Suggestions for the winter weary gardener

"The thrill of finding something different or unexpected in a gardening catalog helps to make January bearable for many a winter-weary gardener; it's around this time of year that mountains of plant and seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail" according to Denise Cowie. "For some restive, housebound gardeners, the glossy publications are curl-up-by-the-fire wishbooks that offer a comforting promise of spring." Read more..

Bruce Spangenberg suggests some new year resolutions to help your garden perform better in 2005. His advice is contained in five short paragraphs which you can read here.

If you miss your gardening grow some herbs indoors is another suggestion. If you want to know how to grow rosemary, chives, marjoram, basil, dill, thyme, winter savory, sorrel and mint, just follow this link.

Want something else to do on a winter's day? Break a pot. Break lots of pots. "The Complete Mosaic Handbook" not only tells you how but also what you can do with the bits. Read more..

And a Happy New Year!

Garden gnome causes scandal

The sleepy market town of Dorchester in Dorset, England became the center of national attention when police were called to deal with a naked garden gnome. The well-endowed, three-foot-tall gnome was sitting in the driver’s seat of a stationary van in a lay-by on the A37 in Dorchester. Two policemen visited David Lindley, who runs Manor Wood Furniture on Wardon Hill at Evershot, yesterday, after an outraged motorist said his naked female gnome was offensive to her children. Read more..

For more Gnome news visit The Garden Supplies Advisor.

Floral Festivities and Garden Supplies News

"Gardeners have to prove their worth at Christmas in three ways: by providing decorations from the garden - holly, ivy, dried flowers, etc; producing a delicious array of vegetables for the festive meal; and getting the highest score in my seasonal quiz." If you agree with this statement and would like to try your hand at the quiz, here is the link.

I am sure that you will have displayed a wreath on your front door for some time already but if, by chance, you are still wondering how to make your own, here are some ideas.

Just a reminder that my main blog is now at Garden Supplies News which is hosted on my site.

Digging and Storing Iris Bulbs

Some iris varieties are not frost hardy in all areas of the country so digging and storing iris bulbs is necessary. If the bulbs are dug from the ground in the fall and stored in a frost free space, they can be kept successfully ready for replanting in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Read more...

Garden Supplies News

When I started this blog back in July I mentioned that it was intended to accompany my Garden Supplies Advisor website. One reason for starting the blog was because I had read that it could help bring traffic to my site. I had also read that to receive the greatest benefit your blog should be hosted on the same domain as your site. Although Blogger allows you to do this, unfortunately my host SBI, does not.

For anyone who has not heard of Site Build It, I should explain that it is a complete site building and hosting system which is particularly good for newbies like me who want to build a site without having to worry about the complexities of HTML. Ken Evoy, the owner of the company, is constantly adding features but FTP is not yet one of them.

Recently another user of SBI has devised a means of hosting a blog on a SBI site so I have taken the plunge and set up a new blog using different software. As a result I will be posting less frequently to this blog but you can find me at Garden Supplies News.

The rss feed is:
http://garden-supplies-advisor.com/support-files/rss.xml

In the Garden now - North v South

Here are two contrasting views of what you should be doing in your garden at this time of year.

According to Pat Stephens from Vancouver "On those cold, wet winter days when gardening has no appeal, curl up by the fire with a cup of hot coffee and read. This is the season to set aside planning time for your projects in the new year. Our local bookstores have some beautiful new books out this season that will tantalize your senses, and they will start you dreaming about new and different ideas for your home and your gardens." Read more...

On the other hand Sharon Hull from Santa Cruz reminds you that there is still work to be done. In her words "If you are new to gardening, or new to gardening in a mild winter coastal climate, you may be a bit perplexed about what you should be doing to put your garden "to bed" for the winter. You may be looking around at tattered plants, some dropping their leaves, and at others that are vigorously pushing out new growth as though it were spring. This is the reality of gardening in a Mediterranean climate. While some plants go to sleep for winter here, others welcome the rains and cool temperatures and respond with abundant growth and flowers." Read more...

