Gardening

Fall Gardening Tips and Remembering Summer

September 20, 2012
Swamp Hibiscus

Summer has come to an end. Autumn officially starts on Saturday, September 22, 2012. It was a hot and dry summer for my area. Drought conditions caused a tough season for plants, trees, and lawns. Rainfall is about 7 inches below normal for the year to date. Thanks to some preparation and a lot of [...]

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Summer Gardening Tips and Flower Photos

June 21, 2012
Black-eyed Susan flower

Happy Summer! The official first day was yesterday (June 20th). The heat arrived early here in the south. It has been in the 80′s for the better part of the last few months. This week temperatures will go into the 90′s. Plants and flowers do need some care to thrive in the long, hot days [...]

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April Flowers and Zone 8 Gardening Tips

April 17, 2012
Lavender

It has been a busy month here in Magnolia Land. There has been so much to do in the yard and garden. Getting the landscape ready for summer is important to make sure it does well. The hot summers here in the South take a toll on plants. It is best to get plants strong [...]

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Winter Beauty and Spring Preparation

February 23, 2012
Yellow viola flower

It rarely snows here in winter. The South does not have the pristine beauty of a snow-covered landscape often. Brown, dormant lawns and leafless trees prevail. Thankfully, there are hints of color with a few evergreens and seasonal flowers. I became more aware of the beauty found in winter when I started my Project 365 [...]

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The Call of Fall Continues

November 10, 2011
Dynamite Wine Flash Pansy

Fall is progressing and taking a toll on summer flowers. The remaining summer annuals in my flower pots were fading quickly. It was time to change them out for winter plants. The weather was perfect for gardening this past weekend. It was nice enough to wear shorts which is sort of odd in a way. [...]

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The Call of Fall

October 20, 2011
Red chrysanthemum with yellow center

Fall is in full swing. Here in the South it means having hot days, cool days, warm days, cold days, and a wishy-washy string of weather. This past week was like summer with afternoon highs in the mid-80′s. As I am typing this post, a front is coming in and the temperature will drop 20 degrees or [...]

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Summer Ends and Fall Begins

September 14, 2011
Acorns and leaves in a bowl

The signs of summer ending have begun. Fall is a week away, officially starting on September 23rd. Today I was doing my weekly lawn maintenance; edging, trimming, and mowing. It was a beautiful day. As I looked around I could see the signs of summer ending and fall beginning. I did my best with my very amateur [...]

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Rubbing Out Weeds

August 22, 2011
Thumbnail image for Rubbing Out Weeds

Weeds. Any plant that grows where you do not want it to is a weed. Controlling them is an ongoing and never-ending process. Some weeds are hard to kill and difficult to do without damaging the surrounding plants. Last year we had our back yard re-done. Our property is adjacent to a swamp and the water [...]

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