When to Plant Chrysanthemum

Summer is almost over and I find that I am thinking about the fall season. Fall is my favorite time of the year because of the garden activities. When it comes to working in the yard and garden there are many things to do, planting chrysanthemum is one of my favorite activities in fall.  

Do you plant mums in fall? 

In late August to the first week of September, I will plant Chrysanthemums in containers and in feature gardens. Now I live in growing zone 6 and we have a long autumn season. For other growing zones in the USA, I would say plant mums at least six weeks before a hard frost.

Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors; white, yellow, lilac, purple bronze, cream, orange, pink, green burgundy-red, and bi-colors. There is a color flower for everyone and these long-lived flowers really brighten up the garden.

The mum is a beautiful flower so show it off by planting in your feature garden, or outlining your front walkway. You can also add to wheelbarrow gardens or plant container gardens for your front porch. 

I have planted mums in containers and in the ground. Then after a hard frost, I will cut the plant back into the soil and add a layer of mulch. The mum then returns the following year.

Here are a few photographs of chrysanthemums I hope they will inspire to plant this lovely flower in your fall garden.

All images are from pixabay.com

Rustic Trunk Planter Ideas

Instead of shopping for new clay or plastic planters for your flowers or greenery, go to yard sales, and buy rustic wood trunks for your garden. These rustic trunks will add interest to your garden. A container that is different from the norm will not only enable your plants to grow but will also be a focal area in your yard and garden.

Grow petunia in a rustic trunk planter

Here is a digital design that I created to show one of the clients how she could utilize one of her vintage trunks. In her case, the trunk would be set up on a sunny porch that had rain protection. 

Before planting in a wooden trunk I would recommend that you apply

a water seal to protect the wood. Also, you would not fill the trunk with soil but you would drop in a plastic shelf about 10 inches into the trunk. Then on top, you would add your self-watering planters for your flowers, herbs, or sweet potato vines.

This open trunk planter is unique and adds tremendous interest to your garden.

Combination Container Gardens – Spring Bulbs

Extend your container garden bloom season by planting a variety of plants and bulbs that bloom at different times. When it comes time to put together a container garden I prefer to plant once, then enjoy early, mid, and late spring season flowers. This type of container garden is good for someone who is busy and has no time to garden or someone who has a small yard, terrace, or balcony.

Flower Container Garden by sgolis

Grow a variety of spring bulbs but before you buy you will need to check the bloom time. If you shop online at Netherlandsbulbcompany.com you will read that some bulbs have bloom times in early spring, mid-spring, and late spring.

Here are a few spring bulbs that I like to plant in a combination container.  For early spring plants; Narcissus Jet Fire, Tulip Red Emperor, Crocus Large Flowering Mixture, Galanthus snowdrops.  Mid-Spring; Narcissus butterfly mixture, Tulip Red Riding Hood, Muscari Delft Blue Mixture  Late Spring Narcissus Pheasant’s Eye, Tulip Foxtrot, Giant Grape Hyacinth

Put your combination container garden together in the fall because the bulbs do need to have a winter season in order to bloom in the spring.

For abundant blooms and colorful flower container gardens, I plant 15 spring bulbs per square foot. The bulbs are planted flat side down, pointed side up, and are 3 inches apart. Yes, the bulbs are close together but come spring when they bloom the container gardens look fabulous.

Planting Tips:

1. Plant spring bulbs in the fall, six weeks prior to a hard frost.
2. I recommend mixing bone meal with the potting soil. The bone meal will provide the bulbs with phosphorous and calcium. It is great for strong roots. Plus squirrels do not like the smell of bonemeal and will stay out of your spring bulb containers.

Natural Summer Allergy/Sinusitis Treatment

Summer pollen-related allergies are the worst especially if you love gardening. If you suffer from seasonal allergies you can get relief by taking medication like Claritin for indoor and outdoor allergies or you can choose a natural treatment.

Now that summer is here I have been working in the garden every day. I love spending time in my garden but since I am allergic to grasses, trees, and some flowers I am getting allergy symptoms; sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and cough.  

If you suffer from summer allergies then you can get natural relief with a saline nasal rinse that will balance your pH. Nasal irrigation is a good way to remove indoor and outdoor allergens including dust, animal dander, grass or flower pollen, and household dust.  I irrigate my nose twice a day with this saline and breath easier.

Along with the nasal rinse,  I will mix a teaspoon of diatomaceous earth food grade, a natural silica supplement with 8 ounces of water or juice, and drink in the morning. The DE is a great way to do whole-body detoxification and will clear out excess mucus.

