Welcome!
I’m Dee Nash, a native Oklahoman, and I’ve gardened here since my teens. I know from personal experience how challenging our prairie climate can be.
But my blog isn’t just for Oklahomans. Gardening can be challenging in other climates too. So, I share how to garden wherever you grow.
Enjoy the garden you’ve always wanted!
Featured posts
Letting the garden grow
As I’ve been garden coaching so many of…
The bones of the garden
The wind is blowing, and leaves are falling.…
Zinnia favorites
It’s probably no surprise I love zinnias. I…
Gardening is a love story
This morning I was talking to a friend…
Did covering plants work for the spring freeze?
Did covering plants work for the spring freeze? Last night, we had a hard freeze in central Oklahoma. It got down to 30° for several hours. It wasn't 26°F, but it wasn't good either. Bummer. We were having such a nice springtime too. 'Cherokee Brave' dogwood in my front border was unfazed by the freeze. I planted it in February 2009. Sometimes, I ignore my own good advice. Because the weather was so settled for most of April, I planted a few tropical plants like petunias, coleus, and calibrochoas in my containers on the back deck. Yes, I know better, but my greenhouse was getting too full. Sometimes, I ignore my own good advice. I hope you didn't plant tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant transplants. I did not plant out tomatoes, peppers, or other hot-weather-loving vegetable transplants because I know they are picky little devils. If you did plant tomatoes, just...
Read More
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: April
This post is for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the one day each month where bloggers all share about our favorite flowers, the ones in bloom, that is. Carol Michel hosts this day each month from her May Dreams garden blog. A small sliver of my back garden this spring morning. Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama' is a beautiful Japanese maple I planted thirteen years ago, and in the far corner is my southern blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum. Packera obovata is the bright yellow flower on the left. Two posts in one week! What am I thinking? It's like the good 'ole blogging days! Earlier I wrote that spring is here in all its glory. 'Orange Rocket' barberry in my lower beds. Yes, it is this bright in spring especially in cooler weather. No, it's never escaped from my garden. Tiny blooms on 'Orange Rocket' barberry would usually be buzzing with bees, but it's...
Read More
Spring is here in all its glory
Spring is here in all its glory. That's good news. Our spring freezes may be over. Let's accentuate the positive because in many years we have a late spring freeze. There isn't much structure in the lower back garden and other spots as well, but the skies are blue, and the garden will be fine. The main pathway of the back garden with the lavender chairs in a previous year for comparison. All of the crapemyrtles have been cut down, but they will grow again. Crapemyrtles and deodar cedars showing signs of life. As you can see from the photo, above, left, I cut my crapemyrtle trees and shrubs to the ground. However, I'm happy to report I saw new red foliage coming up from the ground today. Also, I saw small green bits on my deodar cedars. All is not lost, my friends! Crapemyrtle foliage coming up at the...
Read More
Oklahoma spring garden after the storms
Honestly, much of my spring garden looks like hell. My spring garden is a shadow of its former self. Remember the October ice storm? After cleaning up all the limbs and being without power for two weeks, two more snowstorms hit Oklahoma. The final February storm had an extended and intense cold period that did a number on my garden. Any plants below the snow line, which looks to be about six inches, are fine for the most part. The perennials are pretty fresh. Snow is a great insulator. In this section of the tiered borders, daffodils and Phlox subulata, creeping phlox, usuallly snug up to 'Ogon' spirea, but not this year. I cut the spirea down to the snow line. It's about six inches tall now. Everything above the snow line in my spring garden burnt to a crisp. The plants above ground, especially trees and shrubs, took a...
Read More