Throughout the centuries the scent of lavender has been associated with peace and tranquility. Lavender (Lavandula vera) is a perennial flower native to the Mediterranean region. It is capable of reaching heights of 24- 30” and spreading 18-24” while excelling in zones 4-9. The refreshing fragrance and vibrant flowers make lavender a wonderful choice for drying and floral crafts. Cheers
The New Year is here and it’s time to get organized. Here are a few old fashioned tips to keep you ahead in the game.
Time check: If you’re always late, set your clocks ahead 10 minutes.
The evening before: Accomplish as much as possible before you go to sleep. You’ll sleep better and will confront less chaos in the morning.
Rise early: To get an edge on your day.
Be flexible: Reassess your routine on a regular basis, especially if it feels like you don’t have enough breathing space.
Cheers
The Flower Affect
After several seasons of joyful gardening I have decided to share my experience, gathered information and enjoyment in a book called “The Flower Affect”. My intention is to educate and encourage the novice gardener with the process of growing flowers. Gardening takes instruction and there are no guarantees however, proper guidance, sunshine, rain and patience will richly reward your efforts.
Download it today from Lulu.com, Barnes & Noble and Apple I Books
An early blast of winter like conditions across North America has initiated the great fall migration https://zinniaboy.com/migration/. I captured a brief moment of waterfowl gathering on a chilly morning in zone 4. Enjoy!
We have received a significant amount of snow this fall in zone 4. The much needed moisture has been well received and will pay dividends next spring. As I relax and watch the day drift by, my thoughts give way to planning for next seasons blooms https://zinniaboy.com/planning-ahead/ and I have decided to add peonies to my garden. Peonies are from the genus Paeonia and are considered to be one of the most popular flowers to bloom in spring. They perform magnificently in zones 3-8. The large round doubled layered flowers are stunning and come in a multitude of colors and sizes. Peonies are fragrant and are sure to delight when you plant them in well- drained locations throughout your gardens landscape. Cheers
Holiday festivities are here and it’s time to plan for the holiday feast. Traditionally I grill a turkey https://zinniaboy.com/its-cold-outside/ and I occasionally like to change the rub https://zinniaboy.com/grill-tips/ I use on the turkey utilizing fresh herbs from my garden. One of the more popular herbs used during the holiday season is Thyme. There are over a hundred species in the genus Thymus. Thyme has small greenish leaves with flowers that come in colors ranging from white to dark purple and bloom from May through August. It is a culinary favorite used for chowders, stews, lamb, turkey and tomato dishes. Thyme maybe used fresh or dried and should be used to taste. Enjoy!
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
