Holly

It's that time of year when we think of decorating our homes and holly is very popular. If you would like to plant a holly in your landscape remember to get and male and female plant of the same species. You can have several females that will bear berries, but you must have a least one male within a few hundred feet.

Thought for today

Here's a thought for today: The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.

Baptisia

Baptisia australis is the 2009 plant of the year. It's a great plant that gets about 4 feet tall and has blue flowers. It is slow to come up in the spring but grows very quickly and will be blossoming in June. It has charcoal colored pods that stay all winter and rattle in the wind. It has a tap root so plant it where you want it to stay as it hates to be moved. It will eventually seed down and you can move those little seedlings. Every garden shoud find room for one (or two) of these.

New address

We had a very successful open house. Thanks to all that participated. I also have a new email address. It is hearthstone@frontier.com.

Frost

We finally got our first frost on Oct. 18. Interestingly enough we actually got several inches of snow before we got our first freeze! I have been putting away the perennials for the winter--we trim them back and let them freeze. They need at least 6 weeks of dormancy to perform well next season. Now the begonias and canna lilies have been frosted, I can start taking up my bulbs and drying them for another year. Next up--get ready for the holiday season!!

Bats

It's the time of year when we start to see bats used for Holloween decorations. These misunderstood mammals are very beneficial . In the U.S., most bats are insect eaters. The little brown bat consumes an average of 600 insects an hour. They feed several times a night. That's a lot of bugs that won't be bugging you!!!

Fall blossoms

Are you looking for something that blossoms in September-October other than rudbeckia?
Try some of these: Aconitum, anemone, asters, chelone, Sweet Autumn clematis, eupatorium, helianthus, hibiscus, and trycirtus. All are hardy and easy to grow!

Moonlight garden

Here are some ideas for a moonlight herb garden. Artemesia, shasta daisy, baby's breath, russian sage, white rose, cerastium tomentosa, lavender cotton, lamb's ear, horehound, white phlox, boltonia, lychnis coronaria, white columbine, and wormwood.

More on natural repellents

Lavender and mints are ready now for harvesting. Lavender makes a great sachet for your drawers and linens. Just dry your lavender(you can even dry some mint and rosemary to go with it) and make little sachets for you drawers. It makes things smell good and even repels moths.

Did you know mice hate the smell of peppermint? Dry peppermint and lay the stems on your attic floor to repel these creatures or use peppermint oil on cotton balls to keep mice out of you camper or attic or anywhere you see mice travel. They are like ants and like to use the same trail.

natural repellent

I found this recipe for a natural bug repellent. Crush 1 1/2 cups rosemary leaves aand 1 1/2 cups pennyroyal leaves. Place in a jar and cover with 2 cups pure vegetable oil. Seal container and keep in dark place for 2 weeks, shaking it a bit every day. After 2 weeks, strain the liquid and store in sealed dark colored bottle for up to six months. Spray or rub directly exposed skin.

I just got in a big order of new statuary. Stop by and check it out!

Growing Native

If you would like to try some native plants here are a few that you might like: amsonia, asclepias, boltonia, baptisia, cimicifuga, eupatorium, lobelia, monarda,tiarella and rudbeckia. All are easy to grow and very hardy.

Insect repellent herbs

Here are some herbs to make your summer a little more enjoyable. These herbs help repel those annoying little bugs: feverfew, lavender, pennyroyal, rue, santolina, southernwood, tansy, and wormwood.

Attracting butterflies/hummingbirds

Here are some flowers to plant to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden: Anaphalis, asclepias, echinacae, nasturtiums, valerian, borage, delphinium, monarda, calendula, verbena, joe pye weed, lemon balm, buddleia, garlic chives, yarrow, parsley, baptisia, globe thistle, lavender. Also hummingbirds especially like any flower that has a bell shape, like the campanulas and penstemons.

Early blossoms

Are you looking for something that blossoms early in the spring? Try some of these: Arabis, English daisy, bergenia, caltha palustris, bleeding heart, helleborus, candytuft, lamium, forget-me-not, poppies, creeping phlox, polemonium, primrose, lungwort, tiarella, vinca, and violas are just a few.
We have them at Hearthstone!!

Bit of Wisdom

Here is a quote I came across today. To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds, and watch their renewal of life--this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do.... The man who has planted a garden feels that he has done something for the good of the world. Charles Dudley Warner
If you believe global warming is happening, than indeed you are doing your part. Plant a few natives and you will also be helping to balance your little eco-system.

Plants favorite colors

Did you know some plants have favorite colors? For an increase in tomato production plant small plants in red plastic mulch. Potatoes and bell peppers prefer a white mulch.

Planting trees

Did you know it can be up to 20 degrees F cooler under a tree in the hot summer sun? Plant trees on the west and south facing side of your house to reduce air conditioning by 10 to 50 %.

Pruning tips

Prune spring or winter-flowering shrubs right after blooming. These include dogwoods, forsythia, rhodendrons and azalea, climbing and shrub roses. Summer blooming are usually pruned in winter while they are dormant. These include beautyberries, hibiscus and hybrid tea roses.

Water saving perennials

If you are thinking of adding some new perennials to you garden, try these water saving mound forming plants: armeria, cerastium, euphorbia, and soapwort. Easy to grow, well drained soil and sun!