Birth Flowers

In recent months, two of my cousins had birth flowers tattooed on their arms in honor or memory of dear family members. Tattoos are not for me! Their actions, though, gave me an idea. Why not plant some different birth flowers next season, that match the months of special occasions going on in your life? […]

Part 2 of What Can I Still Plant in July

Many of you have had an ultra-busy summer! You’ve had to wait until late in July to get your garden started. I mentioned previously that the Cosmos Sensation would be a good flower to plant so late in the year, but like most gardeners, you want more variety. Read on. Here are four more suggestions […]

Native Plants to Minnesota

Each state in our great country provides different challenges to growing strong and beautiful flowers for the length of its growing season. Here are three of my favorites, native to Minnesota, that thrive in more extreme temperature swings.  Black-eyed Susan This is a perennial with bright yellow petals and a brownish-black center. Plant this one […]

How To Rid Your Garden of Common Ants

Many of us have mixed feelings toward a colony of ants. They can kill some plant pests that want to destroy our flowers and they can help aerate the soil around those flowers. They do, however, go after sections of leaves (to find food) and protect some insects like aphids that can do harm to […]

Over-watering Dangers With Your Potted Plants 

The months of July and August bring about some of our hottest, driest weather. Our natural tendency is to water, water, water our potted plants. Waterlogged soil can cause fungus to grow or the plants’ roots to start rotting. You may notice yellowing leaves, brown spots on leaves or really soggy soil before you become […]

The Case of the Invasive Plants

There are different types of unwanted weeds or plants that can take over your garden and choke out the beautiful flowers you’ve worked so hard to grow and nurture. The “just plain weeds” can be pulled and done away with easily. If you are dealing with an invasive plant, however, it can spread quickly and […]

Home Alone

It’s July. My Facebook page and Instagram feed are filling up with all sorts of exciting vacation pics from family and friends! Me? I’m home alone this summer, unable to keep up with the high cost of travel. That doesn’t mean, however, that I haven’t found ways to transform my flower garden into a bit […]

Z is for Zinnias

Zinnia Lilliput that is! What I like most about this annual growing flower is the surprise you get as they bloom. You never know what colors are going to sprout up. They may be pink or purple, red or white, orange or yellow! What a feeling to see such a wonderful burst of color in […]

Protection From the Hot Summer Sun

It’s already the middle of July! We’re experiencing some of the hottest days of the year and will continue to through much of August. Watering more frequently is a given, but it’s important to know how much and when. Also, there are a few other things you can do to protect your flowers when there […]

Midsummer Maintenance

Important reminders: These first few weeks in July are a great time to protect both your perennial and annual flowers by deadheading them. Deadheading removes those faded flowers and allows your plant to keep blooming. If you want to get perennials, like Shasta Daisies, blooming for a second time in the same season you can […]