OK, let me reiterate once again that I'm incredibly late starting seeds this year. They should've been started weeks ago, but I just got around to it last Sunday. Shame on me.

Oh well, better late than never. This year I picked up a new "green" trick from of all people -- Martha Stewart -- yes, good ol' Martha, the woman who can always come up with a better way to do -- EVERYTHING!!

Anyway, while perusing one of her many magazines, I came across her suggestion for saving used yogurt cups to start seeds. (She really thinks of everything, doesn't she?) So, since we throw plenty of used yogurt cups in the recycle bin every week, I figured why not? Other plastic containers can be used just as well, like butter containers, Cool Whip, Beneful dog meals, etc.

So on Sunday, I got out my menagerie of "recycled" plastic containers and went to work creating what I hope will be beautiful seedlings to add to this year's garden. (I say this every year ... only to find it's easier to go out and buy the plant, letting the pros do the seeding work.) But darn it -- this WILL be the year I get those seeds growing!!

I planted a wide assortment of Celosia Plumara (ordered from the Jung Seed catalog), Gaillardia/Monarda (sometimes called Mexican Daisy), Zinnias (virtually guaranteed to grow), Wayahead Tomatoes and Cucumbers (both freebies from Jung Seed). And, of course, fancy Sunflower seeds -- yes, I'm going to try to grow them again.

As I've stated before, every year I put out sunflower seeds, only to have the chipmunks, birds and squirrels (mostly the chippies) dig them up, within minutes I'm sure, after I walk away, and eat them!

I also have a pack of Wildflower mix and a Cutting Garden mix that I hope to start this weekend in a new flower bed I'm developing...

After carefully putting all the seeds to bed with a little watering, I proudly stacked them on the top shelf of the new greenhouse and zipped the cover closed. Now comes the hard part --- WAITING ....

Up next: Trouble in the Pond!

Ever since I started with my gardening obsession, I've wanted a greenhouse. Of course, you can spend thousands of dollars on a nice walk-in greenhouse that you can use year-round. That's still I dream of mine ....

This year, though, I finally found an affordable way to have a little greenhouse all my own. I was perusing the isles at Lowe's about a month ago when I came upon a reasonable 5-ft. plastic greenhouse that was only $35! I had to have it.

So this past weekend, after another trip to Lowe's, I decided I'd better get the greenhouse out and put it to use. I had just bought some new perennials and figured it would be a good place to keep them until I was ready to plant. (No more trips to and from the garage, bringing out fragile annuals during the day and taking them back in at night because it was going to get too cold.)

I also finally got around to starting some seeds (yes, I know I'm very late) and this little greenhouse is just perfect for that task.

The greenhouse is made by Garden Treasures and it was a breeze to put together -- no tools needed. It's covered with a fitted plastic sleeve that zippers in the front, so you can open it up on hot days. As you can see my little helpers, Lexie and Bailey were quite interested in the new addition to the patio, giving it a good sniff-over.

So if you're interested in a little greenhouse gardening, check it out online. Just Google "greenhouse kits" and you'll get a huge array of choices. Or you can go to your local garden center and see if they have something that's right for you.

I'll get more into the seed-starting tomorrow -- and don't forget, after all yesterday's rain, tonight is the perfect time to pull those weeds!

Ok, as promised last week, today I'm writing about Dianthus, a very durable plant for your garden. Dianthus is a beautiful and hardy little flower that's sold in our zone as an annual. However, that's not totally true. I currently have a few Dianthus in my garden that are into their fourth season. While I can not classify it as a perennial, it does come back for a few years. So load up on it this season, and you can count on it coming back big and bright next year.

It comes in many varieties, the ones pictured here are the Sweet William variety featuring clusters of tiny flowers. But you can also get Dianthus with blooms as big as a silver dollar. Lots of pinks, from pale to magenta, solid or spreckled or just plain white. You can get a lot of color from this little plant. And, I've found that if I cut them back after the initial bloom, I can get another bloom before the end of summer. The clump will also spread the second year, and eventually trickle off to nothing over a few years, but at least you get a little more bang for your buck!

After finally getting some rain this weekend, I'm happy to report the Rain Chain I talked about last week is working well!

