Fall is prime bulb planting time. And in that spirit, I encourage you to consider adding some onion to the flower garden. Ornamental onion, aka allium, that is. I'm nuts for alliums. Have been since I discovered them on a garden walk many years ago. Maybe it's because of the Dr. Seuss appeal they add. Like an orange on a toothpick (forgive the So I Married An Axe Murderer reference but it's a fitting description of their growth habit). All kidding aside, alliums have some serious chutzpah. Deer despise them, rabbits won't go near them and they return bigger and better every year without fail. What's not to like? With autumn on our doorsteps, it's a perfect time to think about what varieties you'll be adding to your garden. Hardy to zone 4, alliums come in an assortment of heights and ...
Help! My Cherry Tree Is Oozing!
I was warned by people a heck of a lot smarter, and far more experienced, than me to choose anything other than a purple leaf sand cherry. But the temptation was too great. Tall, dark and cheap. Sold! Ten years ago, my gardening brain was more like that of a teenage girl hell-bent on the bad boy. No one could dissuade me. I thought I could change him, mold him in such a way that would extend his notoriously short lifespan. Pests? What pests? His care would be so suffocatingly complete that he'd thrive and do exactly what I wanted. After all, isn't that what gardeners do? Force plants that would never cohabitate in the real world to mingle and look good doing it. In the cherry's case, I wanted nothing more than for him to add some dark foliage interest to the east entrance of my garden. For ...
A Rose and a Snifter of Bourbon
This giveaway is sponsored by Four Roses Bourbon and is open to gardeners in the contiguous United States. All opinions are my own. My husband is a bourbon guy. When I bought him a small whiskey aging barrel a few years ago, his face lit up like I'd given him a Ford Raptor. The truck's nowhere in the budget so I'm glad he's easy to please. Occasionally, I like sipping along with him, especially when the nights get colder. He laughs when I shudder after that first sip. It's a girly thing to do, I know. But it has a way of taking the chill out of a long Chicago winter. I'm hardly in a position to talk flavor profiles. People who can sniff or sip a glass of bourbon (or wine for that matter) and detect hints of caramel, vanilla, farm animals or whatever amaze me. My taste buds feel ...
My Mojito Mishap – Know Thy Mint
A few weeks ago, I learned (in a very public way) how NOT to make a mojito. When I'm prepping for a crowd, I like to mix the drink several hours before go time. It gives the ingredients plenty of time to mingle and get acquainted. With just five simple ingredients - mint, lime, rum, sugar and club soda - it's not rocket science. I've made pitchers and single servings, both with wonderfully refreshing results, until my friend hosted a BBQ. They had never had my favorite summertime drink so I decided to prepare a pitcher the night before and delight their taste buds. The mojito experience I gave them however, was akin to a dental cleaning. All it lacked was a polishing sponge and the mosquito-like whir of handheld power tools. I ruined their first mojito experience simply by using the ...
The Best Way to Keep Reblooming Daylilies Blooming
Like clockwork, Siloam Double Classic daylilies pop along the edge of my cottage garden. They're in one of the toughest spots. Dry, full sun and absolutely no wind protection. It isn't very forgiving. But they take it all, as though laughing in the face of adversity. By July 4th, they're exploding with fragrant fluffy pink blossoms that I wish would continue from May to October. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, but I can get four to five weeks out of them with this simple trick. Deadheading. It works especially well for reblooming varieties like the all-too-common Stella de Oro. No matter what type of daylily you have - early, mid or late-season blooming, reblooming, or not reblooming - all benefit from a pinch. It's also very calming to begin or end each day with this ...
What To Do When Half Your Rose of Sharon Bites the Dust
For the second year in a row, my rose of Sharon looks like crap. Not all of it, just the side closest to the patio. Which stinks because that's the side most visible when we're chilling. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and hoped that with just a little more time it might finally pop. Instead, she pooped. Threats didn't work either, despite the fact that they seemed to with the wisteria. Don't judge me. My mom gave me this as a 6-inch cutting about eight years ago. I see it and think of her. So when it took a turn for the worse last year, then again this year, I started considering possible causes and who I should blame for its demise. Since the dieback has only occurred on one side, I think it could be caused by too much snow cover. We shovel and pile it up along the edges ...
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