Allen Martinson | The Northside Sun

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 945 Reads
On Thu, 05/21/2020 - 12:24 PM

The end of this weekend will be Memorial Day. I think lately Memorial Day gets remembered more as a day for sales and not so much the real reason. The federal holiday is a time to honor and mourn the military personnel who died while serving in our Armed Forces.

Gardening 101 in Mississippi

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 1,166 Reads
On Fri, 05/15/2020 - 01:01 PM

The past few weeks have been so interesting to me. Our reactions to the quarantine because of the pandemic have been so positive, I wonder sometimes if maybe we needed to reset. I know we needed to make some changes at Garden Works. For 10 years, Mimi and I have wanted to not be open on Sundays. Working on Sundays is tough on our crew.

Get lit in your yard

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 931 Reads
On Thu, 05/07/2020 - 04:37 PM

I do love to walk around in my yard during the evening hours after the tools have been put away, dirty clothes thrown in the washer and a run through the shower. Sometimes the grill will be going which gives Mimi and I some time to look around at what we got done that day or what needs to be done.

A jewel in the desert

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 929 Reads
On Fri, 05/01/2020 - 12:20 PM

By the end of this week it will be May 1. It’s been relatively cool and wet this April. Cool and wet are good for some plants and not so good for others. In my garden the lettuces and kales are still hanging in there. When the heat comes on strong, I expect them to bolt or flower. When the leafy greens bolt that is the beginning of the end.

Earth Day and Arbor Day offer opportunity to celebrate nature

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 1,107 Reads
On Fri, 04/24/2020 - 11:50 AM

It has come to my attention that garden centers are far more important to society than I realized. Apparently, when the going gets tough the tough get gardening. Throughout this virus that has sent so many people home, the innate desire to better our surroundings has deemed garden centers as essential.

Through the tombs of the king; a blaze of blooming lantana

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 2,093 Reads
On Thu, 04/16/2020 - 04:27 PM

Easter is behind us now. I don't necessarily mean that I don't like to celebrate Easter, I certainly do, but to a gardener that means down and dirty time. It never made sense to me when people say that they don't plant until after Easter. Sometimes Easter comes early and other times Easter comes late.

Enjoying the beauty of plants while traveling in Europe

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 880 Reads
On Thu, 04/09/2020 - 04:42 PM

I thought I had seen it all in the nursery business. I now know I will never see it all. I'm kind of worn out from the news, the rumors and the opinions so I'm going to take a break and just tell another travel story. I will try to keep the story related to gardening so I can keep my position as a garden writer.

Drastic pruning pays off

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 980 Reads
On Fri, 04/03/2020 - 11:39 AM

This spring is the kind of spring a nursery man dreams of. It has arrived early and gardeners are ready to get in their yards. With the crisis going on that has sent so many people home to take care of each other, there is really nowhere to turn but your yard.

Gardening has many successes

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 370 Reads
On Fri, 03/27/2020 - 11:18 AM

This seems like a good time to think about becoming more self-sufficient in our lives. It looks like we are going to be at home with our families. Being able to go outside is going to be an important part of being able to stay healthy during this time.

Vines add statement to garden

By Allen Martinson, READ MORE > 421 Reads
On Thu, 03/19/2020 - 04:29 PM

Now that we are deep into March, I look back on the month and even February and January. We have had more rainfall then we've had in a long time. It never really got cold after Christmas, and for that, I consider us lucky. I cringe when I think about the damage caused by ice storms.

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