Rose Cottage Ltd

Living with a 4-acre lake right in the middle of your 7-acre property provides a scenic setting and a lot of fun times. But when it comes to gardening and caring for the lawn and plants, it does require additional considerations.

My motto here is that anything I put around the lake, regarding weed and pest control, may end up in the lake. In many cases, chemicals many use without thinking too much about it, could be washed into the lake by a heavy rain and ruin its somewhat fragile ecosystem. I found this out the hard way 4 or 5 years ago when fertilizer my neighbor applied to his pasture, drained through a duct leading to the lake, and cost me 7 dozen fish. I don’t want this “fishkill” event to ever happen again. The drain has since been removed so it’s up to me to control chemicals.

Here are a few organic or at least “eco-friendly” options…

Check out the full range of this Urban Soil Energy product line.

Organic Plant Health products developed by PBS Organic Garden Expert Billy Styles include Organic Plant Health fertilizers, soil conditioners and pest control products simply work better, and are more complete than other products on the market. In fact, using Organic Plant Health brand products can actually save you money by helping to reduce the need for extra watering by as much as 75% or more.

Espoma Natural Lawn Food helps prevent unsightly weeds from popping up in your lawn while it nourishes the grass so that it becomes more resistant to heat, drought and other stress. Because the products consist of 100% organic ingredients, they are safe for your family, your pets, and the environment.

All natural and organic ingredients contain long-lasting, slow release nutrients that won’t burn; Homogenous granules for easy to use; uniform feeding Fortified with Bio-tone(R) – a special blend of beneficial microbes that help promote faster greening, deeper roots, and better soil structure.

Use: All Seasons – any time of year.

And perhaps my best find ever…Diatomaceous Earth

Safe & effective.

Made from the finely ground fossils of prehistoric fresh water diatoms. Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) kills common household and garden pests like roaches, ants, fleas, beetles, bed bugs and many others. It is a long lasting control — sprinkles easily into cracks and crevices where bugs hide and wipes them out!

Apply the dust lightly in infested areas. Safe For use in Pantry and around food use-areas indoors or out! Odorless and does not stain. Stays effective as long as it stays dry.

Controls spider centipedes, millipedes, other crawling insects. Use indoors and outdoors for ants, fleas, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs. In home, controls carpet beetles, bedbugs and silverfish. To control fleas. Lightly apply D.E. dust on pet bedding, carpets and furniture when a flea problem surfaces. You can even sprinkle this on pets instead of nasty,chemical flea powders!

Find these products along with products for water conservation, solar lights, and hundreds of other eco-friendly products at Garden.com.

This is about Year 5 for my Persian Lilac shrub. It extends upwards to around 7 feet and put out double the blooms of last year.

These beautiful flowers have an incredible fragrance, the plant has proven fairly disease and insect-resistant, and I only wish I had a few more! I may be adding to my Fall garden shopping list this year…

If you decide to plant one of these in your garden, give it plenty of room to grow. New growth from the base will make what is a fairly small plant Year One and Two, a much larger prospect by Years Four and Five.

Here’s a little savings coupon in case you find yourself in garden shopping mode this Monday morning…

So, what is good for heating bills – sporadically warmer-than-usual temperatures this year in North Carolina, is not good for Spring bulbs – which are now popping up too early.

Although I plant the new bulbs a bit deeper each year, the weather always seems to trick them into sticking their noses out of the ground – usually just before a bank of 20-degree mornings.

Here’s what I’ve found today, January 25th…

Such is the life of a gardener…Oh well…

+ $10 off orders of $99 or more. Use code CJGGREEN

Time to think Spring for this year’s garden and to plan for some new color to my predominantly green landscape. Here are some current specials, (and some garden improvement ideas) from Garden.com:

+ Winter Clearance! 50% off Patio Furniture Covers and Free Shipping on Address Plaques!

+ Clearance Items – up to 80% off!

+ Wood Arbors in Stock at Garden.com

+ NEW! Exclusive Fire Pots

Don’t forget your “Valentine” Gardener…

+ Valentine’s Day Gifts – Free Shipping on 50 Great Gifts for the special gardener in your life.

About 20 years ago I sent my Mom a bulb garden of Narcissus (Paperwhites) for Christmas. It has become a tradition.

I actually get these out to her, (if I’m running on schedule!) at Thanksgiving so she can enjoy them all through the holidays. 20 years ago I had to assemble the “garden” myself – buying the bulbs, the planter pot, and the soil, and then sending everything along. Now, giving the gift of flowers in Winter is as easy as a few clicks with your mouse.

Here are some fine examples…

Spread holiday cheer with this Christmas Garden Pre-Potted Bulb Garden.

Two Cherry Nymph Amaryllis bulbs are planted with Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs in a metal cachepot and ready to bloom in a few weeks.

This instant garden will put you in a springtime frame of mind, even when the temperatures drop outside.

Bulbs arrive pre-planted and pre-rooted and this garden contains two pre-potted double-flower Cherry Nymph Amaryllis bulbs, and several Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs.

The Aphrodite Trio in Tin Pre-Potted Bulb Garden arrives with bulbs pre-planted and in the first stages of blooming.

This instant garden will put you in a springtime frame of mind, even when the temperatures drop outside.

Bulbs arrive pre-planted and pre-rooted. This garden contains three pre-potted double-flower Aphrodite Amaryllis bulbs. A great gift idea!

In a oval metal cachepot, (15” L) – produces up to six stems and multiple blooms…

Paperwhites in Copper Tub Pre-Potted Bulb Garden arrives with bulbs pre-planted and in the first stages of blooming.

