This past weekend was the first official day of fall—the Autumnal Equinox. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the equator. On this day, the day and the night are of equal length. From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, the hours of the night will be longer … Read more
ARE YOU READY TO ADD SOME EDIBLE PLANTS TO YOUR LANDSCAPE? WHY NOT!! WHAT IS EDIBLE LANDSCAPING? Simply put, edible landscaping is adding food producing plants to your landscape. For some of you, the idea of adding plants that produce food is a no-brainer. For others, there is some uncertainty as to how to approach … Read more
Surprise Lilies, Magic Lilies, Resurrection Lilies, Naked Ladies, Spider Lilies, Hurricane Lilies—these are all nicknames given to various types of Lycoris. Lycoris are strong perennials that send up lush foliage in the spring, which then dies down, then blooms late summer without foliage—hence the nicknames Surprise Lilies, Magic Lilies or Naked Ladies. Because they bloom … Read more
SEPTEMBER OUTDOOR PLANT OF THE MONTH: HEUCHERA Some of you may know this plant by its common name: “CORAL BELLS.” Heuchera gets its’ common name because of the small reddish “bell-shaped” flowers that they have in late summer and early fall. I chose this plant to highlight because of all the varieties that we have … Read more
Ah, another fall and another chance to share my top-ten favorite bulbs. Give me a minute while I think about this past spring’s garden—how it looked, what did especially well, were there any surprises…. Okay, I’ve reminisced and I’m ready. So here they are: #10: Alliums From four foot tall giant alliums with 8 to … Read more
SEPTEMBER, OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF THE “FALL IS FOR PLANTING” SEASON. September is the beginning of a very important time for gardening and planting. Like meteorology (weather), the first of September starts the fall planting season even though fall is not officially here until Saturday, the 22nd. We have had rain throughout the summer. Depending on … Read more
I’m getting my vegetable garden ready for fall now. I just pulled up the last of the squash. Most of my tomatoes are now long tired looking vines with only a few blooms at the tips—and they won’t have time to set fruit and ripen by the first frost. I pulled them up. I’ve pulled … Read more
I KNOW, YOU ARE THINKING “WHAT IS DOUG DOING BLOGGING ABOUT ORCHIDS”?! First, I have to somewhat agree with your thinking. I am out of my comfort zone, just a little, with this article. I grew up with house plants. Both of my grandmothers loved plants. So, it comes naturally. I plan to do a … Read more
Now is the time to plant peas for a fall harvest so I thought I’d share some interesting facts about these deliciously sweet veggies (well, scientifically speaking, they’re technically fruits.) Peas are one of the oldest cultivated crops. Fossil evidence shows that they were even eaten during the Bronze age! Green peas are actually unripe—that’s … Read more
LATE SUMMER CAN BE A TRICKY TIME FOR COLOR IN THE GARDEN Here we are in the last couple of weeks in August. Summer is slipping away quickly. Before we know it, fall will be here and the time to plant mums and pansies for color. But, until then you may be wanting to add more … Read more
