Gardening Tips for Small Spaces

Life After The Greenhouse

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:23:00 +0000

As I wrote earlier in the year, I decided to close Mimi's Greenhouse after the 2021 spring season. I thought I would miss all the things that went along with selling plants to the public. So far, I have totally enjoyed puttering around and cleaning up the greenhouse. I'm planning to grow some winter crops inside the greenhouse this winter. I think I'll try tomatoes, lettuce, and a few herbs to start with. It will be a great place to winter over all the tender plants that usually die off after a freeze.

We created a sitting area where all the plants used to be and I really love to sit out there in the mornings with my cup of tea and the dog. We left the black woven ground cover that keeps the grass and weeds from invading the area and I have big tubs of shrubbery around the perimeter (I'll post later how to get these tubs for free). There are butterfly bushes and other flowering shrubs that attract the butterflies.

I still enjoy having guests over to visit the garden, sit a spell and relax with a cup of tea or coffee. I do dread the late fall because of the huge oak trees in our yard. The leaves are literally ankle deep!

I will have more time to write now. I'm working on "Mary Magdelene" the second in the "Mary" series. The first, Mary of Bethany, The Untold Story is available now on Amazon.. Stay tuned for more gardening tips and backyard adventures.

Closing My Little Backyard Nursery

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Sat, 29 May 2021 23:00:00 +0000

I've had my little backyard nursery for so many years I actually can't remember when I first opened it. I have made some new friends and connected with old ones via this little business.

COVID has had nothing to do with my decision to shut down the retail side of Mimi's Greenhouse. I had to put my 96-year-old mother into a nursing home this spring. Her brain is sharper than mine - that's actually not saying too much- 😀 but she has neuropathy and macular degeneration and I could no longer give her the care she needs. Also, I am getting too old to drag 2-gallon pots of shrubs around the backyard, and besides, I'd like to enjoy my yard again!

I think I will continue to sell rooted cutting on a couple of websites I belong to. I'll keep some stock plants and of course, the greenhouse. It's a great place to winter over tropicals and other plants I don't want to keep in the house.

Maybe Bill and I will have time to travel if we can find a place to stay that will let us have our 110 lb. Lab/chow mix dog, JoJo. He is 13 years old and thinks he is a house dog. That would be O.K. except he sheds profusely all year! I should learn to spin yarn from dog hair!

I'll still write gardening tips here. Like most gardeners, I am always learning something new. That's one of the things I like about playing in the plants, there is always a new surprise.

Stay tuned....

How Has COVID Changed Your Life?

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:41:00 +0000

I'm wondering if my feelings are universal or am I just plain crazy? Even when I'm out among the plants (my favorite place to be) I feel like a wild bird in a small cage. Bill and I have been well and for the most part, we have done life as usual. Of course, the masks are a pain in the butt and honestly, I'm not so sure how much they help. We have ordered our groceries and picked them up for the first few months. Lately, we have gone to the store wearing our masks and shopped as normal. Now that there seems to be an uptick in cases we may go back to order and pick up.

I have planned to have nine people in my little dining room for Thanksgiving. I pray (seriously) that we will be safe and remain healthy. We haven't decided about Christmas yet.

The greenhouse has been the place where I can escape and feel safe. It is so crowded with plants that can't survive the winter outside, that there is hardly room for me now. The Meyer Lemon is full of lovely fruit and I have enjoyed them in my hot tea every morning. It's barely the end of autumn and I'm already wishing for spring.

Yes, I will open again next spring. Early April if the Lord is willing. My major supplier in McMinnville is closing so I will either have to start early and grow my own or order little plugs and grow them up. Either way, there will be herbs and flowers for sale at Mimi's next spring.

I'd appreciate your comments, especially about how you are making the best of the COVID situation.

Don't Toss Those Mums! Winter Them Over...

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:47:00 +0000

I want to share a link with you today from my buddy Mike @ Mike's Backyard Nursery. I've followed Mike for over 20 years and he has never steered me wrong!

Here's the link to his post about mums and how to save them for next year: https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/09/mums-word/

Now Is a Good Time To Learn New Gardening Skills

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:27:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I've done more reading since we have been locked down. Granted, I'm feeling better about getting out more lately, but I'm still not the gadabout I was before.

Take some time to hone your gardening skills and learn how to multiply your plant collection for free! My gardening book, Gardening Tips For Small Spaces (pictured on the right) has many tips and ideas for growing plants, propagating the ones you have, as well as money-saving tips too. The Kindle version is only $3.99! Click the title to find it on Amazon

If you want a good fiction book to help pass the time, check out Mary of Bethany, The Untold Story, it's also on Amazon. This one is Biblical fiction based on the life of Mary of Bethany.

