Every year I've added a few more spring bulbs to my garden. Approximately 700 went in last year. It's a little bit more than a few, I know. My hands ached despite the fact that I planted them over a period of several weeks. I suppose that's the price one pays for beauty. But the pay off was sooooo worth it, especially when you see those first verdant tips peek through the frozen earth. Spring is coming! But to reap the benefits you have to think ahead. Like right now. Fall is prime time for getting those bulbs tucked in tight. Before I get into the how, when and where, here's a little inspiration from a garden I produced for Country Gardens magazine... I discovered this suburban Chicago garden several years ago. Now don't get discouraged. Like most truly exceptional gardens, this one ...
Add A Bit of Whimsy to the Garden with Alliums
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 ...
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