Jack Frost is knocking on the Door to your Garden

 
 Before Jack Frost comes knocking at your garden door,take a few minutes to make notes on what worked in your garden this year (or didn't) and start a plan for next year.
Its time now to plant spring bulbs such as,tulips,jonquils,hyacinths.....
You can also dig up your geraniums and keep them in a frost free spot(I put mine in an unheated cellar) and pot them up late next winter.
Don't forget to pot up your herbs,rosemary and  basil are a couple I have luck with indoors.
Also, I bring inside my Mandevilla and bougainvillea they go fairly dormant over the winter,but will rejuvenate once they go outside next spring.

 

Fall Decorating Ideas Easy and Inexpensive

Fall decorating ideas.Easy and inexpensive ideas to decorate your home for fall.Starting outside your home to brighten your neighborhood and greet your guests.
Rejuvenate your summer pots by replacing spent annuals with garden mums,pansies,kale and grasses.You could also pot up a bushel basket, which says welcome to the harvest season.
How about an autumn garden flag to greet your neighbors."Fall Still Life" by Cindy Ray and produced by Evergreen Enterprises (pictured) is sure to please.
Maybe about a new fall wreath for your front door?
A new autumn welcome mat and a few pumpkins will complete the fall decorating look for a very few dollars and put a smile on your face.

Dogwoods in bloom at the Morton Arboretum

Spring came early this year to the Midwest. I was very fortunate to be able to visit the Morton Arboretum in late April on a beautiful weekday.The flowering dogwoods were spectacular, as were the redbud trees that were reflected in Lake Marmo.
The fragrance garden is indescribable,with lily of the valley and stock among other fragrant bloomers, you must experience the scents and colors for yourself! It is a wonderful way to spend a day!

Miracle Geraniums...later

Early February is the time to bring your geraniums up from the basement if you saved them in the fall from the frost.
Every September I pull up my geraniums from the pots or ground and place them in a paper bag and put them in the cellar which is about 50 degrees or so.
They do look extremely ugly and hopeless.I get out some 4 inch pots add some potting soil,trim up the geraniums, plant them and add water and hope.Within a couple of weeks they will start showing some green.Give them plenty of light but keep them cool.Just itching to start some pansies,but they won't be happy in the house,its too warm.Maybe later this month I'll try.