Elegant winter landscape a tricky proposition

"Winter's inexorable chill has altered the complexion of beds and borders, forcing us to accept a perspective that includes spare lines and stark silhouettes.
Without the promise of reliable snow cover to hide the inevitable bare spots, gardeners in Western Oregon have the sometimes unenviable task of creating landscapes that retain grace and elegance through winter's cold, dreary and often extremely rainy periods" says Sarah Robertson who then goes on to give some helpful advice on plants and shrubs that can help to solve the problem. Read more...

Under the strawhat... Reflections on life, art, community, gardening

Apart from the strawhat this piece by Jenny Elliott, Co-Manager, Menomonie Open Market has little to do with gardening but does contain some good food for thought.
Read more...

Some gardening gift ideas for the 'green' people in your life

"We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. Each year as the holidays approach I try to remember Winston Churchill's words of wisdom: It's easy to buy something for a gardener, but it takes far more time to find the right gift. My first choice is always the homemade gift. But when you buy, make it that perfect thing." So says Maureen Gilmer and you can read the rest of her article here.

The Bearded Iris

The Bearded Iris is part of a family comprising some 300 species most of which are hardy throughout the U.S. There are varieties to suit all types of soil and light conditions. Some types bloom in early spring while others make their show through the summer. There are also repeat-blooming types which, as their name suggests, flower a second time in late summer and early fall.
Read more...

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From Ukraine to Blossom and Fruit Drop

Ukraine is making headlines following their election.

What connection is there between Chariton in Lucas County and Ukraine? Or gardening for that matter? To find out follow the link.


Distinct squeaking. Loud hissing. And an ominous growl.

"Books are wonderful. Garden tours, lectures and public gardens offer a wealth of information and ideas. Paid professionals, whether designers or landscape architects, are invaluable if you can afford them." So says Sarah Robertson and continues "But I've got to say that some of my favorite sources of inspiration come from..." Read more..


What can cause trees to drop blossoms?

In contrast to the previous items, here is some straightforward advice on a genuine gardening problem. Read more...

Skagit Valley tulip bulbs

Skagit Valley tulip bulbs produce the fine blooms that are a feature of the Skagit Valley tulip festival held throughout the month of April each year. The valley is located in Skagit County, Washington State and can be reached by car from exits 221-231 off I-5 which passes right through the valley.

The Skagit Valley’s mild climate, evenly distributed rainfall and fertile farmlands provide an ideal environment for growing tulip bulbs. Bulb growing in the Skagit Valley was started by Mrs. Mary Brown Stewart who began with a few bulbs imported from Holland in 1906. Read more...

Fragrant Iris Bulbs

You might be surprised to learn just how many fragrant iris bulbs there are. Here are details of just a few that are available.
Iris reticulata is a very low-growing, fragrant plant that blooms from late February through early April. They derived their species name (reticulata) from the netted or reticulate pattern on the dry bulbs. The striking 2-3½ inch flowers range in varying shades of blue, purple or yellow and are borne on naked stems growing to 6 inches tall. Their flowers are quite large in relationship to the plant as a whole, and have a sweet violet fragrance. Read more...

A Spoonful of Sugar?

No, a spoonful of bee pollen and another of honey every day, a short walk and a bit of gardening. Those were the secrets behind the long life of Fred Hale, the world's oldest man, who has died in New York state just short of his 114th birthday. Read more...

Plant Asiatic Lilies for color and scent

For large striking scented flowers Oriental lilies are hard to beat but they are just one of many types of lily available to gardeners. Most types are easy to grow provided they have well drained soil and a sunny or lightly shaded position. The lily family comprises some eighty species but to achieve a succession of summer flowering they can be divided into five basic groups.

