Well, I can fool myself no longer, summer's really gone. We had our first frost Sunday night. And just like that, everything changes.
When I went home at lunch time yesterday, I took stock of the gardens. The elephant ears that were so big and bold, are now shriveled up and hanging over.


The tall and proud, purple Persian Shield (that I must have every season), is black and crinkled.


The banana plant (Musa Basjoo) that I coddled all summer, which was finally starting to shoot up in height, oddly, this past month, has withered and turned brown almost instantly.


And, as I turned on the bubbler for the fish, I noticed that all the food I had thrown in before leaving for work, was still floating on the top. Which means the water temp has dropped below 50 degrees (the fish stop eating when the water gets too cold).
End of Summer Bummer ... sigh

So now it's time to dig up all the elephant ear bulbs, caladiums, dahlias, cannas and other tender bulbs and rhizomes, preferably as soon as possible. Take off the dead foliage and carefully store them in a cool dark place until next spring.

You can still continue to divide perennials, just make sure to cover any tender new plantings on night's when frost is expected. Just until they have a chance to root in.

Pull out impatiens, roots, dirt and all, and throw them into the compost. This green matter and soil microorganisms are an excellent combination with dry tree leaves.

And for Pete's sake, get those spring bulbs into the ground (that goes for me too)! Times running out. The ground is still relatively warm, but we can't be sure for how long!

Don't forget to water new plantings!

Oh, and if you have one, now's the time to start last year's Christmas amaryllis. That is if you have kept it unwatered for six weeks to induced dormancy. This worked for me the first year. Last year I only got green foliage (no blooms), because I didn't have it out in the sun over the summer. And this year, having left in out on the patio for the season, it got to waterlogged and rotted. So, if you don't have time to go to the trouble, just head over to any nursery or big box garden center, and buy a new one. But get it started soon if you want a big beautiful bloom by Christmas!

What a beautiful weekend it was! Just perfect for working in the garden. However, that's not what I did. Even though I should have gotten up to my elbows in dirt, I decided to sit back by the pond with a couple books and magazines and enjoy the last days of summer.
Yes, aside from mowing the lawn, I ignored all the little chores waiting for me, and just enjoyed the sounds of the waterfall, the warmth of the sun and nature, in general.
And now I'm going to have to pay for it.

This morning started out OK, until I let the dogs out and saw that the waterfall (which looked fine all weekend) was now weakly trickling into the pond. Guess I should have cleaned the filter over the weekend. Of course, I barely leave myself enough time in the morning to get ready and get out the door on time for work, so there was absolutely no time to deal with this!

So I plugged in the bubbler, unplugged the waterfall pump and figured the fish would just have to fend for themselves until later. Yet another thing for my "to do" list. All summer long I was going to get around to buying a piece of pond liner to put underneath the waterfall to catch any backflow of water that might develop if the pump and/or filter got too clogged. Of course, I never got around to it. And every time this happens, I think, why do I keep putting this off?
My latest excuse is, "Well, it's coming to the end of the season and I'll be turning off the waterfall soon, so why bother this year. Let it go until next spring and deal with it then."
I also didn't get around to any fall decorating or planting. But I did manage to get some new bulbs last night. We trekked out to Lowe's before dinner yesterday for some household items and I was pleasantly surprised to find a great selection of bulbs just inside the main entrance.

As you may know, I've been eager to get some Allium bulbs and they had two kinds on hand. I opted for two Gladiator Alliums, at a price of $6.97 each! But hey, they get four feet tall and have 7-inch globe blooms. Then there was a smaller variety where 8 bulbs were offered for the same price. These only get to be about 2-ft. tall with smaller globes. Now, of course, I have to decide where to put them!
Oh well, I guess I have my work cut out for me tonight. And on top of all that, it'll be getting dark right after 7 p.m., so time's limited.
So while we still have a couple hours of light after work, time to think about dividing those perennials. It's the perfect time of year for that. More on this later ...