In my book, Mary first met Jesus by accident when she was a young girl and in a place she should never have been. She would have been in terrible trouble if Jesus had not been there too.

Travel the dusty streets of Israel to Mary’s home in Bethany, visit places and meet people you may have never known before. In my book, Mary is a gardener. Read Mary's story to find out what important crop she grows and how it impacts the lives of others.

See Mary and her family in a whole new way, Come, experience the life of one of the most famous women in the Bible, and learn her untold story.

If you like my books please leave a review on Amazon 💖

My Ruby Slippers Hydrangea

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:22:00 +0000

I think the pictures say it better than any text I could print. Ruby Slippers is a miniature Oak Leaf Hydrangea. Even miniature varieties are not tiny, my Ruby Slippers is planted in a huge tub. The plant is about six or seven years old and is probably 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. The blooms are large and full every spring. They start out lime green, turn white and fade to deep pink. Finally, at summers end they are beige but still attractive. Sometimes I pick them when they have first bloomed and they last for weeks in a vase.

Baby plants come up from the roots around the plant and can be replanted elsewhere. These are not invasive, only one or two a year will sprout. They are easy to root via cuttings.

My Ruby Slippers gets morning sun and shade in the afternoon. I honestly think it would be fine in full sun. Butterflies love it too!

Hydrangeas are easy to propagate. My plant propagation book (available on Amazon) has complete instructions. See the link on the right sidebar.

I often have Ruby Slippers plants for sale at Mimi's Greenhouse in the spring.

Ruby Slippers Mature Bloom

Pandemic, Miniature Egg Plants and Other Ways to Keep My Sanity...

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 23:38:00 +0000

OK, So I know the virus is a real thing but I only know one person who has had it. She was pretty sick and her whole family got it too. Thank God, my friends and family have remained well but I am so tired of being cooped up in the house and yard!

I have decided that I'm done with the sheltering in place! We have been to Walmart, Dollar Store, Cracker Barrel, and most importantly, Church! I wore my mask to Walmart, mostly with respect to the employees who are forced to wear them. Dollar Store didn't seem to care one way or the other and we were socially separated in church. Let's be real here, how can you eat in a restaurant with a mask on? So, no, I didn't wear the mask at Cracker Barrel.

What would you be willing to bet that as soon as the election is over, we will find that the pandemic is over too?

I will say, I've gotten a lot done in the Greenhouse and plant sale yard this summer. There have been lots of customers too. I guess I'm not the only one who is bored and working in the yard.

I discovered miniature Egg Plants. The plant itself is about 2 feet tall. I put them in 2-gallon pots and they are very happy. The only problem is the Thrips that have recently gotten on them but it doesn't seem to have affected the fruit. The little fruit tastes just like the big ones. I cooked them with onions in a stir fry and they were really good. Who knew? I bought them at Lowe's in the markdown section of the garden center. I wonder if I can save seeds? I guess there is no harm in trying.

The Hydrangeas have outdone themselves! So have the Begonias and the Meyer lemon is loaded with fruit. I can't wait till October when they are ripe.

Butterflies are all over the Buddleia! It is right by the path from the house to the greenhouse. They don't mind if we pass by while they are sipping the nectar. No wonder it's nicknamed Butterfly Bush.

I feel sorry for folks who don't have a yard to escape to. Maybe I should open mine just for visits. 😊

Things To Do During Pandemic Lock Down

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

OK, so the first week wasn't so bad...we caught up on TV, read, weeded the yard, mowed the yard, watched more TV, I even cooked. Now I'm bored! So here are a few suggestions for keeping your sanity.

Start veggie seeds inside to plant as soon as the weather stabilizes...I'm writing this on April 14 and it is snowing outside my window! I live in Middle Tennessee and it was nearly 80 degrees last week! This too shall pass! We will need our vegetable gardens more than ever this year. Look at my post about seed starting here.

Go online and dream about all the cool plants out there that you might want to add to your landscape. Check out Burpee Seeds, Search eBay for "plants" you'll be amazed by what you might find. Here are a few of my favorites: https://www.johnnyseeds.com/, Park Seeds and plants, Gardeners Supply Company even ETSY

Get my Gardening book on Amazon for more tips and lessons on gardening

Step By Step Guide To Plant Propagation Revised Edition

Share with us here in the comments about what you are doing to keep from being bored out of your mind.