Asiatic Lilies start the display in early summer with mainly upward facing flowers borne on 24-30 inch stems. Hardy in zones 4-9. Read more...

These bulbs almost challenge you to make them fail.

Learn about the two bulbs that enjoy great popularity every winter for their beauty and ease of growth. You will also find out that not all sunshine is equal, and part of the fun of gardening is discovering these differences. Read more...

Gardening gift ideas for the holidays

Sounds an interesting headline but I am not overly impressed with the suggestions. Take a look and see what you think.

For more gardening gift ideas have a look at The Garden Supplies Advisor

It's Springtime downunder

For those of us who are now heading into the depths of winter here's something to lift your spirits and look forward to in a few months time.

"With good rains at the right time, gardens this Spring are simply blooming! Crabapple, Weigela and Iris blooms are the best they have been for five years. Roses are shaping up to add to this floriferous abundance as the weather warms up."
Read more

On a more sober note have a look at this "Australia Backyards, Not Beach, Higher Cancer Risk"

Gardening Proverbs

Gardening Proverbs are full of wisdom and not a little wit. They are found all over the world and in all times from the distant past right up to the present day. Here are just a few for your enjoyment:-

A good garden is like a good book - you always enjoy starting it again
-- Unknown

Gardens, like money in the bank, accumulate interest as they grow
--Unknown Read more...

Gardening Zones

There are eleven gardening zones or plant hardiness zones in the United States and southern Canada. The USDA zone map gives a general indication of the minimum annual temperature for each zone so that you can find out which plants can be grown successfully in the area.

To find out the gardening zone for your area Read more...

Apparently we have got it all wrong.

"Now is a good time of year to attack some gardening traditions -- five, to be exact -- associated with planting trees and shrubs." So says Lee Reich. "Why now? Because the first tradition has to do with the best time to plant." Read more..

Worm Phobia?

New garden columnist admits to Worm Phobia. Read more...

Greenhouse Plans

When looking for greenhouse plans you will be spoilt for choice. There are numerous styles and sizes from which you will have to make your selection. To help you narrow down the possibilities you need to think about how you want to use your greenhouse. What type of plants do you wish to grow and how much space will they need? Is the greenhouse just for growing plants, or will it be used partly as a sunroom? Once you have answered these questions, then you can look at the various styles that are available. Read more...

Is it too late to force hardy bulbs for indoor displays?

After giving some timely advice on protecting your tender outdoor plants, Sarah Robertson answers in the affirmative, and then proceeds to give comprehensive instructions on how it should be done. Read more...

Can a sundial really tell the correct time?

"I am a sundial, and I make a botch
Of what is done far better by a watch"

So wrote Hilaire Belloc, but is this really fair? Sundials are the earliest known form of time-keeping having been used for some five thousand years. The Greek historian Herodotus stated that sundials were first used by the Chaldeans and Sumerians in Babylonia which was part of the modern Iraq. They used vertical rods on their buildings and noted the position of the shadow to record the passing of the hours. The concept was developed by the Greeks and Romans who constructed various different shapes of dial to enable them to tell the time and the season of the year. Usually these were bowl-shaped dials with vertical or horizontal gnomons (shadow-casters) and hour lines marked in the hollow of the bowl. Over the years more elaborate designs were produced until the advent of accurate clocks when the function of the sundial became more decorative than as a reliable means of telling the time. Read more...

"squirrels eats my tulip bulbs"

Yes, according to Wordtracker "squirrels eats my tulip bulbs" is typed into the Overture search box on average twice every day. Clearly there is a real problem here and the message boards and forums are full of helpful advice.
Read more...

Cheap Tulip Bulbs

Why are you looking for cheap tulip bulbs? Is it because you live in California or are you trying to discourage those annoying critters that eat all your best plants? Maybe youv'e been reading the Wall Street Journal recently or is it just that you're a cheapskate? Read more...