This instant garden will add some spring-like freshness to your holiday table…

Bulbs arrive pre-planted and pre-rooted and contains eight pre-potted Paperwhites bulbs in a oval faux copper metal cachepot (12”L)

Look for other bulb garden choices at Garden.com. Plus, 100’s of other great gift items for your favorite gardener! Check shipping and blooming time for bulb gardens to ensure your gift arrives fresh and blooms at the best possible moment!

Today I am surrounded by trees. In a few weeks I will be surrounded by the same trees, but all the green foliage will begin drying and dropping – everywhere!

For those contemplating a “leafy” yard in the coming weeks, here are a few items that will provide needed assistance…

Never Rake Leaves Again!

Finally, a sweeper that’s lightweight and easy to push! This 26-inch Push Lawn Sweeper makes quick work of just about any pickup task and do a thorough, efficient job the first time around. Poly construction is durable and lightweight.

Hopper Capacity: 6 cu ft
Sweeper clears a full 26″ swath
Hamper lifts out for fast dumping

Flowtron Leaf Shredder Plus Shreds As fast As You Can Load It!

Stop bagging and start recycling your waste. The Flowtron Leaf Shredder Plus keeps your curb free of the leaf mountains and eliminates laborious bagging. This unit and saves on disposal fees and trash bags while the unique hopper and funnel shape prevents material throwback.

For easier dumping, unit can be mounted on a standard garbage can, or a bag can be attached to the bottom with a bungee cord.

The Flowtron Leaf Mulcher Features: Lightweight and portable; weighs only 17 lbs 5.9 amp thermally protected universal motor with overload protection. Increases compost breakdown.

I bought two of these a couple years ago and at around $14 per – they are worth their weight in gold!

These Bosmere Cleanup sheets (84In X 84In) make clean up a snap!

Garden Collection Gather-up Sheet made of woven coated Polyethylene. It has four corner handles made out of Polypropylene webbing so that it can be easily gathered up when loaded.

~ Strong Handles Tough and Durable
~ Available in 2 Sizes
~ Ships Quickly!

The Leaf Collector Tripod Bag might prove more manageable for those working this job alone – which often seems to be the case!

I’ve seen these advertised and it might be time to “grab” a pair.

If I get them here before Halloween I can use them to terrorize some of the trick-or-treaters…just kidding…

These Hand Leaf Grabs (Pair) make leaf-pickup time go much faster.

Just slip hands into side handles making your hands much bigger for collection.

Made from strong plastic.

Order now for 10% and also get free shipping on ALL ORDERS over $99. No time to lose…Fall begins tomorrow!

Looking for the “Gutter Dogs?”

Additional savings on products you’ll be looking for with Fall less than two weeks away. 15% Off – this week only at Garden.com.

Here are a few product suggestions for those who love the look of copper…

This 40-inch Slate Mosaic w/ Copper Accent and Copper Bowl fire place will light up your patio.

Great for relaxing evenings, but also makes a perfect centerpiece for a party or cozy evening gathering. Best of all, the sturdy construction will give you years of enjoyment.

Size: 39.8″ Diameter x 15.4″ Height

Wildlife and animal decorative mailboxes including this Chickadee Copper Mailbox are the perfect addition for mountain cabin, lakeside retreat, or beach house.

Copper offers a rich design, that can be maintained to shine or let nature take its course, meaning the copper will weather naturally into a nice patina.

Features: Personalized hand hammered copper wrapped Fully assembled and ready to install.

Dimensions 21″L x 8″W x 11″H
Free Personalization-embossed on both sides
Free Shipping!

You’ll love the look of this simple yet elegant Cape Charles Estate Wall Plaque Antique Copper.

Personalize and pick from a large variety of color choices!

This Dainty Copper Watering Can will come in handy when it’s time to water your house plants or to use around the home for decoration purposes.

Made of copper and has a sharp looking hammered finish.

Color: Copper Finish
Size: 7 1/2″ High x 6 1/2″ Diameter
Hold 3 pints of water

Perfect for warming up on a cool evening at home, on the beach or where ever your travels take you.

This 30-inch Imported Copper Fire Pit features a hammered copper pit bowl with spark screen and a three-leg wrought iron stand. It also serves as a decorative patio accent, beverage stand, or a unique indoor arrangement.

Features:
Dimensions: 30″ Dia. x 12″ H
Weight: 34 lbs
Poker, log grate, and cover included

Look for other copper products. 10% Off right now and many items ship free!

And fortunately one is available!

After a nasty little incident here at the lake yesterday, I know I am in the market for something to divert wasps away from at least one human!

The Waspinator works very much like a scarecrow by frightening wasps away from the protected area. Yellow Jackets and wasps are visual insects and depend on a keen sense of sight to catch moving prey. Wasps and Yellow Jackets are also very territorial and will never enter into an area where another colony’s hive or nest is located.

The Waspinator creates the appearance of a foreign nest and if a yellow jacket or wasp enters the area in search of food, as soon as they spot the foreign nest, they immediately leave the area for fear that the wasps from the artificial nest (Waspinator) will attack them.

Since they apparently are NOT living in fear of me, I believe this little $10 item will greatly enhance my ability to work outside without fear of additional stings. One per season is all I am willing to allow….

This will be the next issue to confront since the roses are beginning their march towards blooming…

Japanese Beetle Control

Here’s a handy yet compact Gardening Buffet/Table perfect for serving up Summer barbecue or use it as a gardening bench.

Long-lasting good looks and low maintenance make cedar the natural choice for your home and garden decor. With the added benefits of beauty and comfort, cedar is an ideal choice for any setting. Cedar has an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio, which means that it is both durable and easy to move about. It does not shrink or warp as many other woods commonly do.

$10 off orders of $100 or more at Garden.com (just click for details)