Mother Earth's Garden

We’ve had a mild fall this year, so I can actually say even in my northern garden I still have a few outdoor blooms holding out from the frosts that we’ve had so far.
I still have a few mum blooms peaking out from the leaves, and some green leaves here and there.

There are also just a few Black-Eyed-Susans blooms growing right up against the house. I think it stays a little warmer there, and it’s sheltered by the large eves and the bricks on the house keep things a little warmer there until the weather really gets cold.

I’ve also got …read more

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This time of year I always like to force a few bulbs so I’ll have some beautiful splashes of summer in the middle of winter. Some of my favorite bulbs to force?

Amaryllis is probably my absolute favorite, but you need to stake it and tie it up when it gets ready to bloom. Sometimes the blooms are too heavy for the stem and they fall over if you don’t.
Paper Whites ( Narcissus) are another favorite of mine, but they do have a definite odor to them, and it’s not my favorite scent. Don’t put them in a high traffic area. …read more

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The asters are in bloom in woodlands and meadows all around our area right now. Asters produce a tiny, delicate, daisy-like flower in the fall. They’re one of my favorite fall blooms.

They come in a whole range of colors from white to dark purple, and look lovely in a fall flower arrangement. The most popular type of aster is the New England Aster, that is the one you see most often growing in fields and woodlands.
Asters like to grow in clusters or clumps, and spread their cheery blooms from August through October in most areas. They’re spread by …read more

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If you live in the north some of your flower bulbs won’t make it through the winter unless you dig them up and put them in a sheltered location. You might get lucky with a mild winter, but chances are most of these bulbs won’t come back next spring.
 
A couple bulb digging tips:

Dig your bulbs after the foliage starts to die back in the fall.
Let them sit in the sun for a couple weeks to dry out before you put them in storage.
Store your bulbs in paper bags, or in buckets with a little peat where mice or other …read more

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September in my garden is always a beautiful time. I don’t have the spectacular blooms I have during some of the summer months, but some of my favorite flowers are still blooming, and I love taking crisp morning strolls through the gardens. The air is so refreshing, and the view is still spectacular.
Here’s what’s blooming in my September garden.
I still have some mini roses climbing up the side of the house.

These morning glories are growing in the neighbor’s corn field. I’m sure he doesn’t appreciate them near as much as I do. They’re blooming in four different colors, …read more

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Fall is the perfect time to plant most flower bulbs. Make sure you check the planting instructions on the type of bulb you’re planting. There are some bulbs that need to be kept indoors through the winter and only planted in the Spring.
 
Some 5 great bulbs to plant in the fall:

Allium
Tulips
Daffodils
Crocus
Hyacinth

Most of these will give you great color in the Spring if you plant them during the fall months.

A couple fall bulb planting tips:

Plant your bulbs late in the fall, right before the weather gets cold enough to start frosting regularly.
Mix bulb types and colors for a Spring …read more

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Tansy isn’t one of those show stopping bold fall blooms, but it is a fall favorite for it’s cheery yellow color, and it’s versatility.
It’s actually a perennial herb. I believe it has medicinal uses, but I’ve never tried using it for anything other than it beauty. If you’re interested in using it medicinally, find out everything you can about it before diving in.
Tansy makes a great cut flower for floral arrangements, and it’s wonderful dried for dried flower arrangements. You can also easily press it for pressed flower portraits. The leaves are very delicate and fern-like, which makes them fabulous …read more

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I love the sedum family, but my favorite is Autumn Joy Sedum. It’s just getting ready to bloom in my little corner of the world. It starts blooming when many of the other flowers in my garden are looking dried up and brown. It stays looking fresh and crisp way into the fall.

Even after Autumn Joy’s blooms start to fade in the late fall the dried blooms and foliages still add winter interest to the garden. They’re one of the few plants that still look good in the winter, so I don’t cut them back I leave the …read more

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You know the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure? If you have a few flowers you can make a treasure out of the junkiest junk. At least that’s what some of the gardeners at our local fair have figured out. Check out some of these beautiful displays that combine flowers with junk.

I think all of these junk floral displays are created from car, or tractor parts. Did you think old car parts could look so attractive?

Maybe I should make something like this to put in my own garden? Make a junk sculpture and let the …read more

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Fall is the season for big, bold flowers. They’ve been incubating, and growing all summer, now the mammoths of the flower world are in full bloom. Two of my favorite fall flowers are mums and sunflowers. Both come in all shapes and sizes, but some of my favorites are the larger blooms.
First up some beautiful sunflowers. In reds, yellows, oranges, and even a touch of pink.

Next up the mums. Here are some bold and beautiful mums in a whole rainbow of colors. I think my favorite is the white one at the bottom, with a hint …read more

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