Boost your immune system with honey lemon ginseng green tea with white tea.  Brew several cups throughout the day and sip them slowly.   The antioxidants found in this tea will help you to feel better. 

Here are a few flowers and trees that will cause you to have seasonal allergies; goldenrod, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, daisies, and chamomile. Trees; walnut, pine, elm, cedar, birch. beech, hickory. silver maple and oak. (leaf mold and mites)

CHRYSANTHEMUM

DAISIES

SUNFLOWER

Garden Path Ideas

When I was a kid, my parents had a garden path along the side of the house, this path took us to the rose garden and to the patio. I liked the path because I did not have to walk on the grass and after rain, I did not have to worry about getting muddy shoes.

Our garden paths enabled me to pick roses without stepping on the ground, in addition, my parents could weed the gardens without getting grass stains on their clothes.

Growing up with garden paths meant that I would have them in my yard. Know that my garden paths have come a long way since I was a kid. My present home has many paths. Some are stone, others are pavers and we also have pea gravel and a path that is made from mulch.

Here is a photograph of my upper garden path that is in between the hosta garden and the irises. Then there is a cement block path that came with the house. The husband and I installed another path/patio out of the flagstone. This path leads to the mid-level cement patio.

In the lower level of my yard, there is a stepping stone with a pea gravel path that takes you to the dog pen. The other path will take you to the back wildflower garden. This path is a cement capstone surrounded by mulch.

All of the paths in the yard are interesting, they define the garden and are also a benefit.

Learn more about garden paths by reading my how-to articles.

Install a Pea Gravel Path

Dry Set Flagstone Patio and Walkway

Capstone Garden Path

Small Yard Garden Ideas - Grow Mini Roses

My friend recently moved to a townhouse and she has a small yard with a patio that gets sun and part shade. She has a patio table and a hanging petunia planter but she really misses her rose garden. I suggested that she grow miniature roses in containers because they would look nice and are the perfect size for her small yard.

Having a small yard is no excuse for not growing roses. You can brighten your patio, terrace, or deck with a variety of mini roses grown in large or medium containers. These roses start to bloom in early summer and will provide you with multiple blooms until there is a hard frost.

Miniature pink roses are grown in a clay pot

I recommend that you plant roses in part shade to full sun. Then shop for containers that will provide ample space for your roses. Miniature roses when fully grown are 18 inches in height with a spread of 24 inches. Make sure your containers provide drainage. Turn the pot over to check for water drainage.

Shopping Tips

There are two ways to buy miniature roses. You can shop online in late winter / early spring and buy a bare-root rose bush. Or you can find roses at your local garden center or online nursery and buy miniature roses that are grown in a pot. Follow the planting recommendations for your growing zones.

Know that growing a few roses in a container will look eye appealing, but does not benefit the roses if they are grown too close. This plant needs good air circulation. Healthy roses do better when they are not competing with other plants for water or nutrients. So buy a container that will allow you to space the roses so they are not cramped.

Planting and Maintaining Roses

1. Add two inches of pea gravel to your container to help with water drainage
2. Amend garden soil with compost. The best way to do this is to mix in a wheelbarrow before you add soil to the container.
3. Dig a hole that is 18 to 24 inches deep and space roses 18 inches apart.
4. Backfill the container with soil. Then water the roses. Let the water drain before adding more soil. Fill the container with the remaining soil.  Firm the soil around the stem leaving the bud union level with the soil.
5. Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet as it is important to not let the roots dry out.
6. Add mulch around the sugar plum rose bush to aid in moisture control and prevent weed growth.
7. Feed miniature rose bushes with fertilizer granules formulated for their specific needs. I like Bayer systemic rose and flower care because it protects the roses from harmful insects. You can buy this product at Walmart.com 
8. Transplant roses every 2 to 3 years to prevent roses from becoming root-bound.

Learn more about roses by reading my other garden secrets post; Climbing Roses How to Grow

Keep Squirrels out of Bird Feeders (How To)

If you are a birder then you know that a squirrel at the feeder is not a good thing. They take over the feeder, spilling seed to the ground, and do not allow the songbirds access. Even when you buy the feeders with the screen to prevent the squirrel access to the seed, this nuisance rodent will take over the feeder by hanging off the side trying to access the seed.

I bought Backyard Boys woodwork feeder (shown in this photo) at Amazon.com

My brother has a problem with the squirrels taking over his bird feeders and he traps them and releases them across town where there is a wooded area. Know that this does not solve the problem even though trappings are done several times a day there are always squirrels at the feeders causing havoc.