Ok, I admit it -- I'm a sucker for Salvia! This maintenance-free plant gets me every time. I've always had some variety in my garden and this year is no different.

There are over 900 varieties on record of Salvia, and it's available as both perennial and annual.

Perennial salvia, also known as sage (pictured above), is available in several cultivars, grown for the summer show of violet-purple spikes of bloom on plants that reach 2 to 3 feet tall. The cultivar "May Night" is distinguished by having dark violet-blue flower spikes on a more dwarf plant, reaching about 18 to 24 inches tall. I happen to have three of these and have transplanted them a few times over the years. They always come back bigger and better than before. If it gets too tall, cut it back in midsummer. The plant will come back bushier with more blooms in the fall. It likes full sun to partial shade.

The annual salvias come in different colors such as red, lavendar, coral and even white. It also comes in different sizes and leaf shapes. This hardy plant often reseeds itself. As seen here, it's coming up all over my garden path even though I haven't planted any new annual salvias in over three years.

My favorite annual specimens are the Lady in Red and the Coral Nymph, which is a salmon and white bicolor on compact plants. These uniform heat and drought-tolerant plants reach 2-ft. tall and bloom prolifically.

So if you're looking for something that needs no tending to at all, go for the Salvias, in any variety. You can't go wrong.

Enjoy this photo of my first Sunflower of the season. It just opened yesterday right in the middle of my new cutting garden. Everything's coming up really nicely and will be ready to make some nice arrangements for in the house.

Next up, the veggie garden update -- how's your veggie garden growing? Another look at those Earth Boxes, which are doing very well, by the way. And how about a couple of zucchini recipes, now that we are getting swamped with them?

OK, I'm back from vacation, and I'm always amazed at how much my garden seems to grow while I'm away.
I spend time every day tending to various aspects of my garden. I'm happy to do it. It's very therapeutic and I enjoy seeing the plants grow and bloom or produce veggies. But sometimes it's like watching paint dry ...
Before I go on vacation, I always trim things up, make sure the last plants are planted, finally finish mulching and water and fertilize everything again.
Although every vacation is a great getaway, there's no place like home, and I look forward to seeing what's been happening in the garden. And I'm never disappointed. Everything seems to have grown a lot this time ... the pond's overcome with water hyacinths and lillypads. (I'm happy to report that the waterfall's just fine.)
My dad's on "pond watch" while I'm away, feeding the fish, and making sure things runs smoothly. So he couldn't help himself and already cleaned the new waterfall filter twice. "You can't believe how much easier it is than the old filter," he told me over the phone. "Dad, the new filter's not supposed to need cleaning for a couple of weeks," I said.
"Yeah, but I just wanted to see how difficult it was and it's not at all!" he gleamed.
The ornamental grass has gotten taller. New spikes are coming out of the top of the ravena grasses. The butterfly bushes are starting to bloom. The hydrangeas are blooming. The annual salvias have returned among the stones in the path. I haven't planted annual salvias in at least three years, but they must re-seed themselves and keep coming back each year. I even have petunias coming up through the bricks in the patio. They must have re-seeded out of the planter pots I had there last year. That's the "cool" thing about a mild winter ... sometimes annuals come back.
And it's time to prune my wave petunias, a chore that I don't look forward too. Everything I read says that it's perfectly fine to cut them back. It promotes more blooms. But that hasn't exactly been my luck over the years. They are definitely getting too leggy now, but I know once I cut them back it'll be weeks before they bloom again. I just can't win with them!
On a brighter note, the first veggies have been harvested out of the garden ... we have a few cherry tomatoes, the first Early Girl tomato, four zucchini and six cucumbers! Yes, I love to have fresh vegetables in the summer. Soon we'll be making our own bruschetta and cucumber salad. I already made some zucchini bread, and we recently dined on zucchini "crab" cakes.
Before leaving on vacation, I declared that my 2008 Planting Season was officially over ... I spoke too soon. I bought a few new plants on vacation, and yesterday I had to stop at Lowe's to get gravel for a new pond plant I bought ... and there by the check out stood racks of plants marked "Clearance." Well, you know, I couldn't pass that by without a look. So I got some elephant ears ($1.99), a lonely lime green hosta ($1.49), lantana ($2.49) and a few more geraniums (all under $1), because, you know, I can't pass up a bargain.
Remember, there's still a lot of good stock out there, just be sure to check the roots before buying. And when planting these late buys, definitely break up the root ball so the roots don't continue growing in the shape of the pot they've been kept in.
So now that I'm back, there's lots to share ... I tell you about the new plants I got at Rehoboth Beach, plus the unexpected visitor on one of them, my lillies, salvias, ferns, hostas, the parrot boat and, best of all, the triumphant return of Flamingos to my nighttime landscape!