Now that we've had some rain, it's the perfect time to do that oh-so-fun gardening chore -- WEEDING!! Yes folks, it's time ... after a good rain is the easiest time to get those pesky weeds out. Pull 'em now -- or you'll be sorry later. As you can see, I've got plenty of dandelions sprouting up all over the gardens. (We get our lawn treated every year, so the dandies just pop up in the untreated flower beds!) Anyway, make sure you get that stubborn root or the dandies just come right back.

Here's a cheap little trick: For weeds and invading grass on paths, patios or decks, pour some vinegar on them. It's a lot cheaper than Round Up and it does just as well. You can also put the vinegar in a spray bottle and do it that way. Within days, you'll see the weeds turn brown and die!

Just don't use vinegar on weeds in your beds, because it will taint the soil. Sorry folks, pulling weeds by hand is still the best method. And use a trowel or garden claw for really deep roots. If you don't get the root, it'll just come right back.

Up next: I finally got my own little greenhouse, put it up this past weekend and can't wait to tell you about it!

Just a quick note to check out The Mercury today for our Lawn & Garden section. It's full of helpful tips for planning this year's garden and landscape. Also check out the local advertisers, because it's going to be a big weekend for nurseries and greenhouses.

And speaking of greenhouses, on our Berks County shopping pages in today's paper, there's a wonderful article on Glick's Greenhouses (my personal favorite) in Oley. Cider, Glick's furry mascot, is ready to ring you up at the register!

Also featured in this section is Spring Garden Farms in Birdsboro.

Remember to save some money this weekend for Monday's big Spring Bedding Plant Sale at the Western Center for Technical Studies in Limerick. It will feature their greenhouse grown annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets and flower pouches. The sale runs through May 10, with hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check it out.

And coming up on May 5, The Mercury will publish its Home & Garden magazine. So don't miss your copy!

Last night I was reminded of one of my least favorite gardening chores (yes, it's a chore) ... trimming! ... as in trimming the grass around all the hardscape in the yard. The term hardscape refers to any non-living garden materials used in construction of your "landscape," i.e.: pavers, retaining walls, patios, decks, gravel paths, boulders, arbors, gazebos, etc.

Anyway, to keep your landscape looking neat, after mowing you need to "trim" all the grass that grows close to the hardscape that the mower misses. So, if you're like me and have plenty of gardening beds that are rimmed with retaining walls, various stones, or even vinyl edging, resign yourself to the fact that you need to invest in a decent electric, battery-operated or even gas trimmer. It's definitely worth it. Trimming by hand can take lots of time, whereas, putting out the money now can mean cleaning up your landscape in only minutes. Mine takes about 20-30 minutes, which is bearable, I guess.

I happen to have a battery-operated Black & Decker trimmer which is nice because there's no cord to worry about. The gas powered trimmers are even better (and more expensive), but with the skyrocketing price of gas, I don't know if you want to go that way. Electric trimmers work well, but as I mentioned above, you do have to worry about lugging that extension cord around.

If you go the battery-operated route, I do recommend purchasing a second battery, the charge doesn't last long enough on one battery to do my whole yard. So it's nice to have two, so you can charge one while using the other. There's nothing more disappointing when performing this chore than running out of juice half way thru the task. Then having to wait another day to charge the battery and finish the job.

Up next, I'll be blogging about the durable Dianthus and why this is a must have for every garden in our area!

Hi and a Happy Earth Day to all! Today is an important day to stop and think of what we're doing to our environment. While doing this, resolve to make a change in your daily routine or at home that will benefit the environment.

Last night after getting home I decided in honor of the big day, to plant some of the free vegetable plants I got last week from the generous students at St. Aloysius School. If you read in The Mercury or on our website, last week the students made a salad for lunch out of vegetables they had grown from seed along with help from Strogus Greenhouses. Well, the plants grew so well and were in such abundance, that some of them made their way back to The Mercury for whoever wanted a good start to their vegetable garden. So, of course, I helped myself to some radishes, spinach and a couple of cherry tomato plants. Thanks a lot!

