Yes- my mass planting of tulips in front of daffodils did not make it this year.  (They looked awesome last year)  To much water sitting there this spring, and not enough drainage.    I did get a lot of green leaves laying on the ground. 

Adding fragrance to your garden can be as simple as purchasing the flower you like and finding a spot for it in your garden.  At my first home, I bought a dwarf lilac and planted it right outside my front window.  I loved the smell and looked forward to spring even more in anticipation of it wafting into the house. You could put a little more thought into it and experience even more enjoyment.

Be sure to find fragrant plants for each season and incorporate them in different areas of your gardens.  By planning this way, you will be able to find sweet fragrance in your yard Spring, Summer and Fall throughout all your garden areas. Be sure to plant them in all the key areas of your garden, such as your front entry, along the edge of your patio, in containers, or along your walkway.

There are so many choices of fragrant blooms that vary in height, bloom time, and hardiness.  You can add a variety of fragrant shrubs, perennials, and annuals for the most interest.  The following is a list of many to help you get started.

Spring blooming: Lilac,  Daphne, Rhododendron, Peony, and Korean Spice Viburnum for shrubs.  Fragrant Begonia,Hyacinth, Fragrant Daffodils, Sweet Pea, Chamomile, and Bearded Iris for flowers.

Summer blooming: Summersweet, Butterfly bush, Mock Orange, Honeysuckle for shrubs.  Tuberose, Phlox, Russian Sage, Festalis Ismene, Petunia, Bee Balm, Geranium, Lavender, Freesia, and Heliotrope for flowers.

Fall blooming (or late summer): Wintersweet, Sweet Box, Abelia for shrubs.  Foxtail lily, Sweet Autumn Clematis, Sage and Anise for flowers.

I write about caring for your garden, specifics on many flowers, different planting ideas, etc.  I am a flower, garden and outdoors lover.  When it comes to indoor plants and flowers, it is a little different.   I am just one of those that does not care for them well.   I still love various foliage and flowers, but do not seem to give the same care and love to them indoors.  (Hence why the flowers I use in winter — hyacinth and amaryllis — are the easiest plants!)  They virtually need NO care.   I know I cannot be the only one like this.

Currently, I have two indoor plants surviving over one year:  an Aloe plant and an Oleander.   They seem to be quite tolerant of neglect.  Foliage and flowers make the indoors look better by design, much like they do outdoors.  I just wish I could stop losing plants.

I have seen and read about these cute and adorable Terrariums.  I think I may be able to keep succulents alive?? (The Aloe doesn’t always look good though it is still alive.)  I love the idea and decided to add a few to my decor this winter.  When I found these terrariums that have artificial foliage, it was perfect for someone like me.  You cannot tell that they are not real succulents either!  They are called Forever Faux Terrariums.

It is only early March, yet I am already writing in anticipation of Spring.  We just received another 3 inches of beautiful snow yesterday.  Most of our snow was late this year, but I know Spring is almost here.  When it arrives, I am thrilled to walk around the yard and look at all of the new buds just beginning to appear.  There is also much anticipation to take the time to sit and relax outdoors.

The cool weather is great for working in the yard, but it is difficult having to return to the indoors so early on these still cold evenings.  In Wisconsin and many other northern states, we have just spent at least 3-4 months trapped indoors.  That is what makes a fire pit or chimenea almost necessary for at least half of the United States.  It is wonderful to stay outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and sounds in the air. Outdoor heating elements make this possible earlier in the year!

When you are done working in the yard or return home from work, it can be very relaxing to sit outdoors by the heat of some type of fire.  It is not just the heat and fresh air that is relaxing, but also gazing at the flickering and dancing flames which can help to create a tranquil environment.  It is why those in Florida or in any other southern state can still have so much enjoyment from some type of fire pit or chimenea even though they may not need the warmth quite so much.

Get outdoors soon, and stay out as long as you can!  Take time to rest and relax, soaking up all the outdoors has to offer you — right in your own back yard!  Small fires are easy and safe to enjoy.

If I have convinced you to get yourself your own fire pit or chimenea, I encourage you to check out the cool affordable options that WillardandMay.com have to offer you.

Since they are slow to get growing, starting these tubers indoors is a great way to get fuller, more vigorous plants come summertime.  Here are some helpful steps to get started early:

• Plant them in a well-drained planting container with a bit of potting soil, at a depth of approximately 2-3 inches deep. Attempt to determine which end is up by feeling for points (buds) on one end. Once those points are found, place this side upwards under the soil.
• Water sparingly.  Caladiums require a consistent temperature of 60° F or above in order to sprout and begin growing. Keep in a sunny location, somewhat shielded from hot, direct sunlight.
• Move containers outdoors or replant in an outdoor garden bed after all threats of frost has past.

Some sources even lovingly refer to caladiums as Angel Wings!  Check out some nice varieties at Tulipworld.com.    You can get them as early as late February, giving you a nice jump-start on your garden.  Keep in mind: caladiums are only hardy in planting zones 9-11, but can easily be stored indoors over the winter if you are in colder zones. Protect them from frost at all costs and you’ll have beautiful foliage for your shade garden for years to come!

You can do this project on your own or include the rest of the family.  Do it just for fun, as a classroom project or even as a homeschooling project!  Choose from Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, or use them all!

1.  Purchase some ‘prepared bulbs’ or ‘pre chilled’ bulbs. (Tulipworld.com is currently carrying some varieties)

2.  Unpack your planting containers and some potting soil.  Or to make it even more simple,  you can even buy planting kits (container, soil & bulb) from WillardandMay.com.

