Fall is all about the mums

Fall is all about the mums

When I think of autumn, the very first thing that comes to mind is Chrysanthemums. They are better known as mums for short. They are easy to care for, and keep the color going up until the first frost. They require little maintenance and lots of sun.

There are many different varieties, but the easiest to grow are single, anemone and pompon. Each variety also has a specific bloom time, so depending on how early or late you want to add color; this is a factor to be considered. You can find mums in colors from white to gold, pink to burgundy and yellow to orange.

Pictured below left is the single or daisy variety, and it blooms first, usually in early September. On the right is the anemone variety, and typically blooms last, around mid-October. And finally, on the bottom center is the pompon, and it is a mid to late September bloomer.

    

   

                         Photos courtesy of todayshomeowner.com

I have included a good article on the care for mums:

                                                  Easy mum care

Nearly every mum is a perennial, meaning that it will continue to come back every year. As the blooms fade, it is recommended that they be pinched off with your fingers and this will promote even more blooms to open, and continue their beautiful color.  This is one of mine from last fall. It is the anemone variety, and my favorite mum.

Summer time...my favorite time of year

Summer time...my favorite time of year

It's early March, the wind is howling outside, and icy rain is falling on the trees. Just a few more months and days like today will only be a memory. Summer is my time of year. There is so much to attend to in the garden and it is truly a labor of love.

 Peonies are the first to flower in late May, then comes the day lilies and then the butterfly bushes. Here is a picture of one of my many day lilies; they are a creamy white and look great when the sun hits them. On the right is one of my peony bushes.

Inevitably the weeds join in, as do the bugs and various pests that like to munch on my beautiful gems. Below is a link to help identify the most common culprits.

Common Weeds


During the hot dry months, it is very important to water just about everything that is green. When plants dry out it is hard to re-balance the soil with moisture, and most of the water will run straight through the dirt. This is especially true of annuals, or plants that only live for one season.

 Many of my annuals are in pots, and pots can dry out fast. Make sure to stay ahead of the game and give a long, thorough drink to each member preferably in the evening.

 Watering guidelines


It is also very important to prune or "dead head" flowers mid season so as to encourage a second wind of flowering come August. It may seem a bit drastic in some instances, but it is actually good for the plant's growth overall. The following article is a good example of how it is done.

 Dead heading how to
Looking forward to a warm summer season...happy gardening!

Roses are red

Roses are red

Roses are red and pink and white and…..violets are blue. The fact is that roses come in many more colors and shades than what I just listed. They are big business for growers as many varieties have a name that is protected by a trademark. Clubs are formed and collections are envied as members showcase their many specimens. 
Although they have a reputation for being fickle plants, there are more and more that are being crossbred to be easier for the average gardener to grow.  The link below gives a lot of options for those wanting to enjoy roses, but always thought it would be too difficult to maintain.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/roses/the-easiest-roses-you-can-grow/

In addition, this link provides great information on how to determine where to plant your roses, as well as pruning, deadheading, watering and pest control.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/roses/ultimate-rose-care-guide/

These two examples are from my garden this past summer. On the left is “Mr. Lincoln” and the right is “Dream Come True”.

The easiest varieties to grow are Knock Out and Flower Carpet, as they are more of a type of shrub and groundcover. Many varieties have either a strong or subtle fragrance. I can tell you that when the breeze blows, it smells wonderful.

I have included a video on how to begin the process of planting and nurturing these beauties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBzpuqOE92s

Whether or not you have a green thumb, consider giving roses a try. As long as you have a sunny location and good drainage, you can do it! Good luck!

Springtime is on its way! Signs of spring…

Springtime is on its way! 

Signs of spring…

Anyone living in Michigan this winter knows it’s been a long, very cold season. I always like to look on the bright side of things, especially when it gets nearer to flowers such as crocus and daffodils and eventually tulips waking up from their long snooze.

The bulbs should be planted in the fall, before the first frost. They can be purchased at your local nursery, or even at a store like Meijer in the garden department. They come in mesh bags in multiples of anywhere between three to twenty bulbs.

The following link is a good how to video for beginners:

http://bit.ly/1DPif0S

                                                                                                                   

                                www.gardenersnet.com                                                          

                                     Photo by Gernot Katzer                                

                                                                               

Crocuses come in varieties of cream, white, purple and yellow and are the first to bloom.  Most varieties are between four to six inches in height. In Michigan, you will usually see them popping up by late March.

Daffodils are the next to bloom in early to mid-April. Flowers are generally between twelve to fourteen inches in height. They are white, yellow or a blend of both colors. Some even come in a light blush color like this one.