Lowest price iris bulbs

If you are looking for the lowest price iris bulbs there are a number of questions that you will have to ask yourself before starting your search. What type of iris do you want? Are you seeking a particular color or would a mix of hues suit your needs? Where do you want to plant the iris bulbs and what type of soil is in that location? Here is a brief summary of the different iris types with details of their color ranges and information on their soil requirements.

To read the rest of this article follow the link to The Garden Supplies Advisor.

Blue Siberian Iris Bulbs

If you plant blue siberian iris bulbs in the fall you can look forward to a fine display of blooms from late spring to early summer the following year. Imagine a group of stately blue flowers borne on three foot high stems surrounded by tall, grass-like foliage providing a splash of color in your border.

The rest of this article is on my site The Garden Supplies Advisor.com.

Halloween is near and it's Bargains Galore!

"I am one of those people who loves rummaging around in the attic. I can easily spend a whole afternoon sifting through old memorabilia, getting lost in visions of old days, old friends and family." If that is you then Brecks has just the thing - "Grandma's cutting garden". A collection of old-fashioned favourites. 100 bulbs at half the list price.

Over at Gurneys! there is a Fall Clearance Extravaganza! You could save as much as 75% on daylilies, phlox, pansies, daisies and more.

If Eye of the Tiger Iris takes your fancy then Dutch Gardens will sell you twenty top-size bulbs at 57% off.

At Gardener's Supply Co it is a straight 10% off everything in the store. Featured is a Cattail Sculpture which doubles as a bird feeder. If that doesn't appeal, how about a Deluxe Pyramid Composter, Floating Rain Gauge, Vermont Fruitcake or a pair of Happy Toes Booties.

Just sign up for their newsletters and you will have offers like these every week.

Watermelons and the Organic Revolution

My recent bulb planting has distracted me from keeping up with the snippets of gardening news that caught my eye. Here are three items from the beginning of the month:

"Greenhouse gardening is growing at an exponential rate," says Mike Helle of Sunshine GardenHouse. He would say that the cynical might reply but apparantly although the number of gardeners who own greenhouses is still quite small, "the growth in the last few years has been in the range of 15 to 20 percent a year." In England, he says, "one of every five homes has some kind of greenhouse... . They've grown up with them, they know how to do it. That's not true here - greenhouses are not part of our gardening history. But we're getting started on a new adventure here." Read more...

On a recent unseasonably cool Sunday afternoon, the Organic Garden Club held its first ever Work Brunch at their headquarters along Spinney Rd. "The idea is simple," Charlie explained. "Healthy soils create healthy plants, healthy plants make for healthy people, and healthy people make for a healthy planet." Read more...

And finally for all those tomatillos and watermelon that you were wondering how to avoid going to waste, here are some suggestions. Read more...

BTW I have finally reached the bottom of the sack of daffodils and so hope to look forward to a colorful spring. If you haven't seen it already, there is now a page on my site all about daffodils.

More Bulb Planting.

We had our daughter and new son-in-law to stay last weekend but, with my wife's help, I managed to plant the two plum trees. A Victoria and a Czar selected both for their fruit and blossom. Now the new trees are in place, I will be able to remove the fir tree which is in front and use the space for a flowerbed.

I am left with half a sack of daffodils to be planted. It has rained every day this week leaving the ground too wet for digging. Hopefully I will be able to get the job finished as soon as the weather improves.

I have been busy this week writing my newsletter Garden Ramblings. Just subscribe and you can have a free copy of "Easy Plant Propagation" by Mike McGroarty.

Bulb planting

Last weekend I visited our local garden center and stocked up on bulbs so I have been busy all week planting. It is not quite a year since I moved in so have used the excuse of "waiting to see what comes up" before making any drastic changes to the garden. I made a gentle start planting just a few bulbs in the rockery. Miniature daffodils, mini iris, crocus and grape hyacinth.

I bought a sack of mixed daffodils and planned to plant a large swathe across the far end of the lawn. When I tried the shiny new bulb planter I found it was not up to the job and promptly bent so is now useless. Lifting the turf with a spade was an easier task but the soil below is very stony so progress has been rather slower than I anticipated.

I still have half a sack of daffs to plant and then there are the two plum trees which will need two large holes to be dug before I can ask my wife to help me with the actual planting. Then there are more daffs, hyacinths and tulips to go into pots but that is her job.

From old Irish habits to the Delia effect.

Here's my latest pick of gardening articles in the papers.

When is the perfect time to plant? Conventional wisdom would say the spring but what if you were overtaken by events (good excuse?) and didn't manage to carry out your plans? Read more...

The "paisin" secrets contribute to a corny story. Not a promising first line I know, but if you want a heart warming story with Italian overtones just Read more...

You will all have seen the sign "Warning - gardening can become addictive" but the benefits of gardening are more widespread that you may have thought. Read more...

THE Delia Effect is about to do for kitchen gardens what it has already done for sea salt, omelette pans and Welsh lamb says Gareth Morgan in the Western Mail. If you haven't heard of the "Delia effect" now is your chance to find out. Read more...

Once upon a time in Ireland, they dug spuds by using forks. Why? Michael Boodro tells all. Read more...

Americans aren't just overweight. They're fat. More than 30 percent of us weigh at least 30 pounds more than we should, according to the National Institute of Health. What has this got to do with gardening you may ask. Well read this article by James McWilliams and you will find out. Read more...

As always don't forget to visit The Garden Supplies Advisor and now look out for my newsletter Garden Ramblings.

Garden Ramblings

My blog has been neglected again. My excuse this time is that I have been busy creating a newsletter for my site. The first issue was published towards the end of September and if you would like to subscribe just follow the link for
Garden Ramblings. To give you a flavor of the newsletter here is the section on "From the Papers":

Where death bulbs grow, gophers fear to tread.

According to Maureen Gilmer nasty little rodents generally avoid death bulbs of narcissus like the plague. Rooted in its name is the legendary toxicity of the bulb, derived from "narke," the ancient Greek word for deep sleep, stupor or numbness. It is also the root word for narcotic, which in this case is a paralyzing alkaloid that strikes fear in the hearts of rodents everywhere.

So why write about narcissus as we head into September? Because this is when you should be thinking about your fall-planted bulb garden. Read more...



In answer to the question Question "What should I be doing to ensure that my garden remains lush and healthy this fall?" Sarah Robertson lists the tasks under four headings Weeding, Feeding, Grooming and Planting. For the details read more...


Sarah Robertson again on extending the summer! Well not quite but she explains how exterior lighting extends that connection to the outdoors, giving people a chance to appreciate and continue using their garden even as the seasons change and natural light is at a premium. I found this a really worthwhile article. Read more...

Liz Seymour reports on Gardening's new odd couple.

How's this for an odd couple: upscale, eco-conscious gardening retailer Smith & Hawken and the Scotts Co., which makes Miracle-Gro plant food and Ortho weed and insect killer products. The company paid $72 million to buy Smith & Hawken and its debts; the sale is set to take effect Oct 1. Read more...

Maureen Gilmer tells how nature's seed provides colorful fall bounty.

It was an old custom in rural farmlands to save a bit of the harvest for the birds. Farmers growing wheat, rye, broom corn and millet would gather up sheaves of mixed grains and tie them to fence posts, where they are not so vulnerable to rodents. Read more...

Finally here's a piece about the formation of The North American Water Garden Society which aims to look after the interests of one of the fastest growing sectors of the gardening world. Read more...

To see the rest you will need to be a subscriber and there is a link on the front page of my site The Garden Supplies Advisor.

Cat Repellent or How to keep Cats out of the Garden

I have just finished a new article on the various remedies that you can try to deter cats from causing havoc in your yard or garden. I found so much information that I had to leave out some of the more outrageous suggestions, so where better than to record these than in this blog.