OK, you've made your plant selections, carefully chose the right spot, gently planted, mulched, fertilized and watered and ........ NOTHING'S HAPPENING!!
Yes, this can be very frustrating, but unfortunately, there's nothing more we can do except to wait until the evening temperatures warm up. Plants do most of their growing overnight, just as our bodies replenish while we sleep. And even though Sunday will be June 1, we're again having a cold spring (I know, we'll all be complaining soon enough when the average temp is 90 degrees). As long as everything stays green, continue to water and, eventually when the temp goes up, things will grow!
And while you're waiting, take advantage of the many sales being offered now that the May rush for planting is over. There's plenty of surplus at nurseries, greenhouses and garden centers so go ahead and check it out. This is the time to get that certain plant you weren't sure would do well in your garden, now that it's discounted.
Today begins Glick's Greenhouses (in Oley) sale. 3-, 4- and 6-packs of flowers and veggies will be half price. Hanging baskets, one-quart perennials and wave petunia's will all be discounted as well until June 30.
And if you go, take the time to cross the street and check out Manatawny Creek Daylillies. They have the finest and most diverse selection of daylillies you've ever seen. And the prices are right too, depending on whether or not it is a registered plant. I bought six different varieties there over the last two years and they've thrived. And the colors are fantastic. Some are even proven show winners!

This weekend I hope to get around to some much needed pond maintenance. I'm starting to have an algae problem, and we still need to install the new waterfall. I also plan to get my Earth Boxes planted as well --- what are Earth Boxes you ask? Well, you'll have to wait until next week to find out ...

Today, I thought I'd let you in on a little secret of mine ... maybe some of you already know about it.

It's called Spray-N-Grow Micronutrient Concentrate and what a difference it makes in the garden!

Actually, it wasn't until my mom pointed out earlier this season, that I even realized the difference. She had bought me some of this product about three years ago, when I was still just starting out with my gardening obsession. She had seen it on QVC and couldn't wait to tell me all about how it enhances flowers, vegetable plants and even shrubs. I said Ok, I'd try it, and proceeded that first summer to regularly apply it once a week.

Well, you can judge by the photos yourself -- the first one is WITH Spray-N-Grow and the second is from last summer, when I decided to switch to Miracle-Gro's new spray nozzle/bottle combination.



Check out the difference in the impatiens. I just figured it was because last year was so poor with rainfall, but Mom pointed out around August that maybe it was because I'd switched to something else. And Mother always knows best!

That was good enough for me! We went to qvc.com immediately and ordered a new batch of Spray-N-Grow! And I highly recommend it.

All you do is mix one ounce of solution in one gallon of warm water; let stand for 15 minutes or until the liquid turns a tannish/amber color, then spray plants. Make sure you mix only enough to apply to plants within 4-6 hours. It's organic and nontoxic.

I use a 32-oz. plastic spray bottle and add 2 tsps. of Spray-N-Grow. You can apply as little as once a month or once a week for biggest results (I apply once a week).

It cost about $25 for a 20-oz. bottle, $19.48 plus $5.22 shipping/handling (and don't forget tax for PA residents).


