People who are seriously into growing beautiful flowering plants usually put up a bee lodge so these insects can actually flourish in their flower gardens. Mason bees are commonly attracted to these dwellings where they stay and lay their eggs. This bee specie is known as good agents in pollination, plus they don’t sting unless squeezed or stepped on so people and animals are safe around them. They are not honey producing bees but rest assured that they are good helpers in making blooming flowers abundant in your garden. For real lovers of flower and nature, a flower garden abundant with blooming beauties can be a real source of joy and pride.

One can actually build a bee house or lodge if adept in carpentry. But buying a ready made one saves you time and effort. Plus, you can be assured that they are professionally designed and can definitely add beauty to your flower haven. This is also a way to help these insects in their survival, believe it or not. You see their normal refuge are the tree holes created by other animals like woodpeckers or carpenter bees, for example. Due to the deterioration in tree population, also in the animal and insect species that create these tree holes, mason bees population may also be directly affected. They are not capable of building their own nests. By putting up houses and lodges for them, man can actually be helping the eco-system somehow. You may think it is a futile act but in the current state of our environment, a deed as simple as this may already be considered a big help in the declining quality of our natural environment.

If you want one of or more these structures and are wondering where you can obtain them then you can check out websites that offers items which can help bringing out the beauty of your garden. A bee lodge is not really expensive and with all the benefits mentioned above, I am sure you are more than convinced this is will be a good buy.

I grew these radishes this spring!  They are called Easter Egg radishes

Easter Egg Radishes I grew this spring.

for obvious reasons. I purchased all of my seed this year from Territorial Seed Company. This was my first attempt to grow radishes and they are really good.    As you can also see, I just planted them in the early spring in between some flowers, just to utilize some bare space.  I will remember this technique next spring!

My radishes ready to be harvested.

My preference is to grate my radishes in to my salad.  That makes their flavor blend in and provide an overall hot and spicy flavor.

They are there, they are just eating differently.  Your bird feeders and suet feeders during the winter and early spring become their major food supply.  As spring comes, so do the insects, and 95% of terrestrial birds feed their offspring on insects.

Include as many native plants as possible in your yard to provide food for the insects, and then you will be feeding the summer birds too!

In his book Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy ranks the best native plants to grow, based on their ability to support butterflies, moths, and caterpillars.  The plants that feed caterpillars feed the birds! Now is the time to plan on what you will plant in you garden to attract birds this year.

As we go into fall here are some things to thinking of while working in your lawn or garden. It is time to begin fall clean up now. Get busy with pruning, pulling and fall planting. Now is the time to pull out those rose bushes or shrubs that have not performed well for the past several years.

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler.  The cool nights, ample rain fall and morning dew are about as good as it gets for grass to grow. Many lawn expects claim that fall is the most important single lawn feeding of the year. By applying a fall lawn feeding in September or early October will help your lawn to begin to rebuild grass roots that were damaged during the hot, dry summer.  A second lawn feeding, 2 months later, in November or early December will strengthen your grasses roots and increase nitrogen storage for an early spring green up and healthier lawn next spring. Just because the temperatures outside are no longer high you cannot forget about watering in the fall.
The first step in preparing your lawn for its long winters nap will vary, according to whether your lawn is composed of a warm season grass or a cool season grass. If you are unsure which type of grass you have in your lawn take a sample to your local county extension agent.
Common cool season grass turf grasses include:
Bluegrasses
Bentgrasses
Fescues
Ryegrasses
Common warm season turn grasses are:
Bermudagrass
Saint-Augustinegrass
Zoysiagrass
Buffalograss
Once you know what type of grass you are growing in your lawn it is time to over seed. By over seeding with annual winter rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), lawns that are planted with warm season turf will we green all winter long instead of brown. When you buy the grass seed make sure you are buying annual, not perennial. Annual winter ryegrass will die back when the hot summer heat returns, turning your lawn over again to your warm season turf grasses. The problem with the perennial winter ryegrass is that it doesn’t go away. It grows all year round competing with your warm season grasses for sunlight, water and nutrients.
Lawns that are composed of cool season turf grasses also benefit from over seeding. In this case the motivation behind the over seeding is not winter cosmetics, but to fix bare spots, so they will come up green next spring.

Fall Lawn Mowing
If you are using cool season grasses adjusting the lawn mower height for fall mowing is not a problem.  Mow your grass the way you normally would right up to the time the grass stops growing for the winter.  If your yard is composed of warm season turf grasses then your mower’s height should be increased by ½  inch .

Do not forget your feathered friends. During the fall the birds sources of food a being reduced at the same time that they are beginning to migrate south for the winter and need plenty of substance to make their journey. A bird feeder in your back yard will bring you joy as you prepare your lawn for the winter months just ahead.  Some colorful lawn decor items will also bring life back into your backyard for the fall season.

Credits: Pruning photo from http://www.dannylipford.com/. Click here for a good article on pruning.

A is for Assessing and Analyzing

• What worked well this year? Was there a type of plant or vegetable that grew well, were there
  

  Linda's Serenity Garden May 2010

  disappointments? We had a very dry year, some things survived the drought. In comparison, last year we had too much rain. Making notes of the strengths and weakness of your gardening efforts and then reviewing them in the Spring will help make your garden successful and enjoyable. Consider making a photo record too, digital pictures are easy to take and transfer to your computer, along with notes, and resources.

• Have you had a soil test recently? Whether you are planting perennials, annuals, bulbs, or lawns, the nutrients are depleted over time. Fall is the perfect time to have the soil tested and amended so it will produce the best results for you. Soil test Kits are available for $9.00 at the Penn State Extension office.

B is for Bulbs and Birds

• “Bulbs” is an inclusive term describing a variety of fleshy underground matter that includes true bulbs like
  

  Tulips Mount Vernon, WA April 2010

  tulips, corms such as crocus, and rhizomes for example: lily of the valley and bearded iris. Spring flowering bulbs need full sun, well drained soil, but only minimal care. These bulbs, once they start to show, serve as reminders that better and nicer days are ahead. Years of selection and breeding have provided spectacular color and disease resistant varieties.

• There are approximately thirty-five species of birds that can be seen in your yard in the winter time. Think about a family project of attracting birds and caring for them during the harsh months of the year. With the right feed and feeders, birds will provide entertainment, action and color. Bird watching, indentifying, and journaling them are good ways to pass the dreary days of winter. So take some time in the fall to select a good feeder, provide shelter and water for them.

C is for Cleaning and Composting

• As the growing season slows down, less time is required to maintain the home landscape. Now is a good time
  

  Compost Bin Made of Pallets

  to clean up while the weather is still nice. Take some time to edge around your plantings, remove any weeds and take out any insect eggs, nests, and debris. Taking them out now will prevent hundreds of seeds germinating in the Spring. Trim back any damaged limbs and branches. Sanitize and oil all your garden tools to prevent disease and corrosion. While you should continue to mow your grass, remember your mower should also be prepared properly for the winter. Change the oil and filter; check the plug, and lastly, drain the fuel. Doing all of this will extend the life of the mower and improve its performance.

• Your way of recycling naturally: start a compost pile with grass clippings and spent plants as you clean up your vegetable garden. You can also add the used potting soil from your container plantings. With the onslaught of falling leaves, they can be shredded with your mower and added to the compost pile too.

• By Steve Ward
  Master Gardener Coordinator
  Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
• “Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.”
• Used with permission