One apparently sensible suggestion that you should train your cat to respect your plants is ridiculed by someone else who opined that training a cat not to roam may be like teaching a pig to sing -- basically impossible and a great annoyance to the animal.

A post headed "Grrrrrrrr" continued "I was trying to find the best "cure" for cat problems - 12 gauge, 30.06, paintball, hose, squirt-gun, land mines, rocket launchers, etc. Don't get me wrong, I like cats, but not when they're eating my birds. I'm still working on this problem, but at present, maybe just a touch of TNT in the right place might work, :-)"

A somewhat less drastic approach but nevetheless rather sneaky was this suggestion. Fix some fruit netting two feet above the ground so that when the cat approaches, its paws will pass through the netting but not reach the ground so that it cannot move. Then get your hose and teach it a lesson it will not forget.

For some more conventional and humane cat repellent remedies the article is on my website.

Almost Everything I Know from Webworms to Trains

Since I have rather neglected my blog during this August holiday period, I thought it was about time that I made an effort to catch up on the news items that have piled up over the month. Lets start with trains. Tom Smith is into garden railoading in a big way in Kalamazoo.

Our second article comes from Scotland where Hannah Stephenson gives advice to those with seaside gardens, three ways to create a low maintenance lawn and a list of tasks for the week.

If you live in North Georgia your trees may be suffering from fall webworms. You will be relieved to know that they are far less destructive than the eastern tent caterpillar but if you want to know more, full details are here.

This next item should have been posted at the beginning of August since it contains gardening ideas for amusing children during the holidays. If you like any of the suggestions, just file them away for next year.

The last piece is the story of one man's journey through life and his realisation that Almost Everything I Know In Life I Learned From Gardening.

Finally don't forget to visit The Garden Supplies Advisor to check out the latest articles.

A house is not a Home without a Gnome

When confronted by a garden gnome the common reaction is to hold up your hands in horror and utter an expression of disgust while wondering how anyone can bear to allow such a creature to remain in their backyard. On the other hand we are told on good authority that the gnome population of Southern Germany is close on four million and, when you start looking, there are quite a number visible in the US.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by the Germans since gnomes were first created in their country in the early 1800's. The earliest recorded sighting in England was in 1840 at Lamport Hall, the seat of Sir Charles Isham. It was not until 1872 that gnomes for the garden began to be manufactured in large numbers. According to German folklore gnomes were regarded as good luck charms. They were supposed to help around the house and garden and in rural areas often lived in the rafters of barns where they would keep a watchful eye on the owner's animals as well as the crops and garden produce.(Read More)

From Heirloom Gardens to Common Bloopers

Here is my latest roundup of recent news items that caught my eye.

I found the piece on Heirloom Gardens interesting in that it discusses the old traditional plant varieties as opposed to the modern tendency to produce new hybrid plants every year.

Gardening for Three Seasons tells how a San Francisco couple have created a garden that requires minimal watering by growing Mediterranean plants.

Then there are two Question and Answer sessions both of which cover useful topics. If you want to know when you should prune your gardenias or have a problem with your calla lilies this one is for you. Who put the crape in crape myrtle? This is just one of the issues raised in a "potpourri of neighborly advice, seasonal reminders, gardening events and whimsy".

In Common Bloopers you will find some down to earth advice on how to treat your soil among other topics.

Finally don't forget to visit The Garden Supplies Advisor to check out the latest articles.

Some ideas for a Container Garden

If you don't have a large backyard our container gardening suggestions and designs for garden planters will help you to make the most of the space available. A patio, deck, balcony, or doorstep can provide enough space for a productive, attractive display. If you live in an apartment with limited outdoor space, you might consider doing a little indoor gardening. By using sunny window sills, you can grow several plants using herb planters.

