Vegetable Gardener Gift Ideas Do you need gifts for the vegetable gardener in your life? Often when I reach for a particular tool or garden aid, I think about how useful it is or what a good gift it would make for a fellow gardener. Below are some of these favorite items that might spark some ideas for holiday gift giving. (Note: These are Patty’s personal selections, not paid endorsements.) Gardening Books There are so many books out there about vegetable gardening. I am partial to those written… Read More →

What to do with all those Iris? It’s bounty time when you divide your iris clumps, but how do you store iris rhizomes and keep them healthy if you can’t relocate them immediately? After dividing my irises, I called on friends and family to donate for their beds, but my garage was still full of rhizomes. I have a few friends who want starters for future planting, so I have put them to rest until they could be relocated. If stored properly, the rhizomes will last a year…. Read More →

Fall is the Time to Plant Ranunculus Plant ranunculus tuberous roots now and you won’t have to wait to find plants in late spring. The other advantage of buying tuberous roots from a nursery or online seller is that you can locate the color you want. Even better, ranunculus roots are about 1/5 the price of a full plant. The bloom options are wide and varied, so the biggest problem you’ll have is deciding on just a few! I saw a pink/salmon variety called ‘Elegance Salmon’ which touts… Read More →

Divide Agapanthus Now It can take four years or more for Agapanthus bulbs (Agapanthus africanus), to multiply or naturalize. Eventually you’ll want to tackle large bunches and divide Agapanthus to ensure your lilies continue to produce those lovely blue or white bloom clusters. In the Austin area, these lilies bloom in mid-to-late spring, typically around Mother’s Day. As these are also great container bulbs, you can pot extras to gift to family and friends, or to enjoy on your patio. Easy Dividing Technique Grab your gloves, a spade,… Read More →

Oxblood Lilies: Plant and Forget I admit it, I am not patient. I couldn’t wait for the temperatures to dip so I could begin the fall gardening rituals. And then I saw a White (Fragrant) Mistflower just delivered to a local nursery and had to have it. I had the perfect spot – where I had planted three pink Oxblood lily (Rhodophiala bifida) bulbs in the spring, and nothing was materializing. As lilies go, Oxblood bulbs are the ‘plant it and forget it’ type. And I truly had… Read More →