Follow Up on Last Post: Coronavirus

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 16:46:00 +0000

Let's get specific! If you haven't read last week's post do so now...just scroll down. Now here is the followup:

I posted this on Facebook today:

Many of us have been praying every Sunday at 3:00 PM for God to heal our land. Now the request is for us to pray every day at 3:00 PM Central time. I totally agree with this, but before you pray you may want to read this and ask for God's forgiveness before you ask him to heal us. There is a condition for the healing ...read on:

Folks, we have all been passing this scripture around and asking for prayer…this is a very good thing, but we have ignored what the Lord is actually saying. There is a condition in this verse, “turn from your wicked ways”. He is talking to His people here “My people”. Who were God’s people and why were they seeking God? In Israel at that time there was a terrible drought, locusts and pestilence (illness). The study notes in my Modern Life Study Bible say this: “God’s pledge to heal the land was not unconditional. In order for the Lord to fulfill His part of this agreement with the Israelites, there were certain stipulations: The conditions: Humility, prayer and seeking God’s face, Turning from wickedness”

Friends, we have sat by quietly and by our complacency (I’m guilty of this for sure), allowed these very laws to become the law of our own land. We made legal the thing that is an abomination to God. Here is just one of many I found: Romans 1:26-27 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” Enough said!

We voted to allow babies to be aborted for our convenience.

The following quote is from a Christian website: Ratio Christi https://ratiochristi.org/

In the Old Testament

“Several passages in both the Old and New Testaments could be cited to support the idea that God recognizes that human life begins in the womb. Isiah 44:24 we read, “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, “ Note that the Lord clearly says He formed us “in the womb”.

Then there is Exodus 21:22 “If men fight and hit a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no serious injury, he will surely be punished in accordance with what the woman’s husband demands of him, and he will pay what the court decides.” Here we note that it is a “child” that is born prematurely Psalms 139:13 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Again, the image of being formed as a human being in the womb.

New Testament support for abortion?

One final example will really drive home the point. In Luke:41-44 we see the meeting of Mary, who is pregnant with Jesus, and her cousin Mary, who is also pregnant with John the Baptist. “when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leapt in her womb.” Then in verses 42 to 44, Elizabeth “cried out with a loud voice, and said: ‘… For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leapt for joy.’” So much for trying to establish Biblically that life begins with the first breath.”

Many of us as Christians have turned our backs on our neighbors, co-workers, and others who don’t know Jesus as Savior. Believe it or not, in this day of immediate access to information, there are people, probably in our own neighborhoods, who don’t know Jesus. We are sitting around our home and in our churches and letting the world quietly go to hell!

We need to ask God for forgiveness and get up out of our pews, our comfy den in front of the TV, and go out into the marketplace, the highways, and byways and talk about Jesus. We need to get down on our knees and ask God to forgive us! Then Maybe God will forgive our sin and heal our land!

More Important Than Plants & Gardening!

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:45:00 +0000

I don't think I've ever written about anything other than things related to the garden but I'm going to deviate from that this one time. Next week we will get back into the dirt. 😉

Many of you, like Bill and I, are sheltered in place right now. We are healthy and hope to stay that way. We loaded up on groceries and had them delivered to our home. Other than checking on my homebound mom, I don't plan to leave the house and yard.

I have asked my women's home prayer group to join me this Saturday from 8:30 - 10:00 (anytime you can pray will work) and let's seek God's help for our world, our country, our communities and our families. Please use this powerful promise is 2nd Chronicles as a starting place:

2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I would love for you to post a comment here as God begins to answer our prayers.

Spring Is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 23:09:00 +0000

Not only am I sick and tired of gloomy wet weather but now I'm "sheltering in place" to keep my old bones from getting sick! I pray all of you will get through this coronavirus scare as healthy you were when it started. If it will ever stop raining, Grandson Tad and I are going to rake up all the leaves we didn't get around to in the fall. 😏

With that in mind, Let's think happy thoughts of sunny weather, spring flowers and packets of seeds to plant.

Wren's Nest

My spring flowers are popping up all over the place - some in places they were not growing last year. Birds are busy building nests ... Miss Wren has a big messy nest in the corner of our porch roof. Below are a few pictures of what's blooming and some links to other "spring" posts.

Next week I'll talk about what's happening in the greenhouse right now.

Sweet William

Two-tone Daffodil

Garden Path

Hellebore

Coral Bells

Hen Bit

Bi-Color Spirea Buds

Roadendrium

Other Posts you might like: Hardy Camillia

A Penny Pinching Tip, Camellias Are Easier Than You Might Think

Spring Fever Advice

Growing up in The Nineteen Fifties

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 23:38:00 +0000

It was a spring-like day today, Sunday too, so we raked and burned leaves this afternoon and roasted hotdogs over the chimenea fire. Actually, I roasted hotdogs and we both ate them.

