Hoop tunnels helped The White House Garden reap about 50 pounds of produce.  Read the winter garden lessons and watch the harvest video.  I'm still in awe over the fact that The White House has a working, active vegetable garden that helps feed the first family and state visitors.  It's such a great example.  If you are visiting the D.C. area soon their Spring garden and grounds tours at The White House run April 17-18.

Any supermarket tomatoes you buy off-season may come from giant propane-heated greenhouses in Maine where multiple varieties are hydroponically-grown, without pesticides, using recycled rain water and extra light fueled by local hydroelectric, and vine-ripened (encouraged by pumped in carbon dioxide). Full story: Giant Greenhouses Mean Flavorful Tomatoes All Year - NYTimes.com.  The one here was a volunteer cherry tomato in my 2009 garden.

Take a peek at the ups and downs of indoor gardening in NYC through Ask About Growing Indoor Plants. I sometimes wonder how this country-girl would handle having to drag bags of potting soil up a 5th-floor walkup or to a roof-top garden.

Read a short interview with British landscape designer Robin Templar Williams, who is apparently making quite a splash here and across the pond.  No wonder … how can you not like someone who lists irises as his fave?

Ever wonder why birds like the berries we plant as much as we do?  They may be seeking out antioxidants.  Migrating birds go for dark, richly colored berries to feed and soothe their travel-starved feathers.  University of Rhode Island scientists suspect antioxidants in these berries – the same compounds that help humans fight stress - may help birds fight the stresses of migration. 

I never cease to be amazed by topics of study, therefore I'm going to try to make this a regular Friday feature.  One, it will force me to read through and summarize all the intriguing news items I see.  Two, you just might enjoy reading about this stuff as much as I.

Related posts:
Now where were those bulbs? April GOOPs
A picture speaks
Simply said, Delightful.
Implements of Gardening
Home to signs of spring

Categories: Gardening, Newsy Items, Seasons, White House garden.
Tags: birds and berries, greenhouse tomatoes, indoor gardening, landscape design, The White House Garden.

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