Make a Balsam Garden Wreath

Make a Balsam garden wreath by collecting material that you find in your yard or in the woods. A wreath that is made from material found in nature is eye appealing and unique as well as a gift to wildlife and to the birds. 

Gathering Filler for Wreath

Today I took a small pail and a scissor along with me when I went for my hike in the forest. I ventured off trail to seek pine cones and to cut winter berry branches at three inches. I found the berries growing on shrubs some were blue and others were red. These colors would look nice on a balsam wreath. In my yard I cut branches from my holly bush, plumes from my fountain grass and sprigs from lavender, peppermint and basil herbs. 

Now that I had the filler for the wreath I needed to buy the balsam wreath from the Christmas tree lot. 

Winter Berries from Forest

 I bought two balsam wreaths that were $11.00 each. Note this is my only out of pocket expense. 








Getting Ready  

Working with items from nature can be messy and there may be insects too so I put the wreath together outdoors on my patio table. Working with natural products requires you to have a gentle touch as they can break easily. 

Lay out the filler for the wreath so it is separated and you can easily grab it when needed.

Before beginning the arrangement of the filler I gently opened up the balsam wreaths branches so that it did not look flat.  When I was satisfied with the fuller appearance I got busy with the filler arranging.  

Putting Wreath Together

Open the balsam branches so wreath looks full

 Natural Pine cones are a key focal material so I attached craft wire to the base of my pine cone so that it would stay in place on the wreath.

 To keep the wreath balanced I attached one pine cone at the top of the wreath, off to the side slightly so it would not be covered by the wreath hanger. The other two pine cones were attached on the sides closer to the bottom of the wreath.  The pine cones were my focal area and the filler would be the fluff.

Highlight pine cone with winter berries

Red and purple berries were added around the pine cones to add color and interest. The rest of the wreath filler was added to the base to give the wreath color flow. 



The sprigs of herbs added additional fragrance to the wreath as well as interest. I finished the wreath by adding plumes of fountain grass. The grass gave the wreath interest and it was a good contrast.

I hung one wreath on my front door and the other on my front garden gate. My neighbor admired it and asked me if I would make her one. I sold my one wreath for $36.00. 

Making balsam wreaths is a great way to earn extra money.  It took me twenty minutes from start to finish to make the wreath.  The time most used was wiring the pine cones to the base and looking for the natural filler in the woods. 

Balsam Garden Wreath hung on Gate

Learn more about designing wreaths from balsam:

The balsam garden wreath is a practical way to decorate as you can display this wreath throughout the winter season and it looks especially nice during the Christmas.

Hosta Garden - Winter Tips

The autumn season has been mild in comparison to last year.  Today the temperature was 63' and I took advantage of the mild weather and prepared my Hosta gardens for winter.  I started my day by hand removing all of the reaming leaf matter. 

When I finished my task of removing all of the leaves and sticks I started hand-pulling all of the weeds.  For stubbornly rooted weeds, I used my hand tools to dig them out.  I prefer to weed my gardens in the fall rather than spring. 

Note:  I do not add weeds to my compost instead I place them in trash bags and put them by the curb for trash removal.  

When the hand pull of the weeds was completed I applied one inch of compost by spreading it on top of the entire garden.  The compost is an excellent fertilizer for the crocus and daffodils that are planted in this three-season garden.  

Next, I applied three inches of Scott’s natural scapes advanced color-enhanced classic black mulch.  Normally I prefer to use natural cypress mulch but this year I opted for Scotts mulch.  The black organic mulch is a nice contrast to the flagstone and it also prevents weeds naturally as well it retains moisture with a guarantee that I will use 30% less water.  

Water conservation is important to me so I decided to try the color-enhanced mulch. 

Scotts  Mulch and Liriope by Susan Golis

I prefer to apply the mulch by hand around the plants. Many people will open the bag of mulch and dump the contents on the garden and then rake it in place.  This is an easy and quick way to mulch a garden bed, however when you do that you will damage any plant life.  Yes, it will grow back; you will have to cut off the damaged leaves and stems and the plant will suffer.

