Winter Aconite Blooms For Valentine’s Day

Amazing, just amazing. Its February 14th. I love in Chicagoland. That’s zone 5, or maybe 6 depending on who you talk to. And here I am with a whole buncha flowers blooming in my front yard! Its been such a warm winter that they are even earlier than usual.

Oh, there are lots more, . . . → Read More: Winter Aconite Blooms For Valentine’s Day

Which Dahlia Bloomed The Most?

This year was definitely a competition for the dahlia in our yard that bloomed the most. There were a lot of contenders. As you can see, we did not lack for blooms this year. If you grew dahlias and they were less than magnificent, worry not. Some years are good and some aren’t. For . . . → Read More: Which Dahlia Bloomed The Most?

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Dahlia Filled Basket

Yes! Its time for our dahlias to take center stage. I spoke for the Potawatomie Garden Club in St. Charles and made 6 vases of dahlias to share with them. Finally, I am out in my garden with the preverbal basket gathering blooms.

Of course, later in the day, it was back to . . . → Read More: A Tisket, A Tasket, A Dahlia Filled Basket

The Abundance We Have Been Waiting For

It’s here!! If my garden were a tv channel, this would be prime time during sweeps week. The best of the best of the best out back for our viewing pleasure during breakfast. Except for this one bountiful basket, it’s out front. That one is compliments of the Elk Grove Garden Club’s raffle in . . . → Read More: The Abundance We Have Been Waiting For

Nightshade – Obnoxious Weed

Its True Confession time – I’ve been fooled. The deceiver’s name is Nightshade, and for a long time I thought he was a good guy. He hid his true self behind the beauty of a trellised rose bush and I was misled. Deceived into thinking I was lucky enough to have a clematis on . . . → Read More: Nightshade – Obnoxious Weed

Time To Trim The Beauty Berry Bush

I am not the person who is out there in autumn cutting everything back. Nope, not me. I do what I have to in the autumn and leave the rest for the snow to land on. Given the choice, I am way more anxious to get out in my garden for cleanup when we . . . → Read More: Time To Trim The Beauty Berry Bush

More Dahlias

It’s inevitable – we are bound to buy more dahlias. Yay! Mike will grow 200 plants from our 30 tubers and plant 75 in our yard. You would think that would be enough. But no, I was on the internet today buying more tubers. I used Dahlia Addict to find sellers of Belle of . . . → Read More: More Dahlias

Winter Interest: Brown Is A Color Too

Yes, BROWN is a color. Yes, it can be quite boring. But in the category of “work with what you are given”, we have abundant BROWN during our Chicagoland winters. This little guy certainly “worked his BROWN”. He is BROWN to begin with, and he has chosen a BROWN scarf. Still, he is totally . . . → Read More: Winter Interest: Brown Is A Color Too

Help – My Petunias Stopped Blooming

It was very sad. My prolific Vista Bubblegum petunias stopped blooming…just like they did last year. Sigh! But wait – Captain Jack’s BT spray to the rescue. Two weeks later and they are again blooming like crazy.

On September 6th, barely a bloom:

On September 20th, back to magnificent:

Now don’t just go out . . . → Read More: Help – My Petunias Stopped Blooming

To Plant Cleome Or Not To Plant Cleome? – That Is The Question

I have gone to war on invasives – yet I continue to grow cleome. Yep, it’s a contradiction. There aren’t many plants that are more invasive, unless you go for the really crazy ones that are, or should be, outlawed. So why do I do it? Why do I subject myself to a plant . . . → Read More: To Plant Cleome Or Not To Plant Cleome? – That Is The Question