleteBecause I have bugs.
ReplyDeleteI had 5.74 million grasshopers in my garden last summer, and 1.29 million aphids. Though the lady bugs eventually got the aphids, I resorted to some nasty stuff on the grasshoppers to try and save some large perennials. Alas, lost on all counts. I tried every organic je ne sais quoi under the sun until I tried the bad stuff. I hated myself.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin FTW. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Phillip. Safe and effective insect repellents are a great idea. Hope they decide to make one for dogs. We have a problem here with fleas on squirrels that leave them in the yard to jump on the dog.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Hi Phillip. Safe and effective insect repellents are a great idea. Hope they decide to make one for dogs. We have a problem here with fleas on squirrels that leave them in the yard to jump on the dog.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I need to use Safe Personal Care bundle as I, as well as my grandchildren, are allergic to so many of the chemicals that are in the other products. By using a natural product, we can be worry free of the bugs as well as having to worry about an allergic reaction. We can also feel good about not polluting the world with all those chemicals the other companies are using. I do want to protect my grandchildren and hopefully help save the world in the process.
ReplyDeletePat Curnutt Moore
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
efamoore@bellsouth.net
I found your Gardening article really interesting. I am always looking for great Gardening information. I run a blog for Gardening in San Diego. You can click here to visit our site at http://www.san-diego-gardening.com.
ReplyDeleteHey Phillip - re: your question about the botanical gardens in NOLA- when I was in NOLA last April, things were in FULL bloom, so I imagine there might be something worthwhile to see in late March. They are definitely ahead of us - Japanese Magnolias were in full bloom when I was there last weekend, and they appear to be about a month away from blooming here.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back in NOLA the 18th-20th. Perhaps we will run into each other!
Have a great trip!
Because it's hard to garden when you're swattin' sketters!
ReplyDeleteOh! Oh! Oh! Put me in! Since we have a new puppy we need something safer. Hope you are well!-- Randy
ReplyDelete