Make and Take a Rainbarrel home

Hey Folks,

Wouldn't it be great to start the Spring out with extra water on hand? We get the highest percentage of rain in the month of February in Georgia. If you have a rainbarrel, you could be ahead of the weatherman!

Make one for cheap this weekend - details here:

http://watershed.cobbcountyga.gov/files/rainbarrels.htm

And here's another site to give you the low-down on rainbarrel use -- like, 1/2 inch of rain on 1000 square feet of roof area will yield 300 gallons of water!

http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/

I don't know about you, but my water bill just went up about 20% last month. Adding a rainbarrel to your yard is a no-brainer.  Get out there a get one for yourself, and catch some free water!

Lyn

Have you seen a lot of little round, brown bugs lately?

I have, and I am thankful my curiosity got the better of me.  I was thinking they looked like an undeveloped ladybug, but I had never seen these before. They are relatively new, first ID'd in 2009.

Today I checked out the ultimate guru's website, Walter Reeves, and found out a little bit more about the Kudzu bug...photos and more advice here:

http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/kudzu-bug-identification/

They like to live in the walls of indoor spaces, and they congregate by the thousands, so be sure you have your exterior windows and doors well sealed and caulked!

Hope you are taking advantage of this cooler weather to plant some trees and shrubs.

More timely tips coming this week as we change seasons,

Lyn

Quiet stars of the Winter Container Gardens

Doesn't look much like a flower, does it? But that's ok, because this plants main function is to provide color and texture variation in a drab winter landscape.

Euphorbia hybrids are getting better all the time. This one, x martini "Ascot Rainbow" was trialed in Australia and withstands all kinds of sun and some shade, asking only not to sit in water. It is great for pots and will withstand the winter well in Atlanta.  Sometimes difficult to find, though.

Sedums also come in a wide variety of textures and leaf colors, to help bridge the gap to Spring. Many will trail over the pot as well. You are probably familiar with the perennial now blooming called Stonecrop. Saul's in Atlanta has a fabulous selection of over a dozen varieties. Most are drought-tolerant succulents that live through our winters.


Mix these two winners with some early and mid season bulbs, some kale and pansies -- and you have a colorful pot all winter.

Great day to garden,

Lyn

Will there be a Fall?

It almost seems like we went from Summer to the middle of the Fall season with a quick correction of temperatures over the last few days.

The good news is, the weather is looking ideal for pansy planting. And just for you, Pike's is having an October Fest celebration tomorrow from 5pm-8pm. Here are the details:

http://www.pikenursery.com/

I don't know if it is lucky timing or conscious fore thought, but who care...you are the winner here! Get in for a beer and snack sample and save 20% off your purchase.

If you are looking for specialty plants, like Daphne, Edgeworthia or miniature evergreens, I've got a few excellent connections. Some of these are only available for a short time in limited supply, primarily in the fall, so call me soon!

Chillin' my spring bulbs,

Lyn