Agatha Christie Gardens

 

We know Agatha Christie for her murder mysteries. But did you know the Queen of Crime was a garden lover? As a child growing up at Ashfield House, her favorite spots were among the trees, plants, and woodland paths. After her success as an author, she was able to afford her own country house and gardens at Greenway, in Devon, England where she restored more than 30 acres of gardens. 

  

The property includes several distinct garden areas including two walled gardens, a vinery, a kitchen garden, and a fern garden restored with a central water fountain. 

Two of Christie’s most famous mysteries, Five Little Pigs and Dead Man's Folly are clearly set at Greenway, under fictional names. These stories include many scenes in the gardens. (The murder weapon in Five Little Pigs is local spotted hemlock.)

Christie’s use of poisonous, plant-based chemicals as the “murder weapon” in so many of her mysteries reveals her gardening expertise. Many of the poisons in her stories come from plants that she knew well because they were growing in her own garden beds and in the surrounding woodland areas at Greenway.

The cost to see the house and gardens is 36 British pounds per car. The gardens are open daily from 10:30 AM-5:00 PM.

And now for the IWSG question of the month:  What are my thoughts about using AI like ChatGP? Would I use it for research, creating outlines...?

Well, I haven't used AI for regular writing jobs that apply to writing the actual book. I like going down my own rabbit holes for research and creating outlines and writing. That's part of the fun. What I have been doing, is using AI for marketing:  coming up with keywords for search optimization, coming up with ideas for YouTube posts. I find it very helpful for those things. If you let it, ChatGP would do all the thinking about these things. And maybe that's good. Less time for me to think about it, and more time to write what I want. What are your thoughts?   

A Guide to Pruning Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are popular ornamental bushes known for their large, showy blooms and lush foilage. Proper pruning is essential for maintaining their health, shape, and blooming potential. 

In order to prune correctly, you need to know the different types of hydrangeas.

Big Leaf:  shown above. These set their flowers in late summer or early fall for the following year. Prune immediately after flowering.

Panicle: shown below. These produce coneshaped flowers on new wood. These can be pruned in late winter or early spring before the new growth begins.

  
 Oak Leaf:  shown below. These feature distinctive, oak-shaped leaves. Like the big leaf, they grow on old wood and should be pruned immediately after blooming.

General guidelines:  Remove dead or damaged wood. Shape the plant to create a balanced silhouette while preserving the plant's natural form. Selectively thin out interior branches which provides better light penetration. Deadhead spent blooms by cutting the flower stalks back to a pair of healthy buds or lateral branches. 

Do you have hydrangeas? If so, did you know the proper time to prune them?

Now it's time for the IWSG question of the month:  What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? I'd say plagiarism.  Stealing someone else's work. What about you? What do you think is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? 

Water Gardens

 

Water gardens can be beautiful additions to any outdoor space. Whether you have a large, inground pond or a small container on your patio, the right aquatic plants can transform your garden into a welcoming oasis. 

Aquatic plants are essential to the health and beauty of a water garden. They not only add color and texture, but are instrumental in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Floating and submerged plants help oxygenate and filter the water, providing a healthier environment for fish and frogs. They also help control algae growth by absorbing nutrients and blocking sunlight.

Here are some various pond plants:

Those that like moisture but don't need to be submerged. These can be used to create a lush backdrop around the edges of the pond. (Pitcher plants—yes, the carnivorous ones) 

Marginal plants grow with their roots underwater and foliage above. (Cattails which should be planted in pots to avoid spreading, Pickerelweed)

Floating plants float on the water's surface. These absorb nutrients directly from the water and don't need soil. These however, usually need to be brought indoors during colder months.(Lotus, water lilies)

Submerged plants grow entirely underwater. 

If you are unsure about plant selection or pond maintenance, consult a landscape professional. They can help you choose plants that compliment each other in color and texture and assist with installation and maintenance to ensure your water garden remains beautiful and balanced. 

Do you have a water garden, or have you thought about making one?

Today's IWSG question is, "Is there a genre you would like to try writing that you haven't tried yet?" Mystery. I loved Nancy Drew Mysteries growing up, but I have never written a true mystery book of my own. Maybe I will some day. What about you?

And an announcement:  I am very happy to share that all of my Bubba and Squirt books have been compiled into a boxed set. Right now, it's available as an ebook. Here's an universal Amazon link if you'd like to check it out:  Bubba and Squirt's Adventures around the World  

Growing Herbs in Containers

 

If you want to start food gardening, herbs are the best way to begin. They tend to be less picky than vegetables, and there are a wide range of choices depending on your moisture and sun conditions. Many of them also do well in containers. 

All herbs should do well in a garden bed except mint, which should only be planted in containers. Why? Mint is rather invasive and takes over the entire garden if not contained. That said, mint tolerates more conditions than most herbs, including some shade.

Rosemary, on the other hand, can be started in a container, but will eventually need to be planted in-ground. Most forms become large bushes if planted in a sunny place.  

Mint and rosemary are perennials which will come up year after year. Other herbal perennials that do well both in containers and planted in a garden bed are chives, sage, and thyme. Sage and thyme both like drier conditions and work well together as the filler and spiller in a container. Chives like more water.  