I prefer to take my time and apply the mulch by hand, gently setting the mulch around the plants so that there is no breakage.  In fact, hand pulling of weeds and hand application of mulch is my specialty and I have obtained many garden contracts due to this skill. 

Every gardener excels in a specific area and mine is attention to detail.  I enjoyed my time in the garden today and I am satisfied with my feature garden. 

 

Get Rid of Roaches - Home and Garden

Head of cockroach: image by Wikipedia commons

Stop the roaches from entering your home  by sealing cracks around your doors and windows and landscaping so that your gardens and shrubs are away from your foundation. 



Everyone at some time or another in their lifetime experiences roaches. It does not matter how meticulous your home is roaches will invade your home or business. 

There are 3500 species of cockroaches in the world and eventually, this insect will move into your home or business and scatter across your kitchen counter tops in search of food or linger in your bathroom for water.  

If you allow the roaches to stay in your home for a short period of time they will settle in and multiply and before you know it your home or business will be infested.  

Last week I noticed a cockroach in my laundry room and knew if there was one there had to be at least 30 or more hiding out in my home.  Roaches like to hide from humans and they seldom come out during the daylight hours, therefore if you want to conduct an inspection of your home then you need to turn off all of the lights, take your flashlight and open up your cabinet doors under your sink and also look behind your refrigerator, stove and in the bathroom under the sink cabinet.  

Look for droppings as they are signs of cockroaches.  The droppings look like specks of black pepper and are primarily in areas where there is food or water.  Should you determine that you do have roaches then you will need to inspect the exterior of your home for cracks, holes in your foundation, siding and crevices, also check around your windows and doors to make sure they are sealed. 

Roaches will also enter your home through your drains in bathroom or kitchen and the air ducts.  Seal all entrances to your home and place a drain cover in sinks and bath tub.  Deter the roach from infesting your home by landscaping three to four feet from your home.  

Many roaches reside in a moist habitat such as humus dirt or mulch.  Install cement or rock barrier in between your landscape and your home and this will cut down on roaches from penetrating your home. 

Move landscape away from home

When you complete your outdoors tasks of sealing all  entrances you will survey your living space.  Check your home for cardboard storage boxes or shoe boxes.  Shoe boxes are usually in a dark closet and roaches think of the box as an ideal living area.  Remove shoes from boxes and place in an over the door hanger or in plastic under the bed storage unit. Also remove storage items from cardboard boxes and put in plastic storage containers with a locking lid.  After the cardboard material is removed from your home you will need to concentrate on your kitchen and bath area. 

Inspect under your sink and behind your appliances at night.  Use a flashlight to look for roaches and or droppings.  Remove roaches by killing them. Mix boric acid with granulated sugar and white flour. 

Use equal parts for all ingredients. 

Set the boric acid mixture in small open containers and set them behind the refrigerator, oven, and under the sink. The sweetness of the sugar will attract the cockroaches the flour is a binding ingredient that holds all ingredients together and the boric acid kills cockroaches, fleas, ants, ticks and other household pests.

Learn more about roach control:  Youtube video

 

 Cockroach head by Wikipedia commons

Companion Plants for Toad Lilies

Toad lilies are dainty flowers that resemble an orchid. Gardeners who reside in USDA growing zones 5–9 plant the shade-loving toad lily amongst their hostas, ferns, astilbe, or in a woodland setting. The toad lily will start to bloom in September and will continue to bloom into October, thus adding eye-appealing color and interest to one’s shade garden.

A few years ago, I discovered toad lilies growing in my garden. I took several pictures of the orchid-like flower and went to the library to research the flower. The botanical name is Tricyrtis—Toad Lily—and it grows in shade to part shade. A woodland setting is ideal for growing the toad lily.

The following spring I planted the yellow with red dots and the white with purple dots toad lilies in my shade garden. In the later part of summer the stems pushed up through the soil and grew very quickly.