Ok, here's a few things you can do today and maybe afterward in honor of our environment. Instead of using paper cups today for your coffee/tea, how about using or buying a travel cup. Sure, it's plastic, but you can use it over and over again, instead of using a new paper cup everyday. And if you make coffee at work, save those used coffee grounds. You can mix them right into your garden beds. They're full of nutrients for the soil.

And if you absolutely have to have bottled water -- try using glass bottles. I'm not even going to get into the statistics of how many plastic bottles are used EVERY DAY in this country.

Recycle your copy/printer paper if you can and use the other side. Turn your computer off every day, it uses less energy that way. And, my parents' favorite, turn off any unnecessary lights if you're not in the room!

This past weekend, we installed a rain chain just off our patio to catch rain water. Here's how it works. The rain chain is installed at the end of the rain spouting, where it connects to the down spout. The chain hangs down into a catch basin, any kind of planter, bucket or barrell will do. When it rains, the water comes out of the spout and follows the chain into the catch basin. The fresh rain water can then be used to water the garden. Rain water is better than tap water for the garden, it doesn't contain all those additives from the treatment plant.

In addition to conserving water, the rain chain is an interesting focal point as well as a water feature when it's raining. It provides a pleasant trickling sound, depending on how hard it's raining. Now all we have to do is wait for some rain.

And last, but not least, why not rent "The 11th Hour" on DVD. This documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio will surely open your eyes to what we are doing to our environment. Or you can just tune in at 8 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel for "Naked Earth: Glacier Meltdown" for more information on the subject. So get out and do something "green" today!

In my garden, the surest sign that Spring has sprung, is when I deem the weather is good enough to bring out the lighthouse! This past weekend, the newly-refurbished lighthouse made its debut.

OK, if I can back it up a few years ... about five years ago, when my gardening habit started, my family surprised me with the lighthouse. I always wanted one, but never really had any place to put it. We had a beautiful Japanese cherry tree that was a big focal point in our yard and it had just died.

So, one thing led to another and I constructed a whole new garden and put the lighthouse where the tree used to be (spotlighted at night, of course). I love to see it out in the yard, it reminds me of the seashore.

Nothing lasts forever, and the lighthouse started showing wear from the elements. To tell the truth, we decided to sand and paint it over the 2006-2007 winter, but I only got around to it this past Easter!

Oh well, no harm done, and I think it looks great, back in its place of honor, overseeing the rest of the garden path. What do you think?

Update: My ambitious weekend plans went pretty well. The weather was great and the garden beds are all ready for planting! The compost was tended and turned (still nothing ready to spread on the beds yet, but that didn't stop my bichon Bailey from climbing into the bin and rolling in the fresh coffee grounds -- Ugh!) The patio is clean and the furniture is ready too.

I still didn't start my seeds yet, and I have a new plastic greenhouse to put together (don't get too excited, it's just a small thing I got at Lowe's last weekend).

I also got an email from Breck's confirming shipment of my perennial order! I can't wait!

The weather is going to be perfect this weekend for gardening!
Here's a few things to keep in mind (that I'm having a little trouble remembering myself):
If you have already planted some new perennials, they need to be watered at least every other day, unless we get some rain.
Pond filters need frequent cleaning at this time too, due to sludge build-up over the winter. Don't forget to clean out your pump too. Afterall, it didn't get much attention over the winter.
Check your pond temperature before feeding the fish. Temp should be around 50 degrees, at least. It's still a little early, and if you have plants in your pond, the fish will feed off them.
As for those pond plants, now's a good time to take them out and divide them if needed. Also, scrub off any algae that is starting to grow.
Clean your pond heater before packing it away for the summer. Make sure you get any barnacles off now, it'll only be more work in the fall.
Get the rest of the leaves and old mulch off those flower beds. Put them in the compost pile, along with a fresh helping of grass clippings. Most of you are going to need to mow your lawns this weekend.
Turn the compost pile and see what's going on at the bottom. Chances are, you'll have at least some usable compost to put on those freshly cleaned flower beds.
Now is also a good time to take down your bird feeders and give them a good cleaning. Use warm water and a little dish washing soap. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse, nobody wants to eat soapy birdseed! And make sure they're good and dry before filling with seed or it'll rot.
Clean up your decks and patios. You might even want to get out your furniture and clean it up Saturday.
(I seem to be pretty ambitious this weekend -- I'll let you know Monday what I actually get done.)

