Gardening Question of the Week: How Do You Store Your Tender Bulbs for the Winter?

While gardeners in zones 8 and above can grow dahlias, cannas, caladiums and their tender cousins year round, northern gardeners will need to dig and store these plants to overwinter them. And since the first frosts are beginning to hit, the task can't be put off much longer. It's not one of gardening's more pleasant jobs, but the payoff is worth the effort. While there are no absolute rules for overwintering tender bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers, here are some guidelines and safeguards to make your efforts more successful. Better still, here's a video to show you how.

Photo: ? Marie Iannotti (2008 licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Gardeing Question of the Week: What are Rose Hips

I'm always delighted when I'm with someone who stumbles on rose hips for the first time. I suppose we don't see them very often because we've become obsessed with deadheading and repeat blooming.

The orange-red berries are a startling discovery. Many people don't realize how closely related roses and apples are until they see what look like crab apple clusters hanging from their rose bushes. I've even seen them mistaken for cherry tomatoes. Thank goodness tomatoes don't have thorns.

Rose hips aren't just lovely to behold, they taste pretty darn good too. And they're surprisingly easy to use in everything from tea to soup to dessert. If you're reading this thinking, What are rose hips?, I'll tell you... And if you find some in your garden, here's a quick recipe to whip up your own rose hip tea. (Grand Marnier optional.)

Photo: ? Marie Iannotti

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