                          Photo by countryliving.com

Tulips follow the daffodils and come in just about every  color imaginable as well as many different heights. You can even get them in black.         

                                              Photo by Breck’s

This is a very good article on how to become a bulb gardener. Check it out, and hurry spring!

http://bit.ly/1BOM3df

It's winter...feed the birds!

Feeding the birds

It’s mid-February and the birds are fluttering all about my window asking for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I am a nature lover to be sure, and I do my best to make sure their feeders don’t run dry. My backyard, like many in southeastern Michigan, sees a variety of feathered friends every day.

Photo courtesy of www.audobon.org

I have visitors such as goldfinches, cardinals, black-capped chickadees and woodpeckers. As anyone who has had experience with feeding the birds at any time of year knows, you cannot simply feed the birds. No sir, no way.

The squirrels will quickly jump on board to grab some food as well.  To accommodate them, I always put extra seed on the ground to discourage them from trying to crash the party up at the feeder itself. 

Each variety of bird has its own preferences for the type of seed it likes to munch on. This is important to remember if you are looking to attract a specific breed. For example, goldfinches love thistle, cardinals like black oil sunflower seeds, black capped chickadee like finely ground sunflower seeds and woodpeckers prefer small shelled peanuts.

Here I have a photo of one of my feeders with eight goldfinches having lunch. The black grain that you can see is the thistle.

 This is a male Northern Cardinal. They are beautiful to look at in the winter, as their red feathers are so brilliant against the white snow. 

Photo courtesy of www.allaboutbirds.com

This is a young Downy  Woodpecker. Despite their love of the insects in the trees, during the winter those insects are hibernating . The woodpeckers love the seed as a way to get through until the warm weather returns.

Photo courtesy of www.allaboutbirds.com

The links below provide a food preference chart as well as a beginner’s guide to attracting the birds you would like to see in your yard. Give it a try; it’s both visually fun and you keep their bellies full when it’s really cold outside!

http://www.almanac.com/content/wild-bird-food-preferences

http://youtu.be/IvEViWvCe8c

Winter Container Decorating

Winter container decor

It’s late January, and it is COLD outside. Not too many creatures stirring outside these days. Plants and a lot of other vegetation are hibernating right now. I like outdoor decorations, even simple ones year round. Hmm, what to do during Michigan’s winter months?

I have some proven ideas to share with you. For many years I have turned to using fresh greens like pine and douglas fir branches as a base. They stay green for most of the winter and typically need to be trimmed around the end of March. In the photos below, I used some boxwood from my own shrubs.

I stick them straight into the dirt before it freezes. In addition, I use decorative branches like birch or dogwood for height. I usually purchase them at a nursery like Bordine’s because many of the stems they sell have sparkle and glitter applied to them.

 I also use gold and silver plastic ornament balls glued to slender sticks during Christmas in the arrangements as well. I add lighted spheres to the mix, or strings of mini lights no longer than 50 lights in length. The spheres can be purchased at Michael’s or Target, but I get mine at Bronner’s in Frankenmuth. They are electric, so you will need access to an outlet nearby. They come in clear, red, green or multicolor and add a pretty winter glow after the Christmas lights are gone.

The following video represents a similar way to decorate, although they are more elaborate than mine. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wyA9z5UeNo

My Indoor Garden

I’ll start off with the Pachira, also known as the money tree. No, money doesn’t grow on this tree, although I wish it would. Originally native to Central and South America, the art of Feng Shui has made it a popular plant with its lore of wealth to all who have one. With my green thumb…I’d be rich! 

 Despite this fact, it is one of my favorite house plants to look at during the indoor winter months. Its braided trunk has a bit of a bamboo likeness to it. I have included a link about them from YouTube, as well as a picture of mine. Can’t wait for the warm weather!!
http://youtu.be/j5KGDu3jltY

Another favorite of mine is my Dracaena marginata.  Ok, well I call her my big girl. Yes, I said her. All of my plants are ladies, and require lots of love. She’s the one on the left.  I often tell people that they are my kids when my son and grandkids aren’t around. She is currently a little over five feet in height, and will grow at a rate of approximately one inch per three months.

 As you will notice in the bottom photo, they can grow very large in tropical climates. They also exist in a variety that is significantly reddish in color. It is difficult to see from the photo, but mine does have a very thin red edge. They are very easy to grow, but remember they can grow quite large.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/indoor-care-dracaena-marginata-42795.html

Photo credit: www.canstockphoto.com 

       Photo credit:
                   www.commons.wikimedia.org                                 

Lisa's Garden

Autumn is a favorite of mine. This chrysanthemum is nicknamed "Peyton's mum" because it came from my grandson's house. The landscaping was being redone, and it had to go. So, I transplanted it to my yard.