Now I am no squirrel expert but knew that we would always have this pesky animal in our yard because we live in woods with many nut trees which is an attraction for squirrels. So instead of trapping the squirrels my husband and I decided to get the squirrel their own feeder.



We set up a ground feeder with food that is appealing to the squirrel; sunflower seeds, corn, and shelled peanuts. The feeder was set on the ground and 15 feet away from the bird feeders. Know that as long as this feeder is filled with delicious peanuts, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds then the squirrels could care less about the songbird seed in the feeders.

If you have not tried this wildlife food set up in your yard then know that I do recommend it. We noticed immediately that the squirrels are no longer territorial and chasing off the birds. There is less stress in our yard because we have happy squirrels that are taking turns at their feeder. Note the bluejays tend to hang out at the squirrel feeder, but there has been no wildlife drama.


In addition to the ground feeders, we have also set up a water source for the squirrels that are separate from the birds. This setup works well because if the squirrel had to use the bird's water fountain then they may get distracted and try to get access to the bird's food. So separate water fountains for squirrels are a must.

We bought a small tabletop fountain and set it up in for the squirrels.  Walmart.com had some nice fountains for wildlife.

It takes a few days for the wildlife to learn the routine.  But eventually, the squirrels will go to their feeder to eat the succulent peanuts and corn.  Watching the wildlife in your yard is a fun family activity, even your cats will watch from the window and find the animals entertaining.

Colonial Home Front Yard Landscape Project

A friend of mine asked me to help her with the curb appeal of her home. She had just bought a Colonial-style home that desperately needed landscaping. I love this type of work so I asked her to take some photographs of the front of her home and send them to me.

Once I saw the home I knew immediately what would improve the appearance and what would make it warm and welcoming, But before I got to work I asked her what her vision was. I noted her requests and then got to work on creating a digital landscape rendering,

Here is a photograph of the colonial split-level house. It desperately needs to be re-landscaped with perennial flowers, evergreen shrubs, and rock with a stepping stone walkway that has a bend.

It took me seven hours to create a landscape rendering for this home.  I raised both sides of the lawn area in the front to create feature gardens. In the garden by the porch 9 x 10 garden was added that featured evergreen shrubs, lilyturf, ornamental grass, and perennial flowers. The garden plants were spaced according to allow for growth. Then mulch was used and a few rocks for interest.

A rock border was used to create a stone walkway to the driveway, This walkway was outlined with perennial lilyturf.

To create a welcoming entrance an urn planter was added by the door and a 3-piece bistro-style outdoor table along with hanging flower and fern planters.

The gardens used in this landscape set to feature 4- seasons of plants, for every season the garden would be interesting and a focal point of beauty, 

Here are the two landscape designs that I created.  In comparison to the first photo, the updates really make this home look appealing.  It now has tremendous curb appeal. 

You can add curb appeal by updating the entrance of your home.  Here is a video that will show you how to

Garden Design Ideas for Irises

After my irises bloomed I realized that they needed to be thinned out and since the weather was cool I thought I would start this garden project rather than in July when the weather is extremely hot. Normally I transplant into a garden bed; along the southern side of the house, I will also add irises by the driveway and many are planted on the southern slope.   I decided to create an eye-appealing iris flower garden in my backyard.

Here is a photo of one of my gardens  

Sun is a factor when growing irises and the only area that appealed to these flowers' needs was in the middle of my yard.  So I decided to design a garden that was an eye-appealing feature for my backyard.

The area for the flower garden was 9 x 10 and I  needed to transplant 46 irises into the new garden.  I decided to turn this area into a garden for the birds and the butterflies.

I would need the following; a bird bath, stepping stones, and 4 bags of potting soil.  I shopped the sales at the garden center at Walmart.com I bought Miracle-Gro 4 cubic feet of potting soil and landscapers fabric. and stepping stones. Then I shopped for a bird bath. I liked the solar fountain because they offer water circulation which will provide fresher water for the birds to drink.

 

This easy eye-appealing iris garden would appeal to the senses.  Here is my garden design idea for my divided and transplanted irises.  

Favorite Flowering Shrub - Quince

When it comes to choosing shrubs for my yard, I will shop for flowing or fruit-bearing. One of my favorite flowering shrubs is the Chaenomeles japonica, Quince. This early spring bloomer has such pretty fragrant flowers, thorny stems, and small edible fruits in the fall My neighbor makes jam from the fruit from the Quince but I leave the fruit on the shrub for the wildlife.

