Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Looking out my window today and seeing white…absolutely everywhere, I decided I needed a little garden project to give me a feeling of Spring. I love to place inspirational quotes around my garden, painted on drift wood, bricks, slate, rocks, or even Terra cotta pots! It’s a nice small project that the whole family can enjoy! To give you some inspiration, here are a few lovely garden quotes that you could use to decorate your garden next Spring…

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”Lady Bird Johnson

“In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.” Kozuko Okakura

“God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.” Author Unknown

“How fair is a garden amid the toils and passions of existence.” Benjamin Disraeli

“A garden is the best alternative therapy.” Germaine Greer

For those of you who are ambitious, you could use these slightly more wordy quotes. Some ideas are placing each word on a brick along a pathway, or painting it on your gazebo floor or porch rail!

“The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied. They always look forward to doing something better than they have ever done before.” Vita Sackville-West

“The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.”
Dorothy Frances Gurney

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
William Blake

If you aren’t quite as ambitious, single words such as “truth,” “laugh,” “love,” “remember,” or “faith” can be placed around your garden to add a special personal touch.

Stay tuned for tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration on cold climate gardening from the Daily Weeder!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

All America Rose Selections has announced its choice of winners for 2008! The roses “Dream Come True” and “Mardi Gras” have taken home the honors this year. According to the AARS “every AARS winning rose completes an extensive two-year trial program where it’s judged on everything from disease resistance to flower production to color to fragrance.” Well, you know then they got to be good!

Dream Come True

Dream Come True is an outstanding 40 petal Grandiflora rose with a lovely mild tea fragrance. The color fades from striking yellow to a gorgeous pink and its disease resistance is excellent. This rose grows through zone four with winter protection. If you want this rose, clear a spot in the full sun and let this rose shine—it will grow up to 4 feet high! To learn more check out the AARS fact sheet!

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a pretty 20 petal Floribunda rose with a moderate peppery fragrance. The color is a yellow/coral and the disease resistance is good. This rose grows through zone five. If you want this rose, like Dream Come True, clear a spot in the full sun, and let it shine–it will grow up to 4 feet high! For more information check out the AARS fact sheet!

Jackson and Perkins offers this plant on its own root so it should survive in lower zones (3 and 4) with winter protection.

With past winners such as Lady Elsie Mae, and Marmalade Skies growing beautifully in my garden, I am inclined to try out these new AARS picks! However, many others will want to try these roses, so if you love them, don’t wait to buy!

Stay tuned to the Daily Weeder for more tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration from the Daily Weeder!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

This time of year is not a gardener’s best friend. It’s sooo cold and all of our precious plants are covered by…snow. That is why I find its a good time to curl up by the fire with a good gardening book! Reading not only gives me a feeling of Spring, and great inspiration for my garden, but I’m also learning something new about gardening that I can look forward to trying when the sun does come out again! These five books mentioned here have my personal five rose raving review– my highest rating!

So get in your flannel PJs and fuzzy slippers, get that mug of hot cocoa, and get comfortable in your favorite chair, and sit back and enjoy…ahhhhh!

50 Ways to Kill a Slug

By Sarah Ford

From the cover: “Serious and silly ways to kill or outwit the garden’s number one enemy!”

This tiny book is loaded with great solutions! Some of course are tongue in cheek, but others may surprise you! For example as a solution, the book suggests getting plants that slugs hate, such as mint, chives, garlic, geraniums, fennel, and more! An alround excellent read!

Jackson and Perkins Rose Companions

The author, Stephen Scanniello offers many ideas on adding annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, or even vines as companion plants to roses. Very informative and clever! You can’t go wrong with the information furnished in this book if you want to have a garden that looks like a million bucks!

Dream Plants for the Natural Garden

This book by authors Henk Gerritsen and Piet Oudolf is very helpful for the gardener who would like to know more information about just how easy or difficult a plant can be to grow and maintain prior to purchasing. Beautifully photographed, included are tough grasses, bulbs, shrubs, and much much more! Its especially nice because it mentions the name of the plant, and which varieties grow best in certain zones!

Tasha Tudor’s Garden

If you simply want to kick back after a looong day and get some quiet inspiration this is the book for you! Written almost like a storybook, author Tovah Martin (and Richard W. Brown as photographer) take you on a journey through a particularly beautiful New England garden, grown by renowned illustrator Tasha Tudor. Ms. Tudor shares with you both her love of gardening and great tips. A lovely book to curl up with on a cold winter’s night!

The Elements of Organic Gardening

Learn how to garden the royal way! HRH The Prince of Whales with Stephanie Donaldson take you on a informational and picturesque journey of Highgrove, an organically grown garden. Inspiring, informative, and timely, I loved reading this wonderful book that focuses on preserving good old mother earth!

As you all know, I’m an avid reader of anything gardening! The books mentioned above are just a few of my personal favorites! However, if you have a favorite of your own mention it in your comments below! Spreading good information is what the Daily Weeder is all about!

Good Reading and Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne