Darrell Blackwelder, Author at Salisbury Post - Page 15 of 19

Lifestyle

Cypress vine morning glory

My wife, Gerrie and I were on a summer excursion for a few days this past week and when we left this vine was only ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, September 9, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Bloomin’ azaleas

Are azaleas blooming now? Yes, there are certain cultivars of azaleas, Encore azaleas, that bloom in the spring and the fall. These multiple bloomers are ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, September 2, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Cascading blooms, intoxicating scent

You may see a rather ornate vine coated in beautiful flowers cascading on trees and shrubs as you drive around the county. The vine is ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, August 26, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Wet conditions prompting a variety of questions

We’ve been experiencing atypical summer weather with scattered showers in the evenings. Drier weather and cooler temperatures are bringing a hint of fall weather to ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, August 24, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

‘Used to know a girl… she’d go out to pick a mess of it’

If you have lived in the south for any amount of time you have experienced one of our premier summer southern weeds, pokeweed or pokeberry ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, August 19, 2018 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Mallow family homecoming

At our family gatherings I often look at my relatives and wonder about my bloodlines. Ironically, the same can be said for plants; they can ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, August 12, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell: Mimosa weed

I discovered a new weed in my lawn this week. The weed is chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria) also known as gripeweed, leaf flower or little mimosa. ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, August 5, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Late summer brings new questions in the garden

Late summer months are the ones when weeds, insects and other pests seem to flourish in our landscapes, especially with the deluge of rainfall over ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, August 3, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Cicada-killer

If you see a giant insect that looks like a hornet slowly buzzing near the soil, it’s probably a Cicada-killer and not a hornet. These ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, July 22, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Container gardens work where a flower bed won’t

Container gardens are extremely popular, especially where traditional flower beds or vegetable plantings are not possible. There are some maintenance requirements necessary for them to ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, July 15, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Lantana: A refreshing splash of color in the heat

Those that need a splash of color during this hot weather may want to consider planting lantanas. Lantanas are an excellent choice for our landscapes, ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, July 8, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Master Gardeners giving input on new plants

When home gardeners shop at local garden shops or retail nursery centers, their choice is often limited to 50-75 different types of trees, shrubs or ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, July 6, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Those fluffy pink blooms dotting the countryside

One cannot help noticing pink, puffy blooms on small under-story trees dotting the county, as mimosa trees have been glowing for a couple of weeks. ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, June 24, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Gardenias: a Southern favorite

Gardenias are a true favorite of Rowan County gardeners. Their exquisite white, fragrant flowers make these a must for any garden. It’s best to locate ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, June 17, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Heat, humidity prompt garden questions

Above average temperatures and high humidity are now upon us and plant problems are inevitable.  Below are a few questions posed this week that may ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, June 15, 2018 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Cultivating a legacy: Preserving the history of agriculture in Rowan County

In preparation for the Farmers Appreciation Breakfast earlier this spring, some of the Cooperative Extension Service staff and I were rummaging through their old files ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, June 10, 2018 12:00 am

Columns

Hydrangea oak leaf

Traveling through Salisbury and Rowan County you may notice shrubs with beautiful white floral plumes embedded in the landscapes. Oak leaf hydrangeas are now in ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, May 27, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Mosquitos buzzing around bugging everyone

It’s a sure bet that with the constant rainfall over the past few weeks and even more this weekend, mosquitoes will soon be out in ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, May 25, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Beware of poison oak and poison ivy

Our neighbors have already asked about poison oak. Seems like the rainy weather has spurred growth of this noxious weed. Both poison oak and ivy ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, May 18, 2018 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Off to the races

Special to the Salisbury Post I can now relate to the famous British author Charles Dickens’ famous quote, “It was the best of times, it ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, May 13, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Sudden warmth bringing out insects, diseases

Only a few weeks ago homeowners and strawberry growers were concerned about frost. Now we’re experiencing 90 degree weather. Any change in weather brings about ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, May 11, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

A good sport

My wife, Gerrie, cherishes a tree form azalea rooted from an old planting of azaleas at the Hall House a few years ago. Recently we ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 29, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Recent rains, warmer days good for your garden

The cooler than normal spring weather has, in some situations, prolonged and intensified colors of flowering trees and shrubs throughout Rowan County. Our recent rainfall, ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, April 27, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Rowan County Master Gardener plant sale is May 5

The Rowan County Master Gardener Volunteers will be holding the annual spring plant sale on Saturday, May 5, at the Cooperative Extension Office, 2727-A Old Concord Road in ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, April 27, 2018 12:00 am

Food

Hopes for a sweet summer — strawberries are coming in

One of the best indicators that spring has arrived is the availability of fresh, local strawberries. Even with our unusual spring weather, it appears that ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Tuesday, April 24, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Lawns are getting greener; how to keep them that way

By Darrell Blackwelder For the Salisbury Post Lawns are beginning to look very good now with warmer weather and the recent rains. Cool season fescue ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, April 13, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Two-tone dogwood and early tent caterpillars

Warm weather has finally arrived and the dogwoods are at their peak. Many people will be working outdoors this weekend in their landscapes and gardens. ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, April 13, 2018 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: Rare Silverbell in bloom at Hurley Park

Salisbury has a very rare tree in full bloom in Hurley Park near the hospital. Carolina Silverbell (Halesa carolina) is a rare specimen tree, fully flowered, ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 8, 2018 12:00 am

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