Author: zboy

 Winter is rapidly approaching and it’s time to change my focus to my indoor plants.  In the past I’ve written about easy to grow indoor varieties like Cranes bill https://zinniaboy.com/geraniums/ and Begonias https://zinniaboy.com/begonia/. Today I would like to talk about our featured flower of the month, a challenging indoor variety called Saint Paulia.  Saint Paulia commonly called African violet is an outdoor variety well suited for the indoors.  It is a member of the plant family Gesneriaceae and is native to Tanzania.  African violets come in colors of violet, purple, pale blue and white. The stems are a flesh like texture covered with very fine hairs.  Finding the correct amount of light and temperature in the room is crucial to the performance of this variety.  Propagate from cuttings and be careful not to over water or place in direct sun light.  Cheers

A winter’s blast has brought an abrupt end to the floral growing season in zone 4.  Prior to the cold weather I cleared my flower beds of dead foliage and debris and added a fresh layer of compost to the existing soil to provide nutrients and stability for next season.  Now the snow has created a blanket of moisture and my compost can go to work. One of Mother Nature’s free gifts and an ingredient in my compost pile are decomposed leaves.  Why purchase bags of compost when you can create your own!  Cheers  https://zinniaboy.com/compost/

I would like to share images of my gardens from this season. Enjoy!

Over a period of several years I have shared knowledge and wisdom about gardening and outdoor adventures in addition to passing on many recipes in my blog Zinniaboy.com.   The site is now more “user friendly” as I have included a search engine for better navigation.   Enjoy this free and valuable information!    Cheers

Fall is the perfect time to get creative and design a garden for next season.  In my Book “The Flower Affect” you will learn how to create your own unique oasis.   

Take in the “what, when and how” of simple gardening using step by step instructions based on my own experience. I will give you time tested suggestions, along with illustrations and pictures taken throughout many seasons.  Cheers!     

“The Flower Affect”

Replace the old soil in your garden containers and pots.

Add compost to your annual and perennial garden beds.

Learn how to lure beneficial insects to your garden and put them work.

Check out and down load my e-book “The Flower Affect” for more detailed information.

Cheers!

After a trip to paradise, I have returned to my own gardens.  It was a great opportunity and privilege to visit another part of the globe and experience other garden settings. After time away, I realize that summer is coming to a close and it’s time to plan and plant for next season.  Now is the time to plant perennial flowers, trees and shrubs.  The soil will remain warm long enough to allow plants to establish themselves before winter.  Garden planning is made simple when you plant what works best in your area and for your soil conditions.  My time exploring other gardens was educational and exhilarating.  I was inspired and greatly appreciate the creativity of my fellow gardeners.

Do you love to garden and have comments or opinions you want to share?  Zinniaboy.com welcomes your letters to be posted on our blog.  Letters up to 250 words on the topic of gardening can be submitted for posting.  Your letter must include your name and email address. All letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy. Your content will not be shared with anyone else. Send your letters to msydnor@zinniaboy.com  Cheers

An early spring bloomer is our featured flower of the month, the Siberian Wallflower. This hardy perennial appears in both vibrant yellow and orange clusters suspending from delicate foliage. The Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii), thrives in moderate temperatures in addition to tolerating some low temperatures which makes this lovely plant a spring favorite.  I start my seeds in rich well draining soil for flowers that will add a splash of bright color throughout my garden during the early weeks of the season.  Cheers

A key to a successful garden starts with your soil.  Using fertilizer can help you maintain the proper balance of nutrients and correct ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus in your garden soil.  Here are some simple guidelines to follow when applying fertilizer;

Apply fertilizer during Spring and Fall.

Keep fertilizer away from storm drains.

Store fertilizer in a shed or garage.

Avoid over fertilizing.