hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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You don't have to live in Kansas to enjoy sunflowers in the garden! Sunflowers are easy and fun to grow. From tall varieties that reach for the sky to dwarf types that are knee-high, there's a variety to suit every gardener's needs. Since they grow very quickly, children enjoy watching them grow--and the large seeds are easy for small fingers to handle. Plus, if you buy a good eating variety, you can harvest the seeds and teach the kids to roast them for a healthy snack!

• Plant in full sun, where they will not shade other plants, or plant shade-lovers around them.
• Plant the seeds 1 inch deep and about 6 inches apart.
• When the seedlings come up, thin them to about 18 inches apart.
• Water well after planting and keep fairly moist, but not soggy, until the seeds sprout.

Sunflower seedlings will come up in one or two weeks. They will start out slowly, then speed up their growth rate. Children can be responsible for watering them, weeding around them and adding mulch around the plants.

Harvesting of sunflower heads is quick and easy--but you may need a ladder or stepstool if you are growing tall varieties. Watch the birds; when they start going after the seed heads, cover the heads with cheesecloth to protect the seeds. The seed heads will be ready to harvest when their backs are brown and dry and no traces of green remain.

Cut off the heads with a foot or two of stalk. Hang them upside down in a dry and airy place. When the seeds are dried, rub them off with your hand and store them in an airtight container. Don't wash them, as this could cause them to mold.

To roast sunflower seeds, place a single layer of raw dehulled kernels in a shallow pan. Roast in a 300 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until they are brown and crisp. Stir occasionally. Remove from the oven. One teaspoon of melted margarine may be added if preferred for each cup of seeds; stir to evenly coat. Place the seeds on absorbent paper. Salt to taste. Store in a tightly covered container.

For salted in-the-shell seeds, cover unhulled seeds with salted water in the amount of 2 quarts of water to 1/4-1/2 cup salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 hours. Drain and dry on absorbent paper. Seeds may also be soaked overnight instead of boiled. Then proceed as for the roasted kernels above.

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Summer is almost here...

The days are getting longer and life will be moving outdoors.

Now is the time to plant scented shrubs and vines or even a complete scented garden in your "outdoor room." The supply of scented plants is excellent this time of year, and if you plant now there is a good chance of plentiful fragrant blooms all summer. Almost all scented plants can also be grown in containers, so they make a great addition to patios and balconies.

Most of them require good drainage and acidic soil.

Come on in and sniff the beautiful scents of summer. We'll help you choose one or more to give your garden and your home fragrances that will delight you all season long.

No doubt you're seeing these riotous shrubs and small trees in bloom right now! These beauties like it hot, and are at their best in the warm months.

Some plants grow tired and stressed when high temperatures persist day after day. Crape myrtles, on the other hand, thrive under these conditions, making them valuable flowering shrubs or small trees in the summer landscape. Whether trained as standard or multi-trunk trees, crape myrtles make beautiful specimen or accent plants. Showy crinkled flowers are abundant throughout summer, with colors ranging from the reds to pinks, purples, and white.

Plant these lovely shrubs in any sunny spot where summer color is needed. Planting is best done in late spring or summer, when they are actively growing. For desired size and shape, prune in early spring. Don't worry too much about your pruning skills, as they bloom on new wood. However, it is important to deadhead as blossoms fade in order to encourage continuous bloom. Crape myrtles are long-lived, drought tolerant (once established) and relatively pest free, although sometimes aphids and powdery mildew can be a problem. Watering in the morning, to give the foliage plenty of time to dry, will help keep mildew away.

As if that weren't enough, the handsome bark and fall leaf color add to an already stunning plant. Add one or more to your landscape, then just sit back and enjoy the show!

Rose lovers are a breed onto themselves, because one cannot simply stick a rose plant into the ground, walk away, and expect perfect blooms year after year. They take work, but if you are a true rosarian, the results are worth the effort.

The rose’s susceptibility to black spot, which is a fungal disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae, is worse than mildew or rust because black spot frequently kills plants. It’s particularly deadly for non-resistant hybrid teas. Miniature roses are also highly susceptible.

Recognizing black spot early on is essential to its elimination. Look for small black spots with feathery edges, on the upper leaf surfaces; lower branches will be affected first. As the disease progresses, the spots will enlarge, become ringed with yellow, and-- if the black spot is not stopped--the leaves will eventually turn entirely yellow and drop. Defoliation can cause the plant to die.

But have heart: a combination of prevention and fast action once the black spot is noted can save your plants.

• Do your research for your area, and plant resistant rose varieties.
• Placement is of upmost importance; plant far enough apart to allow for lots of circulation. Black spot fungus requires water to reproduce and grow.
• Plant your roses in full sun.
• Water in the morning to give your roses plenty of time to dry out.
• When you prune, immediately remove all diseased leaves and canes to the trash to prevent its spread to other plants.
• After pruning, use a dormant season horticultural oil spray.

A combination of 4 teaspoons of baking soda per gallon of water with a 1% solution of narrow-range horticultural oil is one way to manage black spot, along with powdery mildew. Avoid getting it on open blossoms. Neem oil may also prove effective. Don't rule out preventive sprays of fungicides such as triforine or chlorothalonil.

Checking for black spot gives you the best excuse to closely examine, and while doing so, stop and smell your roses.

Few plants can match the tropical appeal and intense color of canna lilies. Their regal beauty can add a spectacular presence to any garden.

Native to South America and the West Indies, these blooming beauties offer color from May until late fall, with a color range that includes all your favorite reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, corals and salmon. New hybridizing efforts have also produced a number of varieties that also feature attractive striped, variegated, bronze and burgundy foliage.

Canna lilies grow from 2-6, tall, depending on the variety, and are amazingly trouble-free when it comes to insects and disease. They are incredibly versatile and can be successfully mixed in borders, massed in garden beds by themselves or tucked between other small-to-medium shrubs. They also tolerate wet soils better than most plants. For those of you with limited space, they make a great addition to a container garden.

Canna lilies do go dormant each season and simply need to be pruned back to the ground once the foliage starts to fade. They do best in moist soils and show their colors more intensely when fed every two months during the growing season. Whether you choose them for their vibrant blooms or bold patterned leaves, make room for some easy-to-please cannas in your garden this year.

One of the most beautiful summer blooming shrubs is the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). Also called Althea, it actually isn’t a rose at all, but rather a hardy deciduous type of hibiscus. From June until mid-autumn it produces large, colorful blooms in shades including blue, pink, purple, red and white. It blooms so prolifically it's no wonder it is the national flower of Korea and prized throughout the world.

Left alone, it grows into a natural vase shaped shrub or tree 6-12 ft. tall and half as wide, but with a small amount of pruning each season, can easily be shaped into a rounded shrub or tree. Its leaves don’t come out until late spring, causing false alarms in gardeners who think their plants may have died.

But make no mistake about it, the Rose of Sharon is one hardy plant, capable of handling temperatures as low as       -10° once it has been established a few years. Lush green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the blooms which may be single or double by nature. Many of the blooms come in a combination of colors so bright that they are a perfect magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Roses of Sharon are fairly easy to take care of. They prefer full sun locations but also do well in partial shade. They are fairly fast growing and do enjoy regular watering and fertilizing throughout the growing season. In cold climates, all that is needed is to add a layer of mulch over the roots the first two winters; after that no protection is necessary.

We have a great selection of beautiful Rose of Sharon in both shrub and tree form and invite you to stop by and see them in all of their blooming glory. This delightful plant will give you years of charming flowers just when other plants blooms are starting to wane.