And after all your hard work, reward yourself by taking stock of all you have in the garden to look forward to this season. Remember to enjoy those spring bulbs -- daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and, one of my faves, blue bells. They won't be in bloom much longer.
Neither will the forsythias, cherry blossoms and azaleas. So take a walk and enjoy what your local nature has to offer.



Here's my wild forsythia. And in honor of the Pope's visit, see if you can spot the Cardinal! Yes, I know it really needs a trim -- best time for this is right after it blooms. Make sure to routinely trim yours, and it'll keep blooming at its best! I'll let you know how it goes with mine.
Now start making your to-do list and remember, don't think of it as work - gardening should be Fun!

An interesting press release came across my desk yesterday and I thought I would share it with you.

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Berks County will teach a series of three gardening classes at GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading.

"Backyard Composting" ($12) will be held April 28, followed by "Vegetable Gardening" ($5) on May 5 and "Container Gardening" ($5) on May 12. All classes are from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration with payment of class fees are required by April 25.

You can also attend all three classes for one fee of $20. Class size is limited to 20 students per class. For information call the Penn State Cooperative Extension at 610-378-1327.

I wish I could take credit for the container garden pictured above, but that one was purchased last year at Glick's Greenhouses on Fisher Mill Road in Oley.

Hey, I found a great website for gardening information and just wanted to share it with you.

If you're an avid gardener or just like to enjoy a few flowers in season, check out iVillage's Garden Web: www.gardenweb.com

Signing up for membership involves the usual name, address, email, birth date and password. But once you do, it'll open up a whole world of gardening info for you. And I do mean a whole world. You can chat with gardeners all over the globe as well as locally. There's also an email newsletter, promotions, coupons and special offers that you can have emailed to you.

So check it out, and remember, it's time to start getting out all your favorite tools from year's past and inspecting them to see if they need replacement. To steal from HGTV's 25 Greatest Landscaping Mistakes (hgtv.com/landscapemistakes) -- having the proper tools is so important when working your landscape. It cuts time, effort and benefits your plants as well.

For now, here's a shot of my Dutch Irises from last year, they're already off to a great start this season.

I should have mentioned this yesterday, but better late than never. We didn't actually have a frost last night in Douglassville, but the next few nights could get pretty cold.

So, if you've received any early perennial deliveries and planted them during last week's warm weather, you'd better cover them up tonight thru Thursday.

I planted those perennial geraniums last Thursday night and I'm happy to say that they're really starting to come up. So last night they needed covering.

All you need is a leftover pot from last year or a bucket. Actually any container will do. You can even use plastic trash bags lying across the plants. Nothing too heavy to crush the plant though. Just remember to uncover them early in the morning after the sun is up, or it'll get too hot under the covers!

Enjoy these red lillies from last summer.

This weekend, the weather is perfect for a walk. So take one, it's free, it's good for you and maybe you can get some new ideas for your garden.

By the way, this is Lexie, she's one of my favorite walking partners. She also likes to help in the garden. If I'm digging holes, she digs holes too. If I'm pulling weeds, she pulls too, although not always weeds ...

I've already been out walking around the neighborhood this weekend. It was nice to see all my neighbors, out and about, working in their yards, or just walking, like me.

Anyway, while you're out walking, take time to look at what others have done with their landscapes. Chances are you'll get some ideas and, if someone happens to be out, ask them about their garden. I bet they'll be happy to tell you all about it.

So, why are you still sitting at your computer reading this? -- Take A Walk!

In the Spring of 2004, after spending the winter watching HGTV and saying, "we could do that," I got the bright idea of eliminating our mowing time, by creating a garden path on the inside of the fence of around a quarter of our yard. Every year we've added a new garden area and/or feature.

My water gardening experience started that same year with a 20-gallon insert I bought as a fountain kit at Kmart. I knew nothing, except the sound of running water would create a more peaceful atmosphere in my "outdoor room."

We submerged the tub into a small triagular-shaped garden next to our patio and relaxed to the soothing sounds. I even placed floating plastic, can you believe it, plants in the water! Secretly knowing all along that this was my way of easing my family into what I really wanted -- a pond with real plants and fish.

