Ogeechee Limes – Pleasantly Tasting Like Citrus

The shoreline of the Ogeechee River is densely imbedded with a little known fruit tree called the, “Ogeechee Lime” Nyssa ogeechee, that could easily demand attention from farmers, who are looking for a secondary crop. Local landowners, and those who fish on the banks of the river, are familiar with this tree that can grow 30-40 ft. tall, and in the Fall, the leaves and the oval shaped fruit turn a brilliant scarlet in color. The fruit or berry is about 1-2 inches long and reaches the approximate size of a large kumquat with an agreeable acid flavor, that is similar to limes or other citrus. The fruit is used to flavor foods and drinks, when the juice is released, or it can be used in preserves and the canning of such items as jellies and jams by the local inhabitants.

Many botanists in the past centuries observed that Ogeechee Limes were found growing in colonies with roots underwater, and therefore, they naturally recommended that a planting of this tree should only be done in a bog garden. There are trees planted in the Arboretum garden at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station at Tifton, Ga that are mature and growing well in well drained soil. These trees produce bushels of fruit in the fall that is exceedingly enjoyed by children and adults.

» Read more: Ogeechee Limes – Pleasantly Tasting Like Citrus

Hydroponic Plant Systems What, No Dirt?

Simply put, hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil. The word “hydroponics” comes from the Greek word hydro, which means “water” and ponos, which means “labor or water-working.”

Typical Dirt Gardening:
All plant leaves need light, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Plant root systems require water, nutrients and oxygen. When plants are grown normally (in soil) water takes nutrients from the soil and carries them to the plant roots. The water and nutrients are taken up by the roots to feed plant growth. Soil drainage then allows water to be replaced by air in the gaps between soil grains. This supplies the roots with oxygen.

Hydroponic Gardening:
In hydroponic plant systems, you dissolve the nutrients in water. Soil is replaced with a “growing medium” – a soil substitute – that holds the roots and supplies them with water, nutrients and oxygen. You can deliver the nutrient solution a couple of ways: You can drip feed it to each plant, or you can flood the root chamber, then drain it out. These methods require a pump and timer to circulate the nutrients through the roots. You can also grow the plant roots in the air by spraying them with a fine mist of nutrient solution, or grow them by aerating the solution under each root mass with an air pump.

» Read more: Hydroponic Plant Systems What, No Dirt?

Tips For Attracting Birds To Your Back Yard

Looking for ways to attract more of God’s beautiful feathered creatures into your yard? Great! It’s really not hard – give the birds what they need, and they will come.

The first thing the birds need is food. A simple bird feeder with mixed seed can provide your birds with food, or you can go for something more complex, to attract more species of birds.

Thistle seed will attract many species of birds, such as some finches, that other wise would not come. Likewise, you may want to put out suet, or other “special” foods to attract more birds. Of course, during the summer, put out a hummingbird and/or an oriole feeder.

» Read more: Tips For Attracting Birds To Your Back Yard