Category: Outdoor Living

There’s no flower sweeter than our featured flower of the month Sweet William. Dianthus barbatus or Sweet William is native to several regions throughout Asia and Southern Europe. This full sun perennial is from the plant family Caryophyllaceae. I planted Sweet William 8 years ago and to my delight it still thrives in two of my flower beds. It is not only resilient but reliable. Did I mention that it’s drought tolerant? Sweet William comes in a multitude of colors and varieties. The blooms are capable of not only withstanding the heat of the day but thrive in difficult soil conditions. Plant this gem in well draining soil on the sunny side of your garden and enjoy! Cheers

Sledding with a snow saucer is a great winter pastime here in zone 4. Did you know that your saucer can serve a dual purpose? Instead of putting it away at the end of winter simply modify it for seasonal garden work.  Adding a pulling rope will convert your saucer into a hauler making short work of transporting not only debris but material in and out of your garden. Cheers

The most common Fox seen in North America is the red fox (Vulpes). Their cunning ways have made them popular around the world. Enjoy!

I would like to introduce our featured flower of the month Campanula or commonly known as Tussock Bellflower. I came upon this perennial jewel while on a trip to Juneau Alaska. This magnificent flower is from the plant family Campanulaceae and is native to the subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows favorably in zones 5 through 8 and is deer and rabbit resistant. The bright blue flowers bloom til summer and the plant should return larger the next season.  You can expect the plant to spread 15 -18” and reach heights of 18”. Enjoy! 

Winter can be a time for extreme temperatures. Did you know that the freezing temperatures during winter is Mother Nature’s way of telling some perennial seeds when to sprout? The freezing and thawing process changes the chemistry of the seed allowing it to sprout only during my favorite season, Spring! Cheers 

Another arctic front has just moved through zone 4.  I am taking advantage of the moisture by shoveling snow under trees, shrubs and on to perennial flower beds. In just a few months the time will be right to improve the soil condition by adding compost and/or peat moss to help stimulate healthy root growth and eliminate transplant shock. Trees and shrubs can be difficult to grow and maintain but with proper guidance magnificent results can be obtained.