Keep on watering

Now that cooler weather has arrived, we can go back to planting things. Right now is a great time to visit the local nurseries to see what they have on sale. Look for perennials to bring home and add to your flowerbeds. They will have time to settle in and most will reward you with flowers next spring and summer.

Ease up on the fertilizer as the only things to use it on now are annuals. Any put on trees, shrubs and fertilizers at this point will only encourage soft new growth that won’t have time to “harden off” before colder weather arrives. Sad but true.

If your bleeding heart plants have turned yellow, don’t panic. It is normal for them to do this. Just cut the stalks to the ground and let them be. They’ll be back to entertain you next spring.

Also, don’t be concerned about those dried seed heads on your lilac bushes. Leaving them on has nothing to do with whether or not they will bloom next year. So, you can cut them off or let them be. Either way is fine.

Now that most raspberry plants have stopped producing, go ahead and clean up the patch. Cut the brown canes all the way to the ground. These produced the berries this year, but never will again. Leave the green canes alone as those will create berries next summer.

Have you ever seen a hummingbird moth? These are actually Sphinx moths and are quite common. They buzz from flower to flower looking a lot like a hummingbird as they can hover in much the same way. Interesting little creatures.

To continue enjoying those pretty hydrangea blossoms, you might want to dry some of them. If you’ve never done this, here’s how:

Step 1: Cut the hydrangea blooms with a sharp pruner, strip off most of the leaves.

Immediately put them into a large container of water while you prepare the glycerin solution.

Step 2: Combine two parts of hot tap water with one part glycerin. Pour into a jar.

Step 3: Snip an inch or more off the flower stems, at an angle. Put several of these into a jar of the Step 2 solution. Let stand for one to two weeks until the flowers are dry but still supple.

At this point you can leave them as is, or spray paint them a different color. (The natural color will fade over time, especially if exposed to direct sunlight.) Display in a vase, glue to a wreath, or just go wherever your imagination leads you.

If you decide to cut some of those nice big dahlias, remember what it takes to keep them looking good in a vase. You’ll need to sear each stem with a flame in order to keep the sap from clogging it up to the point where they can’t take up any water. Poppies and daffodils need this same treatment.

Some folks may wonder why we spend so much time working in the yard. Just smile and say, “Hey, its cheaper than a shrink.”

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Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column appears in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October.