If you plant them, they will come!

Hello, Friday... 

I have been busy-as-a-bee planting pollinators around the veggie garden to draw in some serious buzzy action. It is starting to pay off in dividends! Hooray... Salvia power.

Sunday Morning Harvest...

 

After a busy weekend of showings, the day kicked off in the garden, enjoying a harvest of radishes. Making room for summer goodness... Tomatillos and snacking peppers are taking their place today. The pick is so satisfying, isn’t it?

Garden Explosion!

My oh my how the plantings of June pay dividends in September?! Pepper and tomato party at Casa de Nenonen.

Note to self...

Find a place in the garden for Button Brush! Can you say “pollinator heaven”?🦋

Hello, Thursday... a peek at my morning.

 The joy of keeping a summer vegetable garden? 

You awake to a treasure hunt every day! Have a terrific day, friends.

In my garden, just because...

Early scenes from my garden, the bee vs the begonia...

Rise and shine, busy as a bee as we buzz into Tuesday.

How does your garden grow?

Exciting things are happening in the garden...

I’ve always heard “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” and how true?! There has been no greater test of my patience, faith, and hope than this fun backyard project. The progress is astounding. What a difference six weeks makes 🥦🥕🥬...

In bloom at Casa de Nenonen...

Memory and smell are so intertwined, that a familiar scent can immediately transport you back in time. I’m curious: What smell triggers memories of your childhood home?

For me...

...peonies. The flower bed beneath my childhood window was lined with them. Every May, as the weather warmed and our windows opened, their sweet fragrance filled my bedroom. To this day, I can’t resist the temptation to bury my face in their gorgeous pink petals. Home.💕

What’s yours?

Peek at my morning, just for fun...

Hello, Sunday.❤️

Pretty food always tastes better for some reason, doesn’t it?! This gorgeous taste of Summer is getting me giddy for our vegetable garden to take off!  Curious about our garden action?  Let's connect on Instagram HERE.  I typically share updates on my Instastories.

Spring shenanigans in Casa de Nenonen...

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. 

To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.”🌱💚

- Alfred Austin

Fall is the time to think Spring blooms!

Does the crisp Autumn air already have you daydreaming about tiptoeing through the tulips? Plant bulbs now for pops of perennial Spring color in your garden, friends!  

NOTE: Not all bulbs should be planted in the fall. Dahlias and gladiolus should be planted in the spring, for instance, so do your homework.

Fall Lawn Care "Do's and Don'ts" for the Midwest

Now that Fall is officially here, it's time to pay special attention outside to get your yard prepped for Winter. One of the most difficult aspects of being a novice home gardener is learning the rules of the what and when, as one little mistake can result in the loss of plants.  We have learned a lot from trial and error over 23 years of home ownership, which I have shared here on the blog from time to time.

As things get a tad more spooky around here, and we shift our own focus outside this week at Casa de Nenonen, I figured it is a great time to share my do's and don'ts for Fall. Let's face it, this is a busy time of year and daylight time is limited with the shorter days.  Focus your energy on what you can and should do now, and leave the Fall "don'ts" for when the warm weather returns to the Midwest.
.
Do's

Do aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn.
As temperatures drop, grasses put their energy into developing roots. If you only aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn ONCE during the year, Autumn is the time to do it in the

Midwest! It is your best shot at a lush yard throughout the rest of the year.

Steve and I actually hire a lawn service for our Fall care and it is WELL worth the money spent, approximately $175 for their Fall package. If you have bare patches in your lawn from dog play, as WE do, this is also a terrific time to request they overseed.
Tip: Learn from our mistake- it is easy to burn your lawn with fertilizer so apply with caution.

Do divide perennials.
It'a time to divide your perennials, particularly if they've become so crowded that they bloom less. This is also a fantastic time to split a large clump into smaller clumps to plant elsewhere. Generally, in Fall you can divide perennials that bloom in Spring or early Summer.

Do mow like crazy
Leaving leaves on the grass over winter can actually hinder Spring growth. Keep the lawn as clean as possible before the 1st snow. That is what teenagers are fabulous for, at least in our house where they appreciate a little more spending money. 

Do corrective pruning.
After the leaves fall from trees and bushes, branches that are broken or scrape against the house are easier to spot and get to. Make the cut where they meet a larger branch or the trunk. Reminder not to leave a stub, as it won't heal and leaves the plant vulnerable to disease.

Do plant.
Fall is the only time to plant spring-flowering bulbs! Sink the tulips, daffodils, and crocus NOW. You can plant bulbs until the ground is too frozen to dig. Fall is also a solid time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Although you can plant them until the ground is frozen, their chances for survival improve if you plant in early fall, giving them more time to develop roots. Remember to water generously if we don't have a rainy Fall.

Do control weeds.
Perennial lawn weeds such as dandelions and violets get their second wind once the weather cools and ironically are most susceptible to attack during this time. In our current house, we have been successful in keeping weeds at bay but fought a continuous violet infestation at our last house. Wage war NOW! If you pay special attention to your weeds in the Fall, they will be less of a burden in the Spring.

Do protect from deer
Got deer? Particularly if you live West of I-270 in St. Louis, I guarantee that you have had a tree trunk annihilated by the Fall scraping of the antlers. Bucks do this seasonally every year- we know this. Buy corrugated tubes and protect your young tree trunks. Just do it.

Don'ts

Don't shear spring flowering shrubs.
Shaping or lopping off length of Spring-flowering shrubs during the Fall removes the buds

that produce next year's flowers. YOU WILL REGRET THIS MISTAKE COME SPRING, I ASSURE YOU FROM EXPERIENCE. If you must control their size, cut off the longest branches at their base - you'll make them more compact and still enjoy flowers next spring.

Don't fertilize trees and shrubs.
Fertilizing stimulates tender new growth that won't have time to toughen up before winter. If your woody plants need fertilizer, wait until the Spring.

Don't cut back ornamental grasses and attractive perennials.
Wait until Spring growth starts before cutting back ornamental grasses and perennials that look decent in winter. Not only do they give you a little something to look at during the cold months, but their stems trap leaves and snow around the base of the plant, which protects the roots from freezing.

Pretty in pink!

Seen the projected local St. Louis weekend forecast yet? 

I am filling every vase in my house with the last gorgeous blooms of Summer, before they are taken by the Autumn frost.

We have a volunteer!

In a great big world of succulents... 

...don’t be afraid to be a petunia! 🌱❤️

Morning harvest with my girl...

Nothing says “Good Morning” in mid-July... 

... like a healthy harvest of beautiful ripe tomatoes from your garden! 

Hello Friday, Herbed Lemonade recipe toast!

Hello, Friday and Memorial Day weekend! Nothing screams “SUMMER!” in Casa de Nenonen like Herbed Lemonade...

Honestly, it’s one of the driving forces to maintain my container herb garden. Plop them in to the lemonade of your choice and steep for a few hours. It’s that simple!

I add a touch of cucumber vodka and a spritz of club soda for the adults. The kids- a touch of 7-Up or Sprite. Don’t be afraid of the savory herbs like dill, basil, oregano, and rosemary! I also toss in cocktail favorites like mint, lavender, and edible flowers like pansies.

Spring has Sprung: A May Checklist For Homeowners

Due to cooler temperatures and an incredible amount of rain, St. Louis has been slow to switch focus to our outdoor living spaces.  It has been a busy week here in Casa de Nenonen as we too play catch-up and continue to slowly prepare our yard for warmer weather between bouts of rain.  Parallel to that, we have had a rotating door of contractors visiting this week to do everything from power wash the exterior to aerate and fertilize the lawn.  

While I take a lot of pleasure in the planting and garden aspect of the process (my herb starters-hurray!)...

The money and time-management of the other projects?  Yeah, not-so-fun.  That being said, I have learned over 20+ years of home ownership that being proactive in the Spring almost always reduces an enormous amount of headache in the Summer and Fall.  I will also note that my weekend showings served as a terrific reminder (aka a serious kick-in-the-pants) to get started as 5 of the 11 properties that I showed in the rain this weekend had wet basements.  ALL FIVE OF THEM HAD GUTTERS OVERFLOWING WITH LEAVES.  Not a coincidence, friends. Read more about preventing water in your home HERE.

As we get periodic breaks in the rain, place your focus here Homeowners:

Clean Home Exterior:               

_ Clear all gutters, downspouts, and exterior drains of debris

_ Clean siding (TIP: if you have this professionally done like we do every other year, generously spray your plants with the hose right before the power washers arrive to protect your landscape from absorbing the chemicals.)

_ Decks and Porches: Clean, make repairs,stain

_ Patios: Clean and repair as needed

_ Windows and Screens: Clean and make repairs

Landscape:

_ Rake Leaves

_ Aerate, fertilize, and seed lawn

_ Prune shrubs (tip for pruning grasses HERE)

_ Remove weeds

_ Mulch garden beds 

Miscellaneous:

_ Check Sprinkler system

_ Schedule termite and pest inspection

_ Service your mower, have blades sharpened 

_ Check fences and gates

_ Seal driveway

_ Test outdoor lighting 

_ Inspect concrete for patching needs

_ Inspect brick for tuck pointing needs

_ Check roof for damage

_ Repair peeling paint 

_ Stain or reseal exterior wood 

How does your garden grow?

Even if you lack garden space (and a green thumb), you can grow your own veggies!

Our organic salad greens container is loving all of this St. Louis rain. 🌱🌦

Goodbye Petunias, Hello Pumpkins!

More Fall fun in Casa de Nenonen...

...in the spirit of Autumn. 🍂

Just for Fun: Bees vs. Hummingbirds

A sure sign that Fall is around the corner...

The autumnal battle for nectar has begun at Casa de Nenonen!