The winter months give gardeners time to explore unknown resources for next season's gardens. An endless supply of garden ideas can be found as free resources at local libraries, bookstores, grocery stores, online, and even in newspapers.
Gardeners are looking for reputable, research-based authoritative sources, not anecdotal thoughts on best gardening practices that can be found in many print and online sources. There are two gardening tips in today's article that can be considered trustworthy.
The first idea for gardeners is to contact the American Horticultural Society. Gardeners may not know it, but the American Horticultural Society (AHS) is a scientific society representing many horticultural professionals.
This is a non-profit gardening partnership founded in 1922 as an educational institution. The mission of the AHS website (ahsgardening.org) is “to share with all Americans the important role that plants, gardens and green spaces play in creating healthy, livable communities and a sustainable planet.”
AHS offers many ways to educate Americans about environmentally friendly and sustainable gardening practices. Members have access to AHS travel education programs, access to more than 300 gardens nationwide, access to national partner organizations, and access to other gardening experts in Q&A chats.
Gardeners have access to the latest research and a subscription to The American Gardener. "American Gardener" in magazine format; It provides a detailed, practical guide to the latest trends to help you grow your food and gardening ideas, and get the most out of your gardening solutions.
As members, gardeners have access not only to The American Gardener, but also to other reference books. Membership is a way to connect with other plant lovers.
The second idea for garden lovers to consider is the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other editions are called "Bohr almanacs", but the only one is the "Little Yellow Book", Bohr's original almanac with a hole in the top left corner, the almanac Die Ou Boere.
The Old Farmer's Almanac (almanac.com) has been around for a long time. It was first published in 1792 during President George Washington's first term and has continued to be published ever since, making it the oldest magazine published in North America.
Almanacs record and forecast astronomical events, tides, weather conditions, and other weather-related phenomena. Although not as academically rigorous as the American Horticultural Society, The Old Farmer's Almanac is an easy-to-read publication written by its horticultural editors and offers a variety of topics: weather forecasts, long-range forecasts, moon phases, sunrises and more. . . . . Sunset times, best daily calendars and growing guides.
Since it was published in Maine, much of the advice comes from the Northeast, but it also has tips that gardeners in the South and Southwest can benefit from. The Old Farmer's Almanac is a fun reference book filled with humor and wisdom.
Ellen Peffley taught college horticulture for 28 years, including 25 years at Texas Tech, and developed two varieties of onions. Now he is the sole owner of the Baratsi vegetable farm. You can email it to Gardens@suddenlink.net.
This article was originally published in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gardens for You: Resources for Gardeners.
