Tuesdays with Annie 11 12 2010

Tuesdays with Annie is the mini-version of ‘Jeopardy’ for gardeners. Every Tuesday, you get the answers from Monday’s brain teasers to increase your awareness and open your mind to the art and science of horticulture and design. You are always welcome to send your feedback, thoughts and comments.

For those of you who remembered to look, the one, consistent letter throughout yesterday’s brain teasers – O! It’s a constant trying to figure out how to mix it up and make it fun so today’s inspirational thought may require a little thinking. “The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.” ~ Niels Bohr

1) Orchids prefer a variation of moisture conditions from wet periods to a gradually drying period. True. Orchids you grow in your home should have a regular watering schedule. If you received an orchid for a present this holiday season, research your particular orchid for its moisture requirements. Most orchids like to be very wet and then get very dry. Check the moisture in your plant prior to watering. If it's too wet, don't water it. Orchids that grow outside thrive in climates where it rains for days and then gradually dries until the same process is repeated again.

2) Onions are often used in science education. True. The tissue from onions has particularly large cells; easy to see, which is probably the reason why people often say there are several layers to an onion.

3) Onions should be stored in the refrigerator. Trick question. Onions like a cool, dry, ventilated place and store best with proper air movement but don’t keep in the refrigerator. The reason why it is a trick question is because once you chop or slice an onion, you can then store it in a sealed container in your refrigerator, keeping the remaining onion from drying out.

4) An Oak is a tree or shrub in the beech family (Fagaceae.) True. An oak is part of the Fagaceae (beech) family. The genus for Oak is Quercus. When you visit nurseries, get in the habit of reading the tags. For example, the genus is first (Quercus); species (bicolor) is second in lower case. The common name for a Quercus bicolor is Swamp white oak.

5) Olive trees are not drought tolerant and do not live long lives. False. Quite the contrary – olive trees are hardy, drought tolerant and fire-resistant. Its fruit (olives and olive oil) are a staple used in our kitchen that without it on our shelves, cooking would cease and desist.

Last thought from an unknown source: “If you must cry over spilled milk then please try to condense it.”