Pay Attention To The Weather And Water!

Alright, as much as I hate to think about it, we should be planning for a late freeze to take place this week. I blame the weather men and women. Obviously, they did not do the correct interpretive dance. So, plants are money. Let's talk about ways to protect them.

1. Hanging Baskets-Place them in a garage or shed. If they can't be put there, place on the ground, water, and cover.

2. Water EVERYTHING. Focus on saturating the soil over the foliage. Professional growers have specific ways of protecting plants by wetting the foliage. I don't recommend this for the average Joe.

3. Chances are most of your flowering containers, Summer vegetables, and herbs will need to be covered. Even plants that are not normally cold sensitive should be protected if purchased recently. They may have been grown in a hot house, and they've not had a chance to harden off.
Give them a good drink of water and cover them with burlap, sheets, or towels. Not plastic. Secure the edges on the ground so that wind will not destroy your efforts.

4.Get out your strings of lights! By trimming your plants, you can protect them. The lights will raise the temperature. Follow these safety tips: use outdoor cords and lights, don't let hot lightbulbs sit on foliage or sheets, and be sure to undo all of this the next morning. Check out this LSU page on protecting citrus.

You may not be able to get row covers by this point in the game, but I'm posting this video to give you an idea of how to cover your garden. You could make the hoops out of something from the hardware store. Creativity saves the day!

Inflatable Judy At The Low Country Living Home & Garden Show

Inflatable Judy and I wooped it up with Erica Glasener from HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary".
Erica's blow-up doll didn't make the show, because she had a nasty incident with a Knock Out Rose.



After catching up with Erica, Judy decided she wanted to see what the rest of the show had to offer. This riding lawnmower sure made Judy smile.It's always nice to have a cocktail after mowing the lawn. Judy found a nice Margarita to quench her thirst. Judy also found a nice man to hold her up while she drank them.







We've all been there, right? You have a few too many at a trade show and boom right on the tookus! Judy was so embarrassed, but I tried to console her. "Nobody saw," I said. She knew though. Even in her drunken state, she knew.











I suggested she get some water. You know how drinking cocktails dehydrates the body.

She was feeling a little deflated.

















And, well, after you've had a lot of water, there is nothing better then a toilet with an automatically closing lid.















They couldn't fill it with water, because she would just float out-I mean the hot tub, not the toilet. Actually, it might be a problem in either situation.

Judy is nothing if not a social butterfly. Here she is visiting the Orkin man. Apparently, Judy was one pest that he rather enjoyed. They talked for hours about bugs. Okay, just a few minutes.

Judy has a sweet tooth, so we had to visit the Girl Scout booth and pick up some Thin Mints. This young lady was taken with Judy right away. I think Judy might like to be a den mother some day. The camp fires could be dangerous though.








Judy had a nice chat with the guy from the "Shamwow" booth. His product couldn't be photographed because of some copyright issue. He was more than happy to put his arm around Judy's shoulder though. I wondered if they had met before.


Hope you have enjoyed Judy's trip to the trade show. Judy is available for public speaking engagements and is much less likely to have a panic attack then me.

This Saturday!

Customizing Your Yard To YOUR
L I F E S T Y L E

You may have seen plenty of presentations about gardening, but I feel pretty safe in saying that you haven't seen one like I'm planning to give this Saturday at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show.

You may have seen plenty of blow-up dolls in your life (I'm not judging.), but I feel pretty safe in saying that you haven't seen one used the way I plan to use one Saturday at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show. Inflatable Judy and I will by on stage at 1:00 P.M. at the International Trade & Convention Center. Be there, or Judy might be deflated.

Christine Speaking At Low Country Living Home & Garden Show

Presentation: Customizing Your Yard To Your Lifestyle
Location: Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
Date: Saturday, January 24th
Time: 1-1:30 P.M.

If you would like your yard to reflect you and your family, then you must not miss my talk. If you need plants that don't suck the life out of you every weekend, you must not miss my talk! If you want to save money by purchasing the right plants, then you must show up at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show at 1:00P.M. on January 24th to hear my talk!

Oh, by the way, this is my first public speaking engagement, so I WILL be picturing each and every one of you naked during my talk. Cute people up front!

Friday at the H & Zip

Tropicals Are Here!

People don't move South for the weather. That's a load of Moo-nure-priced nicely at $4.99. They move down for the tropical atmosphere. Drinks with umbrellas, patios with umbrellas, and beaches with umbrellas woo the masses.
Don't delay in creating a tropical oasis in YOUR backyard, or better yet, your mother's! Mother's Day is right around the corner, and nothing would thrill the lovely lady, who gave you life, more than a backyard make-over fit for a queen!
It's easy with the following: tropical vines, hummingbird feeders, colorful planters, and beautiful lanterns and candles. Add in some bug repellent, and you've got yourself a slice of Heaven here on Earth!
Attention all of you butterfly gardeners out there! Mary-ann will be teaching a class at our Wilmington Island location NEXT Saturday, May 10th, dealing with how to attract these flying friends to your garden. Show up at 9:45A.M. for the 10:A.M. class! Participants will receive 10% off butterfly-attracting plants listed by the tattooed teacher. Don't MISS OUT!
I'm still looking for recipes contributions! Send in your delicious ideas for fresh herbs and veggies. Don't deny that you've got some goodies, because you're Southerners! You've got recipes in your blood!
Have a good Friday night! Tomorrow there is gardening to be done!