BANDITS IN THE GARDEN

You wake to tipped pots and broken corn.

Tiny handprints in the soil tell the story.

Your buffet is wide open and word has spread.

It is time to shut the kitchen without harm.

👉 10 Ways to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Garden​

YOUR LAZY SEASON PLANT CREW

Short days, dry air, no problem.

These green roommates stay happy.

Even when you forget about them.

They actually look better with less fuss.

👉 8 Houseplants That Thrive on Neglect During Fall and Winter​

PLANT OF THE DAY: GENTIANA

🌸 Gentiana spp. (Gentian)
🌿 Plant Type: Perennial wildflower; native to alpine meadows, woodlands, and temperate regions worldwide
🌞 Light Needs: Prefers full sun in cool climates; partial shade in warmer areas
💧 Watering: Likes consistently moist, well-drained soil; avoid letting it dry out completely
🌡️ Temperature/Hardiness: Zones 3–7; hardy, thrives in cooler summers
🌱 Soil: Slightly acidic, humus-rich soil; avoid heavy clay or alkaline conditions
📏 Typical Size: 6–18 in tall, depending on species; compact, clumping habit
🎨 Leaves/Flowers: Lance-shaped leaves; trumpet-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of blue or violet, blooming late summer into early fall

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Fun Fact: Gentians are so intensely blue that they inspired pigments for dyes and paints in traditional Europe.

Growing Tip: Provide consistent moisture and mulch to keep roots cool. Gentians sulk in drought or alkaline soils.

Bonus: Their late-summer blooms add rare, vivid blue color to gardens and are highly attractive to pollinators when many other flowers have faded.

GARDEN GEMS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Drying Flowers Before They’re Gone​
​Hold onto summer a little longer with blooms you can dry now for wreaths, crafts, and decor.​
👉 11 Flowers to Cut and Dry Before Summer Ends​

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The Water Swap That Plants Love​
​ Give your garden a boost with the one change that makes soil and leaves instantly happier.​
👉 The Water Swap Your Garden Will Definitely Notice​

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Aspirin as a Plant Power-Up​
​Turn one little tablet into surprisingly powerful support for your garden—from transplanting to disease defense.​
​👉 7 Aspirin Tricks That Actually Work in Your Garden​

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I plant zucchini like I’ll only get three, and then by August I’m that neighbor leaving mystery bags of squash on doorsteps at midnight."

WHEN YOUR SOIL TURNS TO BRICK

Plants sulk.

Water runs off instead of sinking in.

Roots circle in place like they hit a wall.

The good news is you can fix it fast.

👉 How to Fix Compacted Soil for Good (And R.I.P. to My Lavender)​