CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- All of the recent talk about the Nobel Prize makes me think of a Nobelist who passed away last month.

As a friend pointed out, most people haven't heard of Norman Borlaug. But this man born 97 years ago in the middle of nowhere (outside Cresco, Iowa) is credited with saving more than a billion lives. Yep. A billion.

Borlaug emphasized both hybrids and, as needed, chemical fertilizers. Plants require minerals; if minerals aren't in the native soils, plants won't grow. Thus, chemical fertilizers are used in order to feed masses of people in areas where there is little or no fertile soil.

Rice and wheat varieties developed using Borlaug's research sparked what is now known as the Green Revolution. The varieties allowed developing countries to increase crop yields fast enough to feed their growing populations and spared millions of acres of virgin land from being converted to grow crops.

Borlaug is not without his critics. Organic enthusiasts opposed the use of chemical fertilizers, which Borlaug supported. Many believe that economic and political issues created the hunger problems in Third World countries, not the lack of food.

In an article in Reason magazine in March 2009, Borlaug addressed the concerns of organic consumers. "As far as plants are concerned, they can't tell whether that nitrate ion comes from artificial chemicals or from decomposed organic matter," Borlaug said.

To his death, Borlaug defended his science, and he was amply rewarded for his work. Among the dozens of awards and honors bestowed upon Borlaug during his lifetime were the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Plan for next year

Now is the time to think about plants to plant in the spring that will flower next winter! As you walk through your winter garden, imagine a few of these winter-bloomers in your landscape.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- All of the recent talk about the Nobel Prize makes me think of a Nobelist who passed away last month.

As a friend pointed out, most people haven't heard of Norman Borlaug. But this man born 97 years ago in the middle of nowhere (outside Cresco, Iowa) is credited with saving more than a billion lives. Yep. A billion.

Borlaug emphasized both hybrids and, as needed, chemical fertilizers. Plants require minerals; if minerals aren't in the native soils, plants won't grow. Thus, chemical fertilizers are used in order to feed masses of people in areas where there is little or no fertile soil.

Rice and wheat varieties developed using Borlaug's research sparked what is now known as the Green Revolution. The varieties allowed developing countries to increase crop yields fast enough to feed their growing populations and spared millions of acres of virgin land from being converted to grow crops.

Borlaug is not without his critics. Organic enthusiasts opposed the use of chemical fertilizers, which Borlaug supported. Many believe that economic and political issues created the hunger problems in Third World countries, not the lack of food.

In an article in Reason magazine in March 2009, Borlaug addressed the concerns of organic consumers. "As far as plants are concerned, they can't tell whether that nitrate ion comes from artificial chemicals or from decomposed organic matter," Borlaug said.

To his death, Borlaug defended his science, and he was amply rewarded for his work. Among the dozens of awards and honors bestowed upon Borlaug during his lifetime were the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Plan for next year

Now is the time to think about plants to plant in the spring that will flower next winter! As you walk through your winter garden, imagine a few of these winter-bloomers in your landscape.

Winter jasmine: Jasminum nudiflorum, zones 6 to 9, 9 feet tall and wide, full sun to light shade, well-drained soil. Cheery, bright yellow blooms similar to forsythia.

Witch hazel: Hamamelis, zones 5 to 9, 8 to 12 feet tall and wide, full sun to partial shade, moist, fertile, well-drained soil. The flowers are produced on leafless winter stems in pale to dark yellow, orange or red.

Hardy cyclamen: Cyclamen coum, zones 5 to 9, 2 to 4 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide, partial to full shade, fertile, well-drained soil. Unusual leaves, they resemble (but are not related to) primroses or violets.

Winter aconite: Eranthis hyemalis, zones 4 to 9, 3 to 5 inches tall and wide, full sun to partial shade, moist, fertile soil. Similar to buttercups, these have goblet-shaped golden flowers in late winter.

Lawn sweeper

Agri-Fab has an alternative to loud, gas-guzzling leaf blowers. Their line of push lawn sweepers uses old-fashioned manual technology to make gathering leaves as easy as mowing the lawn.

Revolving brushes whisk leaves into a hopper so that they can be easily bagged, mulched or added to a compost pile. The collapsible hopper saves space in your storage shed. They run $170 and retailers can be found at www.agri-fab.com.

Botanic garden

There are two more chances this year to be a part of the Sunday Walk Program at the West Virginia Botanic Garden in Morgantown. At 2 p.m. Nov. 8, Jim Thompson will discuss the soils of the area, and at 9 a.m. Dec. 5, George Longenecker will talk about winter botany. Walks are held rain or shine.

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.