When fully grown, the stems have a hairy texture and the leaves are dark to pale green. Toad lily stems will grow to heights of 18 to 28 inches and the spread is that of the same.

Toad lily flower buds form in clusters and are funnel-shaped, opening from the tip of the bud. The flowers come in a variety of colors: white with purple dots, white with red dots, yellow with red dots, or white with light purple dots. If you’re like me, I know you’ll want to grow all of the color combinations.

 Best Companion Plants for Toad Lilies

Toad lilies thrive in rich, moist soil and dappled shade making them perfect partners for other shade-loving perennials. Here are some of my favorite companions:

• Hostas – Their broad leaves create a lush backdrop that makes the delicate toad lily blooms pop.
• Ferns – Add texture and movement, especially varieties like Japanese painted fern or lady fern.
• Astilbe – Their feathery plumes bloom earlier in summer, extending the visual interest in your garden.
• Heuchera (Coral Bells)  Offers colorful foliage in shades of burgundy, lime, and peach that contrast beautifully with toad lilies.
• Solomon’s Seal  Graceful arching stems and white bell-shaped flowers pair well with the upright habit of toad lilies.
• Pulmonaria (Lungwort)  Speckled leaves and early spring flowers complement the late-season bloom of toad lilies.
• Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not)  Heart-shaped leaves and tiny blue flowers add charm and groundcover appeal.
• Trillium or Jack-in-the-Pulpit  For a truly woodland feel, these native plants echo the natural habitat of toad lilies.

Plant the toad lily rhizomes in early spring after the danger of frost has passed. Toad lilies grow best in an area of shade to part shade, with moist humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Clear the planting area and amend the soil with compost. Dig a hole that is three inches deep and plant the rhizome, pointy side up. Fill the hole with soil and water well. Keep the soil moist during the growing season.

You can also grow these lilies from seed. The toad lily will reseed itself or you can buy seeds to fill your garden with this exotic-looking flower.

  

Sweet Autumn Clematis Growing Guide and Photo's

Sweet autumn clematis is a vigorous vine that is renowned for its late summer vanilla-scented flowers and for the nectar-rich flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. 

Clematis is simple to grow, however, if it is not pruned after the flowering season it can be invasive and will take over your yard.   If you have tried to grow clematis in the past and have failed I would suggest that you try again by planting sweet autumn clematis. 

For a healthy and vigorous climbing clematis, grow in an area where the soil is well-drained, and where the leaves have full sun and the roots are shaded.  

When I moved to the central region of the United States the home that I purchased was a historic home that had many gardens. On my first observation, I noted that the gardens were covered with an invasive vine. With careful inspection I found one hundred vines growing all over the gardens.  

Many of the vines exceeded the length of 36 inches. They were vigorous and aggressive covering everything they came across. They grew up the trellis and the river rock wall. I needed to trim a few back to prevent them from spilling over into the pond. 

 My husband wanted to rip out the fast-growing vines but I said “No”, I told him it was sweet autumn clematis. By the end of summer, the clematis vines were covered with delicate and very fragrant blooms. The fragrance was sweet like vanilla and the vines were laden with so many flowers that from a distance it looked like snow.

Photographs of sweet autumn clematis - my yard and garden.

Trellis made by husband - Clematis with day lilies and grasses

Fast growing clematis fills in trellis 

Front view of trellis: clematis with Four O'clock flowers

Clematis growing up Maple tree with liriope ground cover

Mature sweet autumn clematis vines look thick and woody.

Fragrant blooms in the end of August

Questions and Answers

Where should I grow sweet autumn clematis?

The clematis is eye appealing when growing up the side of a tree or trailing downward over a rock garden. It is also a good choice for steep hills or slopes and will blanket your trellis, arbor, chain link fence or mailbox with lush green leaves and fragrant flowers in late summer. Sweet autumn clematis is deciduous in most areas however if you have mild winters the plant may be semi-evergreen.

When should I plant clematis?

Plant the clematis in USDA growing zones 4-11 in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.  

Can you grow clematis from seed?