A couple of other little tips: For those of you, like me, who might have trouble with weeds/grass coming up through garden paths, brick patios or walkways -- instead of buying expensive weed killer, just use vinegar. Yes, plain old white vinegar. You can put it in a spray bottle (not the same one you use for Spray-N-Grow!) or just pour it from the bottle. In a day or two, the weeds/grass will dry up and die.

And for all the little critters who like to taste all our new plantings -- cayenne pepper! It works great and you can usually buy it at the dollar store. Just sprinkle on the plant or on the ground around it. Once they get a taste of that, they won't come back!


And, for those of you who wanted to look online for directions to the Oley Valley Perennials' Open House Sales, the correct address is 675 Covered Bridge Road, Oley, PA 19547. See you there!

Today I was all ready to tell you about how to care for your daffodils after they're done blooming. I was going to share Martha Stewart's braiding method that I've been using for a couple years that helps keep your garden looking nice while the daffodil foliage fades away. Or maybe the bend and tie method, sometimes made easier by just using rubberbands ...

I'm a little behind at home with my own daffs; I haven't taken the time to braid them yet so I don't have any current photos. So I went to the Internet to look for some usable photos to accompany this blog entry.

While searching "daffodil braided foliage," I came across a bunch of warnings about this technique. (So, Martha doesn't know everything afterall ...)

According to Barbara Martin's garden tips on flowergardens.suite101.com, "You may hear or read suggestions for braiding the daffodil leaves or bundling them up with rubber bands and who knows what else, but it doesn't help the bulbs at all to do this and it is a lot of extra work for the gardener, too ... give yourself -- and your daffodils -- a break: Leave the leaves alone!"

"Daffodil foliage needs the sun to make and store energy this year for next year's flower. That concept is alien and hard to accept by some. However, if one follows the daffodil bulb growth, a dissected bulb clearly shows next year's flowers developed in this year's bulbs. It is for that reason that the theory of letting the folliage die backnaturally is so strongly defended," writes Clay Higgins on the same web site.

Easier said than done. I know, I know, who wants to look at those long green leaves now when it's time for all those pretty, colorful annuals? Well, I'm going to give it a shot this year, since it was an especially good year for my daffs! I want to do everything I can to ensure a good showing for next year, even though I had to move my double daffodils to make room for those dwarf rhodies I showed the other day.

Suggestions for "living with" the faded daffs include: Hiding the foliage with taller perennials and planting colorful annuals in front to take the eye away from all that green. At least it will save me some time not having to braid all that foliage this year.

Ok, you've heard of writer's block right? Well, I'm suffering from a case of gardener's block.

It's nothing severe, it seems to always strike this time of year. I'm sure some of you have suffered the same symptoms ... You've gone to your favorite greenhouse/nursery, perused the aisles for the perfect plants, made your selections, purchased the items, carefully drove home, unloaded your stock, placed them on the deck/patio and marveled at your score. Now comes the hard part -- exactly where to put everything!

I love when I first bring all my new plants in to their new home. I place all the containers on my back patio (this year, in the new greenhouse) and look at all the pretty colors. Then I sit and look at the various planting gardens and try to decide which goes where ... and that's when the "block" comes into play. So many new things to plant, so many open spaces, so many colors, perennials, annuals, seedlings --- AAAARRRGGHH!!

By rights, perennials should be the first to go in the dirt, since (with any luck) they'll occupy the same spot for years to come. Then the annuals, always making sure to plant up front because they provide the most color throughout the summer. Always try to take into account that perennials from prior years are just coming up now and some will get quite tall and block out the sun for the other plants. This is a hard one to remember, because a large empty spot may not be such a great place to put a plant that requires "full sun." Especially when the ornamental grasses are only about 2 feet tall right now and will go on to tower at about 8-12 feet, blocking the sun and any light rain from the new plant. (There's a reason you didn't plant anything there last year ...)

Oh well, I'm feeling overwhelmed right now, but I'll get thru it -- I always do. At least one thing's nice for now -- I can easily water everything right on the patio, it's all in one spot. I don't have to roll out the 150-ft. hose yet!

