Gardening is a wonderful way to enhance your well-being while connecting with nature. Not only is it a great way to get some fresh air and exercise, but it can help you to relax since caring for live plants can relieve fatigue and stress. Moreover, it can be an excellent mindful activity since gardening requires focus, and you need to be physically present for it. In an interview with The New York Times, English psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith explains how gardening, which enables people to work with nature’s energy, can be a form of meditation. “People often describe losing themselves in the […]
Author: James Johnsen
Cicada Emergence 2024: Protecting Your Garden & Landscape
Have you ever heard the buzz of cicadas on a hot summer afternoon? Their distinct sound carries across the landscape as a reminder that summer is upon us. These insects will be even more prominent this summer in certain parts of the country. Let’s dive in and learn about these fascinating insects and their effect on the landscape. What Are Cicadas? Cicadas are a group of insects with over 1,300 species across the globe, with most of them living in tropical areas. They’re also closely related to leafhoppers and aphids. In the Midwest, we have nearly a dozen species of […]
How To Create A Rain Garden
Picture this: it’s a hot summer day, and you’re heading to the garden to water your plants when suddenly, a rainstorm arrives, and you don’t have to water them anymore. For many of us, that’s a dream come true. However, the excess water from these rain events can end up on roads and sidewalks, causing less water to be absorbed by the soil. As the water runs along the road, it may pick up pollutants and other debris, which may end up in lakes and rivers. A great way to reroute some of this water is creating a rain garden, […]
Bee Gardens: Cultivating Pollinator Paradises
A bee garden featuring wildflowers, native grasses, and herbs serves as a biodiverse haven for nurturing bee populations. Nectar-rich wildflowers like bloodroot and Virginia bluebells offer a colorful feast for bees, while herbs like sage, thyme, and oregano also provide abundant nectar and pollen for these vital pollinators. Interspersed among them, native grasses like little bluestem and switchgrass provide essential habitat and nesting sites. Together, these elements create a thriving ecosystem where bees flourish, pollinating crops and wild plants alike. Remarkably, a single bee lawn in Minneapolis, featuring a mix of flowers, was found to attract over 50 species of bees. And, […]
8 Unusual Fruits To Grow
What’s your favorite fruit? This question suggests apples, grapes, oranges for many of us, but how about Goumi or Jostaberry? Jung offers an assortment of popular and lesser-known fruits. While some of these are less common, their unique qualities make them a tasty and low-maintenance addition to the landscape. Let’s dive in! Currant Currants are like gooseberries, with many of the same growing requirements and uses. And while they’re self-fruitful, 3 to 4 plants are ideal for a family. You can grow red, black, or white currants. Still, red is the most popular for gardeners, especially ‘Red Lake.’ Black currants […]
How to Introduce Youth to Gardening
Cultivating plants can help enhance the long-term health of elementary school kids, by teaching youngsters the origin of their food and how to grow it according to an education initiative and program called Texas Sprouts. Exposure to outdoor gardening, nutrition information, and cooking classes resulted in a lower probability of pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions. By teaching kids how to grow and prepare their veggies, their intake of healthy greens is increased. Introducing children to gardening has many positive effects – encouraging healthier habits and better lifestyles, as well as health improvement, lower obesity rates, and the prevention of chronic diseases. Here are simple […]
New 2024 Spring Garden Catalog Review
The arrival of Jung Seed’s Spring Catalog for 2024 is exciting news for avid gardeners. It is an opportunity to explore new varieties and rediscover old favorites, whether one is gearing up for the spring garden or planning ahead for the summer. The catalog is a treasure trove of inspiration for everyone. As we immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature’s cycles, it is wonderful to have resources like Jung Seed to accompany us on our gardening journey. Do you have any specific plants or varieties from the catalog that caught your eye for this upcoming season? Annuals Annual plants […]
7 Environmental Factors To Consider With Gardening
As you look at plants in the nursery or online, you’ll probably notice a reference to growing or USDA zones. An example is Summer Crush® Hydrangea, which lists a growing zone of 4-9. Hardiness Zone Map These numbers are based on a map created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help gardeners determine the type of plants likely to thrive in different locations. The zones on the map show the average minimum winter temperatures for a given area. For example, Zone 6 includes areas where the average lowest temperature in winter goes down to -10°F. A few cities in […]
Preparing for Winter: Simple Ways to Provide for Backyard Birds
Birds use a variety of adaptations for surviving in cold climates, including fluffing their feathers, roosting and cuddling, tucking their feet and bills, and even shivering to stay warm, according to Tina Shaw for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. With that in mind, however, there are a variety of ways in which you can proactively protect, support, and provide for backyard birds throughout the winter months. From the value of effective shelter to providing adequate nutrition and beyond, properly preparing your backyard can be made simple. Preparing Adequate Shelter Providing shelter for backyard birds is a simple and effective way to […]
Garden Trends: Color of the Year 2024
As you embark on the journey of planning your garden for the upcoming year, explore the plethora of new offerings at Jung Seed. With an array of choices at your fingertips, the task of selection may seem daunting. A strategic approach to finding inspiration could involve aligning your choices with the Color of the Year. For 2024, Pantone has chosen Peach Fuzz 13-1023 as the hue of choice. To streamline your decision-making process, we’ve curated a selection of our favorite plants inspired by this captivating shade. Anne Fall Bearing Raspberry Anne Fall is the largest, best-tasting, highest-quality yellow raspberry. The […]