Yes start the seeds indoors by planting in a seed kit.  Plant seeds 8-12 weeks before the last frost in spring.  When vines are four inches in length and the threat of spring frost has passed you can plant the sweet clematis flowering vine outdoors.

How do you plant clematis?

For a nursery grown plant you would dig a hole that is the same depth as the container with a similar width. Break up the soil clumps so that the texture is fine. Mix compost or manure with the soil.  

Set the crown of the sweet clematis in the center of the hole with the roots facing outward.  Backfill the hole and water well.   Apply a thin layer of mulch around the stem and roots of the clematis.  

Protect the clematis roots from the summer heat by applying mulch.

Should I grow Clematis on a trellis? 

Yes clematis looks stunning growing on a trellis.  It is best to install the trellis five inches behind the vine. 

The clematis vine will attach itself to the sturdy structure by twisting a runner around the support.  

Make sure that the leaves are in the sun and the roots are shaded.  You can keep the roots cool by applying two inches of mulch around the stem of the clematis.  The mulch will aid in moisture control, prevent weed growth.  

Care for sweet autumn clematis:

Mist the clematis leaves daily and water the roots.  I find it best to water the clematis in the morning and when my summers get extremely hot (mid 90's to 100's) I will also water the clematis in the late afternoon.  During the peak heat, months of summer clematis need to be watered daily. 

Prune clematis after the flowers bloom.

How do you harvest sweet autumn clematis seeds?

In late summer after the clematis has produced a seedpod (see image below) collect the seeds from the brown shell and set the seeds in an envelope for safe keeping.  Seal the envelope and write the name of the plant.  

Keep the seeds for the next spring plantings.

Sweet Autumn Seedpod: Image by SGolis

Get Gardens Ready for Snow and Ice

If you reside in an area that has severe winters; snow and ice then it is easy to miscalculate where the gardens are especially if they are close to walkways, patios or driveways.  Take the necessary steps and prepare your gardens for snow and ice.  This will ensure that your spring flowers will be healthy.

Fountain grass adds winter interest to garden

When I get my gardens ready for winter I like to first survey my gardens to determine exactly what needs to be done. I will make a list of all of the duties and then divide my yard into sections.  

Apply these steps to put your gardens to bed in the late fall and you will protect the perennials from ice that would damage the roots that are close to soil surface.

Start getting your gardens ready for snow and ice by cutting back flowers and plants to the soil line. If there are annuals dig out the roots. Followed by removing the grasses and weeds.

When the garden bed is clean and weed free  cover the top of the garden with an inch of shredded newspaper, then add a layer of organic mulch; dried grass, pine needles, straw or leaf mulch, followed by two inches of manure or compost.

Next install reflective markers for all gardens that are located by patios, walkways, and driveway or door entrances.  Or you can install 3 to 6 foot stakes at the edge of your garden closes to the high traffic areas. Top the wooden stakes yellow or orange flags.

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Note: if you grow ornamental grass, astilbe, Autumn Joy sedum, coneflowers, or Hydrangea leave the flowers to dry as they will add eye appealing interest to your landscape  throughout the winter season.

  

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Backyard Bird Habitat - Plants That Attract Birds

This morning I observed birds flying in an aggressive manner; feathers plumped, squawking excessively, swooping and circling.  The reason for the alarm was brought on by the roar of the chainsaw.  

50 feet from my home I viewed men cutting down mature oak trees.  These Bluejay birds  were angry because the trees had been a nesting area for decades and was part of the bird’s habitat.  

There is no way that I can stop the change of the bird habitat however; I can offer the birds a safe haven that will provide shelter, food and water. I will continue to grow my backyard bird habitat by planting trees for nesting, wind break, flowers for birdseed, fruit bearing trees and shrubs. 

Photograph of my yard and plants:

My bird habitat consists of:

Ornamental Grasses

Coneflowers

Black-eyed Susan

Sugar Maple Tree

Black Walnut, Pecan and Oak 

Elderberry and Nanking Cherry 
Crabapple Tree

Presently the forest birds are under stress but hopefully in a few days they will find refuge at my backyard bird habitat.  



