----- Original Message -----
From:
d*@juno.com
To: g*@lists.ibiblio.org
Cc: g*@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Most Frequent
Questions
On Tue, 4 May 2004 19:15:55 -0500 "Doreen Howard" <g*@charter.net>
writes:
There are many of you who write weekly or
monthly columns for newspapers and web sites. Some of you have
call-in radio programs, too. May I pick your brains? What are the most
frequently asked questions pertaining to gardening? I'm trying to get
a sense of what puzzles novice gardeners.
I've written a weekly newspaper column for 25 years and done a
call-in radio show for a couple of years.
When I first did the radio show, I was terrified that I would be stumped
regularly. Despite what I tell my wife, I don't know everything. The first few
shows, I took so many reference books with me that it took two trips up the
stairs to get them into the studio. I was getting pretty buff until I realized
that almost all of the questions were so elementary that even I could handle
them.
The most frequent question on the radio show was, "Why won't my hydrangia
bloom?" The answer -- many florist hydrangias are ground hardy here but not
bud hardy. I advised to dig up the hydrangia they got for Mother's Day in 1987
and plant one from a good nursery, but I'm sure no one ever did.
At garden club talks, there is always the geranium question -- how to
overwinter them. In fact, now when I open the floor for questions, I always
ask who has the geranium question so I can get it out of the way.
As for grinding out the weekly column, I am very fortunate. A mile from
me is the county "Master" Gardener's demonstration garden. Whenever
I'm stuck for a topic, I can just walk over there to see what really dumb
things people can do in a garden. For example, this week's column, inspired by
the "Master" Gardener's demo garden, explains that when you are terracing a
small slope, you put the retaining wall at the BOTTOM of the slope, not at the
top. I swear to God.
They don't like me very much.
D
I am Duane Campbell and I approve this message
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing
list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
GWL
has searchable archives
at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
Send photos for GWL to
gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
Post gardening questions/threads
to
"Gardenwriters on Gardening"
<gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
For GWL website and Wiki, go
to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG
anti-virus system (
http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.672
/ Virus Database: 434 - Release Date: 4/28/2004
