In spite of two freezing nights in a row (with lows of 26 degrees), warm weather is back with a 40 degree low this morning and a projected high tomorrow of 82 degrees.  Such is the strange weather you experience when you live in the center of the country. In the city, few of the trees have turned, and even here, appearances can be deceiving.  This photo looks like we're getting lots of color, but, instead, the leaves are turning brown and falling to the ground with very little show. Of course, all of the tropicals have succumbed, but that's to be expected.  I can plant more Variegated Tapioca and Coleus next summer.  I'm moving my containers on the East deck next to the house to prevent freezing.  What little garden cleanup I do is finished, although I'm still waiting on some bulbs. I find that at this time of...

The leaves are just starting to turn, and today, while I planted some bulbs and Pansies, I noticed for the first time since spring that the sun was no longer warm on my back.  In fact, I wore a lightweight sweater over a t-shirt and capris, and I felt just warm enough. Two of my bulb orders are en route, and another is waiting at the post office.  I'll pick it up in the morning.  Although I held the Pansies as long as I could (I wanted to plant them over the new bulbs), they needed to go into the ground. I planted Heirloom Snowflakes, Leucojum aestivum, part of the Southern Living Collection, a mix of small yellow and purple Alliums, Allium, Purple Sensation and nigrum, Galanthus nivalis single, Ornithogalum umbellatum and Pansies and Johnny Jump-Ups. I have many more bulbs to plant before winter heads south, but while outside,...

Netafin drip irrigation installed in 2008. You may have noticed RDR has a new theme.  For my birthday last September, and in honor on my blogging anniversary this month, I decided on a new design which better reflects Oklahoma gardening and my personality.  The photos are all mine, but I did not create the design.  Although it was a long time coming, it was well worth the wait. Side border. The new theme and blog anniversary made me reflect on other changes at RDR this year. We installed a new irrigation system which has already made maintenance a lot easier.  No longer do I drag hoses and switch the system manually.  HH said it was my anniversary gift from 10 years prior. I planted Crossfire Fescue II grass seed, and I'm overjoyed at all the little plants which grew.  Just call it my blue green baby.  For the first time...

I worked all week on a Power Point presentation for last night's Central Oklahoma Hemerocallis Society meeting; so, if you don't mind, I'm going to post the following article I wrote for the Oklahoma Horticulture Society's newsletter last  month. Cover the Summer Garden with a Blanket of Color Previously published in Horticulture Horizons Aug./Sept./Oct. 2008 In planning your garden next spring, don’t slight the humble Blanket Flower, a/k/a Indian Blanket, Gaillardia species. Not only is G. pulchella Oklahoma’s State Wildflower, and therefore should be included for that reason alone, its relatives now come in varieties other than the standard orange and yellow. A genus of the sunflower family (Asteraceae,) Gaillardia was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. Blanket Flowers can be planted as container specimens or by seed. Seeds take awhile to become established, so you may want to...