January Newsletter from Garden Chick!

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, and we can easily be lulled into becoming armchair gardeners. Gardening books that have languished on the shelves, and catalogs filled with next years gardening dreams, are just waiting to be tackled... but don't get too comfortable. There are always things that can be done in our garden, and many parts of the country are experiencing warmer than usual weather. As I write this, the sun is shining, and the high today is supposed to near 60. I still have perennial beds that need to be cleaned out and mulch that can be put down. So just in case you were reaching for that second cup of coffee or herbal tea, here are a few chores to keep you busy.

• Okay, go ahead and scan those gardening books and catalogs for ideas for next years garden. Order seeds, or place an early order for plants to be delivered for your correct zone. My Burpee's 2007 Catalog came today!
• Have your soil tested. Apply lime if it shows it is necessary.
• Till your vegetable plot. We have already done ours twice, and will do once more before the ground freezes. This exposes those weeds and allows the cold to kill them, and also makes tilling in the spring easier.
• Plant bare root fruit bushes and trees
• If you have stored any bulbs, corms or tubers check on those
• Continue cleaning out old beds and burn or compost the material
• Service your mower and tillers before storing them for the winter.
• Take hardwood shrub and root cuttings

Winter is for the birds!

One of the things I really enjoy in the winter is watching the birds at our feeders. We have one that hangs off the eave of the front porch, one out in the backyard, and one on the back deck. Keeping these filled is a full time job! (My husband's)

Attracting birds to your garden isn't hard; so if you are new to bird feeding, don't despair. Most of the birds we see in the winter are seed -eaters. By providing different kinds of seeds in different types of feeders, the birds will gladly come and serve themselves, and you will have a wide variety of birds to enjoy.

Bird Feeding Tips:

• Locate the feeders where you can see them and reach them easily.
• Locate them at various heights for different kinds of birds. Some birds such as sparrows, juncos, and doves prefer to feed directly on the ground. Just scatter on the ground, or provide a low table or tree stump to put the seed on.
• Other birds prefer feeders mounted on poles, or free hanging feeders that they can perch on.
• Some people go to great lengths and expense trying to outwit the squirrels. I have decided not to fight that battle and provide corncobs mounted on squirrel feeders and a squirrel feeder with seed just for them. So far, they leave my bird feeders alone. In addition, the squirrels provide much needed exercise for my older lab Murphy who still dreams of catching one...just once. All I have to say is, "Squirrel, Murphy", and she bounds down the steps like a young pup.
• My favorite birdseed is sunflower seed. It's a good all- purpose seed and attracts cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. The dove eat whatever falls on the steps and ground. I buy the black sunflower seeds. They have a higher oil content, and are cheaper than the gray and white ones.
• A separate niger feeder will bring hoards of goldfinches to the feeder. You will need to buy a specially designed for niger seed. Don't buy the mixed birdseed. It usually contains a lot of filler, which the birds pick out and kick to the ground. Most of the bag will be wasted.
• Provide a source of water, either in a birdbath or a natural source such as a pond.

Herb of the Year: Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)

Every year the International Herb Association picks an herb of the year. This year, Lemon Balm has been given this honor.

Lemon balm is a perennial to Zone 3. It performs best in a fertile soil with a ph of 5-7, and grows in full sun or partial shade

It can be sown easily from seed, as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring.

Bushy, rounded herb growing up to 3 feet and a width of 2 feet. Its leaves are strongly lemon-scented (I think they smell just like lemon pledge). Blooms from May to August. Cut these off 6 inches from the crown, or leaf production will stop.

Lemon balm probably exhausts the soil in about 3 years because it makes such a large clump. Fertilize annually, especially with nitrogen.

Harvested stems of lemon balm can be hung in bundles in a dark, dry, well-ventilated room for 4-7 days. When completely dry, strip and sort in an opaque container for later use.

The botanical name Melissa is Greek for "bee".

Cultivated for over 3000 years, Melissa has long been note for it's calming effect. The Muslim Herbalist Avicenna recommended lemon balm "to make the heart merry". Sacred to the temple of Diana, lemon balm was called "heart's delight". Today, Melissa is used in aromatherapy to counter depression.

Tropical Smoothie with Mint and Lemon Balm
- 1 medium banana, peeled and sliced
- 1 medium mango, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1 medium papaya, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 3 cups skim milk
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon balm leaves
- 2 Tbsp honey

Combine all ingredients in a blender, puree, and serve immediately. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint or lemon balm, if desired.

Lemon balm information and recipe courtesy of the herbapedia. Available at www.herbworld.com

Click here to purchase one of my new Herbal Teas containing lemon balm.

Closing Notes:

I will be speaking at the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show in March. My topics will be herbal teas and gardening with kids. I want to create a booklet on gardening with kids to have available for purchase. If you have any ideas, crafts, recipes etc. that are "kid friendly" please send to me. If included in my book, I will include your name, and website if appropriate. You will receive a free copy of the booklet. I need the book completed by February 15.

For more information on the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show click here: www.NashvilleLawnandGardenShow.com

One of my many New Years Resolutions is to grow my business. I can do this my increasing my newsletter subscription list. If you enjoy my newsletter, and know someone else who might, please refer them to my site, http://gardenchick.com.

Check out this site for great winter reading. Written by Susan Wittig Albert, the China Bayles mysteries feature a one of a kind sleuth, China Bayles, who owns an herbal shop in the ficticious town of Pecan Springs, Texas. Titles include: Lavender Lies, Rosemary Remembered, an UnThymely Death, etc. I think you will enjoy curled up by the fire with a cup of my great herbal tea. http://www.mysterypartners.com

Until February,
Let's Keep Growing!
- Karen