I asked Bill if he remembered the story of The Little Red Hen. I was feeling a little like that little chicken at the time. Bill didn't remember the story and that precipitated a conversation of just what did we remember about growing up. The following are a few of the flashbacks we came up with.

Maybe this will take you back in time too.

Bill remembers his little red peddle car, playing cowboys, Saturday movies (my mother would not let me go to those...(Mama was way too protective!) Bill was about ready for a Sunday nap and not much interested in going down memory lane with me but the whole thing got me to thinking.

I grew up in the 1950s, my earliest memories are when we lived in Sheffield, Ala (now known as Muscle Shoales) There was a little store about a block from our house and sometimes Mama would go there for something and I would get a nickel to spend on penny candy. For 5 pennies could get a hot cinnamon jawbreaker, a peanut stick, a peppermint stick, or other "penny" candies. If I wanted to blow the whole nickel, I could have a Baby Ruth Candy Bar.

Mama and her friends liked to go "shopping". We had a McLellan's Five and Dime store in our town and if I was good, I got 15 cents to spend there. It was always hard to decide between a new paper doll book or a coloring book. I loved the movie star paper dolls. There was Bette Grabel, Doris Day, Shirley Temple or maybe Marilyn Monroe. I loved cutting out the paper outfits and dressing up the dolls.

We moved several blocks away when I was six. We bought a new bigger house and there were kids on both sides of us. We played cowboys and cops and robbers. My little friend and I were always the robbers because the boys were older and we didn't get a choice. I remember one time they locked us in the washroom (a room outside the house where the washing machine was...no dryer back then. We all hung our clothes on a clothesline outside) I don't remember who let us out but I think the boys got into trouble over that one.

I got my first bike when we lived there and it took me a year to learn how to ride it. I was scared I would fall! The boys next door finally got tired of watching me push it around and taught me how to ride. We had much fun with our bikes. There was an alley next to my house and it was the perfect place to ride. Our street was too busy to be safe.

As I said above, my mother was very protective of me...honestly, she was too protective but I managed to survive anyway. She would not let me go to the Saturday movies with all the other kids. For some reason she let me go once. It was a Hopalong Cassidy film and I had a great time. I have no idea what caused her to let me go but she never did it again. Mama and Daddy would sometimes take me to the movies at night. I remember seeing The Greatest Show on Earth and all of us kids played "circus" for weeks after that one. A swing set can become a terrific trapeze with a little imagination.

"Kick the Can" was a fun neighborhood game too. It's a wonder we survived that one. I remember getting a pretty nasty cut from a jagged can top.

Of course, "dress up" was a favorite with the girls. We would dress up in old curtains and play like we were movie stars or singers. Our front porch was the stage and we would sing all the popular songs of the day from our top step theater. Sometimes we played "wedding" or "flower shop". We would dress up in old lace curtains and make bouquets from the blooms on Mama's flowering shrubs. I guess that may be where my love of flowers and plants got its start.

We walked home from school every day. It was only a few blocks and there were sidewalks all the way. One afternoon we decided to take a short cut through a vacant lot. The grass was about waist high and there was a little path through the tall grass. About halfway across the lot, we scared a huge black snake and it chased us all the way across to the other side! Talk about scared! I'm not sure if we or the snake was the most afraid but I promise you we never took that short cut again!

I probably could write another book about childhood adventures. Heck, maybe I will, but in the meantime, I'd love to read about your favorite or most funny childhood stories. Was your mama as protective as mine? Post a comment below and share it with us all.

My Cure for the Winter Doldrums...

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0000

I am one of those people who get the blues when the weather is dreary. S.A.D. Syndrome visits me nearly every winter in spite of the florescent lights and big windows. I have the best cure for it...my greenhouse!

The following are a few pictures I took last week when I went out there to clean up and plant a few seeds. I wanted some early lettuce and a tomato or two.

Bear in mind that my greenhouse is small. It's 8 X 18 feet but that's just about all that would fit in our backyard since we have a big art studio that takes up quite a bit of the space back there. I bought it from Morton's Horticultural in McMinnville, TN. They delivered it and set it up as part of the purchase price. Here is a link to an old blog post about that here: My Greenhouse Adventure.

Anyway, last week the little sunny greenhouse was just what I needed to lift the winter doldrums and remind me that spring will be here before we know it.

Inside the greenhouse

As you can see the Christmas and Easter Cactus, as well as other hanging baskets, are happy and in the next picture a mixed pot that otherwise would have succumbed to the frost by now. I'll refresh it a little in the spring and pop it back into the yard.

Meyer Lemon Tree

Myer Lemons are the best! I have this wonderful little Lemon tree that produces at least two crops of the biggest and juiciest lemons ever! I've already harvested the Christmas crop and as you can see, it's blooming again. I have to use an artist's paintbrush to pollinate it because I really don't want bees in the greenhouse..LOL!

