Daffodils and crocus bulbs can be purchased now for fall planting. Many companies give a discount if bulbs are bought in the spring. Daffodils are easy to plant and require only full sun and good drainage to create colorful displays next spring. Planting bulbs behind daylillies or other spring/early summer perennials will hide the daffodil foliage when it begins to die back. The old foliage should be left until it is completely brown. This feeds the bulb for the next year. Daffodils have an amazing variety of colors, flower types, heights and bloom times. They are also deer resistant which is a must for many gardeners. As a photographer I find they make amazing  still life subjects and fill the garden with beauty.

Want to enjoy fresh produce and herbs but don’t have time or space for a real vegetable garden? Planting  vegetables in containers nestled among ornamental plants is an easy way to get started. Choose an area that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day when placing containers. Tomatoes and peppers are good choices. Patio tomatoes or cherry tomatoes work well with Marigolds planted in the pot to deter insects. Make sure your pot is 14-16″ in diameter and has drainage holes in the bottom. Tomatoes will need some sort of cage or support which can add a pop of color to the area. Use a good quality potting soil designed for vegetables.

Looking back through my personal garden notes to 2008 I have never seen the daffodils peeking through the soil this early. These were up around March 5th.

Ilex verticillata, “Sparkleberry” common name Sparkleberry Winterberry is an outstanding shrub/small tree for the winter landscape. The bright red berries persist through fall and are beautiful covered in a light snowfall. Hardy to Zone 3 this plant likes full sun to part shade, normal to wet soil conditions.