"Dirt! The Movie" Premiering on PBS
Perhaps your non-gardening friends just can't understand your obsession with soil. Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, the makers of "Dirt! The Movie" get it, and then some. This one-hour program, an installment of PBS's Independent Lens series, examines the history of dirt and how we have used it, from agriculture to medicine, plus how it has been abused and polluted, with a hopeful look at new practices. Interviewees included dirt-loving biologists, gardener-convicts, farmers and more; the host is actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The film premiers on Independent Lens the week of April 19. Visit www.pbs.org/independentlens/dirt-the-movie/ for more details and to check your local listings for its airing.
Hosta of the Year 2010
The American Hosta Growers Association has announced its Hosta of the Year for 2010: it's 'First Frost'. This cultivar has blue leaves with an initially creamy yellow margin that will turn white if the plant grows with a half day of bright light. Grows to three feet wide and blooms in midsummer with two-foot-tall purple flower stalks. USDA Zones 3 to 8.
Flower of the Year 2010
The National Garden Bureau is honoring the marigold as its 2010 Flower of the Year. Durable, reliable, cheerful and diverse are just a few adjectives to describe this traditional favorite. Get reacquainted with the marigold this year. It won't disappoint you.
