I look at the last entry and cannot help but giggle that the “predictors” were saying it would be a MILD winter. It has been anything but mild. The snowfall has been ample, the northern breezes blustery and the succession of frigid days has been like winters long past, tragically drawn out and unyielding, ugh. Besides gardening, I like to run and the weather has made running virtually impossible. I am ready, anxious and at my wits end for spring’s arrival. It cannot come too quickly for me. So, the seed magazines and starter plant catalogs can come fill my mailbox tomorrow because my head is already dreaming of magnolia blossoms. I’ll never complain of the lack of Kansas snowfall again, I’ve sledded more this season than the last 10! But enough is enough, I’ve had my fill of barreling down Campenile at break neck speeds. The nights by a roaring fire were romantic and cozy, but we can retire the embers for this season, please. Busily daydreaming of spring!

Here we are in November and the trees have never been as colorful and stunning as they are this autumn. The temperatures have been fairly mild and the forecast calls for a warmer winter than average. All this means that you don’t have to lug those pots indoors but rather plant some winter flora in them, like dwarf alberta spruce, false cypress, holly, winterberry, aronia and more. What a way to greet the non-stop traffic of holiday guests than with some urns that are bursting forth with life and color this season. Please read, “Winter boxes and pots” to learn more and don’t shy away from those containers after the mums and pansies have faded, go for that winter oomph!

The weather is lush, wrapping us all like the comforting arms of an old friend, these are great days to get out into the garden and plant! Whether you are planting the “bones” of the garden, read “Audacious Autumn” for tips, or simply popping some much needed bulbs into the ground for that burst of spring color, please read “Bulbs, planting & storing”. There is no better time to sow the seeds of your earthly delights than the autumn time, so get out there and start planting!

Ugh, it is so hot! Every August in Kansas I look at my husband and I say, “why are we not on vacation somewhere cool?” It is unbearable, it is always unbearable in August in Lawrence, no one wants to be gardening, the gardens look fried and crispy, the lawns are brown and crusty, the AC is constantly going, the poor dog cannot take any rides in the car because she’ll overheat and die, and it always gets me thinking about steps I can take to be more prepared when the dog days of August come. I’ve written many articles about this topic, I think as gardeners and stewards of the natural resources on Earth and it is our duty to talk about being as green as possible. I wrote an article about “Earth Day” that has many helpful tips as to non-gardening methods we can be implementing to improve our planet. “Green Diet” is also a useful piece of writing about non-gardening avenues. “Greening up your green thumb” shares great ideas with steps we can take in the garden, like reducing our lawns, composting and the like. And finally “Water Wise Gardening” enlightens on the best ways to keep your plants alive, keep those water bills low and use that natural resource as prudently as possible. So, take a minute…you’re in the AC at least and read these helpful ways to do your part so we always have beautiful gardens and blossoming souls.

Not accidentally during these hottest of times, its World Water Week.  Learn more at www.worldwildlife.org

Summertime is the best time to have an herb garden. It is the perfect accent to those home-grown tomatoes and zucchini that are sprouting from the earth. And herbs are so effortless, they take no time and use up the minimalist of space there is really no excuse not to be growing a basil plant, a couple of varieties of sage and a cilantro or two. To learn more please read, Herb Gardening, and enjoy the scents, tastes and textures that herbs add to any gardener’s life.

One of the all time best “trends” in gardening has got to be the addition of the water garden. Whether you opt for a natural ecosystem with fish and lots of flora or you go for a simple bubbler with a plant or two, the wonder of a water garden is vast and colorful the entire summer long. With summer here water lilies, cannas and lotus are just a few of the gorgeous flowers on display, to learn more about water gardening, please read…Awe-inspiring aquatic plants, and dive in already it is an easy and thrilling form of gardening.

It is a safe time to start dragging your pots out of storage, dusting them off and heading to the nurseries. Creating spectacular containers is one of life’s pure pleasures. It brings instant satisfaction and color, they fill in mundane gaps in the garden, deck and patio and there is truly no better way to get those artistic juices flowing than sitting down with a pot, some soil, the flowers and an open mind. Read, “Creating Perfect Pots” & “Container Gardening” to learn more.

As we all know, we are what we eat, the same is true for plants. The best way to ensure that your new plantings will be off to a running start is by making sure the soil that they take root in is full of goodies. To learn more please read, Adding Organic Matter. While this article was written in the fall, it is always good to add organic matter when you plant, so everything here can apply to the Spring as well.

Let’s start sowing!!!

Ah, Spring and the nurseries beckon…come hither, “pick me” say the plants. It is a tough time not blowing your retirement on all the pretty plants that are summoning you to come over and take another look. This time of year I like to take drives out in the country and discover all the gorgeous sites to behold when the earth is rubbing it’s eyes and awakening from a long slumber. You can kill two birds with one stone by taking in the rural views and hitting some of the best nurseries around, please read “Outside City Limits” to learn more about the nurseries that border our town.

We, the dog, my son and I, take a daily run on campus and it is stunning right now at its absolute peak. Every morning we soak in our public park-like setting among the granduer of the buildings and add to that the spring time colors it is truly an excellent, massive area for outdoor enthusiasts. I highly recommend taking a slow stroll through campus right now. Please go read more about the fabulous work Mike Lang and his staff perform by clicking on KU Gardens. The crab apple, cherry, redbud, dogwood and pear trees are all in full bloom, add the forsythia, and the beds of colorful tulips and enjoy, but don’t blink you might miss this glorious display before it quickly fades away.