I can never bring myself to toss the poinsettias. So the greenhouse is a good place until they totally lose all the red leaves. I usually compost them in late spring...it's less painful when all those leaves turn green.

Sweet Bay Tree and babies

I have had this Sweet Bay tree for many years. It was in a tiny pot when I first got it. I keep it pruned to fit into this big storage tub that has drain holes drilled into the bottom. All these plants are moved outside after the danger of frost is over. I use the Bay leaves all year in many of our favorite dishes. Salmon steaks are wonderful if they are grilled on a bed of whole Bay leaves. Last year I pruned the tree and had so many branches that I gave them to my local fresh market..she passed them along for free to her customers. We made a lot of folks happy! :-) As you can see from the babies in the small pots, Bay trees are easy to root.

So if you have space and can afford a greenhouse, I highly recommend having one. If not, plan a visit to a local greenhouse and get an early spring fix!

Tomatoes in the Greenhouse

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 15:00:00 +0000

I am writing this on February 3rd. We have had spring-like weather for several days now. I'm pretty sure we will get a freeze soon. After all, it is still winter. I've had cabin fever so I decided to plant some veggie seeds in big pots in the greenhouse.

They may not do worth a hoot but I enjoyed the day of warm sun and dirty fingernails! I planted Cherokee Purple tomato seeds in a five-gallon pot, Lettuce, and spinach in 3-gallon pots. The greenhouse is heated so it doesn't freeze at night. Honestly, I've planted seeds in February before but they were started for planting outside after the last frost. I've never actually grown tomatoes for fruit inside. See these posts: Starting Herbs and Heirloom Seeds, Winter sowing and My Greenhouse in Winter. it works I will definitely do it again next year. Grocery store tomatoes are just not the same as homegrown. The greens will probably be fine, they like cool weather anyway.

I'll report how this turns out in a few weeks.

A Jesus Quandary

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 01:30:00 +0000

Well, maybe I should call it a church quandary. I need your help! This definitely has nothing to do with gardening.

My whole life has been a series of religious changes (for lack of a better word). My mama talked to me about Jesus from the day I was born. I accepted Him as my Savior at the age of eight. I remember after I told Mama I wanted to be baptized, she took me to talk to our preacher. He explained to me about being saved and baptized and joining the church. I came home with Jesus and a kitten. The pastor's cat had babies and I took a beautiful black and white fluffy kitten home with me. 😀

That began my journey. I have been on and off the path for years. I was a rather rebellious teen. Probably because mama was so fearful of what I might get into so I had more restrictions than most of my friends. I broke most of the rules! One day I'm going to paint the picture that I see in my mind when I think of those years. It's me about to jump off a very high cliff and Jesus is standing behind me, holding onto my hand and keeping me from falling. No telling what I would have gotten into if I had not had a solid Biblical background.

I have been Southern Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Charismatic and back to Baptist again. My Christian life has always been a series of changes. My life, in general, has always included physical change. I have lived in 3 states, moved ten times, and gone to no telling how many different churches. We won't even talk about marriage!

We have been out of church for a few months. Bill had surgery and serious health issues and we were not able to attend church for quite a while last fall and this winter. We got pretty interested in TV preachers. Our favorite is Allen Jackson at World Outreach Church. We attended a local non-denominational church nearby before Bill had surgery. I really liked it...Bill is noncommittal.

I don't know what to do. He sleeps through our old church, He stays awake at the church I'd like to join. Again, a spiritual change for me. I'm used to it but I married a man who hates change. I have dragged Bill kicking and screaming into many new adventures. He has always been happy once we reach our destination or have gotten settled into a new routine.

My oldest son and his girlfriend have just joined the church I would like to attend full time. This is so good ... Josh had been out of church for a while and they really like the preacher and people where we too have visited quite a bit. I think we could talk Zack (my younger son) into coming too. I am ready for this change but I'm not so sure about Bill.

I need your comments - advice...What should I do? Stay home and watch TV preachers, go back to our old church and watch Bill sleep through the sermons or follow my heart and drag Bill along with me???

Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 19:16:00 +0000

I just could not resist posting this one:😀

Changes, Challenges and Chances...

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 20:05:00 +0000

Just like my garden, my life has been a series of changes, challenges, and chances. I know it's been months since I posted here. There are good excuses....Bill had an emergency surgery that turned into a nightmare of health issues. It nearly killed us both! He is finally on the road to total recovery and maybe our lives will get back to some form of normal now.

