Let the Hugging Wars Begin!

Today I want to announce the beginning of Hugging Wars! I am challenging Mr. My Blog and anyone else who would like to partake in the festivities. The challenge is to hug anything and everything and post your hugging pictures.

Here is my first Hugging Wars creation:
This is a tree at Magnolia Plantations near Charleston, SC



Gardening Tip of the Day: I know everyone is excited to begin tilling up the yard and putting in their plants they've been growing indoors, but be careful not to over-till your soil. Too much tilling can cause the development of hardpan. Hardpan is a compacted layer of soil below the tilled soil. Tilling can remove organic matter. When you do till it is better to till closer to the surface. Also, crop rotation can alleviate soil compaction and maintain the soil's organic matter content.*

*Tip inspired by The Experts Book of Garden Hints

I bought this book for 50 cents at a rummage sale. I never pass up a rummage sale. There always seems to be gardening books and pots at these types of sales. Can't beat the prices either.

A Few of My Favorite Indoor Plants

Here are a few of my indoor plants that helped me get through the long winter.
Dianthus

Viola

Tulip

Gardening tip of the day: Plant a diversity of species to deter an aphid upsurge. Plant more marigolds and less coleus, nasturtiums and impatiens. And most importantly, make sure you check the plants you bought at the greenhouse for aphids and other pests before you bring them home.*


*Tip from The Experts Book of Garden Hints

April is National Gardening Month

How quickly this month flew by. New seeds, dirt, clay pots. Feels good to get back into the swing of things. It was a long winter. Although you can grow plants indoors all winter, it is just not the same as getting down on your knees and getting your hands dirty in the garden. Most of my plants I started from seed are about 4-6 inches tall. They are still in a sunny location in my home, but in two weeks,I will be able to get them all in the ground and watch them grow all summer. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, herbs, corn. And I can't forget sunflowers. I'm hoping to create an inviting border of sunflowers around the house this summer. I'm not just talking just any old sunflower, either. I'm talking mammoth sunflowers and beautiful deep red varieties. This is going to be a wonderful gardening thyme, I just know it.