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...)