Smart and Green Gardening Resolutions for 2012
January 12, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views, Home Improvement
Even if you don’t make (or keep) New Year’s Resolutions, I know you are interested in living smarter and saving money. As you consider ways to make small changes in your life, don’t forget to review your gardening practices. “Greener” gardening can save time and money and lets you enjoy your landscape while doing your [...]
PTC Garden Club Shows Off Holiday Centerpieces from the Garden
December 16, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
The Peachtree City Garden Club held its annual Christmas Brunch on December 15 and club members decorated the tables with eye-popping centerpieces created from natural elements in their gardens. Take a look at these festive and fun centerpieces and get inspired to design your own holiday focal points with greenery from your outside space. It’s [...]
Create a Holiday Mailbox Display with Garden Greenery
December 9, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
The holidays are upon us! I am sure, like me, you are looking for creative ways to celebrate the season while saving money. Kay Gorman, the vivacious owner of Le Fleur Florist and Design in Senoia, showed me how to put together a stunning mailbox decoration using plants from the garden and a few Christmas [...]
Small Trees for the Garden
November 1, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
In the November issue of Fayette Woman I interviewed master gardener, Dan Frazier, about his ten favorite trees. Since Dan selected many wonderful medium-to- large trees, I thought I would add my favorite small trees or large shrubs that work perfectly for the small garden or patio. Sometimes we just don’t have the space for [...]
Reap the Health Benefits of Gardening!
October 18, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views, Health, Take Care
Do you view gardening as “yard work” and see it as a chore? If so, you need to change your perspective. Numerous scientific studies emphasize the amazing health benefits associated with gardening. Gardening positively affects the body, mind, soul and spirit. Instead of looking for a wonder drug, why not try this wonder activity? Gardeners [...]
Experience the Charm of “Days Gone By” at Hills and Dales Estate
September 21, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
Sitting regally on a hillside overlooking 32-acres of lovely landscaping, Hills and Dales in LaGrange, Georgia, is known to locals simply as the “Callaway Home.” Yes, we are referring to members of THAT Callaway family who created Callaway Gardens. But while Callaway Gardens is known near and far, Hills and Dales Estate is almost a [...]
Take a Trip to Athens – College Town…Classic City
September 9, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views, Travel
Bulldog Country In Athens, you don’t say “hello;” you say, “How ‘bout them Dawgs!” In Athens, it’s all about the Bulldogs. For a University of Georgia grad, a visit to Athens is always a homecoming. There is nothing more thrilling than to be in town on a football Saturday among a sold-out crowd of 92,000 [...]
The Water-wise Gardener
August 2, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
The “dog days” of summer are upon us and water bills are starting to rise as we increase our outside usage. If you want to keep more money in your wallet and save time by watering less often, become a water-wise gardener. Here are some tips to make every drop count. Planting: Improve planting beds [...]
Creative Summer Containers
July 15, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Etcetera, Garden Views
My son, Blake and his wife, Marija, have just moved back to the states after being stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. Their new assignment is Fort Gordon near Augusta. While staying with us this week, Marija mentioned that she would like to learn more about edible gardening. She is a wonderful cook and especially enjoys adding [...]
Amazing Plants You will “Just Have to Have” from the UGA Trial Garden
June 27, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views
I am always looking for any excuse to go over to Athens for a day trip. For those of us who graduated from the University of Georgia, a trip to Athens is always a homecoming. Last weekend the UGA Trial Garden held an Open House to showcase some of the amazing new plants that are [...]
Get Great Gardening Ideas at Master Gardener Demonstration Garden
June 24, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views
Do you need inspiration to create your dream garden or just want to see gorgeous plants in bloom? Then you need to stop by the master gardener demonstration garden in Fayetteville and enjoy this outside space bursting with blooms, butterflies and bright ideas. New master gardeners (called interns) have just completed weeks of intensive horticulture [...]
Fighting Pests…A Green Gardening Game Plan
June 15, 2011 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Focus, Garden Views
Stop! Take your hands off the nozzle and move away from the bug spray. I know you see that insect on your prize petunias but can you identify the critter and do you know if it is actually harming your plants? Those of us who garden in the South are always challenged by a variety [...]