Both flowers and vegetables are suitable subjects either individually or as part of a mixed container gardening scheme. As a first step try growing annuals when you will sow the seed directly into the planter for an early summer show. Annuals look great in hanging baskets which are another form of container gardening. Although more usually seen in a rock garden, lisianthus thrives in a container gardening setting. (Read more...)

Check the meaning before you buy flowers online

A bouquet of flowers has been a traditional gift since time immemorial but over the years individual flowers have acquired meanings of their own. It is important that you should have at least a nodding acquaintance with the language of flowers to ensure that your gift does not convey an unintended message. To complicate matters it is not just the variety of flower but its color and the number of blooms in the bouquet which affect the meaning.

Perhaps on of the best examples is the rose. A red rose signifies love, "I love you", but a white rose indicates the opposite "I love you not". Again a yellow rose shows misplaced affection "I love another".

Bachelor's Buttons point to devotion, hope, love. These flowers were carried around by young bachelors who were in love. If the flower faded quickly, it was a sign that their sweethearts did not love them. If the flower did not fade, everything would go well with their love affairs.

With the Camellia colors only shade the meaning. Pink - "I'm longing for you". Red - "You're a Flame in My Heart". White - "You're Adorable". However with Carnations it is a different matter. Pink - "I'll Never Forget You". Red - "My Heart Aches For You". Purple - Capriciousness. Solid color - "Yes". Striped - "No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You". White - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love. Yellow - "You Have Disappointed Me", Rejection.

A Pink Geranium shows doubt,"Please explain yourself", but scarlet is uncompromising "I do not trust you". Color is not always significant. A Gloxinia of any shade declares love at first sight.

A purple Hyacinth says "Sorry" but yellow indicates jealousy. The same sentiment is expressed by the yellow French Marigold.

The message of the Petunia is "I like you near me" and the Sweet Pea says "Goodbye. Thank you for a lovely time." The Spider Flower tells you "I am not so bad as I seem".

You may be thinking by now that this is all fairly straightforward and that you will soon get the hang of it. But beware! The language of flowers has evolved over many centuries and not everyone agrees as to the true meaning. For instance the Petunia also signifies resentment and anger. Take care when you include a Spider Flower in your bouquet since it can also mean "Elope with me!".

This has been just a brief look at a few plants picked at random. For a longer list see Flowers Meanings.

Wildflower seeds - Ten reasons why you should plant...

Native wildflowers are those that were growing naturally in the landscape before the first settlers arrived from Europe. Ever since that time more and more plants have been introduced from around the world with very mixed results. Although many of the imports are now prized garden specimens, others are regarded as invasive weeds whose cultivation is actively discouraged eg Japanese Knotweed. The benefits of growing wildflowers are many, but here are just a few:

Since wildflowers grow naturally in the landscape they will thrive in similar soil types and situations in your garden.

Because they are growing in their natural habitat, wildflowers will require less water and fertilizer than other plants.

Equally wildflowers have a natural resistance to pests and diseases and so will reduce the need for sprays and pesticides.

Many wildflowers are attractive to bees and butterflies and so will encourage these colorful insects to visit. More>>>

From Gardening Smart to Whistle-Stop it's all here

Here's some timely advice to save you overdoing things and ending up with stresses and strains that you didn't anticipate. You have to complete free registration to read this one but it is worth it.
GARDENING smart to avoid injuries


If you have ever thought that it would be fun to have a model railway in your garden, then read this for encouragement
WHISTLE-STOP Gardening


Sometimes you get the impression that novel garden tools are like fancy fishing lures which seem to be designed to catch more fishermen than fish. However I think you will agree that these tools are really useful
Bionic gardening gloves and other useful gadgets


Are you short of space or want to work on a smaller scale?
Then WHAT'S not to love about container gardening?