When planting your containers:

Select an appropriately-sized planter for the amount of herbs you'll be planting.

Try to keep a container near the kitchen door so it's easy just to go out and snip whatever you need. 

Fill your containers with good potting soil.

Start with small plants rather than seeds.

Water appropriately for the herbs in your container. It's a good idea to keep the tags they come with as a reminder for how to care for them.

Harvest throughout the growing season and before they flower. They'll lose their flavor when they flower. 

You can mix herbs with other vegetables, shrubs and even flowers to make decorative containers. Make sure that the water and light requirements of everything in the container are the same, though. 

 

 Gardening tip:  Use coffee grounds to fertilize plants that like acidic soil. (Azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries.) Coffee grounds contain nitrogen and phosphorus which plants need, plus the grounds help deter pests. For best results mix with dried leaves. 

I didn't see last month's IWSG question, but since I've been visiting your blogs, I have it. What is my biggest fear as a writer?  Hmmm. Spending more on marketing than I make on royalties and never seeing the results of all my marketing efforts. What about you? What's your biggest fear as a writer?

Biltmore Historic Gardens

 

Located in Ashville, North Carolina, Biltmore was built in 1888 by American Art Collector, George Biltmore. He was a member of the famous Biltmore family who amassed a fortune through steamboats, railroads, and other business ventures. The 250-room mansion is the largest privately owned home in the United States. Biltmore hired famous landscape designer, Frederick Law Olmsted to design the 8000-acre garden that surrounds the mansion.

You can begin your garden tour at the library terrace where 100-year-old wisteria and trumpet creeper flowers add a splash of color to the surroundings. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the estate's vast acreage. 

 Moving on to the Italian garden, exotic water lilies, tropical plants, and koi fish provide an elegant and symmetrical example of aquatic gardening.

Winding paths lead to the 15-acre azalea garden which in the spring pops with vibrant pink and red colors. 

The walled garden is the most well-known, with geometric designs of changing colors and textures, reflecting the flora of each of the four seasons. Other gardens include the rose garden, butterfly garden, and conservatory. 

Admission, while a pricey $99 per person, includes entry into both the home and gardens. Hours are daily from 9-5. If you can do it, this is a place to see at least once in your lifetime. 

Gardening tip: Use Epsom Salt to take care of house plants. Use 2 tablespoons per gallon of water and feed plants monthly. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It helps seeds germinate, plants grow fuller, produce more flowers, and keeps slugs away.  

 

Transitioning Native Plants into your Landscape Design

 

When I first came to Georgia twelve years ago, I quickly discovered that the plants I loved and grew in Ohio didn't work with the soil and climate of Georgia. Instead of fighting a losing battle, I decided to use plants native to the area. They thrived and worked well with the different kinds of wildlife in the area. If you'd like to transition to native plants in your landscape design, here's how to do it:

1. Assess your site. Figure out drainage and sunlight exposure. Determine nutrients in your soil by taking soil samples. If needed, add organic material like compost, or topsoil, preferably to a depth of 6-8 inches.

2. Plan your design. Group similar plants together by their water and sunlight needs. Plant taller plants in the back and shorter ones in the front. Use a variety of plant types that will provide year-round interest. 

3. Select native plants:  Trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses. In my area, White Oak, American holly, Eastern White Pine, oakleaf hydrangea, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, sunflowers, switchgrass, and river oats work well. 

4. Remove invasive, non-native species.

5. Mulch and water.

6. Plant to attract pollinators:  milkweed for monarchs, bee balm for bees...

7. Maintain properly. Allow plants to reseed and spread naturally.

8. Use local resources. Your state probably has organizations and plant societies dedicated to native plant gardening. You can look for them online.

Today's IWSG question is:  If you could sit down and have an adventure, fight, or enjoy a beer or wine with a fantasy character, who would it be?  Dumbledore from Harry Potter. I wouldn't want to fight him, but it would be cool to have an adventure with him or sit down and chat. He's such a cool, wise old dude. Who would you choose?

Gardening tip:  You can soak dish sponges in water and put them at the bottom of your potted plants to help them stay hydrated. Do this before you add the soil.

 

Yerba Buena Garden

 

The Yerba Buena Gardens are located in San Francisco, California.  Basically, it's two blocks of public parks in downtown San Francisco.  It provides over 100,000 square feet of green space for the residents.  There's grass, gardens, streams, and fountains, and even a 100 year old carousel (built in 1906) that children can enjoy.

   Children can also find a playground, a labyrinth made of hedges, and an area where they can alter the flow of the streams to create dams or irrigate the gardens.

The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.  The Carousel is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The cost for two rides on the carousel is $3.00.

I'm going to begin posting the IWSG questions of the month here instead of on my Mama Diaries Blog. For those of you who don't know, I lost my son in a motorcycle accident on February 2nd. I've decided to leave my Mama Diaries blog as a tribute to him since there are many stories from his childhood there. 

The question of the month is if you could be someone else for a while, who would you be and why. Actually, even with all the pain and sadness I've been through, I wouldn't want to be anyone else. I'm perfectly happy as myself.   

Gardening Tip:  To get rid of fruit flies on houseplants, pour apple cider vinegar into a container, cover with plastic wrap, and poke holes in the top. The flies will go in and not come out.