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

Lantana and Mondo Grass

Lantana (Verbenaceae) and Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) are other easy care, no fuss plants that makes fantastic showings all summer - and the Mondo Grass is fabulous during the winter - it's evergreen and never loses its beauty!

I have totally forgotten what the variety of this lavender Lantana is . . .I've  had it several years and at the time it was given to me, I wasn't keeping a data base of my plants . . .waaawaaa.

This particular variety doesn't get very tall, but it spreads far and wide! Some of these plants are 5' wide. Of course, each spring as it emerges I have to dig some out and toss into the woods . .or share with gardening friends. The deer also hate this plant and according to experts ALL parts of it are poisonous if ingested. Personally, I haven't seen any ill effects with my dogs or cats   .. but then I haven't seen them trying to ingest it either. One of the cats crawls up under it during the heat of summer but doesn't try to eat it.

One friend who lives in CO has had tremendous problems with deer,  so she took some of the Lantana and has had no problem (with deer) since. Of course, being in CO I have to send her some each year.

It's hardy from Zones 8 through 11, but, like the Pineapple Sage we talked about yesterday, it  will thrive in Zone 7 provided it's in a protected area. It takes the heat and drought without missing a beat. It is deciduous - which means it will die back after the first frost. I just use my hedge trimmers - cut it to the ground - and wait for next spring!

'Experts' recommend very little feeding for the Lantana; I find that mine do much better with a good helping of fertilizer when they emerge and another small dosage when they begin to bloom. As a general fertilizer, I use 13-13-13 on most plants . ..

Someone I know and love will appreciate this photo!


 The Mondo Grass you see on the left in the photo below was a gift from one of my special sisters, Patsy. She was moving from her home in Clayton County and gave me enough for a start. It has multiplied rapidly . .and I use it around the stepping stones in my Memory Garden. A friend from N. Ga added to my supply . .I now have enough to cover the earth! I have it in another garden and I'll share photos of it in a later post. Mondo Grass is another 'no care - no nonsense' plant. It LOVES abuse and is a 'walk on me' plant, but you'd be shocked at the people, even after I tell them how it loves abuse, that will walk around it!!! Oh, well - I appreciate their concern anyway!

It has little, bright blue berries . . almost insignificant unless you're looking for them, in the late winter and spring. The only thing I don't like about the Mondo Grass is that it propagates by underground runners and you have to keep on top of it during the growing season. But,  I loooove looking out my upstairs windows and seeing this beautiful show during the cold, drab, days of winter.

Below are native, Old-fashion Lantana.- the kind you see growing on banks and at the edge of the woods. But it's one of my favorites. Even though 'they' say it's poisonous, butterflies and bees flock to it endlessly! These particular Lantanas were given to me by a gardening friend from Alabama and it gets about 5' tall! Covered in blooms from early summer until frost! It also develops a seed that birds love . .again, I question the poisonousness (good word??) of this plant. The pink one growing beside it is also easy care and prolific!

This photo was taken a few years back and both plantes were over 5'  tall by the end of summer!



This is a closeup of the 'pink' one on the left. As you can see, the outer petals are yellow - but take a backkseat to the pink as the plant matures.



Pineapple Sage - Salvia elegans

Don't bother asking me why this is called "Pineapple Sage" because I have no idea. It smells nothing like pineapple to me - even though other people says it does! Maybe it's in the olfactory glands of the 'smellee'???!!

The Pineapple Sage is hardy from Zone 8 through 11. It can be grown in Zone 7 provided it's planted in a protected area and mulched over winter. And if you live in a colder zone, it also makes a great container plant, if you have a place to keep it from freezing over the winter.

I bought one plant about eight years and have shared with all my gardening friends that want it. I've placed it all over my gardens and it doesn't appear to be particular as to it's environment. It's happy in rich soil; sandy soil; rain; drought; full sun; part sun, you name it and this plants just thrives.  I divide it in the fall about every two years  to keep it in its designated area and to get new plants. I now have enough plants to make about a 30' 'hedge'. The hedge will be one of my spring projects.

It gets about 4.5 to 5 feet tall and is covered with these small, red blooms continuously from spring to frost. It's also evergreen therefore makes a showing all year.

Humming birds, bees, and butterflies literally love and flock to this plant. Whatever time of the day you go out, one or the other is feasting on these flowers - and the best part is that deer hate it.

It has no propensity to disease and insects do not bother it at all. The only care it takes is to plant and enjoy (don't you just LOVE it)! While it's very prolific, it's not invasive. It only multiplies through division. You can, however, make stem cuttings. But why bother since it multiplies so easily on its own?

It also has quite a few culinary uses. I've never tried any of them so I make no recommendations or guarantees. Just looking at it serves me well!

The leaves are used as a garnish in teas and punches. The flowers are used in jellies, fruit salads, and desserts.
They say that lining your pound cake pan with fresh Pineapple Sage leaves really enhances the flavor of the cake. I might give this a try during the holidays  . . If I do, I'll post the results.

To dry the leaves, cut the stems early in the morning, but after the dew dries.  Tie them together with old pantyhose strips - or whatever you have available. Then hang them upside down in a cool, dry, ventilated area. When dry, strip the leaves off the stems and store them an airtight container in a cool, dark location.

Read more: How to Cook With Pineapple Sage
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2386138_cook-pineapple-sage.html#ixzz14WjpJAJw

Apology

I began this blog not entirely sure that I wanted to do it. But, after much consideration this summer and fall I've decided that I truly want to maintain this blog.

While I am not opening it to the public, I am going to open it to friends and friends of friends. So if you know of anyone you feel might be interested, please feel free to invite them.

Thank you for your patience whle I tried to decide definitely if I want to do this!