I found this article and have some interesting thoughts about gardening.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks again for all of you checking out this blog page. 
1. Skip the Compost Pile
     If managing a compost pile isn’t for you there is still a way to make use of those kitchen scraps. It’s easier than you think. Simply bury them in the garden. Yes, that’s right – dig a hole and bury your compostable material right into the garden among veggies, flowers or shrubs. Move the holes around to different locations so you don’t overload any one area of the garden. As they decompose, the kitchen scraps will add nutrients to the soil and improve soil health. Landscape trimmings can also be put directly to use. Lay cut vegetation or grass clippings on top of the soil around vegetable plants to serve as mulch. The cuttings will help retain soil moisture, cool soils and add nutrients to the soil.
2. Mirror, Mirror on the Fence
      Interior decorators have long asserted the simply trick of using mirrors to make a room look bigger. Guess what. That works in the garden too. Hang mirrors on walls or fences to reflect light and plant materials and make an outdoor space appear larger. Integrate the mirror into a planting so it disappears among the surrounding plant materials. You can achieve a similar affect with a still pool of water which adds visual depth to the garden.
3. The Old “Slinky on the Birdfeeder” Trick
      Do squirrels eat the lion’s share of birdseed from your feeders? Try encircling the pole of the feeder in an old Slinky®. Yes, I am talking about the children’s toy. Simply feed the pole through the center of the Slinky® and secure it to the top of the pole or bottom of the bird feeder. Let the Slinky® hang loosely down the length of the pole or secure the other end to the ground with a stake. This trick also works with a shepherd’s hook. Not only will birds regain control of the feeders, but you’ll also enjoy hours of entertainment watching squirrels try to conquer this new moving barrier.
4. A Bucket Full of Clean
        Keep tools sharp and clean using a bucket filled with a mixture of sand and mineral oil. After use, rinse off excess dirt then stick the shovel, pruners or other tool into the bucket. The coarse sand cleans away remaining debris and helps sharpen edges. The oil keeps tools lubricated and prevents build-up of rust. Your tools will last longer and you won’t need to sharpen them as often.
5. Make Frozen Herb Cubes
        Whether you harvested too much sage from the garden or are trying to beat an end-of-season freeze, sometimes you have more cut herbs than you can use. Drying extra herbs is okay, but the flavor of most herbs tends to decline with drying (oregano being the primary exception to this rule). To preserve better flavor try freezing excess herbs in ice cube trays topped with oil. Hard-leaved herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano and thyme preserve very well in olive oil. The individual cubes can be tossed right into soups, stews and other dishes for garden-fresh flavor. Tender herbs like basil and cilantro don’t hold up as well. It is better to process them into pesto before freezing in cubes.
taken from http://southernlivingplants.com/in-the-garden/article/top-5-gardening-hacks
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

          It is the time of year that you are thinking about seeds for your gardens.  Here is some information about seeds.  As I have been told on this blog page, once a science teacher always a science teacher.  I taught before we had our family and one of the areas was elementary science.  I really think with my teacher education that is why I have used this business of greenhouse growing, gardening growing into helping you LEARNING GARDENING.  In turn I learn which is good at any stage in our lives. 
Are there Good and Bad Seeds?
The terms hybrid, heirloom, and genetically modified (GMO) get tossed about a lot today and no where more so than in the garden - specifically, the vegetable garden. In plants, the terms refer to how the plants are reproduced; whether by simple seed saving, by cross--pollinating two different species, or by introducing foreign genes. None of these methods are easily labeled good or bad and you won't find much agreement on which is the best, either.
Heirlooms are plants that have stood the test of time, hybrids are often more disease resistant or higher yielding, and GMOs although still the subject of much study, can be life savers. Each has its pros and cons.
What Type of Vegetable Seed Should You Choose?How can you be sure that the hybrid vegetable seeds you grow aren't genetically modified and bad for you? Would you be better off sticking to heirloom vegetables or could they be modified too? Here's a breakdown of what you are getting from each type of see.
Heirloom VegetablesHeirloom vegetables are not a special species of plants. The term heirloom vegetable is used to describe any type of vegetable seed that has been saved and grown for a period of years and is passed down by the gardener that preserved it. It has a provenance, of sorts. To be capable of being saved, all heirloom seed must be open pollinated, so that is will grow true to seed.
Open pollinated, or OP, plants are simply varieties that are capable of producing seeds that will produce seedlings just like the parent plant. Hybrid plants, as explained below, do not do this.
Hybrid VegetablesPlant breeders cross breed compatible types of plants in an effort to create a plant with the best features of both parents.
These are called hybrids and many of our modern plants are the results of these crosses.
While plants can cross-pollinate in nature and hybrids repeatedly selected and grown may eventually stabilize and become open pollinated, most hybrid seeds are relatively new crosses and seed from these hybrids will not produce plants with identical qualities.
For example, each year new hybrid tomato varieties are offered. You may see them labeled as hybrids or F1, first filial generation (first-generation hybrid), or F2, second filial generation. These may eventually stabilize, but for the moment a tomato like the popular 'Early Girl' does not produce seeds that reliably have the features you expect in an 'Early Girl' tomato. Seed from hybridized plants tends to revert to the qualities of the parents, so tomatoes grown from seeds saved from your 'Early Girl' tomatoes might still be tasty, but not so early.
Anyone can select and eventually stabilize their own seed or even hybridize new plants, but plant and seed companies have recently begun patenting their crosses so that only have the right to reproduce the hybrids they've developed.
Genetically Modified PlantsHybrids should not be confused with genetically modified organisms or (GMOs) which, according to About.com's Biotech Guide, can be any plant, animal or microorganism which have been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques such as gene cloning and protein engineering. Plants like corn that has the pesticide Bt engineered into its genetic makeup to make it resistant to certain pests are GMO crops. Bt is a natural pesticide, but it would never naturally find its way into corn seed.
You probably are not too keen on infusing your food with pesticides and the overuse of a pesticide often results in the targeted pest becoming resistant to it. These types of concerns have given GMOs a terrible reputation. However there are times when GMOs have arguably been quite positive in their impact, such as the high yield, disease resistant, dwarf wheat, introduced by Norman Ernest Borlaug, that helped increase the food supplies in India and Pakistan.  Again food for thought. 
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/hybrid-vs-heirloom-vegetables-1403361
Till next time, Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