 

 

Update Wrought Iron Patio Table with Paint

Wrought iron outdoor furniture is durable and will last a lifetime however the style and the color of the furniture is dated.  You can update the look of your wrought iron patio table with a fresh coat of paint and it will blend nicely with your outdoor living space.

Years ago I inherited my mother’s 3-piece bistro set.  I was thrilled to have it however the style did not go with my home.  The traditional white color stood out like a sore thumb.

I tried to update the look of the bistro table set with pastel floral seat cushions and a small market umbrella.  The patio set looked better but I still did not like the bright enameled white paint. I decided to paint the wrought iron patio table and chairs enameled black. This color would match my iron fence, gate and other garden accessories. 

 How to paint a wrought Iron Bistro Set

Take the furniture apart by using a screw driver or a drill.  Place the nuts, bolts and screws in a zip lock bag and label the outside of the bag with the contents of the bag. Such as:  hardware for chair or hardware for table.

Clean the wrought-iron furniture with a wire brush.  Pay attention to the ornate scroll work as this is where dirt will accumulate..

Hose off the furniture to remove any excess dirt or debris. For stubborn stains; apply dawn degreaser to a damp sponge and wipe the wrought-iron furniture.  Let the soap set for a few minutes before rinsing with water from the furniture.

Place the iron set on a tarp in a sunny area.  Allow the outdoor furniture to dry.

Sand the set if needed, to remove all chipped paint. You will need a smooth surface for painting. (For the removal of rust see Tips.)

Purchase Rustoleum spray paint in the color of your choice.

Spray the wrought-iron furniture sections with the paint using even strokes.  Paint one section at a time and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Allow the painted furniture to dry before applying a second coat.

Tips:
If your wrought iron has oxidation on it you will need to remove the rust with a rust remover.  I use naval jelly, it is a rust dissolver.  You treat the rusted wrought iron with the naval jelly instead of sanding.  Follow the directions on the package.

 Rinse the product well and thoroughly dry the wrought iron furniture before painting.
Paint the wrought-iron furniture in an enclosed area, such as your garage.  Open the windows and doors for proper air ventilation.

Warning:
Spray paint is hazardous to your health, always wear a ventilator mask and protective eye wear when painting and make sure there is good air flow.

Natural Rose Air Freshener

  Make a natural rose air freshener from rosebuds that you find in your garden or use petals from floral arrangements.  I grow roses so whenever I need an air freshener I can pick the rose buds from my garden. 

 Not all roses have the same scent so choose your roses based on scent and then mix them with fragrant herbs like lemon balm or lavender.  A natural rose air freshener is good for you, your family, and your pets.

This morning I was out looking at my gardens and noticed that a few of my roses still have blooms. I decided to pick all of the rose buds and petals and prepare for potpourri and rosewater spray.

It is a good idea to freshen the air in your home with the natural rose fragrance as it is better for your family. The store-bought fresheners may have a fragrant scent and they do control odors, however, they are made from chemicals.  

The natural rose does not release chemicals into the air, making the natural rose freshener healthier for my family and home.  Plus the scent of the rose stimulates an area in your brain that stores happy thoughts and memories. Everyone who takes in the rose scent will naturally feel happy.

If you are interested in making a natural rose air freshener then it is best to use fresh rose petals. Fresh petals have a more potent fragrance and are not tainted with chemicals to make their blooms last longer.  Keep in mind that the rosebuds that are almost fully open but not quite are the best petals for a potpourri.

Instructions for rose petal potpourri.  
Cut roses with a long stems.  The rose should be almost open but not fully open.  Dry the roses by tying several stems together with a string.  Hang the roses from the sting and allow them to dehydrate in a cool and dry area for two weeks.  After two weeks check to see if the rose petals are dry, if so place the dried rose petals in a glass rose bowl. Add a few drops of essential rose oil and mix well. Complete your potpourri mixture when you are satisfied with the fragrance.  Fill decorative glass bowls or jars with the potpourri.