This craft involves cutting, gluing and designing and can leave a big mess, but it’s lots of fun! Kids can show their creativity as they pick colors and patterns for their butterflies. We talked about why some butterflies have big spots on their wings (to fool potential predators that they have large eyes) and how butterflies grow (from caterpillar to flying insect). I used … Continue reading Kid Stuff—Butterfly Windsocks and Plants
This easy recipe is from the book Great Garden Formulas by Editors Benjamin and Martin. They say it’s proven effective, I can’t wait to try it because black spot is slowly creeping onto my roses. 1 Tbsp Baking Soda 1 Tbsp Horticultural Oil 1 Gallon Water Backpack or Pump Sprayer Mix baking soda, oil and water in the sprayer. This is a preventative, so remove … Continue reading Baking Soda Spray for Fungal Diseases
Here is my Japanese Maple ‘Ukigumo’ over the last three years. This year it’s beginning to widen and lose that skinny-new-tree look. I really like shapes that Japanese Maples create as they branch out and grow. A design that only a tree can imagine. The variegation is increasing as well, I love the color this spring, so light and bright and just like the namesake … Continue reading Three Years of Ukigumo
This annual perennial that keeps flying off the tables at every nursery has something that others don’t. What is the secret? How has it bewitched so many level-headed gardeners? They keep coming back year after year. They say “I love this plant, hummingbirds love this plant, plants love this plant. But it died. It didn’t come back, It’s gone!” It doesn’t matter, the people keep … Continue reading Hot Lips Salvia
It’s fun to see how many types of containers can be used for planting. Just look around your home and you’ll get some great ideas. In the pictures above we used cans, baskets, plastic buckets, a clam shell and even other plants (pumpkins)! Other things I’ve noticed: old boots, wheelbarrows, stones and bricks, tree stumps or pieces of driftwood, wooden crates, teapots, etc…. Just use … Continue reading Kid Stuff—Recycled Planting Containers
Rainyleaf 