Planting for the Irish in You

With St. Patrick's Day quickly approaching, we're feeling a touch o' the Irish.  Since we're always "green" we thought we'd celebrate the Irish holiday by mentioning a couple of Irish themed plants.  .

Irish Eyes Rudbeckia 

Very unusual flowers for planting close up. Huge daisy flowers to five inches across. Aster-like petals in golden yellow surround a bright green center. Add to the middle of the border for some sensational late-season color. Performs well in container gardens. Herbaceous perennial.

Irish Moss

Handsome, lush deep green moss-like foliage forms a soft mat that is good along walkways and between stepping stones. Tiny translucent white flowers add to its beauty in spring. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Evergreen perennial.

Shamrock Holly

Selected for its compact habit and bright, glistening new foliage, this dwarf grower makes an excellent hedge or border plant. The dense twiggy habit displays an abundance of black berries through winter,

Dark Dancer White Clover

Vigorous grower with dark purple-black, clover-shaped leaves and white summer flowers makes a spectacular groundcover. Intermingles with other plants well in mixed beds or containers. Easy-care perennial requires no deadheading. Heat and drought tolerant.

Attracting Hummingbirds

It is doubtful that a bird exists who gets a bigger invitation into the yards of gardeners than the hummingbird.  Hummingbirds are beautiful and fun to watch, and once you find a way to attract them to your yard, the show will last through the summer.  If you plan carefully, making sure that you have plants that bloom at different times all through the season, you will be rewarded with an incredible show, and amazing photography opportunities all season long.

A Hummer Garden is the most natural and satisfying way to bring these interesting little birds into your landscape.   We'll give you some suggested plants, and  you can choose how to incorporate them into your landscape.  Whether you plant in your beds, in containers or hanging baskets, we promise you won't be disappointed with the results.

Another thing to keep in mind when planting a Hummer Garden is that you do not need to worry about pesticides.  Killing the garden pests will take away one of the hummingbird's food sources.  Hummingbirds need the small insects for protein.  Also, the pesticides sprayed on flowers can make hummingbirds sick, and possibly kill them.  Let the hummingbirds take care of the pests, and you take care of the hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds, like most birds, have very little sense of smell, which means they are attracted to the color and nectar production of flowers.

Listed below are the flowers you need in your garden if you want to attract hummingbirds:

Perennial Flowers

• Bee Balm
• Canna
• Cardinal Flower
• Columbine
• Coral Bells
• Four O'Clocks
• Foxglove
• Hosta
• Lantana
• Lupine
• Yucca

Annual Flowers

• Beard Tongue
• Fuchsia
• Geranium
• Impatients
• Nicotania
• Petunia
• Salvia
• Shrimp Plant

Vines

• Coral Honeysuckle
• Cypress Vine
• Morning Glory
• Scarlet Runner Bean
• Trumpet Creeper

Trees and Shrubs

• Azalea
• Butterfly Bush
• Cape Honeysuckle
• Flame Acanthus
• Flowering Quince
• Manzanita
• Mimosa
• Weigela

Planting a Hummer Garden may just be your newest hobby.  Have fun with it.

Edging Options for Your Beds

Curious about options when it comes to edging around your garden beds?

With all the choices available, we thought we'd highlight a few:

Stone Edging

Mix and match stone shapes and colors for a natural edge.  Positioned in a winding pattern, a stone edging creates a nice shape for flowering ground covers to gently creep over.

Metal Edging

Metal landscape edging does a good job of keeping mulch in and keeping unwanted plants out.  It is more utilitarian looking than decorative.  It is also important to buy a quality product to ensure edges are not sharp.

Wood Edging

Wood landscape edging is a good choice for very large landscapes.  While it helps keep the mulch in, it doesn't do a good job of preventing unwanted plants from invading.  Since wood is biodegradable, it needs  to be treated to keep it from decomposing or warping.

Masonry Edging

Masonry (brick or concrete) edging looks great and comes in a multitude of styles.

Flagstone Edging

Flagstone and bluestone feature wide, flat faces that lend a romantic Country feeling to a garden. With the irregular shapes, it's a great choice for cottage style gardens.



Whatever you choose, some things to consider are cost, how long it lasts and especially, how will it look with your home and current landscape.

How To Pick a Tree

There are many factors involved when selecting a tree for that certain spot.  Just because you love a certain species doesn't mean you have the right location for.

Listed below are a few tips we've borrowed from the Arbor Day Foundation that you need to consider when selecting the right tree for the right spot.

• Height.  Will the tree bump into anything when it reaches full maturity?
• Canopy spread.  How wide will the tree grow?
• Is the tree deciduous or coniferous?  (Will it lose its leaves in the winter?)
• Form or shape.  A columnar tree will grow in less space.  Round and V-shaped species provide the most shade.
• Growth rate.  How long will it take for your tree to reach its full height?  Slow growing species typically live longer than fast growing species.
• Soil, sun, and moisture requirements.
• Fruit.  No one wants messy dropping on busy sidewalks.
• Hardiness zone indicates the temperature extremes in which a tree can be expected to grow.  

You also might want to take this quiz to help you out.  This quiz is also furnished by the Arbor Day Foundation.

When selecting your tree for that special spot, remember to check on the items above.  Happy tree hunting!

Gifts for the Gardeners In Your Life

If you've got a gardener in your life (don't we all?), and you're looking for that perfect gift for your dirt lover, we've got some great ideas.  We've spent the winter looking through catalogs and websites and drooling over all the fantastic finds.

