Julia WatsonMar 33 minEarly TulipsI used to say, “If you can dig a hole, you can grow tulips.” That was when I was a gardener, and it still holds true for anyone who...
Julia WatsonFeb 82 minNarcissus or Daffodils?Our daffodils have started blooming and they’re a welcome sight after a couple of months without flowers. But not everyone likes them;...
Julia WatsonJan 93 minOur Flower Year in Review - 2021I took a little time off from this blog to enjoy the holidays and to rest from garden chores. But now it’s a good time to look back at...
Julia WatsonDec 14, 20214 minGrowing from Seed - Part 2Seeding Are you ready? Do you have your seeds and seed trays? Did you remember to wet your soil mix so that it’s not dry and flyaway? OK...
Julia WatsonDec 8, 20214 minGrowing from Seed - Part 1If you want a lot of plants without spending a fortune at the nursery, start from seeds. Once you learn basic techniques and find the...
Julia WatsonNov 30, 20211 minLooking Back on NovemberNovember was our last month of harvesting flowers and selling arrangements, and chrysanthemums were the stars. I wrote about my favorites...
Julia WatsonNov 23, 20212 minPlanting PlugsI’m finally finished planting the plugs I bought from Farmer Bailey. Plugs are seedlings that have been grown in trays of 100-200 small...
Julia WatsonNov 16, 20212 minOur Best 2021 Chrysanthemums We’re at the end of this year’s mums so it’s a good time to record my thoughts on varieties and growing methods, while it’s fresh in my...
Julia WatsonNov 10, 20212 minNovember is the Messiest MonthIn November there’s a lull in my garden. The peak of flowers is over and done, the plants are slowing down. My plans for next year are...
Julia WatsonOct 22, 20212 minStaticeDried flowers are not my thing, as I said in the previous post here. But statice, like strawflower, is valuable to any farmer-florist and...
Julia WatsonOct 20, 20211 minStrawflowersDried flowers are not my thing. I tried a few times, then decided to pass on the whole endeavor because frankly, it’s too much work for...
Julia WatsonOct 16, 20212 minThe Birds and the Bees, Good Bugs and Spiders TooIn my last post, Bugs in the Garden, I listed a few bad bugs* – aphids, thrip, etc. But there are also good bugs* and helpful creatures...
Julia WatsonOct 16, 20213 minBugs in the GardenWhat should you do if you see a few bugs in your garden? Look closer of course! You need to find out if it’s a friend or foe. There are...
Julia WatsonOct 8, 20212 minLooking for a DownturnNo, this post isn't about the economy - it's about flower arranging, but the title refers to the fact that I'm always looking for things...
Julia WatsonOct 6, 20211 minSeptember in ReviewEverything in the garden slows down by late September - except the chrysanthemums. They’re branching out, stretching up and setting fat...
Julia WatsonSep 28, 20212 minMy Favorite Seed and Plant SourcesIf you’re a passionate gardener who wants to try new flower varieties, you need to find new sources for plants and seeds, sources beyond...
Julia WatsonSep 25, 20212 minEarly Sweet PeasThis year I'll grow some early sweet peas because I finally learned about day-length rules for sweet peas. If that confuses you - read...
Julia WatsonSep 22, 20211 minCrape MyrtleSometimes I wish I had a crape myrtle tree. Like every serious gardener, I’m always wishing for more than what I have in my yard. I wrote...
Julia WatsonSep 17, 20212 minTake More Photos, Make More Notes! One thing I’ve learned from gardening is this – you can’t have enough photos and notes. I take photos on my phone and it seems like I...
Julia WatsonSep 14, 20212 minLulls and GapsI’ve been gardening for a long time, so I know when different plants bloom. But I didn’t notice lulls or gaps in that sequence, because...