Our daily lives are very different than they were just a few weeks ago. We have added new terms like “social distancing“ and “flatten the curve” into our daily lexicon. For many of us, it has been two weeks or more since we left our homes. As a result, you might feel like the walls are starting to close in just a little. Getting outdoors to enjoy some fresh air, to get a little exercise, and to find something beautiful in nature that makes … [Read more...]
How to Keep Your Gladiolus Flowers From Falling Over
The gladiola flowers have been putting on quite a show this year. Pink, white, red, greenish-yellow, and purple gladiolus have graced my garden. I really like gladiolas but whenever there is a heavy rain or higher-than-usual winds, the glads dip over or break off. How to Keep Your Gladiolus From Falling Over Option 1: Plant your Gladiolus bulbs in a grouping, against a garden structure If you have a lot of gladiolus bulbs, plant them … [Read more...]
How to Grow Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Plant from Leaf Cuttings
Sansevieria is an awesome plant and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, making it perfect for indoor growing. If you want a plant-it-and-forget-about-it houseplant, then this is the one for you. The common names for Sansevieria are rather tongue in cheek – mother-in-law's tongue and snake plant. I mean, really, who came up with these names? I certainly wouldn’t want to call it that in front of my mother-in-law. Taking Leaf … [Read more...]
When Do You Put Out Your Hummingbird Feeders in Spring
The first hummingbirds start migrating northward in early spring, showing up in southern Texas, Louisiana, and northern Florida in late February and the first week of March. It takes a little while longer for them to start showing up in my garden, but they usually show up just when the red buckeyes are in full bloom. This tends to be around mid- to late-March. This is when I’ll hang my hummingbird feeders in my garden. There is a great … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes
Warm weather is here and the mosquitoes are already biting! With diseases like West Nile virus and Zika that are transmitted by mosquitoes, you’re going to need some protection. Mosquito Protection The first step is to avoid getting bitten -- wearing long sleeve shirts and pants are a great idea towards avoiding contact with mosquitoes. There are even clothes that are specifically created to protect you from mosquitoes. However, sometimes … [Read more...]
A Valentine’s Day Guide to The Meaning of Rose Colors
Did you know that there is meaning to the colors of roses? Valentine's Day is nearly here! For those of you looking to send roses to your Valentine or a friend, be sure that the color of the roses you send have the right message. Here's a quick guide to the meaning behind the colors of roses. When in doubt, I say always go with red roses - they are the perfect Valentine's Day flower - although purple is another nice option. Take a look … [Read more...]
Restore metal outdoor furniture to “like new”
A few years ago, I bought a really cute patio furniture set which was composed of a small metal table and two matching metal chairs. I put them on the front porch under the arbor. They were great for sitting and drinking a cup of tea and watching the hummingbirds feed at the cross vine. When I moved into my new house, I put them on the lawn in the backyard. Unfortunately my backyard is a haven for mosquitoes, so for the year that I’ve lived … [Read more...]
A Good Bug with a Bad Sting: The Assassin Bug
Have you seen one of these in your garden? I don’t know how I never noticed these little insects during the many years that I have been gardening, but they just never registered on my radar. A friend recently posted about being stung by one of these, and that very same day, I realized that I had taken a photograph of an assassin bug juvenile. Most assassin bugs (there are about 150 species), despite their scary name, are a boon to your … [Read more...]
Don’t Let the Bad Bugs Spoil Your Outdoor Fun
It is just the worst part of gardening. I mean it, the worst. The bugs. My former biology teachers would scold me for saying “bugs” and not insects, but that’s what we call them. I appreciate beneficial insects in the garden - the praying mantises, ladybugs, spiders, and even bees and wasps that can sting. But here in the Deep South, we are just overtaken by unpleasant bugs – redbugs, ticks, mosquitoes and anything that can bite or sting. I … [Read more...]
The Dangers of Halloween Spider Web Decorations
I love Halloween! Half the fun is decorating outdoors and the other half is scaring the trick-or-treaters. One of my favorite outside decorations is a scary face on the door that is motion-activated. Once or twice it has caused a trick-or-treater to turn around and run. Too funny! My outside decorations include happy ghost lights, orange string lights, floating ghosts, a scary skeleton, and caution tape. Indoors there are some bloody hands … [Read more...]