Springtime cometh

Now that the winter season is almost over, it's time to look forward to those spring flowers, not the houseplants like the Christmas cacti. Don't get me wrong, they are beautiful, but spring adds that breath of fresh air and knowing that wonderful warmth will soon follow.

Right now my landscape is drab and brown from the cold winter. I am looking forward to seeing the pops of fresh and bright colors of those springtime flowers. Let's see what pops up first and bursts into bloom!

Wintertime and Our Gardens, Homes, Barns, Farms

Think about how your gardens will look in your winter season.

In my area we just got more than 16 inches of snow. Some places have a scant dusting, others have warm and even tropical temperatures in the winter.

Pick varieties of plants that will survive in your areas. Every year you may come across a plant that is borderline for your hardiness zone. If you really love it, give it a try. Only buy one to see how it reacts to the temperature, humidity, and waterfall.

Even within your yard you can find little micro-climates to nestle sensitive plants in. There could be stones that hold the heat in the winter from the sun or absorb the heat in the summer. An area could be shaded from the sun by trees, plants, walls, or buildings to allow more heat sensitive plants that can tolerate shade; these same items can protect plants from cold winter winds and reduce the windburn.

Put in evergreens and plants with interesting bark and fruit for the areas with very cold and snowy winters. In the warmer seasons, the evergreens can be used as a great backdrop for brightly colored annuals or perennials.

In the more tropical areas, your gardens are more stable year-round. I am not familiar with these areas, but you sure have such beautiful flowers with amazing colors to make your gardens stand out so well.

This is about what my garden looks like a few days ago with less snow. Now it is getting MUCH deeper.

Let me know what your gardens look like. You can even email me at Anne@SuperStarGardening.com.

Ever'green' trees or not...

Well this is certainly not a 'green' tree -color wise or conservation/nature wise! But it surely gets your attention.

My tree is green in color. Unfortunately this year it has to be artificial; I have had mine for many years now.; I use it when circumstances don't allow me to get a real tree. I would so much more want a beautiful tree to replant outdoors, but this year it just won't work. I am definitely making plans for a real green tree next year. I just to come indoors and smell the aromatic fir or pine scent wafting in the air.

I do have just the place to plant several trees in up-coming years.

I am looking to start a hedgerow with special bushes dedicated to a variety of berries for the birds for their winter food. In back of them I thought that some evergreens would look great while providing a wind break from the winter's freezing winds. This windbreak would be much appreciated by the plants, birds, and other little critters. A brush pile in that area would make sense too. I hope that everyone enjoys their holidays!

What Kinds Of Plants Are In Your Window Boxes...

Yes. What kinds of plants are in your window boxes?

Here I have purple verbena, variegated flowering maple, and Wave petunias in a window box which is on my doorway railing trailing down over the edge. I planted some with beets and kale because my ground has so many stones in it; they call it boney gravel. Gravel you think of as small stones...NO, this is from small ones up to two feet across! Lots of the big ones.

The beets are getting to the right size to pick. I think I will put in more kale seeds because that will last into the frosts. We tend to get many early frosts here. That seems to be changing now. The USDA even has changed our hardiness zone classification from a 4 to a 5. I am still a little wary of putting out too many things that might get hit hard by the really low temperatures. I will wait at least another year before I test that.

I have marigolds and basil and thyme in another window box. I am going to get a few more herbs started before it gets too close to fall; time seems to be moving fast this year. I might as well go out and plant more seeds now while I am thinking of it.

Are you Outside Gardening And Need Relief From Those Nasty Bugs, Try This…

I  found these two mixtures to help repel  insects , so I do not get bitten. The other day I forgot to spray something on me and I now have more than thirty bites to show for it. It was in the evening and they all seemed to descend at once!

Check this out:

What is a hot air balloon doing in this blog?

Are you thinking "What is a hot air balloon doing in this blog?"

Well, yes. There it is. Sometimes when we are out gardening we see amazing things!

As the summer progresses, many folks launch their own balloons usually early in the day. At least that is when I have seen the most of them. Usually I have looked up alerted by just an unusual movement from where there shouldn't be any or that strange 'whoosh' sound made by turning the gas on. There will be more hot air balloon festivals coming up too. These usually have launches in the morning from 4:30 am to 9 am, and end the day with launches in the early evening until about 7 pm. Some festivals have times at dusk to 'light up' the balloons. This is amazing to see.

Get out in your garden to dig some dirt or weed or water your plants...but keep an eye to the sky. Sometimes you will be astonished at what you might see.

Annuals versus Perennials .....oh, which one is better...

Annuals versus Perennials ...oh, which one is better?

Annuals are so great because either you can just go out and buy some and you have instant color for almost the rest of the growing season if you care for them correctly. You do want to think a bit about how the colors complement or contrast with each other. Also how the heights vary from the front to the back of your garden beds so you do not hide the shorter plants. The height and colors you have work through with your  perennials too.

Perennials need to have planning involved so that the timing of their blooming periods overlap yet follow one another to achieve some color in your garden throughout the growing season. You have to realize that there will be areas of just green spaces where some perennials will either be coming into bloom or going dormant. To offset all the green, you can take into effect the foliage of your perennials. This means pick some gray greens like silver mound, chartreuse, or a variegated type, or you could pick different leaf styles like a finely cut fern leaf, a heavy waxy sedum leaf, a wooly lamb's ear leaf, or spiky type yucca spears and so on.

Money-wise annuals are cheaper for one year, but over the long haul you will be shelling out money each year, so that cost will mount up. Perennials will cost more at the beginning, but after you are all set, you will only have to care for them and enjoy the view.

I think that there is a bit of a compromise and use the best of both worlds. Put in as many as you can afford with the perennials, then fill in where you need color with the annuals.

Do what works well for you. Most of all enjoy your garden because that is what is important.