Shamrocks For The Home Landscape

» Red - shamrocks & white clover...

Georgene,

Thanks for a very informative article. I grow white clover in my lawn, and it does spread into the bare spots. I didn't actually sow it. It just started growing there and since I don't use weed killer, it has spread. When the neighbor's lawns are brittle and brown in the dry summer spell, mine still is green. I had never thought about the reason why until I read this article.

Thanks for a terrific lesson and thanks also for linking to my St. Patrick's Day Reading article.

-- posted by Red

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: shamrocks & white clover...

In response to message posted by Red:

Hi Red,

Thanks for allowing me to help you make the connection between a green lawn and shamrocks! Neat, isn't it?

But you better make sure those grandbabies of yours keep their shoes on while running through your lawn...or they'll become initmately aquainted with honeybees as I did when in elementary school!

BTW, I think what you are able to do with your writing here at the Suite, especially for the kids, is wonderful!

Have you looked at the book Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Activities to do in the garden. by Sharon Lovejoy (a fellow garden writer). It is filled with neat ideas I;ve never considered before such as a Zuni scarecrow, a tub of spuds, pizza patches and bean tunnels - the drawings are wonderful. Please, let me know what you about its age appropriateness or if it will mostly appeal to parents and caregivers.

I am helping with landscape plans for the new library in our little town and am considering something to appeal to children on two little patches of earth near the front doors. If I can get a few children and parents to work on this together, so much the better.

Thanks, Georgene

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

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» biogardener - Hasenklee

I like what we call Hasenklee (rabbit clover) in German. It springs up all over the place even in zone 3 where I live. It is light green in color with yellow flowers and only grows 5" high at most. It tastes a little sour, and I eat all of it, adding it to salads if I have enough of it. making sure to leave some seeds for sprouting next year. It might be what you call wood sorel, because the taste is close to sorel, but much more delicate. It does not grow in the woods, though but rather in open areas. It definitely likes full sun.

-- posted by biogardener

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» Barbara Nicholson Bell - Re: Hasenklee

In response to message posted by biogardener:

My 6-year-old granddaughter showed me the sorrel in our yard last summer and had me taste it. She'd learned about this in kindergarten. I'd never noticed it before.

Georgene, your idea of a children's interactive garden at the library is great! I wonder if you could safely plant edible weeds, like sorrel or chive, and the library could have "tastings" for the children when the plants have grown sufficiently.

-- posted by Barbara Nicholson Bell

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» Jo Murphy - Sounds like something

In response to message posted by Cercis:

for the Kids Activities Anthology.
I best grow some of this Shamrock stuff considering my last name an' all?
Jo

-- posted by Jo Murphy

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Sounds like something

In response to message posted by brisbaneartist:

Jo,

Thanks for stopping by...

Actually all the plants that go by the name of shamrock are very easy to grow from seed.

And I have some Oxalis beauties that are more of a that an outdoor plant here in New England anyway! They grow from little tubers.

If Brisbane wouldn't so far away and / or we didn't have quarantine laws, I'd love to share! Higher-ups are even restricting seed moving into the States now

Just think of all those shamrocky patterns you could do in your classes with the leaves

Cheers!

Georgene

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Re: Hasenklee

In response to message posted by bici:

Georgene, your idea of a children's interactive garden at the library is great! I wonder if you could safely plant edible weeds, like sorrel or chive, and the library could have "tastings" for the children when the plants have grown sufficiently...

Well, the committee at the library have all of my suggestions and are studying on them. I'd love to have an intereactive garden so we could have tastings and all...great idea!

I just don't want to be the only one doing the intereacting I'm hoping some parents might be interested, if the committee decide to go with some sort of a simple childen's garden.

Georgene