My mom will turn ninety-five this year and still lives at home alone. My dear sweet younger brother lost his battle with cancer nine months ago. It nearly killed us all. I now am the sole caregiver for Nana (mom's nickname) she is sharp as a tack but can't get out much because of advanced neuropathy.

I have returned to my old job after nine years of retirement. I offered to fill a part-time position in marketing at Nashville Wraps. I worked there for many years before I retired. It's family...literally and figuratively. Besides, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. 😊

Mimi's Greenhouse will close after a couple of spring sales this year. I had made that decision before the job opportunity came along. I'm too old to drag around five-gallon pots of soil and plants. I want to garden for myself and not worry whether someone else will like it or buy it. Selfish I know but it is what it is. I will miss all my customers but you know my phone number and where I live so come and visit.

I will still blog. Sometimes about plants and gardening, after all, it's in my DNA, but I'll also post some of my serious thoughts, stories, and spiritual musings. I will probably post bi-weekly instead of weekly for the near future.

As most of you know, I've written several books and I will continue to write in my spare time. I wrote a little bool last fall called the Robby Stories. It is a tribute to my brother. It's not available publically but I may add to it and publish one day soon. I wrote it for family and friends.

Keep me on your list of blogs to read and PLEASE leave your comments now and in the future. I love reading them and so do others.

Native Bamboo

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

I have loved this plant for years. I first saw this species of Bamboo when I lived out in the country in Robertson County. Our neighbor down the road had it growing in her yard. I loved it! She shared it with me. It grew into a lovely round clump of bamboo that bloomed beautiful rust-colored tassels late in the summer. It danced in the wind and made me happy!

When I moved from the country into the city of White House, I took many plants with me, including a new start off that native bamboo. It is growing in my shady yard still and is not quite as big as it was in my sunny front yard in the country but it blooms and is still one of my favorites.

I know it's some sort of Japanese Knotweed. All the images I could find were white flowering but the one I have blooms redish orange. I see it in ditches beside the road occasionally here in Middle Tennessee.

I used to love to sit on my porch in the country and watch the bamboo. On a breezy day, it would literally dance in the wind!

It's canes dry in the late fall and are easy to pull out. They are too weak to use as stakes or other things that actual bamboo is good for. I usually burn them in our burn barrel or haul them to the street for our limb truck to pick up. The limb truck is one of the perks of living in the city limits! Of course, our city taxes pay for that...might be cheaper to carry them off ourselves, LOL!

If you don't want invasive bamboo check this out

Don't Forget to check out my Gardening Book on Amazon

My Heirloom Plants

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

These are plants that I have gotten over the years from friends, relatives or moved them with me when I have moved from place to place. Some are even invasive - I don't care, I love them anyway and deal with them as needed. By that I mean I dig them as they get too big or spread too far and destroy the excess.

Here are my favorites starting with the house plants. I take most of these outside in the summer and bring them into the house or greenhouse to winterover. I have no idea where I got my start of the Wandering Jew. I've had them as long as I can remember. I have both a "fuzzy" Jew and Purple Queen. They are both in the same plant family.

Fuzzy Wandering Jew

Purple Queen

African Violet from my friend Cyndi

The violet stays inside... the sun is too much for them outside. I have several Violets that have come from friends and relatives.

This Tiger Lily came from my Great Grandmother's farm. I have had it for many years and have moved it with me several times. These bloom and multiply happily every year.

Oxlysis from my mother's garden

My Jade Plant is huge and over 25 years old
Its start came from my dad's accountant years ago.

Heirlooms are usually more likely to survive than many of our fickle "Hybreds" that we get in the big box stores.

How to Stop Your Dog From Getting On The Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

JoJo on the loveseat

Our dog JoJo has become an only child since our sweet Pookie Bear died earlier this spring. JoJo is a hundred pound Lab/Chow mix but he thinks he is a lap dog!

Not only is he as big as a cow but he is afraid of storms! Oh, he has a nice big doghouse in our fenced in backyard but don't think for one minute he will go in there. Ever since his littermate Annie died about 3 years ago, the only way he will go into the dog house is if we shut him up in that part of the yard and it rains.

Yes, we are too lenient but we feel sorry for him and he is such a sweet dog. When he is inside he picks a spot near wherever we are and lays between us and the door. It's only at night that he will sneak onto the leather couch or loveseat. If he didn't shed so badly, I wouldn't mind but I could make yarn if I had a spindle from all the hair he sheds the floor!

At my wit's end, I went searching for something to deter him from getting on the furniture. I found this recipe and it works! He won't go near the place where spray it! I do have to respray each day but he stays on the floor. Here is the recipe:

Homemade Dog Off

1 1/2 cups water
2 Tablespoons White Vinegar
20 drops essential oil (orange or citrus-scented)

Mix all in a spray and spray where you don't want to dog to be.