      Short blog because we were helping with 3 important crops this Saturday and Sunday.  Our 3 grandchildren were here.  We had the Franklin Co Dinner Dance to work at last night, and busy with church and Sunday School. I wanted to have the boys at Sunday School because the 6 year old couldn't believe I TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL.  Weather getting warmer, sun is out and temperatures are up.  Looks like a good week....hope so we can get rid of the snow again.  

Today's bible verse is from Psalm 71:3  For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.
 
Trusting GOD:
Trusting God allows us to enter His rest, and rest is a place of peace where we are able to enjoy our lives while being confident God is fighting our battles.
     God cares for us; He will solve our problems and meet our needs, and thankfully, we can stop thinking about worrying about them.  I realize this is easier said than done, but there is no time like the present to begin learning a new way to live, a way of living that is without worry, anxiety and fear.
     This is the time to begin believing and saying, " I trust God completely; there is no need to worry! I will not give in to fear or anxiety, God is the source of my confidence."  The more you think about this truth, the more you will find yourself choosing trust over worry.    Father Thank You that I don't have to worry!  I trust You to take care of me and to always be with me. Amen
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa

           Thanks for all the hits yesterday.  It will be hard to match that with this blog page.  Hope we do....enjoy and learning about gardening is what I am all about. Becky

SCIENCE lesson on how seeds and fruit is developed.  Always interesting to learn something, as I always learn when I am posting these articles. 
      Open-pollinated, self-pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid are all terms you'll hear fairly often, especially if you're buying seeds for your garden. And if you're interested in saving seeds or maybe trying to breed your own vegetable varieties, then all three are terms that you'll need to be familiar with. There is a lot of confusion around these terms, and in this article, I hope to clear some of that up so that you can buy and save seed confidently.
Open-PollinatedOpen-pollinated plants are those that require pollination by the wind, insects, or the gardener to set fruit and produce seeds. In some cases, the plant will produce both male and female flowers on the same plant, and it's just a matter of moving the pollen from a male flower to the stigma of a female flower -- squash and pumpkin plants are good examples of this. Open-pollinated plants come true from seed. This means that if you have a 'Musque de Provence' squash plant, and you've ensured that there was no cross-pollination with other plants in your garden, that the resulting seeds that you save from the crop you grow this year will produce 'Musque de Provence' squash plants, and not something else.
Self-PollinatedSelf-pollinated plants are those that have what we call "perfect" flowers. This means that instead of needing pollen from one flower to move to the stigma of another, both the pollen and stigma are present in the same flower.
Often, all that's required for pollination is the act of the flower opening, which will transfer pollen to stigma. There is some evidence that plants self-pollinate better with the help of wind or from the gardener merely giving the plant a shake now and then to help the process along, but, in general, self-pollinated plants manage pretty well on their own.
We often see self-pollinated plants referred to under the umbrella term "open-pollinated" -- simply meaning that they are not hybrid plants, which we'll discuss later on.
Cross-pollination, which is much more common for open-pollinated plants, can still happen with self-pollinators. If a bee visits one tomato plant, then another, for example, it could end up cross-pollinating. If you're interested in saving seed and keeping the seed pure (and ending up growing exactly what you started with) then it's still a good idea to isolate self-pollinators, just to be sure. Examples of self-pollinators include tomatoes and peppers.
HeirloomsHeirloom plants are always open-pollinated (or self-pollinated -- the two are often lumped together, resulting in confusion) but not all open-pollinated plants are heirlooms. The term "heirloom" signifies a plant that has been around for at least 50 years (according to Seed Savers Exchange) AND is open-pollinated or self-pollinated. So we'll see terms like "new heirloom!" in garden catalogs, and the term is absolute nonsense.
How can something new be an heirloom? It can't. What this most often means, is that the plant in question is a newly-introduced open-pollinated (or self-pollinated) variety.