Pretty Pink Quince

I grow this shrub on the south side of my yard where there is full sun. The soil is well-drained and the combination of sun and soil agrees with the quince.

Small yellow apple-shaped fruit appears in fall

If you are in need of some privacy then grow this shrub in masses and it will provide you with a beautiful living fence that is four feet in height and four feet wide when fully grown. Plus the thorns on the branches are an effective way to keep intruders out.  Know that not all Quinces have thorns. There are some that are thornless and do not bear fruit.

Stunning red Quince

Care for the shrub by pruning the quince after it blooms to keep it looking manicured. It is a fabulous shrub because once it is established it does not need to be watered daily. However, I do water it once a week when the weather is extremely hot.

Other information

This flowering shrub comes in a variety of flower colors; red, pink, orange, and white. I grow pink and my neighbor has red. Whatever the color this shrub is a must-have for growing zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 

Growing Tips for Amaryllis Belladonna Lily

When I moved to the Midwest region of the United States, there was a beautiful pink lily that bloomed at the end of summer. My neighbors told me that the flower was commonly called “naked ladies”. The common name seemed odd because this pink flower was glorious. I searched for it online and learned that the flower growing wild in my yard was the Amaryllis Belladonna lily.

Here is a postcard that I made from a photograph I took of Belladonna lily in bloom. You can see that this is a beautiful flower that will brighten your garden.

Pink Belladonna Lily Bloom Postcard by Sgolis  

I have transplanted this lily and found that it is easy to grow outdoors and indoors during the winter months.

There are several ways to grow the Amaryllis; in the winter as a houseplant and then transplant it to your outdoor garden in the spring after the threat of spring frost has passed. Or you can buy the bulbs and plant them in outdoor containers or in your gardens.

Growing Tips

1. Select an area in your garden that has full sun to shade in the heat of the day.
2. Plant naked ladies in soil that has been amended with compost.
3. The garden site needs to be well-drained
4. When fully grown the naked ladies' flowers are 24 to 36 in height, it is best to plant them in an area where they will not be overcrowded. Space the lily bulbs one foot apart.
5. Plant the bulb so the top is even with the soil surface.
6. Water well when planting is completed

Here is a photograph of Belladonna lilies growing in my side yard.

The fragrant pink rose flowers will bloom from tall naked stems (no leaves) in late summer to early autumn. The lilies are hardy to 28F.  Note I have grown these flowers for many years.  Where I reside it is not uncommon for the temperatures to dip below zero in the winter months.  This is why  I protect my lilies with 3 to 4 inches of mulch in late fall.

In my experience, the lilies that are planted with a wind block, in an area that has morning sun/ afternoon part shade in the peak heat of the day and is not watered daily seem to have vibrant blooms and long-lived flowers.

Other Growing Tips

Choose your planting site well and then do not disturb the naked ladies. If you transplant them it will take a few years for the plant to produce blooms.

Grow in full sun, for zone 7 to 11 and height is 28-35 inches / Common name is Belladonna lily, Cape belladonna, Naked ladies

Planting Tips for NON-GMO Milkweed Seeds/ Butterfly weed

If you love watching monarch butterflies and other butterfly species then plan to grow non-GMO milkweed seeds in your garden, field, or other open space. Milkweed plants (Asclepias) are the plants that attract Monarch butterflies, other butterflies, and hummingbirds because of the nectar source. This plant is also attractive to Monarch butterflies for egg-laying. 

Butterfly white tree nymph and the milkweed plant

If you plan on growing milkweed this season then I would recommend that you start your seeds indoors. Milkweed needs a (cold season) This is an important step as the cold temperature is needed for seeds to germinate. 

So before you plant your seeds you would dampen a paper towel, set the seeds on the towel, and put the towel in a ziplock plastic bag. Set the bag with seeds onto a baking sheet or other flat surface and put it in your refrigerator for 30 days. 

Remove the milkweed seeds after 30 days and plant your seeds in starter kits or in the ground. If the weather is not hot, then plant outdoors, but if your temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit then milkweed will not germinate outdoors I would recommend growing them indoors in a container, then transplanting them outdoors.

Know that it is recommended to plant milkweed seeds in the fall for the following spring season. 

Herbaria Lavender Face Serum Product Review

Herbaria makes a face serum that is made from lavender and bergamot essential oils. This biotherapy treatment for your face makes your skin feel soft, smooth, and ageless. Know that I grow herbs that could be used for essential oils but prefer to buy this organic herbal face treatment at  herbariasoap.com 

The products that herbaria use are pure, natural, and highest quality.  Know that I have been a long-time customer, since 2006. I was one of the customers that bought a variety of herbal soaps and DEET-free citronella mist for insect repellent when they were making the products in their home's basement. Love all their products but was happy that they came out with an anti-aging herbal face serum.

