A perennial garden has plants installed that are hardy to the zone in which they are planted and unlike annual gardens, do not need to be re-planted every year. Some perennials are considered 'tender' perennials and will survive only until a harsh winter kills them off. When initially installing a perennial garden it's realistic to expect a 10% loss the first year. Those perennials that survive first winter go on to mature and multiply.

A perennial is a plant that will live multiple growing seasons, unlike an annual which grows, sets seed, and dies all in one season. Their flowering time is not as long as an annual because the plant must take time out to gather enough strength to overwinter, but the range of flowering times, colors, heights, foliage color, and textures, make for a fascinating plant pallet to work with.

A rain garden is bowl or saucer shaped, not mounded or flat like other perennial gardens. It is not just a pretty garden; it is also designed with deep, loose soil, specifically to collect and absorb rain that would otherwise run off your property, and/or to solve wet spot problems where water is already collecting.

Preen works by killing seeds, so it is safe for and will not harm existing, mature perennials plants. When applying, try to avoid getting Preen on the plant foliage, which could cause discoloration or damage with long-term contact. (Just brush or wash off any stray granules.) I found a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Preen website that may be of interest: http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpreen/faq.jsp

PNAR, also known as year-round nonalleric nasal symptoms, involves inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the lining of the nose that is not caused by an allergic reaction, or allergies. People suffering from this nasal condition typically have stuffiness, a runny nose, and postnasal drip throughout the year, even when there seems to be no real cause or allergen present. PNAR triggers include environmental factors.

Interested gardeners met in November 1999 to discuss applying to the city for a Neighborhood matching grant to cover the costs of designing a garden in Magnuson Park. A Small and Simple, $10,000 grant was applied for under the name of the Magnuson Gardens Coalition. As part of the grant requirement, gardeners pledged volunteer time (in-kind match) to match the dollars of the grant. The grant was awarded to the group in March 2000 and the process of community outreach and garden design began.

Yes. Waiheke Retirement Village grounds are beautifully landscaped to harmonise with the environment of the village and we encourage our residents to take an active part in their development. In conjunction with the landscaping, garden plots are located around the property for the resident's own use.

The plant chosen for the exchange program is Spiked Gayfeather (Liatrus) also called Blazing Star. A native plant with pink, purple or white flowers, it is an environmentally safe perennial. It requires full sunlight to partial shade and can grow up to five feet, blooming from midsummer to early fall. When purple loosestrife was introduced into Canada, it escaped its natural enemies that control its spread in its European range.

Annuals generally grow and flower in the same season, then die. Perennials should overwinter for several seasons.

Annuals are plants that live for only a year. Some annuals such as most poppy varieties will re-seed giving the appearance of a perennial. A biennial will die in its second year after germination but some varieties do re-seed and hence behave like perennials. They may flower in both the first and second years, or in the second year only. Perennials are plants that live for three or more years.

A perennial is a plant or flower that lasts many seasons. These are more or less permanent plants in a garden. A biennial is a flowering plant that takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. In the first year it grows from seed to leafy plant. The second year, however, it flowers, re-seeds, and dies back like a perennial. It then repeats the 2 year cycle. In most nurseries, biennials are bought as annuals because the nursery has taken care of the first year of growing.

Plant them in September. Just a suggestion... It's nice to plant clusters of bulbs (3, 5, etc.), as you will get a better show in the Spring. Soil should be amended with peat moss. Heavy clay soil in the Winter holds water. This will make your bulbs rot. Just a suggestion... Don't plant your bulbs near your annuals, as too much watering will rot the bulbs.

Gophers are a very common rodent found in most areas of North America. They live exclusively underground where they can destroy plants by consuming the roots or pulling the whole plant down into their burrows. The most effective method of removing gophers is through trapping. Specialized traps are available at most hardware stores. Also available are poisoned baits, which are placed within the gopher burrow, though it is often difficult to find a bait attractive to your particular gopher.

A compilation of suggestions from our readers: I've had pretty good luck using bird netting. It's been especially good if I stretch it over a pvc pipe framework (which I spray painted green to be less obvious). I use it over some raised

Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, so it is considered "hot". It will need to be composted before putting it directly onto your garden. once it has broken down, it then becomes perfect food for the garden. A Polyphemus moth rests on the outside of the coop. Good thing! If it were on the inside, it would make a tasty snack for one of the hens.

A good place for the information you seek is a university extension office. For example, if you go to the Florida Cooperative Extension Service's Wildlife Resources page, you can click on the link to "Problems Caused by Wildlife," then to "Detailed Fact Sheets," then to "Moles," then to "Damage and Control."

The Magnuson Park Concept Plan, adopted by Seattle City Council Resolution No. 30063, called for a 4-acre community garden to be located immediately east of the Brig in Magnuson Park. The garden will serve horticultural purposes related to plant education, demonstrating native plant materials, composting, facilities to accommodate gardening for persons with physical disabilities, in addition to relocating the displaced Sand Point P-Patch at NE 70th and the Burke Gilman Trail.

A multi-purpose garden was envisaged on the designated 4-acre site. Its design was integrated into and compatible with the surrounding environment. When completed it will include neighborhood gardening, educational opportunities such as demonstration gardens, composting methods, and native plant cultivation with program opportunities for seniors, transitional housing residents, youth, and the handicapped as well as neighborhood P-Patch gardeners.

Initially, the lead for planning a community garden at Magnuson Park was the Magnuson Community Garden Coalition, a group of organizations with a common vision to promote urban ecology, environmental stewardship, beautification of the park, education, and healthy food gardening. Public input was sought to present ideas to the coalition and the landscape architect engaged to create a plan for the garden.