Hello! Been a couple of weeks and I have some fun reading for you today. Onward!
- A blue strawberry? Really? No. This rumor’s been floating around for a while. Scientists DID modify strawberries by altering them with a component of cold-water fish DNA that prevents freezing, but it didn’t make the fruit actually blue; “blue” was just part of the name of the two genes used. This strawberry is NOT on the market. We won’t get a GMO debate started here today, but let’s at least let this story die. Here are some details and links, in case you are interested.
- You may not recognize the name, but if you are a reader of garden books, Frances Mendelson Tenenbaum touched your life. From Design New England: A grand dame of garden writing and editing dies at 94.
Frances Mendelson Tenenbaum
- More from the bookshelf: Gardeners brought up on the mishaps of Peter Rabbit can now curl up with “Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children’s Tales,” from the New York Times.
- You know what was fun? Our guessing game from the last issue! I’m still getting calls and emails, and can now give away the answer: The plant in question was Korean mountain ash, Sorbus alnifolia. We had three correct answers almost right away. Walt Nelson was first, in under 30 minutes (yes!), then came Andrew Fowler, and then Marla Palmiter. Surprised? No. Walt wins a lilac from Doc Lilac’s Lilac Hill Nursery (Andrew could easily just pilfer one, since it’s in his front yard, and Marla is dating Ted’s nephew, so shouldn’t be a problem for her either). I really was hoping for a layperson to get it too, and was thrilled when Chris Mandel guessed correctly a few days later (she’s a garden clubber who reads ETTGPro). I asked if she was a professional, and she said that she was not, although she does have a BS in Ornamental Horticulture from Cornell…
We also heard correct answers from Jim Engle and Bev Gibon. Congratulations to all of you super smart people! Can’t wait to do another.
Sorbus alnifolia (Flickr)
- Interesting to note what non-nurserypeople think about the new Invasive Species List, isn’t it? While we’re on the topic, whatever your opinion is, you should make it heard. The NYSDEC is taking comments through December 23. Here is an email from NYSNLA on the topic including the dates of some public hearings.
Berberis thunbergii, soon to be illegal (Flickr)
- The Brickman Group, a Maryland landscaping company formed in 1939, was just sold for 1.6 billion. That’s a lot.
- Somewhat related: NY State is auctioning off old trucks and highway equipment.
- For some reason I find this website, Repurposed Materials, Inc., completely mesmerizing. My imagination just runs WILD! Swimming pool covers as shade cloth? Fifty-five gallon drums turned into compost tumblers? Snow discs for watering the rams? Yes, yes, yes!
- It’s hard to argue with how Monrovia is handling its eCommerce operation, to launch in January, but if you disagree please let me know, and why. Story via Today’s Garden Center.
Comments on this entry are closed.