Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Garden

Backyard cuttings

News of note for the gardener.

By JUDY STARK
Published April 7, 2007

A ROSE TO REMEMBER

The "Forty Heroes" rose, an own-root hybrid tea rose with deep yellow blooms, will be included in the Remember Me Rose Gardens that honor the victims of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Developed by Bailey Nurseries, the hybrid has a fresh, fruity fragrance. The rose, hardy in zones 5 through 9, was named for the passengers of United Flight 93. It will be available at garden centers next year. The Remember Me Rose Gardens will be in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa. Visit remember-me-rose.org for details about the gardens and other roses that will be planted there.

A hero to trees

The developer of Highland Park, a residential community off Race Track Road in Tampa, is a winner of this year's Building with Trees Award of Excellence from the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award recognized the community's preserved and transplanted trees that line roads and paths, and its formal parks and natural preserves, within walking distance of all the homes. The award acknowledges efforts by the developer, A Better Place Group, to provide long-term care and protect trees during construction.

Geraniums repel

Wipe those pesky insects away with a geranium! Well, sort of. BugBand towelettes contain an insect repellent whose active ingredient, Geraniol, is derived from geraniums. The manufacturer claims it's more effective than alternatives such as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, ticks, no-see-ums, fleas, flies and gnats. BugBand also comes in wristbands and sprays. Go Gators: The technology that extracts the geranium oil was developed at the University of Florida. Available at department, grocery and drugstores, including Bed Bath & Beyond, or visit bugband.net.

Double lawn duty

Protect your lawn against invasive weeds and help the environment with granulated corn gluten meal. The meal helps inhibit grass and weed seed germination, and it contains natural nitrogen to green up your lawn. It can be applied any time of year, and it's safe for children, pets and wildlife. Apply with a lawn spreader. One brand, Woodstream's Concern Weed Prevention Plus, is at Lowe's, around $10 for 25 pounds.

Spill-free sawing

Doing a spring cleanup in the yard? The 18-volt chain saw from Black & Decker eliminates the fumes, spillage and fire hazard of a gas chain saw. It cuts through branches up to 8 inches in diameter. (Did somebody say "hurricane season"?) It's powered by a rechargeable battery that's interchangeable with other Black & Decker tools. The chain saw is $99.99.

Compiled from staff and wire reports by Homes and Garden editor Judy Stark

[Last modified April 6, 2007, 09:03:40]