Winter storm “Hercules” may be dumping 15 inches of snow outside, but look what’s going on inside. The very short day lengths, cooler temperatures, and indoor plant lights make gardening possible and some plants actually prefer it. These “winter buddies” are budding now and will blossom shortly. Many orchids bloom in the winter, among the […]
It’s been a while since I wrote a gardening post. My excuse? Aside from being busy writing other posts, the truth is: I’ve been doing battle with critters, both animals and insects. I knew I’d had enough when the deer was standing on my front porch eating a pot of tulips. I thought I was […]
I don’t really care what the forecasters might say. Winter’s Grip is Letting Go. The day length is increasing and the trees know it. The birds know it, too. It won’t be long before winter is replaced by the season of singing. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear […]
Put your question and your shame to rest. So, you’ve procrastinated like many gardeners. I’ve done it too. I’m pretty certain that among gardeners, we all sin and fall short of the calendar for planting fall bulbs at some point in our lives. Now the ground is approaching frozen and you ask, Is it too […]
Roses are among the most beloved plants. Matchless for their variety of colors and fragrance and forms, roses have a beauty that makes their persnickety nature part of their charm. Roses need special pruning and fertilizing and insect prevention, but they also need strict attention to their fall and winter care. (Please note update at […]
Hydrangeas can be confusing at nearly every season. Fall confusion produces as many questions as spring confusion. In the fall, people in the northern United States look at their hydrangeas and wonder, “Now what?” Winter is coming. Do I cut my hydrangeas back? Do I let them go just as they are? Everyone has advice. […]
Some of my favorite plants are late bloomers. Some of my favorite Scriptures talk about the last in equally wonderful terms. Sometimes, I think God saves the best for last. John 2:7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now […]
It’s September, official My Summer Garden is Past its Prime Month. With the decreasing amounts of sunlight and the wear and tear of the summer’s heat and typical drought/deluge watering of Illinois summers, the plants in my garden start to look a little…oh…shabby. With the first crisp nights dropping into the 50s, I start to […]
Unlike Jesus who loves all of us equally, bees love some plants more than others. In this short post, I’d like to outline a few flowers that bees particularly love. This is important for attracting bees, if you’re thinking of bee-keeping. But plant placement is also important because you really don’t want these plants within […]
I am a curious person and sometimes I indulge my inner skeptic by purchasing something that I’ve always wondered about, “Do those actually work?” So often it seems there are gimmicks on TV or in the stores and they seem like a good idea, but the thrifty person in me wants to learn from someone […]
