Mother Earth's Garden

There comes a point where one feels it’s time to move on. This is just such a point for me and Mother Earth’s Garden. I could come up with some really fantastic story to explain why I’m leaving, like I’m going to New Zealand to study the less than a dozen ancient giant Kauri Trees before they disappear, but then that wouldn’t sound very believable would it? No, the truth is I’ve taken up a few extra jobs outside of the home, and have a little less time to devote to gardening, let alone writing about it. I’ve …read more

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Do you remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about Skin MD? Well, they sent me another lotion to review, Gloves in a Bottle. I feel it would be redundant to review this one as in depth, because my findings have been pretty darn close to the same. However I will try to be objective and point out a few things.
 
 
 
 

The claim is the same. Helps restore natural moisture while keeping all the bad stuff out. It does this, very well. At first I found that the effect was rather short lived. After an hour my hands would …read more

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I have determined that only the smartest and hardiest bugs make it through the season. This is good for those bugs, but horrible for those of us who have to deal with them coming in to get out of the cold. There was this gnat flying around my computer yesterday, and no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t get him. I know I hit him at least once, and he still kept flying around. It’s the same thing with the lady bugs and flies. The flies die off pretty quickly, but the lady bugs are a nuisance. They …read more

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As a gardener, you can either love fall, or hate it. more avid gardeners of course know that there is plenty to do in the fall and winter months, especially if you bring the garden indoors. But for those of us who are avid gardeners, or just the casual planter, don’t forget to stop and enjoy this glorious season. Often times I find my self looking at the ground deciding what to plant, or what needs taken care of. It’s easy to miss the whole landscape. Step back. Take a break from all your …read more

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Fall is my second favorite season. Winter is my first, which is odd being a gardener! I love all the colors in Autumn. It really never ceases to amaze me how everything can change so drastically and still be just as beautiful! Our new puppy, Dugal, loves chasing all the falling leaves. Not to mention that all those piles of raked leaves make great mulch for the winter season, or can be thrown into the compost bin. I love that natural mulch!
Here are some great ideas to do on your own, or with your family …read more

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This month in Home and Dining, we’re going pink! October is breast cancer awareness month. You hear a lot of hype about breast cancer, but the truth is that it is a real concern for women. Younger and younger women are starting to be affected by this. If you’re a women, if you’re married to a women, or you know a women, it’s important to do all you can to help prevent breast cancer. For more info check out the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure site.
 
In honor of this important event, I put together some of my …read more

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These are the days that I dread. So warm during the day that you can still wear sandals and shorts, but so cold at night you have to wear a parka. Trying to get the longest bloom time from your fall foliage can be tricky. Keep an eye on your local weather frost advisory. Fall frost can stunt your plants in the same way spring frost can. So bundle up your plants and shrubs on really frosty nights in cloth. In the early morning, grab your sweater and head out in the cold to uncover them. …read more

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Jennifer from Offbeat Homes raised a really good question about the technique I shared to help acclimate your outdoor plants to an inside environment for winter. She wasn’t the only one! So I thought I would clarify. She asked if putting plastic bags over the plants would harm or kill them. Actually I thought the same thing when I first heard about this trick. I thought it would smother my plants! But surprisingly it did absolutely nothing to my plants. Don’t ever put plastic over your plants outside! The variations in temperature and more direct light …read more

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Unless your perennials are diseased, avoid cutting them back until early spring. The crown and foliage with protect the roots and stems from winter frost.

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Because I do a lot of container gardening, many of my plants can be brought indoors for winter. Sudden changes in light and temperature can cause wilting and in some cases cause parts of plants to die off. Also if a plant has been outside for a long period of time, you can unknowingly bring in insects that will attack your other house plants. It’s important to give your plants time to adjust slowly. Place a clear plastic bag (like a dry cleaning bag) over your plant that reaches all the way or close to the floor. …read more

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