Meet my OTHER Favorite Sister, Cassie

For someone who just knocked on the door and asked if she could live with us - Cassie has come a long way in establishing a home for herself.

She has even become one of my favorite sisters! She doesn't argue with me - she doesn't judge me - she doesn't care how dirty I get - she just loves me!

Each morning when she hears me come downstairs, she parks at the back door and waits for me to let her in and tell her good morning . . .then we chat for a few minutes before eating her breakfast.

When I'm outside gardening, she's right there beside me. When I'm resting, she waits at my feet. Sometimes, like my other favorite sisters, we're not always on the same page . .but I love her anyway!

Plant Names Pronunciation and Plant Descriptions

We all are shy at time about pronouncing the name of a particular plant. Sometimes, even intimidated!

Taunton Press has solved this problem for us - not only do they break the word down for us, they give us an audible pronunciation.

http://www.finegardening.com/pguide/pronunciation-guide-to-botanical-latin.aspx

When I visit this site for a particular pronunciation, I verbalize the word several times while I'm there and try to work it into conversation during the next few hours (even if I have to talk to myself).

Another problem we have sometimes is visualizing expectations as we read a plant's description on the label!! All those words are descriptive of how the plant performs . .but if you don't know what the words mean - how can you 'visualize'?? Problem solved!

http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/botanicalterms.html

Asparagus Fern

I'm not really big on houseplants, but I do have a few. My Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri') being one. While the Asparagus is not truly a fern, it does have some of fern's attributes.

The fern is naturally a drooping fern and makes a great hanging basket; however, I have mine in a pot and allow it to grow on a trellis.

It's hardy from Zones 9 through 11. Any area outside these zones, it makes a gorgeous houseplant. It grows from 2 to 6 feet tall. Mine is probably about 4 feet.  I have no special attachment to this plant except that I like it. It's blooming right now and by Christmas it will be loaded with red berries. A great addition to holiday decorating!

While it loves a lot of water it also likes to dry out between waterings.

 

Fall Photos

 Yesterday I took a little stroll around the property with my camera. Below are some of my favorite shots.

Guess this is probably the "Last Rose of Summer"". This is the Knockout Rose. It's never been one of my favorites, but one of my readers had some questions for me and that got me interested. And as with so many other curiousities, I've gone over board with the Knockout - including graduating to the yellow Knockout.
 

Boy I wish I had the equipment and supplies to decorate this baby for Christmas!

 This tree holds a lot of memories for me - and hopefully my two youngest chldren! We planted this Dogwood about 25 years ago. They were about 8 and 10 years old. It was February, cold, rainy, etc. I removed it from the woods while they were in school. When they came home we got it planted. They weren't really enthused, but it was a great 'memory maker'.

This Hickory shades the camping trailer of a friend who is also a dedicated deer hunter.

On my stroll, I saw this neat little Magnolia sapling. One of my favorite sisters is gonna take it to North Carolina next year and give it a permanent home.

Ahem - this is the prettiest site I saw on my stroll.

Same site - ddifferent angle.

 Just shooting the trees!

Tips to Ease/Streamline Your Gardening Chores

Used Coffee Grounds

Don't throw those coffee grounds into the trash or compost pile!

Use them inside instead! Ever watered your houseplants and seen little buggies flying from your plants? Get rid of these bugs by placing a layer of used (but cooled) coffee grounds on top of the soil . ..the grounds will eliminate these little creatures. Not only that as the grounds deteriorate (no smell) they provide good nutrients for the soil.

Also, you can let them cool - place them in an open container and set it inside your refrigerator! Those grounds will absorb any odor that might be lingering in your fridge - much, much better than baking soda or charcoal. I change the grounds in my fridge about every other day to ensure there's always an effective odor-eater in my fridge! The 'used' grounds go to the compost pile.

Epsom Salts

Adding Epsom Salts to your plants - whether indoors or out - is one of the best things you can do for them. The magnesium in the salts provides much needed nutrients to the soil. Simply add two tablespoons of Epsom Salts per gallon of water. Water plants as usual. This treatment is especially good for plants that are refusing to bloom and it's good for regenerating soils.

For more information: http://www.saltworks.us/gardening-with-epsom-salt.asp?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content={QueryString&utm_campaign=Epsom%2BSalt#houseplants

Roundup:

Got a tight place with desirable plants and you need to Roundup some undesirables that have managed to get intermingled? To solve this problem, I put the Roundup in a basting tube (the kind you use to baste fowl) then had hubby cut me a 'shield' - about 3' x 3' from thin plywood,  even though solid cardboard would work - anything will work as long as it's easy to handle and stable.

I place the shield to protect the desirables then hit the undesirables with a vengeance! A piece of paper towel is always in my pocket to dry off the tip of the basting tube before lifting it away. I'm careful to ensure Roundup doesn't get on the shield, but check it for possible contamination prior to lifting it.

Love hanging baskets but hate the mess they create? I only know of a few 'tricks'.

Following is a list of ways to conquer the problem . .I have them listed in order of my LEAST favorite method!

• Take them outside . . drench them and wait for them to drip before bringing them back inside.
• Set a drip pan under your basket for the water to drip into . .
• Slip a shower cap under the base of the basket and position as far up as possible. The rubber In the shower cap will hold it snug . .and when the soil has 'dripped' out, carefully remove the cap to avoid spills on your floor/carpet. If I've added water-soluble fertilizer to the water I'm using, I pour the drippings back into the watering can for later use.
• Or use icecubes. The cubes melt slowly - allowing time for absorption and NO drips! Just remember to keep the ice away from the plant stems.I like this method best because I can regulate the amount of water they get (10 of my icemakers cubes equals 1 cup water). I use a slow release fertilizer at the appropriate time . .and follow manufacturers instructions. Then as the plant begins to dry out, just place more ice cubes on the soil.

If you know of more tricks for eliminating this mess, please share.

Wildlife

Totally Amazing!

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/11/12/amazing-rescued-baby-hummingbird.aspx

Helleborus

The Christmas Rose, aka Lenten Rose, (Hellebore) is a wonderful addition to your shade garden. She gets her common names because she starts blooming around Christmas time and continues through Lent. She makes a good companion for ferns, lobelia, Heuchera, and just about any shade, moisture loving plant. While the Christmas Rose loves to stay moist, she doesn't like to stand in water.

She grows only 1.5 to 2' tall; and is evergreen, she is good for the border of your shade garden. Because of her unique shape and color she's always an eye-catcher in the garden.

The only thing I don't like about the Christmas Rose is that the blooms hang downward. You really can't appreciate the beauty of them without physically upturning their heads. Don't let the catalogs fool you - they all show the Christmas Rose without telling you this.

To get the full impact of this bloom, it needs to be planted in an elevated area; such as on top of a retaining wall or a hanging basket. Or maybe a window box  - providing the sun doesn't get to it.

Below are photos of one I recently divided,  placed in a hanging  basket and hung it right outside my kitchen  window. This way, during the cold, dark days of January and February I can brighten my day by enjoying these  beautiful flowers first thing in the morning!




See the little  pink tips emerging from the soil? That's the blooms.

 

And when those blooms open, I'll be able
to see them while I make coffee



If you want more information, go to http://www.hellebores.org/hellebores.html