Plant Stands

Here's some really cool plant stands. I myself am ALWAYS looking for plant stands. You can shove them anywhere you have empty space and showcase your lovely plants. I find them onsale at different stores all over the internet. You just have to shop a little and they are out there. Here ar esome intersting three level embellished steel plant stands. I like how they have the curved corner stands and you can buy multiple parts and create your own special plant stand area. Great idea!

Federal Court Orders a Halt to Genetically Engineered Crops

Just amazing. So Monsanto (who brought us Agent Orange back in 'Nam) is developing grass that is resistant to Roundup, their vegetation killing chemical. This is a corporation only interested in profit, no love for the environment. They also invented polyester.

The article from the Center for Food Safety:

Federal Court Orders a Halt to New Field Trials of Genetically Engineered Crops

Washington, DC - In a decision broadly affecting field trials of genetically engineered crops a federal district judge ruled Feb. 6, 2007 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must halt approval of all new field trials until more rigorous environmental reviews are conducted. Citing potential threats to the environment, Judge Harold Kennedy found in favor of the Center for Food Safety that USDA's past approvals of field trials of herbicide tolerant, genetically engineered bentgrass were illegal.

This is a significant victory. The decision requires far more thorough oversight of the environmental impact of these crops, " stated Joseph Mendelson, legal director of the Center for Food Safety.

"The Court was clearly concerned that the agency has put our nation's environment at risk by exempting many of these field trials from environmental review. That's why the judge made the decision broadly apply to all future field trials of genetically engineered crops." Mendelson continued.

The federal lawsuit was filed by the Center for Food Safety, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and other individuals and organizations in 2003. At issue in the lawsuit are novel varieties of creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass manufactured by Scotts and Monsanto that have been genetically engineered to resist Roundup, Monsanto's popular herbicide.

Currently, use of the Roundup weedkiller is limited to spot spraying of weeds in that the herbicide kills any grass with which it comes in contact. The new engineered grass has been altered to be resistant to the weedkiller so that users will be able to spray entire lawns, fields and golf courses with large amounts of the chemical without fear of hurting the grass. Large scale planting of the biotech grass would therefore significantly increase the amounts of herbicide used in home lawns, sports fields, schools and golf courses around the country.

In seminal studies concerning environmental contamination from genetically engineered creeping bentgrass, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found multiple instances of the pollen from engineered bentgrass traveling several miles and transferring its traits to native grasses. Last year, EPA researchers found that the engineered grasses had escaped from field trials to contaminate a national grassland.

"These field trials threaten our public land, our communities and our health," said Lesley Adams, Outreach Coordinator for plaintiff Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.

"We will monitor the USDA very closely to make sure they don't allow any more of these tests until they've rigorously assessed their environmental impact," Adams concluded.

To view the original release and the court's decision, click here.

---------------------

Monstanto.... anyone read up about them and their genetically modified corn? They are responsible for the loss of tons of old types of corn from Mexico having infected it with their bio-corns. And the whole patenting of seeds by the US government is a real shame. Watch the documentary: The Future of Food and you will be left as sad and amazed as I was. Shame on them for their bad corporate ways.

This REALLY makes me want to use Roundup some more. Down here in Louisiana you almost have to use the stuff to battle the weeds in the cracks and stuff. We tried all sorts of things too, vinegar, salt, non chemicals. But the weeds come right back. Maybe need to landscape better to give them their own space. Weeds are plants too, after all.

Walmart Flower Seeds & Mail Order Cactus Seeds

Today was a lovely Monday and I picked up some cheap flower seeds at Walmart. It looked like the seed display was rained on, so lots of the packs of seeds were sort of dried and stuck together. And of course, the cheap seeds being the American Seed brand were the ones mostly stuck together. However I managed to find some packs that were not ruined and will be starting some seeds indoors soon to plant outdoors and in pots later this year. This being our first year gardening in our new home in South Louisiana, I figure I will be testing the waters with what flowers will make it through the cold season and the wet mud as well. Being from Southern California, I am realizing the plants here have to be way more hardy to get through the storms if they are going to survive outdoors on their own.

Here is a webcam shot of the flower seeds:



In total I bought: Zinnia Thumbelina, Zinnia Lilliput, Zinnia Candy Cane Mix, Marigold Petite Orange, Marigold Lemon Drop, Marigold French Double Dwarf Mixed Colors, Cosmos Bright Lights Mix, Lobelia Crystal Palace, Bachelor Buttons Cyanus Double Mixed Colors, Snapdragon Dwarf Magic Carpet, Hummingbord Wildflower Mix, and Cinnamon Basil.

And after we got back from grocery and seed shopping, the mail arrived and the cactus seeds we ordered finally got here! That's right, growing cactus in the swamp. Just keep them out of the rain and they do alright. So far, so good. I'll post some pics of our cactus soon too. Here are the exciting cactus seeds:



Cactus seed packets from top left clockwise: Saguaro Cactus, Barrel Cactus, Golden Barrel Cactus, Dish Garden Mixed Cactus Seeds, and Organ Pipe Cactus Seeds.

More about these interesting plants when they sprout and I get them growing!

Better hurry and get the saguaros in the ground! I wonder how long it takes til you get a bloom?

Cute Houseplant Forgot the Name

I bought a bunch of these at Home Depot I believe, they were so cute and unique with a deep texture in the leaves. I repotted them and misplaced the name tag for the moment, so I'll have to update when I find it. This one has been near a window getting sunlight and he is happy. I had to bring them all indoors because somehow the leaves of this plant are especially tasty to the worms outside and they got massacred. This one I potted by itself because if was one that didn't get too much damage. It has little flower bud things on it now and is very happy.

Garden Parade

Here is the official first post and launch of Garden Parade.

I have been itching for a garden blog for a while now, and my sprouts have finally taken off so the time is now. I'll be posting lots of pics from my home garden in south Louisiana, somewhere in either zone 8 or 9a. Lots of rain, lots of mud, lots of bugs! I am originally from southern California so all of this is new to me also. My first year in my new home with lots and lots of yard space and places to grow things.

I have already planted tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, radish, peppers, and pumpkins. I also adopted lots of various house plants, and rooting some random vines from the yard. We have lived here only a few months and its been a constant battle with things such as Saint Augustine grass and Wisteria vines. Not to mention the insects. Wasps, dragon flies, damsel flies, worms galore, and tons of lizards that dine on them. I regularly see hawks and buzzards here too. South Louisiana has some wildlife compared to the dry yet hydrated desert I grew up in. Its a gardener's paradise here, if you can get a hold in pest control. :)