Here are a few of our favorites.  Some for the beginner gardener and some for the gardening addicts.  No matter where you fall between the two extremes, gardening is the best way to get in touch with the outdoors.  It's healthy, it's peaceful and above all, it's good for the mind.  

Consider these for that favorite gardener in  your life.  Or even better, give a gardening gift and help someone else discover a new love of the outdoors.

Bogs Garden Boots


May Flowers come early to Bogs! The Bogs Classic Tall is built with maximum comfort and durability to withstand anything Mother Nature can throw at you this spring. The Classic Tall offers 7mm Neo-Tech insulation to circulate air as well as a contoured removable insole (with antimicrobial protection to keep toes fresh as a daisy). Easy-on pull handles and durable hand-lasted rubber over a four way stretch inner bootie ensure maximum comfort and durability.

Solar Powered Rain Barrel Pump System

Tired of low water pressure from your rain barrel? The solar powered rain barrel pump system provides pressurized pumping through a garden hose with no electrical outlet required. High powered system pumps up to 100 gallons on a single charge. There's no need to elevate your rain barrel to extract the water or install expensive electrical pumps. Solar energy pumps with enough force to work for all your watering needs including sprinklers and other watering activities.

Stainless Steel Solar-Powered Fountain Birdbath with Copper Finish

Place this stainless Steel Solar-Powered Fountain Birdbath with Copper Finish in a sunny spot, sit back and enjoy the show. You'll provide needed nourishment while you relax to the soothing sight and sound of water in motion, no wiring or installation needed.

The built-in solar panel circulates water whenever the sun shines. Includes one gentle shower and one bubbling fountain head. Stainless steel construction with real antique copper finish. 

Tomato Grow Bucket

Start your garden with delicious Beefsteak Tomatoes! This kit is the perfect, fuss-free way to start growing your own tomato plant.

Tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to grow, and they yield massive amounts of fruit. The Beefsteak is one of the biggest tomatoes out there - it's a juicy variety that you rarely find at the supermarket because factory farms prefer smaller, tougher skinned fruit. That's a shame, because beefsteak tomatoes are great salad or hamburger toppers, with big, thick, juicy slices the size and color of a steak. If you want a Southern Style BLT, you need Beefsteak tomatoes for the full taste.

The kit includes Beefsteak Tomato seeds, a galvanized steel bucket, row marker, soil, shovel, and a rake.

Once the tomato plant outgrows its pail planter, simply transplant it in the garden to allow optimum root growth and number of tomatoes produced.

Herb Saver

Fresh herbs wilt quickly in the fridge, but the Herb Saver or "Herb Savor" by Prepara helps keep the flavor and vitamins from wilting away. The HerbSaver protects rosemary, cilantro, basil, and other herbs from frost damage and dehydration. It has a handy design that can prolong the shelf life of herbs for up to 3 weeks.

Pottery for Impact

A favorite is always a great piece of pottery.  A piece of pottery bought from a local artisan is even better.  Go to an art show, a local garden center or ask around.  A magnificent piece of pottery filled with gorgeous plants will give impact to any entry.

The Garden Bench

There are so many ways to add interest to your landscape, but nothing can bring as much comfort as a garden bench.  Garden benches have provided outdoor pleasure to people for centuries, and while everything else in our environment has changed and grown, the pleasure of a few minutes stolen from the business of your day has not.

Garden benches are great for reflecting with that first cup of coffee in the morning, while reading the news or planning your day.  A comfortable seat in a quiet location, before you begin the day allows you to take in the sights and smells of your garden, as well.  In the evening, a garden bench gives you the opportunity to calm down, take a breath and unwind in the most visually appealing, harmonious location of your entire home, both indoors and out.

A garden bench and a few minutes alone turn your yard into a sanctuary, and that's why selecting the right bench is important.  There are so many choices available, and we want to share a few of our favorites.

Wood Benches

We like teak.  Teak has long been used by boat builders and craftsmen, and is perfect for an outdoor bench.  A high quality teak bench can last a lifetime.  Perfect for the zen garden.

Wrought Iron Benches

We love the look of wrought iron.  It's beautiful and reminiscent of the benches our grandparents had in their yards.  Nostalgia is always a good thing.  Imagine it surrounded by a garden full of hydrangea.

Resin Benches

If you're environmentally friendly, then a resin bench might be the perfect choice.  They are made from recycled plastic which is stronger and more durable than regular plastic.  They are also contoured for seating comfort.  Great for the eco-friendly garden.  

Cast Stone Garden Benches

The most durable of garden benches is the stone garden bench.  It is very heavy and often quite expensive, but it is perfect for very large yards.


The choices are many and varied, each material offering a great selection of styles.  The important thing is that you add a garden bench to your landscape.

Gardening With Flavor

 

Need something to do with those fresh herbs?  We've got a recipe for you to try!

Oven Roasted Potato Wedges with Fresh Herbs

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 large russet potatoes, each cut into 8 wedges 
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 
• 1/4 cup minced fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, chive, dill, and Italian parsley

1. 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  
2. 2. In a medium bowl combine the oil, salt, and pepper. Add the potato wedges to the bowl and toss to coat evenly.
3. 3. Put potatoes in roasting pan,.
4. 4. In a small bowl mix the butter and mustard. Drizzle over the potatoes. Add the herbs and stir to coat the potatoes evenly. 
5. 5.  Roast potatoes until tender about 35 to 45 minutes.