Anyway, the lovely little plant appearing in the blog today is the dwarf rhododendron I mentioned yesterday. Isn't it cute! I first saw it in my neighbors' yard and had to know where they got it. They got it from Lowe's about a month ago and, after checking for the last 3 weeks, I finally spotted some there last Saturday.

It's officially called a Purple Gem Rhododendron and it'll get about 2-ft. tall. It's described as having deep violet blooms mid-Spring to early-Summer with tiny, dense evergreen foliage and a low-mounded growth habit. It's an "excellent border plant," and enjoys morning sunlight.

Coming up: What to do with those faded daffodils and tulips.

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!

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.

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!

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!

With the temperature reaching 60 degrees yesterday (Wednesday), it sure was a great day to spend time outside! Fortunately, I live close enough to work to be able to go home for lunch (and let the dogs out). While pulling up the driveway, I was welcomed by a familiar face I haven't seen for awhile. One of the many chipmunks that call my yard home was sitting on the window sill.

I'm not only plant and pond friendly, I also like to help out my local wildlife whenever possible. So it was nice to see Chippy, after not seeing him since last November. We have had a large hawk in the area and I was afraid that while the squirrels seem to be thriving, maybe our chippies had met a terrible fate.

Yes, I know that chipmunks, moles and the like can reek havoc on a garden. But I still feel that it's their world too. So, I put out birdseed, though the squirrels and chippies tend to get the majority of it. I also put out corn, which is why I can never get any to grow in the summer (the critters tend to dig it up as soon as I turn my back).

The pluses outweigh the minuses: I love to sit out on the patio in the summer and watch the chippies run along our split rail fence to get to the seed. When they run across the lawn their little tails stand straight up, and every now and then, one will wander onto the patio, not realizing that you're there. Only to be startled when you make a move!



Also, while I've never had any luck growing fancy sunflowers (as stated above, the critters dig up and eat the seeds), the chippies have helped me out. They take great mouthfuls of the black oil sunflower seeds put out for the birds, and then burry them throughout the garden, not realizing that if left there awhile, they will sprout. Each year I have had 6- to 7-foot sunflowers, that I never planted, in places I would have never thought to plant them. And they were beautiful, thanks chippy!



Unfortunately I learned the hard way that ponds and water fountains are not always safe for our critters. More than once I fished out a drowned chippy or hapless bird. Since then I make sure I have stones or bricks piled up to the edge so they can find a way out.



The squirrels, of course, provide endless entertainment for my dogs. I have a 13- almost 14-year-old Maltese who doesn't act his age at all and two Bichon Frises who all love to chase squirrels!



And soon the rabbits will be out in droves! Each year we have at least one nest that I try to find before the dogs do. Usually a small wire garden fence around the hole will keep the dogs out, so that mom can get back and forth to feed the babies.



I take it as a great compliment that the animals find my garden as enticing as I do and hope they continue to come back each year.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! Now it's time to start thinking about this year's crop of colorful blooms.
First, just a little background info, aside from my profile, to introduce myself. I've been a garden/pond enthusiast for about five years now and hope to share some of my experience with anyone who wants to read it. Hopefully some of you can pass on your tried and true tips to me and the rest of our readers. I live in Douglassville, Pa., and, after watching hours and hours of HGTV (Home & Garden), I decided I could do some landscaping around the yard. Every year it seems to grow and grow, and I don't mean just the flowers! Over the years we've (me and my poor family) added an in ground fountain, a fish pond (followed two years later by a much larger replacement pond), a gravel path with lush gardens alongside it, new landscape lighting (electric as well as solar), countless paving and wall stones, a compost bin, more gravel, more dirt, more mulch, more plants -- you get the picture. Now, what started as a small outdoor project to add some interest to the yard has become my April-October obsession!
Anyway, now that the days are getting longer and, hopefully, the weather getting warmer, it's time to get on with this year's prospects. So feel free to let me know what you're getting ready for this season and I'll be checking back in to let you know what's happening in my garden. I will be including some photos from past seasons to get started until this year's blooms are ready for publication!