I also found this one but not sure what the alcohol would do to my leather furniture. Mix water and lemon juice with alcohol (equal parts) and spray furniture.

I know this works too. It's from Amazon - I've used it.

Ivy: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Mixed Ivy Container

I must confess I have a love/hate relationship with ivy. I love the various color combinations and leaf shapes that ivy has. I have several colors and types in containers in my garden.
Now there is where the "hate" part comes into play. Do not turn ivy loose in your yard unless you want it to eat your house! Don't even let it touch the ground when it's planted as an accent in a container.
Seriously, I have seen old homes in my town that are totally covered in ivy. If left to run rampant it can hold moisture against whatever surface it grows on. Ivy also takes root on almost any surface and can weaken or cause wood to rot.

This Basket Is On Our Studio Porch

BUT....I love it in hanging baskets, either alone or as an accent (see my post on Chrysanthemums) I think my favorite Ivy is the green and white one I'm sure it has a proper name but I probably couldn't spell it if I knew what it was. Here are a few pictures of Ivies I have and that are for sale each spring at Mimi's Greenhouse.

Bird Foot Ivy

Mixed Ivies In a Flowering Container

Helpful Garden Tips - Maintenance of Perennials

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Mary's Greenhouse

As most of you know, I own a small greenhouse business, Mimi's greenhouse. I buy most of the plants that I don't grow myself at Mary's Greenhouse in McMinnville, Tn. This article was on their website and I thought I would share it here.

(*Disclaimer: Mary’s is a greenhouse grower of plants and we don’t currently offer landscape services. Greenhouse production is different than outside gardening. For professional advice, please consult a landscaper or full-service garden center.)

What is the difference in pruning and deadheading? Pruning usually applies to more woody type plants and accomplishes several things such as shaping, rejuvenation and sustained health. There is more than 1 kind of pruning. General pruning can be used to re-shape the plant(s) and to rejuvenate established plants by removing old stems and stimulating new growth. Hard pruning usually refers to cutting them way back, sometimes several inches from the ground. Care should be taken in cutting plants this far back. Some research should be done on how and when to do this. Deadheading is cutting back the spent bloom stems. Deadheading can promote rebloom in many plants. It is best that you remove all the debris from around the plant when you cut them back to help with any disease. Although deadheading is important, there are lots of plants that do fine without it.

When is the best time to cut back perennials? Lots of plants can benefit from being cut back immediately after blooming. This can make for a neater and stronger plant. Cutting back can encourage re-bloom in several perennials. Consider applying a slow release fertilizer when you cut them back to help replace their energy stores. To promote good health and help with insects, remove all the debris from your beds.

When and how do I cut back peonies? We recommend that you wait until fall – or just let them die back naturally. The spent blooms can be removed, but it is best to leave the rest of the plant. They are sometimes unattractive in the garden after blooming but the plants need to replenish their energy reserves for the next year. Peonies can be cut down to the ground as new growth emerges each year. After frost, the dead foliage should be removed to help promote good health.

When do I cut back and/or divide daylilies? Daylilies can be cut back to the ground after blooming. New growth will emerge and make for a neater plant. If you are going to divide them, it is best to do so after blooming. Consider applying a slow release fertilizer after blooming; this will help them replenish their energy stores for the next bloom cycle.

When do I divide iris? German iris (bearded iris) seem to do best if divided in the late summer to early fall.

When and how do I prune buddlejas? Buddleias can be pruned in early spring. If your plants are already leafed out, they can still be pruned; it will just delay the blooms. Most benefit from a hard pruning as buddlejas bloom on new growth. Pruning rejuvenates the plants and usually increases number and size of blooms. Some varieties can get quite large and can be cut back to 12-24”. Deadheading through the summer may extend your bloom time.

When is the best time to divide perennials? As a general rule, perennials do best if divided in the spring or fall as it is usually less stressful on the plant. The spring and the fall are usually milder months and the plants have time to re-establish themselves before summer or winter. It is also best not to divide right before blooming or during the blooming season. Plants can be divided after blooming when you are cutting them back – just be sure to provide ample water should it be hot and dry.

When and how do I cut back hydrangeas? This is not a simple answer because there are different hydrangeas and they have different pruning needs. You need to determine if your plant blooms on old or new wood. ‘Old wood’ means stems from the previous years’ growth and ‘new wood’ means this years’ growth. There are lots of new hydrangeas coming to market every year so there are exceptions but here are 2 general guidelines to follow for established plants.