Since everyone enjoyed the fountain -- especially the dogs, they thought this was their own private drinking fountain -- it wasn't hard to convince them that a small pond wouldn't be much trouble. Aside from digging the whole, it would practically take care of itself.

We got the smallest pond kit available (60 gallons) -- for those of you who "pond", it's the Tobago model -- and settled into pond life. We got four fancy goldfish fish and two plants with the kit. We expanded to eight fish and I bought a few more plants. Soon the pond looked like the photo above.

Everyone was really happy with the new feature. I took care of if, cleaning the filter once a week in the summer, and we even bought a floating heater for the winter to take care of our newest family members.

The following summer I discovered a small fish swimming in the previously mentioned 20-gallon fountain. We figured it got there off one of the floating plants that I routinely took out of the pond and put in the fountain to help keep it clear. We were so excited, figuring we must be doing something right, if the fish were happy enough to breed. Three more babies survived that summer (the other fish tend the eat the babies when they're very small, and since they have them by the hundreds, that's really not a bad thing).

The original fish were growing bigger and bigger (our biggest from nose-to-tail tip is almost a foot long), so we decided in Spring 2006, that we needed a bigger pond. We upgraded to the Trinidad, a 240-gallon preformed pond. And the fish couldn't be happier, and I do mean HAPPIER! Last summer they increased their "school" to over 30 fish!!

We also added a waterfall, more water plants and a whole lot more landscaping around it. Ponding is very addicting, but I couldn't recommend it more. It's great for kids too. They can learn a whole lot about the environment from a backyard pond. Like watching the frogs that show up every year. Where they come from, I don't know, but they always show up. Last year we had tons of tadpoles, but the fish ate most of them. (Thanks fish!) If you do it right, and take proper care, you'll have your own little ecosystem with prime seats right off your patio like we do.

Yes, it takes work, about an hour or so per week, maybe 1 1/2 during August, but it's very rewarding. As the season progresses, I'll get more into caring for the pond and pond life, specific plants, etc. But for now, here's some photos to enjoy, including how it looks right now.

This is how things look today -- but not for long!

Spring is the season of renewal, and it's also an exciting time for gardeners.
It's when you get that feeling where you can't wait to get your hands dirty and to see what's coming up, so to speak.
All over my gardens, things are starting to pop up, and I don't just mean the spring bulbs. Of course, I have my share of daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and tulips -- most leftover from Easter blooms of year's past. Yes, each year, I can't resist purchasing one or usually more Easter flowers just to brighten up things in the house. And speaking of Easter blooms, now's the time to get them into the ground. Don't expect them to bloom next spring though, most were forced to bloom early for Easter this year and will need a season to recuperate.
OK, now on to the perennials! The daylillies are sprouting green stems, the tall lillies are coming up, the grasses are off to a slow start, but they'll catch up, and my spring favorites, the bleeding hearts are shooting up rapidly! I've got green leaves on the butterfly bushes, and best of all, there're plants coming up that I can't remember what they are! It's always a fun surprise to see where I planted all those perennials I divided last fall ...
The hostas are spiking up, the astilbe and hydrangeas are breaking through and even inside the core of the ferns are little green pinwheels just waiting to unfurl in warmer weather. It looks like it's going to be a good season!

In anticipation, a few photos of what's to come in my garden this summer.








Up next I'll be getting into planting my new perennials (hopefully tonight) and starting seeds, as well as opening up the pond for spring. I just hooked up the filter this past weekend and the fish are looking good!

Just a quick note to everyone... HGTV had an interesting show on last night -- "25 Biggest Landscape Mistakes".

If you missed it, you can get the tips at HGTV.com/landscapemistakes

Check it out, it's pretty insightful if you're just starting out or even if, like me, you already have an established landscape. I must admit, I'm guilty of at least 7 of them. We'll get into that later ...

Oops, I misidentified one of my grasses in a previous blog last week. The Maiden Grass I claimed grew to have 12-ft. plumes was actually Ravena Grass. Maiden Grass doesn't get bigger than 5-6 ft. I don't have any Maiden Grasses, but the Ravena Grass in full plumage is truly a sight to behold!

Here it is from a previous year's garden. It's the tall grass to the immediate right of the lighthouse.

