Have you ever opened a Home and Garden magazine and just sighed because there was enough information to keep you busy for a while? I have sighed with delight in Garden Gate Magazine. I stumbled upon this magazine subscription offer while searching for some Container Gardening links last February. I was bound and determined to have the best-looking pots imaginable. I wanted ideas, ideas, ideas, so I put “container gardening” into my search space and Voila! gold nugget after gold nugget.
What is Garden Gate Magazine? Well, they say they are …The Illustrated Guide to Home Gardening and Design. I say, they are just that. A magazine chock full of gardening ideas without one page of advertising. Yes, that’s right. Not one page of advertising. That makes it all worth the $19.94 subscription price or $4.99 per single copy. It is not a voluminous magazine just a mere 40-50 pages. But within these 40-50 pages, I found gems. Gardening gems that went into use right away.
Let me give you a tour through the magazine so you have an idea before committing to a purchase or a gift subscription unknowingly. The issue that answered my search was Issue No. 27 June, 1999. Cover feature: 12 Container Designs to plant for your garden. Bingo. Jig of Joy.
Editor’s Note: Why not read these. The notes are written by the person who is probably THE most passionate about the issue and the Magazine. In this case passion was directed toward Plant a Row for the Hungry a program that offers gardeners an opportunity to donate the excess produce to a food bank or soup kitchen. You can find out more on this program at their web site (www.gwaa.org) the link (http://www.gwaa.org/services/par/par_network.html). I like a magazine with a conscience.
The features are broken down into categories.
Plant Profile:
All about growing Bachelor’s Button. Two full pages, with drawings and photographs. If you walk away with questions regarding this plant, consider rereading, it is very comprehensive.
All about growing Primroses is covered in four pages that offer design plan-o-grams, care and culture, variety information, photographs, soil, moisture, temperature….
Plants in Common
Flowers that Tower. An introduction to the editors favorite king-sized plants and they show us how to assimilate them into our garden. (Giant Astilbe, Meadow Rue, Joe-Pye Weed, Pride of Madeira)
Flowering Ground Covers. Four pages of dog-eared information. A keeper. Carpet our gardens with cover right here with beautiful and thought-provoking information. Which equals: I have to give some of these a try. We are taught how to shear and how to propogate.
Design
Container Designs. 12 classy and beautiful combinations to try. This is a must-read. How to fill a container. What types of pots to use. Combinations of pots. The designs are helpful because they have color sketches of each combination. Each plant is labeled and there is a column with the number to buy of each selection. Follow their pot selection all the way to plant arrangement and you to can have one of these beautiful container garden designs that will knock your socks off and your visitors, too. These aren’t geranium and salvia combinations. These are unique and stunning.
Good Neighbors: Shows us how to grow flowers and vegetables together. This is right up my alley since I don’t have a plot space big enough to devote to just vegetables and their needy conditions. Not only will I be given design layouts but they are going to teach me how to make a Beanpole. Simple and it has a copper finial on top. Something I haven’t seen before.
Flipping through some more.
In the front of the magazine, don’t miss the Tips and Techniques Department. Gold nuggets in here, as well. Dividing Perennials and how to make them into great gifts. (low cost gifts!) A quick tip from a reader on grapevine wreaths as seedling markers (novel idea!)….How to make a milk jug screen for plants that are diseased and need a dose of spray without harming their neighbors. Planting bulbs in baskets …how to. Tips solicited from readers for future issues.
In What’s New
A new Gardening Book review, new and cool garden gadgets, a new variety of foxglove,…
The Questions and Answers page (3 pages here) are phenomenal,, bookmark material. Dog-ear these pages. Simple fixes for a quick home sale…I will take notice of this one for future reference.
The Plan Page
This month’s plan. A screen of tall flowers complete with design, plants and their zones, number to buy to achieve the plan design based on allocated space….
Editor’s Choice:
The Editor’s choice of plant and its entire discussion. How to grow it, where to grow it, how does it apply in your gardening scheme, where to find it….
Finally to close the magazine Resources; A very comprehensive and easy to read guide on where to find all the stuff mentioned throughout. And of course a helpful “Know your Zone Chart” to help reference the plant nominations throughout the magazine. Check here to make sure the conditions match the plant’s needs.
I close the magazine and go to sleep dreaming of color in February.
Step in to a whole new world of gardening success. Every issue of Garden Gate Magazine is full of plant profiles, design ideas, and tips from fellow g...More at Magazineline
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