Bloomin Times

September 22^nd.....is the second and final time (the first is March 21) each year that day and night are of equal length at all points on the earth's surface. It is the autumnal equinox for the northern hemisphere.

This is the official astronomical beginning of fall for us above the equator, and the start of spring for everyone below the equator.

With these longer nights and shorter days the sun seems to sweep across the globe's middle, on a three month journey toward the Tropic of Capricorn.

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   PEONIES

September is a good month for lifting and dividing your peonies, or planting newly bought roots of them. If the roots are given care and set out properly in well prepared soil, they will last for many, many years.

Choose a site for your bed that is open and sunny, and away from tree roots. The bed should be worked deeply and the soil should be improved with peat moss, compost and bonemeal.

Only plant strong root divisions with 3-5 eyes on them. The roots should be spaced about 4 feet apart. When planting, make sure that the top is just under the soil surface, and no more that 2 inches deep.

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   DID YOU KNOW ???

There are 1,182 different kinds of forest trees in the United States. The state with the highest number of different kinds of trees is Florida, with 314. Next would be Texas, then Georgia, followed by California.

The biggest tree in the world is the General Sherman Bigtree, in California. It is 275 feet tall and 115 feet in circumference...(about 27 feet in diameter)

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   THE LITTLE BULBS

Are the first ones to go into the ground, because they are the first ones to bloom. Some of the littlest bulbs include Snowdrops, Winter Aconites, Chionodoxa, species Tulips and Grape Hyacinths.

If you plant them near your house, or where they can be easily seen, these early bloomers are a welcome sight on a dull wintry day. A south facing wall is especially suited to small bulbs, for if the sun is brave in February, these little bulbs will often bloom.

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   POWDERY MILDEW

Cool nights followed by warm, humid days will encourage the development of powdery mildew on your lilacs and phlox. It will occasionally appear on roses, zinnias and fruit trees as well.

Although unsightly; the mildew is a relatively harmless plant parasite that whitens the foliage. One of the standard, old-fashioned controls for mildew is Sulfur dust. There are many sprays also available for control.

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   FALSE SPRING

Some years if there are unusual warm spells in the fall, it is not uncommon to see a few spring-flowering trees and shrubs burst into flower. Forsythia and Azaleas, especially, do this. What happens is that their buds are quite exposed and respond to the warm sun.

Of course the ones that bloom now won't rebloom in the spring, but not to worry, there are millions of other buds waiting for spring.

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   SOUTHWARD BOUND

With a little observation, you can easily see evidence of a upcoming transition among our feathered friends. Some species have already begun to gather and flock together, as they begin preparations for their long southern flight.

Departing in September:
•  Chickadee  •  Crested Flycatcher  •  Rose-breasted Grosbeak  •  Indigo Bunting	•  Orioles  •  Plover  •  Warbling Vireo  •  Marsh Wren