In The Garden

Temperatures are dropping along with the leaves.  Last week we had fog, this week we have rain turning to snow this weekend.  I am hoping it stays in the higher elevations at least for a while longer.  We have been working hard at getting ready for winter but we aren’t quite there yet.  Our over abundance of leaves makes the perfect mulch for covering our rose bushes, shrubs and perennials.  I still have two rose bushes to cut back and I need to finish cutting the irises back and cover the strawberries.  It’s funny, in the spring I want to plant, plant and plant someRead More →

The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are turning and it’s time to think about Spring.  Crazy, I know, but this is the time to start planning the first blooms I want to see in the spring.  There is a limited time to get fall bulbs planted before the ground freezes.  A little bit of planning will make for a gorgeous display as temperatures warm back up after the winter snows have melted off.  Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, iris, allium and crocus need to be planted in the next couple of weeks.  I am planning on adding more snow crocus along the path to my door.  Their colorful blooms will be aRead More →

Late summer brings us an influx of grasshoppers and other creepy, crawly things that like to jump out at me when I’m out and about on our property.  Thankfully, Mother Nature has sent us our own pest control company.  Like clock work, they start out on the north side, then migrate all the way around to end the afternoon back where they started.  I can tell when they are on the west side, the squirrels chatter and chatter at them.  I’m sure the squirrels don’t like the turkeys hanging around their walnut tree.  When they reach the east north and east side the dogs start barkingRead More →

It’s almost Labor Day and time to enjoy all the traditions that come along with it.  We like to stay home for the long weekend and take care of last minute Back-to-School preparations, relax and enjoy our last Monday of sleeping in for a while.  This is also the perfect time to start getting the garden ready for fall so it’s not a mad scramble to get it all done before first frost (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).  I know it sounds odd to be thinking of frost when it’s almost 100° out, but when you’re busy with work, school and everything else it sneaksRead More →

School starts here in a little less than two weeks, also marking my pear picking time.  Every year, after dropping my son off for the first day of school, I come home and start picking our pears.  Within a few days all the pears are picked and depending on how many we get I usually can some in a light syrup, make spiced pear jelly and pear butter.  My favorite is to just eat them fresh and they are delicious in a crisp green salad with sliced beef, dried cranberries and parmesan cheese.  Of course, we always have some to share with the critters. When picking pears, it’s bestRead More →

My garden has been invaded.  They seem to have shown up practically overnight and are eating all my favorite plants and flowers.  The dreaded earwig, better known in my family as a pinch bug.  I can’t stand them, they give me the creeps.  I am trying several ‘natural’ remedies before I resort to insecticides.  After trimming out the majority of damaged and dying foliage my first experiment is going to be shallow dishes of olive or vegetable oil near the worst infestations.  The nasty creatures are nocturnal so the idea is that they will come out at night and crawl into the oil and notRead More →

Our unusually wet spring and mild temperatures have created the perfect environment for many garden pests.  My biggest battle is with big holes eaten in my rose buds and the leaves of my hollyhocks are riddled with holes.  I always have some kind of bug hanging around but usually a blast with the water hose takes care of most of them.  My preferred method of treatment is dousing my plants with soapy water.  This usually takes care of the majority of pests but as much as I hate to, I’m thinking it may be time to resort to some insecticide.  The problem I encounter with insecticidesRead More →

I have been told that my husband’s Grandma Gertie always grew the most beautiful irises.  I wish I could have met her, I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her.  A few years ago, I bought two variegated iris that I have completely fell in love with.  They have gold and green striped foliage and the most beautiful lavender blooms.  They have grown and spread amazingly, I couldn’t be happier with them. Irises like a sunny spot and well drained soil.  Don’t over water or the rhizomes (roots) might rot.  They need room to spread so plant them about 2 feet apart.  Mulching is not recommended as itRead More →

If your peonies are starting to bud out chances are that the ants have moved in.  The peony bud is covered in a sugary nectar that the ants just love to eat.  I was told, and always believed, that the buds would not open if the ants didn’t eat the nectar off.  Now, that theory seems to be up for debate.  Some are saying that the ants do nothing for the peony and to spray them or wash them off before bringing cut peonies into the house.  I am not an advocate of spraying, I don’t like using insecticides, especially if soapy water will work just asRead More →