HybridA hybrid plant is one that is bred from two different types of plant. For an example, let's take a hypothetical F-1 hybrid tomato plant. Some time, several years back, a plant breeder found one open-pollinated tomato plant that was very vigorous, but the fruit was nothing to write home about. And he also found an open-pollinated tomato plant that produced terrific fruit, but it was kind of a wimpy, low-production plant. He spends a few years working with the plants, separately, growing and selecting seed from those plants that show the best of its chosen attributes (in this case, vigor or flavor). Once he's satisfied that he has seed from the very best of each type of plant, he grows them out, then cross-pollinates them. The resulting seed is an F-1 hybrid. F-1 hybrid seed is only produced by crossing two pure lines of other plants. When you plant an F-1 hybrid seed, you get a plant that exhibits the attributes that the breeder spent all of those years perfecting. BUT, saving seeds from an F-1 hybrid is pointless, because they don't come true from seed; the resulting plants from saved F-1 hybrid seed would be some version of one of the two pure open-pollinated varieties used in the breeding of the hybrid.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/open-pollinated-self-pollinated-heirloom-hybrid-2539696    Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

           Here is some more advice from the Tips from the Old Gardeners.
Never sow seeds when the moon is waning. 
Waning moon is the time after a full moon to the new moon. 
     There's an old wives tale if ever I heard on.  Or is it?  Apparently not.  Scientific research has come up with corroboration of old folk wisdom. Lunar fluctuations affect Earth's magnetic field, and its atmosphere, causing all water, including that in even the smallest living organism, to move in almost tidal fashion.  This makes significant rainfall statistically more likely after a new moon.  So if you sow your seeds ( once the earth has benefited from spring warming, of course) after the full moon, they should get  a good shower or two to help their germination.  This is a piece of observation that goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians.  If science can prove the wisdom of that old wives tale, perhaps it could next examine this one.  Radishes pulled up as the moon wanes will cure corns and warts.   There's a fortune waiting to be made!
     So what is a waning moon?   
The moon revolves around the Earth, and as it does, we see different angles of the moon’s illuminated surface. The moon doesn’t create its own light, but rather shines when it reflects the sun’s light. As the moon transitions from new to full and back to new again, it goes through several phases, marked by its recognizable crescent and gibbous ("bulging") shapes, which are created by the moon’s own shadow. The moon phases are: •New moon
•Waxing crescent
•First quarter
•Waxing gibbous
•Full moon
•Waning Gibbous
•Third quarter
•Waning crescent
•New moon
Recognize that the moon waxes and wanes from right to left. Different parts of the moon are illuminated during waxing and waning. In the Northern Hemisphere, the part of the moon that is illuminated will appear to grow from right to left until it’s full, and it will then diminish from right to left •A waxing moon will be illuminated on the right side, and a waning moon will be illuminated on the left side.
•Hold out your right hand with your thumb out, palm facing the sky. The thumb and forefingers make a curve like a backward C. If the moon fits in this curve, it's a waxing moon (increasing). If you do the same with your left hand and the moon fits in the "C" curve then it is waning (decreasing).
     When this author was a youngster, he was taught to pour hot water into the empty seed drill immediately before putting the seeds in.  Others will say cover the seeds first, then put hot water in a can with a fine rose and sprinkle it along the drill.  A refinement is to follow this up an hour later with a sprinkling of lukewarm water.  The point of all this tender loving care is of curse to give the seeds a good start in life by encouraging early germination.  And it works -usually. 
     Beans love plenty of good, cool moisture at their roots. This doesn't mean sowing them in mud, as we've already seen, but as the weather gets warmer and drier they'll repay you for ensuring that they're in moisture retentive soil.  One way to help them achieve this is to put a layer or two on newspaper under them in the bottom of the trench along with some manure or compost.  If you want to hear you beans purring, then see if you can find some hair to add.  Human or horse hair, it doesn't matter. Beans want a rich soil and hair contains valuable minerals.  More food for thought.  Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa

     Here is another posting from Tips from the Old Gardeners
When it comes to sowing seeds gardening lore has many variations about how thickly to sow, but they add up to the same advice:
Plant seeds in a row,
one for the pheasant, one for the crow,
one to rot and one to grow. or
Sow seed generously one for the rook, one for the crows
one to die and one to grow.
 
     In short, err on the generous side.  Between seed predators and natural failure they're not all going to germinate satisfactorily.  And if you're lucky and they do, you should prick out he unwanted seedlings to avoid overcrowding.
     Long ago they used to say that to " keep byrdes, antes and mice away from seeds you should sprinkle them first with juice of houseleek." By all means.  But it's quicker and easier to roll them in a paraffin damped cloth before sowing, and especially good for broad beans.  Little pieces of gorse stuck in the seed rows also helps to deter mice, who don't like a prick in a tender plant any more than we do.
     Sow beans in the mud,
they'll grow like wood.
and
The rule in gardening, never forget,
to sow dry and set wet.
     Gardeners are prone to head shaking and pursed lips on the subject of when to sow.  These warnings mean be sure the cold, wet phase of spring weather has passed, and the ground is beginning its warming up process, before you sow you seeds.  But exactly when that may be depends on the climate where  you live, as well as the type of soil in your garden. 
     If you live in an area of high rainfall, or if you are in the north here the spring warmth comes a week or two later, one solution could be to give your peas and broad beans a good start by sowing them in pots, planting them out when the ground outside is warmer and drier.  Seeds can be sown in trays and kept in a greenhouse or on a window ledge and transplanted after hardening off, when a few inches tall.  But another saying is who sows in May gets little that way.  In other words, don't be over cautious or you may leave it too late.
     Set wet is a tip for setting your beans, especially runner beans by watering the flowers, these days placing a sprinkler hose over them saves time.  But in a typical British summer you can often leave the rain to do the job for you.  Some more food for thought.  Till next time, Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa

          Keeping Container Gardens Fresh, now here are some helpful hints on container gardening.   Container Gardening  Don't be afraid to switch out plant material for the change of season. No plant can go on blooming for ever. When one plant starts to fade, look for another to take its place. This way you can start your container garden in the spring and go until frost. Longer in warmer climates. With container gardens, sequence of bloom is entirely within the gardener's control.
      Fertilizing Container Gardens  Some potting mixes come with fertilizer already mixed in. Some don't. Either way, container plant roots can't spread out looking for additional food in the soil nearby, so you will need to replenish soil nutrients regularly.
Good choices are a time released fertilizer mixed in when planting or a water soluble fertilizer every 2-4 weeks.
      Watering Container Gardens   Lack of water can quickly kill plants in a container garden. Unlike plants grown in the ground, container plant roots can't move down deeply in search of subsurface water. Check your containers daily for water needs. Check twice daily in the heat of summer and with smaller containers.
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/tips-for-great-container-gardens-1402378
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

