Did you ever wonder what goes on in your garden when your back is turned? Do you suspect there is a secret life out there that you don’t quite know about or understand?I’ve written before about the mythical life of garden fairies and sprites. I suspect that at the end of the day in the twilight, just as the last bit of light from the day disappears, they begin to stir and prepare for a night of general mischief and fun. I try to provide a few plants I think the garden fairies will like, such as … [Read more...] about Secret Life in the Garden
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May Dreams Gardens
Garden Bloggers’ Book Club – Seeds of Ideas
I might indeed have opened a can of worms as noted by Garden Rant when I disagreed with Henry Mitchell, in “The Essential Earthman” in regards to Lombardy Poplar trees. They asked a good question: “does his work stand the test of time”. I’m thinking about my answer to that question…In the meantime, let me tell you that Henry Mitchell has convinced me to try something new, growing Iris reticulata (Japanese Iris) from seed.He made growing Iris from seed sound so simple and rewarding when he … [Read more...] about Garden Bloggers’ Book Club – Seeds of Ideas
The Truth about Burning Bush
It is easy to be quite impressed with the Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) at this time of year, when its best feature, its fall foliage, is displayed in full glory. At first glance, especially in its little one gallon container in the nursery, it appears to be a nice, basic shrub that provides brilliant red fall foliage. But there are some traits of this shrub that every gardener needs to be aware of before they rush out to get one or more for their own garden. The Burning Bush is a bit over … [Read more...] about The Truth about Burning Bush
Fall Foliage Report Boston and Indy
Several years ago, maybe a dozen or so, I had to go to Boston to attend a work-related conference. I remember we had some additional time on Sunday, the day before the conference started, and so I found myself browsing in a local bookstore. When I could not find the gardening book section (isn’t that where you go first in a bookstore?), I asked someone to direct me to it.I will never forget the reply. “We don’t have a gardening book section because people around here don’t do much gardening.”I … [Read more...] about Fall Foliage Report Boston and Indy
When the Frost is on the Punkin
When I work around the yard in the fall, often times I think over and over of the 1st line of the poem “When the Frost is on the Punkin” written by the Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!”“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!”“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!”Translation “when there is frost on the pumpkin and all the corn is gathered and tied together out in the fields”.It’s … [Read more...] about When the Frost is on the Punkin
Black Gold
If someone invited me to their garden and asked me to give them some advice, I would first look for their compost bins. And, if I didn’t find any compost bins, I would immediately set about helping the gardener find a place to put compost. Regardless of the style or type of garden, there has to be a little corner or hidden area where one can put a compost bin or two. That’s my advice. I myself prefer to have three compost bins. I fill one, then the other, then a third throughout the season. I … [Read more...] about Black Gold
