WANTING TO START A FALL GARDEN?

Are you getting anxious to start a fall garden? I know I am. I cannot get out and garden in the summer due to medications I take, so my gardening is strictly spring and fall. I have got it in my head this year that I want to plant lots of different lettuces and greens-kale, swiss chard, mustard, etc. I always plant cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts-and of course spinach. Alas I will have to curb my enthusiasm for a couple of more weeks, it is still in the high 90's here and will be till at least late September-possibly October.

MORNING GLORIES

These morning glories were supposed to be solid blue-glad they turned out this way-love them. Parks seed sold these as tie dyed morning glories several years ago. I am hoping these make seeds and come back true.

Just beautiful!

This one looks like an old soft brushed denim. I love surprises-especially good ones!!!!

WHERE HAS SUMMER GONE?

Where has the summer gone? In about 3 and 1/2 weeks children will be going back to school! Everyone has been busy with their gardens. After a crazy spring where everyone had to plant two or three times and some a lot later than usual the gardens have taken off! I am hearing reports of record yields in the vegetable gardens and beautiful flowers in the flower gardens. I think the abundance of rain that we seemed to get at just the right times accounts for a lot of that. Of course the old timers say an abundant yield means a hard winter! If you don't grow a flower or vegetable garden, please visit a local farmers market-you will find delicious produce and beautiful cut flowers there-and meet some great people too.

ARRANGING FLOWERS WITH LYNETTE MCDOUGALL

Several of our Master Gardeners visited Rankin County this month to attend the live taping of a Quick Bytes with Lynette McDougall from Ms. State. We all enjoyed watching her make lots of beautiful floral arrangements. This one was made in a shoe box lid of all things.

Pretty gladiola arrangement.

Nice arrangement in a flat basket.

Another tall arrangement.

Sometimes simple is nice.

THE DAY LILY'S HAVE BEEN SPECTACULAR

This has been a spectacular year for day lily's. I think it is all the rain we have been getting. I know that day lily's don't take a lot of water to survive and that is why they are such tough plants that need little care. But if you want spectacular blooms and for a longer period of time-pour the water to them.

This one puts on more blooms than any of my others.

This one has been blooming for at least a month with no signs of stopping.

I love the ruffled edge on this one.

Perfect shade of yellow. I am sorry I did not keep up with the names of these.

This is one of my very favorites. It is nine inches across-just spectacular. I have had it for years and it has not spread as I had hoped, though. I hope you have been enjoying the blooms that all of this rain has brought-I think it is about over and we will probably be in drought conditions in another month.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR MASTER GARDENER'S

Master Gardener's did a program for the Crudup Ward Head Start Center today. The children were eagerly waiting for their first tomato. The future looks bright for Master Gardening!!

GET FREE GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS

It has finally stopped raining here and dried out! Of course it will be so dry soon we will be dragging out the water hoses!  I am sharing photos from Biedenharn Gardens in Louisiana. I recently visited here-while it was too wet to do anything else. I hope you can get some inspiration
for things to do in your garden-just maybe not on such a grand scale.

I love this combination of the lime green and coral color!

You could put your favorite piece of yard art in a bed of impatients, too.

O.K., so this is a little grand for most gardens, but do-able(is this a word?-lol) on a smaller scale.

All this is, is grouping pots with the same color flowers together in front of a green background-anyone can do this. It sure makes a bigger impact, than pots scattered everywhere.

How is this for a low maintenance garden? Pea gravel is used here, but you could probably use crushed granite-a cheaper option. All the maintenance needed here would be spraying the occasional weed that popped up. Notice how the pots are grouped together-more impact! I hope this gives you ideas. When you have down time in your own garden, go visit public gardens, there are tons of free ideas out there!