Two years ago I decided to start a compost pile. I got on the Internet and found a very helpful web site (though the address eludes me now). I printed a 32-page how-to guide and got very excited about doing something good for the environment.

I was surprised to find out how much useful waste I was just throwing away from my garden. So, that fall, I went to the local big box home improvement store and got chicken wire, yard stakes and some burlap and built a 3-sided compost bin.

My compost bin consists of "brown" and "green" materials only. This means that I don't add any animal products or waste, i.e., grease, fat, egg shells or "droppings," if you know what I mean. According to my guide, this will prevent rodents from being attracted to the pile and, for my neighbors' sake, any foul odor as well.

"Green" materials are basically still living or fresh matter: green plants and leaves (like used up plants from the vegetable garden), grass clippings, leftover vegetables and fruits, potato skins, used coffee grounds, etc. "Brown" matter is basically dead: brown leaves, the dried ornamental grasses I mentioned the other day, old mulch, etc.

When the time came to pull out dying/dead plants, I chopped up the bigger stems and loaded them up in the bin. Then I covered them with leaves vacuumed and chopped from the yard. Fresh lawn clippings were also loaded into the pile. My co-workers started saving their used coffee grounds for me, and I added ashes from our woodstove over the winter and various leftover veggies, fruits and potato skins. I also made sure to wet down the pile periodically and turn at least once a month over the winter to ensure deep brown, nutrient-loaded compost in the spring.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen as "naturally" as I'd hoped. Last spring all I got was some slowly decomposing leaves, and big chunks of potting soil that I had added after emptying my pots in the fall. Once again, I had to order a couple yards of fresh dirt to add to my flower beds.

So this past fall I was determined to get better results. I decided to get a little help in the form of powdered lyme and blood meal. According to the "Gardening Guy" on HGTV, adding these to your compost helps speed up the decomposing process.

Well, yesterday, I turned the compost pile only to find I'm pretty much in the same boat as last year. HELP!! Does anyone have a sure-fire way to ignite the decomposing process in a successful compost pile?

Stay tuned: Starting next week I'll be adding photos and helpful links, and if all goes well, video and slide shows. In the meantime, clean up those beds, scrub up your pots, and fix up any gardening tools that need help, planting time is on it's way!

This past weekend was perfect weather for getting out and doing some spring cleaning in the garden.
Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days, but I've been busy. Saturday and Sunday were spent cutting down ornamental grasses, gathering fallen tree limbs (cutting and bundling, some for kindling and the rest for trash pick-up today), raking old mulch and leaves from flower beds bursting with spring bulbs and early perennials, tending the compost pile, and cutting back the butterfly bushes. After spending the winter inside looking out the window, dreaming of summer's colorful blooms, it sure felt good to get back out and into the dirt!
I mentioned my ornamental grasses above, and in case you were thinking of adding some to your garden, I can't recommend them enough! These hardy plants are perfect for people without a green thumb. They thrive in just about any area - full sun, partial or shade. And they come in all different sizes and colors!
My personal faves are Zebra or Porcupine grass (mine get about 7 ft. tall, not counting the plumes), Maiden grass (plumes to 12 ft.), Fountain grass (3 ft.), Silver grass (3 ft.) and Japanese Blood grass (just over a foot). I'm hoping to get a new variety called Northern Lights grass this year. It is yellow-orange in color and gets about 2 feet tall. I'll be checking my local garden centers for this one!
Grasses look great in the summer, some change color in the fall, and they're even pretty in the winter. Some people cut back their grasses in the fall, but I like to leave them up until spring. They add a beach feel to my yard even when covered with snow.
And when I do finally cut them down, this year using hedge-clippers (thanks for the idea Dad), I save the taller ones. They get bundled up with twine and stored in the shed over the summer. When the time comes to decorate for fall, I get them out and use them like corn stalks for decorating the front of my house. They look great and it's another way to recycle yard refuse. In November, they get chopped up and put on the compost pile, only to be recycled back into the flower beds the next spring!
More on those butterfly bushes later.
A quick update: I decided to wait to plant my perennial geraniums until May, storing them in the vegetable crisper in my fridge. As you can see, the weather is just too predictable right now.