Wondering what gift to buy your gardener for Christmas this year? I have some great gift book ideas for you. This was a banner year for garden books, so I'm writing this post and a second British edition later next week. Of the books sent to me this year, these are my American favorites. Some were published by my publisher, St. Lynn's Press, while others were published by Storey Publishing, LLC and Timber Press. Cover of Five-Plant Gardens by Nancy Ondra. Excerpted from Five-Plant Gardens (c) Nancy J. Ondra. Illustrations by Beverly Duncan. Photography by (c) Rob Cardillo. Used with permission of Storey Publishing. First up is Five-Plant Gardens: 52 Ways to Grow a Perennial Garden with Just Five Plants (Storey Publishing 2015), by Nan Ondra. I would buy and read anything Nan wrote. I own most of her books and re-read them in winter for inspiration. There is no one who...

I like hippeastrum. What are hippeastrum you ask? We know them as amaryllis. When I write that I like them, I mean I'm a hipp-aholic. They brighten my house with their stately blooms before Christmas and after. Growing amaryllis is easy, and I want you to grow them too. Plus, thanks to Longfield Gardens, I get to give one of my readers a 'Red Lion' amaryllis bulb of your very own. If you're in a hurry and want to bypass the drawing, here's a link to their bestselling amaryllis. Robin Haglund of Garden Mentors and Kylee Baumle of Our Little Acre are joining me in this fun giveaway. It was actually Robin's idea. We're all sharing our personal experiences growing these easy and fun bulbs. Plus, we're giving away a three-pack of Annie Haven's manure tea as fertilizer. If you didn't win in my last contest, here's another chance. A red amaryllis I...

Since the weather is singing a wintry tune, it's time for greenhouse musings and a moo poo tea giveaway. First, the musings. Bill and I weren't ready for the sudden cold snap when it came. Although we have propane heat with an electric backup, we forgot to check the propane before the "polar vortex"--what a silly phrase--came down from the north country. We ran out in the large cylinders, but did have the one attached to the grill. Before we discovered the problem, the small electric heater did keep the greenhouse at 47F degrees and the plants from freezing. Not bad when the outdoor temperature is 23F. That's why we have backup heat. The cuttings one week ago. After sterilizing the pots with a bleach solution, I reuse them for cuttings and seed starting. The cuttings shown above were from about a week ago. They were tiny, but they're already growing fast....

November 5, and it is well with my garden. Gradually, flowers are slowing down, but roses were still blooming in the blustery day that preceded yesterday's rain. 'Carefree Beauty' seems to have come out of her slump of two months and is blooming freely now. She grows near two roses that died of Rose Rosette Disease so I expect her to come down with it. I will enjoy her as long as I can. I did take some cuttings of 'Carefree Beauty' last year, and one is growing in the bed facing the street. So far, the street bed, as I'm now calling it, hasn't seen any RRD. 'Belinda's Dream' is also looking mighty fine. Rosa 'Carefree Beauty' strutting her stuff with maiden hair grass. My garden's daily story is being told more now in berries, stems and leaves than in flowers. This is as it should be. Rosehips on Rosa 'Baseye's Blueberry' are a...