3.  Plan on planting as many bulbs that you can fit in the container.  You decide.  Cover bulbs with soil and water lightly.  No fertilizer or any other additives needed.

4.  Once your bulbs have been fully chilled (each type of bulb has a certain amount of chilling weeks needed), simply set out under normal lights for about a week.  Then place in a bright window or under brighter lights for 2-4 weeks.

5. Once blooms begin to open, move to normal lighting area for a longer bloom time.  Now Enjoy!

Experiment ideas:

• Leave some under normal light until bloom
• Compare the difference in blooms when bulbs are planted closer together
• Track growth rate
• Plant some bulbs with just water and compare the results

Just in case, I have included a timing chart for most bulbs:

Name of bulb                         Weeks of cold                    Weeks to bloom

Well, have I got the answer for you!  Why not consider purchasing some “pre-chilled” bulbs so that you don’t have to do the work? Willard & May has recently started to offer kits containing Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Muscari and Crocus bulbs which have now been chilled for at least 10 weeks.  These kits are sure to bring some cheer to anyone’s home and office, making wonderful gifts!  Planting and then watching these bulbs grow can even be a simple but fun and educational project to do with young children.  The planting container, soil disk and bulb are all included.

  So go check them out today!

Willard & May; Outdoor Living & Gifts

Flowers can bring such a smile to my face and to my heart!  The variety, the color- can make anyone feel a bit better.  Isn’t this why we give flowers for: Birthdays, Anniversaries,  Funerals, and other special events?

So what are we hopeless gardeners to do?  Purchase cut flowers regularly from a florist ($$) ?  Force flower bulbs?  Buy and care for tropical plants that will flower indoors in the winter?

I am a decent gardener outside, but when it comes to plants/flowers for indoors- I can barely just keep them alive.  I did some forcing of bulbs last winter with some success.  I scheduled the weeks to chill in our company’s cooler and then planted them. Unless you own an extra refrigerator at home, you are can be quite limited on how many bulbs you can manage to chill for 12-15 weeks (the amount of time most fall planted bulbs – tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, crocus, etc – require before they will grow & bloom).  Again, this leaves us gardeners in dreary times.

There are, however, ways to keep this dreariness at bay! I will give you some easy options I recommend and what plan to take:

1. Right now (October – December), you can buy Amaryllis and Paperwhites, and they need NO chilling period.  Just plant.  In 4-8 weeks you will have multiple blooms.  Buy a handful, and plant them a week apart for an extended bloomtime!
2. For more variety or for after Amaryllis & Paperwhites, purchase (December & January) prepared or chilled bulbs.  Prepared bulbs have been chilled for at least 10 weeks for you.  Leaving you to only chill them for 2-5 more weeks.  Fully chilled bulbs will be ready for you to plant.  In 2-3 weeks you will begin to have more flowers!  Stagger planting time to prolong your time period of blooms.

This year, you can find some choices of prepared and fully chilled bulbs at TulipWorld.com and at WillardandMay.com.

If you want or need more details on forcing flower bulbs, see my previous post: Forcing Flower Bulbs

Here’s to a more cheery winter for all of us gardeners!

I am not one to give up sleep for shopping for any gift or for anything really.  But, if you want to- go for it!  I am sure you will be enjoying some Thanksgiving feast as well.  I am super frugal and love a good deal.  So, I will be looking online for those deals this weekend too.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving- whatever day and time you celebrate!  It is good to take time and really be thankful for our freedoms in this country, your family, and your full belly!  And then, go start finding some sweet gifts for those you are thankful for!

I am Thankful for the SUN shining, FOOD to eat, a warm HOME to sleep in at night, multiple CLOTHES & SHOES to wear, and so many, many more blessings that I constantly have. I AM BLESSED.  Don’t take any of it for granted.  Happy Thanksgiving!

PS Check out some great deals/gifts at Willard & May & Tulip World this weekend!

Many Fall planting bulbs (Spring Blooming) need a cold period (weeks at 30° and lower) to grow properly when Spring arrives. This is why many people in our southern states do not get to enjoy Tulips, Hyacinths, Scilla or Crocus growing in their gardens.  Though they can, if they use a technique called ‘forcing’.

There are a handful of Fall planting bulbs that do NOT need to have a cold period that do well in zones 7-10: Anemones, Ranunculus,  some Narcissus (daffodils),*  Dutch Iris (not for zone10), Spider Lily or Magic Lily, Amaryllis, and Paperwhites.  These would be the easiest gardening choices with no worries of not having enough weeks of cold.

*All narcissus will not do well in every climate, though most daffodils will have a hardiness zone of 3-8.  Some will want more sun than others, and some can tolerate more water than others.  Daffodils originated from the Mediterranean Mountains.  Some were from the side of the mountain, some came from the top of the mountains, some came from the cool and damp low areas.  The Narcissus types that need little to no cold(zones 8-9) would be the Jonquils and Tazettas, that also happen to be quite fragrant.  Tazettas came from alongside the streams and coastline, and the Jonquils came from lower elevation with very dry summers.  So pick Jonquils if you have the hot dry summers, and pick the Tazettas if you have hot and humid summers (up to zone 9a).  It seems Carlton, Thalia and Tete A Tete do great in hot and humid summers as well.  Ignore the Pink and double daffodils for the hot South.  There is no daffodil that will stay happy in zone 10.

Other helpful notes on planting daffodils in zones 8-9

• Stay away from Pink type and all white daffodils
• Full sun through mid March
• Some summer shade
• No summer watering
• May fertilize in fall and right after bloom
• No herbicides or slow release fertilizer

*Some research was found at Southern Edition.com (to confirm what I have heard and read elsewhere; since I am from Wisconsin!)