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Just in time for the holidays, we learn how to force the classic winter bulbs: amaryllis, paperwhites, hyacinths, and others. Techniques and timing will be discussed using a variety of containers and substrates. Attendees will leave the class with a paperwhite bulb and vase to take home. Please limit one gift per family/address.
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Join botanist Judith Sumner for her discussion of Civil War botany. The Civil War was a period like no other in U. S. history, during a century in which people depended on plants for nearly all basic commodities, including food, fibers, medicine, and timber. Plants also provided virtually all of the natural products essential to the war effort, from the raw material for uniforms to dietary rations and antimalarial drugs. At the core of the conflict was slavery, which had botanical roots in the labor-intensive cash crops that drove the southern economy. Judith Sumner is a botanist who specializes in ethnobotany, flowering plants, plant adaptations, and garden history. She has taught extensively both at the college level and at botanical gardens, including the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard.
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The LTPL Seed Library is ready for your seed donations! Donating now will give us time to package the seeds and ready them for inclusion in the Seed Library. Please make sure the seeds are clean and free from debris, pods, stalks, etc. Seeds can be dropped off in the white basket on top of the seed library. The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. First time users of the Seed Library need to register. You may do so with this form or in-person at the seed library. Once you have registered, you log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet. Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with plenty of informative and entertaining videos!
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In November: - Leaves make great mulch and protect the crowns of perennials over the winter, as well as providing a haven for overwintering pollinators. Add leaves to the compost bin or work them into your garden soil. Shredding them or using a lawn mower to collect them helps them clump less and break down faster.
- If you haven't finished planting your spring bulbs, do it now! The weather is unpredictable at this time of year and the ground can freeze quickly during a cold snap.
- Continue to gather seeds from the garden, landscape and wild areas. Dry them well before packaging and remember to label the packets! Keep some for yourself and donate some to the LTPL Seed Library! Information and online resources for saving seed can be found on the LTPL website. Find additional resources for seed saving here:
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Bloom: The Secret of Growing Flowering Houseplants Year-Round by local author Lisa Steinkopf, the Houseplant Guru. If you have ever struggled with getting a new purchase or gift plant to re-bloom, this book will give you the skills to return the plant to its former glory.
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Plant Coach: The Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet by Netflix star Nick Cutsumpas helps us understand the big green picture with the help of our houseplants. Learn how to create an indoor ecosystem that helps both your plants - and you - thrive.
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Taming the Potted Beast: The Strange and Sensational History of the Not-So-Humble Houseplant by Molly Williams explores the history of the domestication and historical significance of houseplants and the cultures that created them.
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources!
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Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events.
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