That's all for today but don't forget to check my main site
The Garden Supplies Advisor.com

Arbors bring Art and Structure to your Garden

Arbors, trellises and pergolas have been adding art and structure to outdoor living spaces and gardens for centuries

For anyone looking to add space, style and elegance to their garden, these versatile wooden structures are practical projects that can be built in a single weekend.

Fall is an ideal time to consider outdoor architectural upgrades. While it may be your last major project of the season, your appreciation for the effort will grow when spring 2005 arrives. The structure is already in place, ready to enjoy as plants grow and flowers bloom around it. More...

Wildlife gardening, Seeds of Sanity and more...

Here is a collection of news items which caught my eye. If you click on a link it will open in a new window. When you have finished reading just close the window and you will be brought back to this page.

Gardening with Eileen gives advice on tasks for the month in Marco Island, Florida


WILDLIFE Gardening keeps 4-H'ers busy at Sulpher Springs, Texas


SEEDS of sanity from Melbourne,Victoria,Australia


WHERE there's muck, there's a website for gardening folk



ENGLAND'S gardening religion may have a convert

UPS and downs of upside down and the Venus Flytrap

Don't believe everything you read in the papers! On the other hand maybe you learn something new every day - UPS and downs of upside down tomatoes (You may have to complete a free registration for this one)


If you want a refresher course on sweet smelling plants you will find some great ideas in We can still get a whiff of summer


You may love it or find it repulsive but there is a certain fascination with this strange plant. Learn how the Venus flytrap gets its due


Read how a professor of social work at the Universite de Moncton with a stressful job manages to relax in AN oasis on the block


If, like me, you are not as young as you used to be, you may be interested these special garden tools which are designed to make life easier. Learn how ADAPTIVE gardening tools return the fun to gardening

ROGUE Valley Gardening and Follies with Artichokes

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ROGUE Valley Gardening - Summertime Fruit - Grow Your Own


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Gardening follies with artichokes and tomatoes


SUNSHINE on a rainy day

Looking down towards the stream 

A little bit about me

I have been interested in gardening since my mid twenties but my practical activity has varied in the different gardens that came with the houses in which I have lived.

The first garden for which I was responsible was a one acre plot on a hillside overlooking Blantyre in Malawi. I spent three happy years experimenting with various flowers and vegetables but leaving all the hard work to my gardener.

Following my return to England in 1972 I became enthused by the ideas of self-sufficiency that were current at the time but unfortunately my first house in Springhill Road lived up to its name with heavy clay soil that turned into a bog throughout the winter.

A few years later I was able to move to to a decent plot 270 feet long with space for all the veggies I wanted. There was also plenty of room for lawns with flower borders and even a small orchard at the end. The only drawback was the bungalow which was on the small side so that when my two children reached their teens another move was indicated.

This time it was to a large victorian house set in a quarter acre garden. The house was on a bend in the road so the plot was roughly triangular with the building standing well back thus leaving little room for veggies at the rear. Despite this I did manage to grow runner beans and a few other crops together with tomatoes and grapes in the greenhouse.

Now that our children are long gone, my wife and I moved to our present house at the end of last year. As you see from the picture the garden which lies east-west slopes gently down to a small stream at the bottom. On the left is a large wooden shed which the estate agent optimistically described as a summer house but which was used by the previous owner who was a kitchen fitter for storing his timber. The first few months have been spent waiting to see what would emerge in the borders and planning for major changes which will be carried out in the fall. High on the list are a wisteria and honeysuckle to cover the "summer house".

Introduction and What it's All About

This Blog has been created to accompany my site www.garden-supplies-advisor.com and I plan to highlight items of gardening news and topics of interest that will be updated on a regular basis.

The website contains reviews of garden supplies, tools and accessories. Information on how to find all the best plants and seeds together with advice on cultivation. Its purpose is both to provide the information and advice you seek to plan your garden projects and also to help you find the plants, tools and supplies you need to realise your plans. Whether you are a beginner just starting out with your first garden or an experienced pro, I are sure you will find something of interest there.