Free Wallpaper
I thought this was a beautiful image of a Hibiscus! It’s a free image, so you can download it if you like. It is currently my wallpaper on my computer!
Large Maple
I decided to start with Maple because it is probably the most common shade tree anywhere in the US. They are top performers and live long if you pick a species that is best for your zone, or climate. They are typically easy to care for and are absolutely beautiful in the fall. Maples are one of the most easily recognizable trees, with very distinctive leaves. Almost anyone can tell a maple from another kind of tree.
Zones: 3-9
Type: Deciduous
Light: Full sun to part shade depending on the species
Size: 50-100 ft.tall, 30-60 ft. wide
Form: Rounded and spreading
Growth …read more
1 CommentTree Basics
Just a quick review, since we’ll be talking a lot about trees. There are two main “types” of trees, evergreen and deciduous. Evergreens, as everyone knows, stay green all year round, and are cut down for Christmas trees. Well, not all evergreens are used for Christmas trees, which I would like to make a point by saying I have an artificial Christmas tree. (I told you I was a bit obsessed with trees!) Deciduous trees loose their leaves in the fall. Trees also range in shape. They can be conical, spreading, round, pyramid, …read more
Garden Blessings
I witnessed something truly touching yesterday. A lady in a nursing home was being pushed through the home’s garden by some one I assume was her older granddaughter. You could see on her face how much she enjoyed being outside as they stopped and looked at all the beautiful flowers and trees that were budding. Some gardeners never get to see the effect their garden has on people, especially in public places. So kudos to all the gardeners and landscapers that make our public places beautiful. This lady I know truly appreciates what you do, …read more
Tree 101
I must admit, this is my passion as a gardener/amateur conservationist! Trees. Almost to an extreme. Sadly, very few home owners know very much about their trees. It is very important to know what kind of trees you have, so you can properly care for them. Smaller trees are easier to care for, since you don’t have to climb them to prune, but bigger trees are great for shade and large areas of land and will need only a little pruning when they are older if taken care of when young. So for those of you who already have trees …read more
Prepare for Earth Day!
Earth Day is this Sunday! If you’re planning on having an Earth Day party, or are just curious to learn a bit more, here are some great links.
Official Earth Day site
Government site
Great site for kid activities
Earth Day history
Ecological Footprint Quiz
Dumpster Diving For Trees
I was very upset to find that a local business in our area would not allow you to recycle material they are throwing away. My father in-law goes around and collects scrap metal and recycles it. He approached a local business that he saw was throwing away quite a lot of recyclable material and tried to set up a working relationship where he would come pick up the material and recycle it for them, free of charge. Once something is thrown away, it becomes public property. This is why police can go threw some …read more
Mutated Flower
I was in the flower section of my garden center and found this little beauty looking up at me from a shelf of potted flowers. One stem, two flowers. Not sure what causes plants to mutate like this. I’m sure it has something to do with being grown in the same green house year after year. It’s like inbreeding for plants, keeping them all together and reseeding them every season. But there are plant mutations all around us. Ever find a four leaf clover? That’s a mutation. I was lucky enough to find …read more
In Search of Peas
I think Ohio has something against lady peas, or as they are called in the south, purple hulls. I have searched high and low for this bean, but I can find no local stores that carry the seeds. I grew up with this particular vegetable and fondly remember that they went really well with ketchup. I’m sure it was just a ploy by my mom to get me to eat my vegetables but I distinctly remember she put ketchup on her beans too. I lived in the southern states then, so perhaps the northern states are …read more
Protecting Plants from Late Frost
Once again I am extremely glad I didn’t plant anything yet. We had sunny 76 degree weather all last week. This week, literally right on Monday, it dropped to the into the 30’s and has been snowing on and off. While I can definitely be glad that my annuals will not be damaged, my bulbs, trees, and shrubs got a little too anxious with the warm weather streak, and now are in need of some form of covering. In the case of the bulbs and shrubs, put a good layer of mulch down. This should …read more