 I bought the face herbal serum and within a month of using the treatment twice a day,  I can see and feel the difference in my skin.

This serum works so well that I stopped wearing makeup. This herbal blended serum has restored elasticity and rejuvenated my complexion. I love the skin the that I am in because my face has a youthful glow.  

Since using this face serum my friends and family ask me “what are you using on your face” or they say “your skin looks great, care to share your secret?”

My secret is simple; 8 hours of sleep, 8 glasses of purified water, and Herbaria herbal face serum.

How to apply herbal serum:

In order to get firmer, smoother, and younger-looking skin. you need to apply only a few drops daily. What I do is wet my face with tepid water. Then I add 2 to 3 drops of the essential herbal oils to the palm of my hand. Rub my hands together before adding to my face. Then wait a few minutes for the oils to absorb into your skin before applying makeup. I treat my face in the morning and at night.

More Information

All products used in this serum are organic, which is very appealing. Ingredients are as follows; essential oil of lavender, essential oil of bergamot, organic rosehip oil, hemp seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, Vitamin E, and organic sunflower seed oil.


The fragrance of this oil is delightful, and the results of the one-month treatment are fantastic. Know that I recommend this herbal face treatment to anyone who desires natural moisturizer and youthful-looking skin.

Learn how to make essential oils from cuttings from your flower and herb garden by viewing this video.  You can make them in your kitchen, easy to do. 

When a Coyote Came Into Our Yard: What We Did About It

 

Living beside the woods has always been one of my favorite parts of our home. The wildlife, the quiet, the sense of being tucked into nature it’s all part of our daily rhythm. But years ago, long before my recent coyote article, we had an encounter that hit much closer to home. A coyote stepped out of the tree line and into our yard, and that moment changed how we approached living next to wild land. This is the story of what happened and the practical steps we took to keep our yard safe.

Our home is located directly next to 29 acres of woods, with a creek in the valley. That land connects to a state park, making it an ideal habitat for a variety of animals. We’ve always enjoyed watching the wildlife, but when a coyote came into our yard, it was too close for comfort. We knew we needed to act quickly, and this article explains exactly what we did to stop it from returning.

The First Visit

When coyotes come into your yard, the best immediate response is to scare them off. In general, coyotes are naturally fearful of humans. Most of the time, if you wave your arms and yell, they’ll run. But in the 15 years we’ve lived here, this was the first time a coyote had ever come this close. That told us something was attracting it, and we needed to figure out what.

What Was Drawing the Coyote In

Coyotes eat a wide variety of foods: small animals, insects, berries, and vegetables. I grow blueberries, Nanking cherries, and a full vegetable garden all outdoors and easily accessible.

After talking it over, my husband and I decided we needed a deterrent to keep the coyote from wandering into the yard again.

The Motion-Activated Sprinkler

We purchased a motion-activated water repellent the ScareCrow animal repellent by Contech. Installation was simple: stake it into the ground and attach it to the garden hose. It protects up to 1,200 square feet and is effective not only for coyotes but also stray dogs, deer, cats, raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits.

Here’s what happens when a coyote crosses the motion sensor:
The unit makes a sharp clicking noise and then releases a sudden burst of water. The noise startles the animal, and the water has enough force to create a quick sting. It’s harmless but unpleasant  exactly what you want in a deterrent.

The first time the coyote triggered it, it bolted. It tried a couple more times, testing the boundary, but each time the sprinkler fired, it backed off. Eventually, it stopped coming into the yard altogether.

Making the Yard Less Appealing

The next day, my husband and I walked the yard to look for anything else that might be attracting wildlife.

• Our dog’s food had spilled out of his bowl and was scattered on the ground. We fixed that by feeding him in the garage.
• We bought locking-lid trash cans from Lowe’s to keep animals out of the garbage.
• We cleared away thick, overgrown plants that created hiding spots. A manicured yard is far less comfortable for wildlife.

None of these changes were difficult, but together they made our yard much less appealing to curious animals.

A Note for City Residents

If you live in a city, your options may be different. In urban areas, I recommend contacting animal control and asking whether they can set a live trap to safely remove and relocate the coyote.

In our situation, trapping wasn’t realistic  there are many coyotes in the woods behind our home, and removing one wouldn’t solve the larger issue. Repellents and deterrents were the best approach for us.