Category: Outdoor Living

It is difficult to be silent about our featured flower of the month, the chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums also known as mums are native to East Asia and Northern Europe.  The flowers are rows of florets that come in white, yellow and red and start to bloom in early autumn. Chrysanthemums come in two groups, garden hardy and exhibition. I prefer the garden hardy variety because it can produce a multitude of flowers on stalks that are capable of withstanding cool environments.  They are long standing in my garden and long lasting in a cut floral arrangement.  Cheers

Over the course of several years I have written about flowers, food, recipes and all things related to the great outdoors.  As I looked through my website this morning I realized that I have covered hundreds of topics that are still relevant today and want to open the archives to share a few links from the past.  Enjoy!

Fall is here but it feels like winter. Normally temperatures are in the mid sixties this time of year, it is twelve degrees today.  We are experiencing a year of extremes.  Record heat and dry conditions in   spring and summer sparked fires and rendered the air quality hazardous to our health but I must stay hopeful that winter will bring the moisture we desperately need.  I experienced that hope while shoveling this morning.  Among a sea of white snow I saw a flash of yellow which turned out to be a snap dragon.  This prompted me to write about and feature this hardy, tough as nails flower this month.  They are one of the most durable flowers you can plant.  Snap Dragons bloom throughout the year surviving many diverse conditions.  They have been a year around staple throughout my garden.  They are magnificent flowers and are easily propagated by tossing a handful of seeds just about anywhere.        Cheers

 I began growing flowers seven years ago and it has been a privilege to experience some of the beauty this planet has to offer.  This odyssey encouraged me to write an eBook, “The Flower Affect”. The book is a personal diary and guide. I identify all of the flowers I have grown and pass along gardening knowledge made simple to help you have a successful growing experience.  I encourage harmony with nature! Please download your copy today at Lulu.com, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Rakutan Kobo and help to create a more beautiful world.

Fall is a great time to plant bulbs and planting them in the correct soil will insure healthy blooms for seasons to come. For example, here in zone 4 I add a fresh layer of compost to break down soil that contains a large amount of clay.  There are three types of bulbs, Hyacinths, tubers and croms. It is imperative they are purchased from a reputable source.  Bulbs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and perform best when they are planted at the correct depth and position. I enjoy tulips and daffodils in spring and gladiolas in summer. Once the initial work is done they will be enjoyed for several seasons.    Cheers  

The saying goes “if you don’t like the weather in zone 4 just wait 10 minutes and it will change”.  A cold front is moving into the Front Range bringing an abrupt end to the growing season. All while we are still enduring high summer temperatures.  It’s not unusual for this to occur in zone 4 but not until late October or early November.  This epic news has initiated a scramble to bring in pots of flowers, pick vegetables and drain water hoses as temperatures fall below freezing from the mid 90’s in a 24 hour period.  The moisture will be well received in the high country and aid in controlling several fires that are still raging.  Weather patterns continue to change and have a profound effect.  Being prepared for the unknown is becoming our new normal.