            For the gardeners that know Scot you will know he loves these plants, so here is why?  Before the ubiquitous impatiens of today, there were balsam flowers. Victorians loved these Asian imports in the early 20th century, but the flowers’ popularity waned as the interest in hybrid annuals grew after World War II. Today’s gardeners are bringing this heirloom back to the seed rack as they discover how easy and adaptable it is.
       As expected for an old-fashioned favorite, Impatiens balsamina goes by several charming nicknames, including touch-me-not, jumping Betty, lady’s slipper.  However you ask for it at the garden center, keep in mind that balsam plants are tender annuals that complete their life cycle in one season.
      Balsam plants grow about 12-24 inches tall, making them suitable for the middle of the summer flower border. The plants grow well in both sun and shade. The best site offers some protection from afternoon sun, which may cause some browning of the foliage.
     Balsam Identification  Flowers resemble small camellias or the double hybrids of impatiens. However, unlike hybrid impatiens, these come true from seed. Flowers are produced along the stem, but their vivid colors of pink, white, red, purple, and rose allow them to be seen easily amongst the foliage. Leaves are dark green, lance shaped, and slightly toothed.
      How to Plant Balsam  You probably won’t find transplants of balsam sold at the nursery, but don’t be intimidated by starting this forgiving annual from seed.  The seeds sprout in as little as four days in moist soil at 70 degrees F. Start them indoors about eight weeks before your average last frost, planning for about 60 days from seed to first bloom. Light hastens germination, so don’t cover the seeds with soil.
     When soil temperatures begin to warm, usually as the average nighttime temperatures reach about 60 degrees, you can harden off your balsam seedlings and place them in the garden.  Plant them about a foot apart in groups of five to seven or more for greatest impact.
     Garden Design With Balsam  Like cosmos and cleome, balsam reseeds prolifically. Plant these three flowers together, and you will have a self-perpetuating garden that attracts butterflies and sphinx moths. Plant a large stand of balsam in your cottage garden to give it that heirloom authenticity. Balsam flowers grow well in the container garden. Their upright habit complements trailing flowers like portulaca or verbena.
     Balsam Care  Keep balsam plants consistently moist throughout the growing season. They will continue to bloom throughout your worst heat waves, but only if they have enough to drink.  Fertilize with a balanced flower fertilizer every two weeks. The form of the plants makes deadheading nearly impossible, but removing seed heads would deny you the inevitable volunteers that will grace your garden next year.  If you want to collect seeds at the end of the season to plant in other areas, keep a baggie very close, as the ripe seedheads will burst and distribute their contents everywhere when you pinch them.
 
Balsam Varieties to Try
■ Blackberry Trifle: Seek out this unusual sport with purple and white variegated petals
■ Bush Mix: Unnamed balsam plants may get lanky by season’s end, but the Bush Mix stays compact and full
■ Camellia Flower Mix: Lushly petaled flowers give the look of camellias to gardeners in every growing region
■ Tom Thumb Mix: Averaging 8-10 inches in height, choose this variety for the edge of the border or the container garden
 
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/balsam-flowers-for-heirloom-garden-1315695
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

     So many scented flowers remind us of our favorite foods. Valerian gives off a scrumptious cherry-vanilla scent that is strongest in the evening air. The fragrance is best appreciated at a distance, once it's had time to blend with the breeze. It's strong hint of vanilla gives it the common name of 'garden heliotrope'.  I have had this plant on the perennial racks so need to think about adding it to your perennial bed. 
     The flower heads are clusters of small, tubular flowers held up high on hollow, but sturdy stems. The plants spread by rhizomes, but do not generally get out of control. Besides, a large mass of Valerian is the best way to enjoy it.
 
Height: 18 - 24 inches
Width: 2-3 ft.
Hardiness Zone: USDA zones 4 - 9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade  Looks good for a variety of sun....give it some thought.
Valerian is a perennial plant that is native to Europe and grows up to 2 feet tall. It is grown to decorate gardens, but also grows wild in damp grasslands. Straight, hollow stems are topped by umbrella-like heads. Its dark green leaves are pointed at the tip and hairy underneath.

taken from https://www.thespruce.com/deliciously-fragrant-heirloom-flowers-
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

     Today's bible verse is from  John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance. 
Do you believe God wants you to enjoy your life?  He does, in fact part of God's will is for you to enjoy every moment of it.  I know this is true because His Word says so in many places.
     King Solomon, who is considered to have been very wide, wrote in Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better fro a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor.  Even this, I have seen is from the hand of God."
Solomon said to make yourself enjoy the good of your labor.  We should learn to value enjoyment because it is vital to being a balanced and healthy person. This does not mean that all of life because a huge party or a vacation, but it does mean that through the power of God, we can learn to be thankful for and enjoy all of life.  Dear Lord, I am grateful that Jesus came so that I might have abundant life.  When times are tough and my joy feels low, help me to remember that You have promised I can enjoy my life.  Thank you for the joy, peace and security I find in You.  Amen
 
Bible Verse 1 Corinthians 13:7  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything.  
     The Bible teaches us to always believe the best of every person.  However, if we merely let our thoughts lead us, they usually tend toward negativity.  Sadly, the flesh without the influence of the Holy Spirit is dark and negative.  Thankfully, we don't have to walk in the flesh, but we can choose to be led by the Sprit.  When we choose to let the Spirit lead us, we will see the best in other people, and we will be filled with life and peace in our souls.
     I encourage you to begin seeing other people as children of Gad rather than as adversaries.  Decide to look past their faults and see them as God sees them.  Be grateful that the Spirit can help you see the best in every person in your life.
Dear Lord I thank You today, Father, that You forgive my sins and don't hold them against me.  I ask You for Your strength in doing the same thing for others.  AMEN 
 
Devotions taken the Power of Being Thankful By Joyce Meyer
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa 50433