1) Oakleaf, most mopheads and lace caps (macrophyllas) typically do best if pruned right after flowering and then left alone except for culling dead limbs, etc. as they bloom on old wood. They start forming the next year’s blooms in the late summer/early fall. Pruning helps rejuvenate established plants and you can remove about 1/3 of the stem lengths. Pruning every year isn’t necessary in most cases. You can deadhead spent blooms through the blooming season.

2) Other species such as arborescens (Annabelle and similar) and paniculata types (Limelight or Little Lime, etc.) bloom on new wood and can benefit from a pruning once a year. Pruning these varieties helps strengthen the stems and produce bigger flowers. A typical pruning can be done in the winter months and removes up to 1/3 to 1/2 of the old growth. These types can be pruned back to about 12” above the ground if needed after our killing frosts. Pruning can also be done immediately following blooming. Some varieties will re-bloom if deadheaded during the growing season.

Consideration should be taken when planting hydrangeas. Allow them plenty of room to grow. Many varieties, especially the older ones, can get large. If they have ample room to grow, pruning is not as big of an issue.

How do I prune my roses? The correct pruning techniques depend on the type of roses you have. Here are 2 general guidelines to use as a reference bearing in mind they may need to be modified a bit depending on variety, age of plant and other factors.

1) Most hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, some climbers, and some shrub roses (like Knock Out) bloom more than once and can be pruned the same way. Typically, these types of roses bloom for a time and then rest before re-blooming. Plants can be shaped up in early spring (mid-February to March) and then can be deadheaded through the growing season. Cutting the spent flowers encourages re-bloom in many varieties. The first pruning in early spring should remove all the dead and weak canes, any suckers coming up from the root stock and about 1/2 of the plant’s height. To promote good health, be sure to remove all debris. Tidiness also seems to help with rose rosette.

2) Some climbers and heirloom roses bloom only once a year. It is best to cut back immediately after blooming so that you don’t cut off next year’s blooms. These roses can start forming the next year’s blooms in late summer and fall. All dead or weak canes should be removed. Old flowering canes should be removed as needed to make room for the new shoots coming up.

Additional online information: Buddlejas – gardenseeker.com Roses- www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/hgic1173.html; https://extension.illinois.edu/roses/prune.cfm Hydrangeas – hydrangeashydrangeas.com, ucanr.edu/datastoreFiles/268-86.pdf, www.provenwinners.com

Ways to use Chrysanthemums you may not have thought about

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

I was tired of the ferns that were hanging on my front porch. I wondered how Chrysanthemums would look in a hanging basket. I bought six little pots of yellow mums, potted three each in two baskets, added some ivy cuttings (Ivy roots in no time), planted a sprig of purple wandering Jew for contrast and hung them on the front porch. I like them and so do the Hummingbirds!

There are many ways to use Mums and my internet buddy, Mike Mcgrority just sent an email with this really good post "Little Known Ways With Mums" I thought you might like it too. Now go out and get creative with mums!

Monarch Butterflies Are Back!

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

I saw the first Monarch Butterfly I have seen in my yard in years! It was on my butterfly bush. I thought they were extinct. My friend said she had seen them in her yard too. Maybe the word is getting out about those nasty chemicals like Roundup and folks are not using as many as they used to.

I planted milkweed seeds today. I have a few here already but I want lots to attract more butterflies. The monarch lays its eggs exclusively on Milkweed plants.

I'm ashamed to tell this next story but maybe it will stop someone else from doing what I did. A long time ago when Monarchs were plentiful, I had a huge field of milkweed plants in full bloom next to my house. I went out there one-day and big black and yellow caterpillars were eating my milkweed. I was so upset that they were ruining my beautiful flowers! I squashed a ton of them! Later I learned they were monarch caterpillars! I was so sad. I think God may have forgiven me now because I have Monarchs again.

Froggies and toads oh no!

noreply@blogger.com (KMG) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Actually, I love them both. We would be totally overrun with mosquitos if it weren't the frogs and toads in my yard. For years, I've had a toad that winters over in or near my greenhouse. He (or she) eats lots of bugs that would otherwise eat my plants.

I took these pictures of a little leopard frog sunning on a rock in my little puddle. It's too small to be a pond but it gives us much pleasure in spring and summer. Soon I'll post about the patio I built beside it for sitting and enjoying the goldfish and frogs. This leopard frog eats mosquitos that would otherwise eat us!

I saw the toad yesterday when I went out to one of my sand beds to stick some Hydrangea cuttings. He was buried up to his eyes in the sand. I had to scoop him up with my trowel and move him out of my way. He could have cared less. He sat and watched as I stuck all those cuttings, then he hopped a few feet away. I bet he's back out there today! No matter, he does more good than harm. I'd be overrun with bugs if it weren't for him and his friends.

Toad in the sand