Beckie Fox

I enjoy making my garden productive as well as attractive, whether it’s growing a few fresh vegetables and herbs for the table, or ensuring there are enough seedheads and berries remaining on the perennials and shrubs over winter to feed the birds. For me, a productive garden also means abundant flowers and leafy branches to gather for the house. I love bringing the outdoors … [Read more...] about Suffering floral withdrawal

Gardening in the fall is as much about planning for spring as it is preparing for winter. And because I’d much rather think about spring than winter, I’m planning to follow Dugald Cameron’s detailed instructions on how to plant bulbs in containers now so I have them to use in spring containers on the porch next spring. “How to grow spectacular spring-flowering containers” … [Read more...] about How to grow spring bulbs in containers

Most people consider spring the busiest time in the garden, but fall is the real crunch time for me. At least in spring, what doesn’t get done one week can usually be delayed for a few days with few consequences. However in fall, what doesn’t get finished one week may never get finished at all if there is a hard frost or a few days of freezing rain. As well as cutting back … [Read more...] about Overwintering perennials in containers

I don’t grow many edibles for a few reasons. One, we’re fortunate to live near a farmers’ market and several roadside stands, so fresh, local produce is easy to find. Two, I use most of the square footage in our sunny raised beds for dahlias, other cut flowers and herbs. And three, the rest of our garden is shady and most vegetables need plenty of sun. However, every October … [Read more...] about Growing garlic

Now that temperatures are beginning to drop, it’s more pleasant to be out in the garden. It’s a good thing, too, because there’s lots to do. Tasks that can be accomplished in the fall mean fewer to do in the spring. Well, that’s the plan. “5 lawn tips for late fall” outlines a few tasks that will prepare your turf grass for the winter.Generally, planting spring-flowering … [Read more...] about Garden tasks for fall