Fall is a Great Time for Planting

If you're considering a new plant for your landscape, but feel that you should wait until next spring…don't wait.  Fall is an ideal time for planting.

Here are three great reasons to do your planting and transplanting in the fall:

1. Cooler temperatures mean less stress on the plant.
2. Increased rainfall help the plant's roots become well-established.
3. The soil is still warm in the fall (actually warmer than in spring) and allows roots to grow until the ground freezes.

Coleus for Color

Looking for an annual to add a little color to your shady beds?
Try Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides).  There are over 600 varieties of Coleus to choose from. 

The plant tag for this one didn’t list the variety.  Determined to figure out which one I have (so I can get it again next year) I’ve done some research and have decided that it’s most probably “Fireball”.

For more information on Coleus visit the Missouri Botanical Garden website.

Don’t forget the Mistletoe

Last year, as I was taking down my Christmas decorations, I realized I had forgotten to hang mistletoe over my doorway. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing mistletoe in any of the homes I visited during the Christmas season.

If you do some research, you’ll find that since ancient times mistletoe has been considered to be a magical plant with mystical powers. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has been around since the 16th century. Through the years, the reason for the kiss has changed. Some felt it was an important ritual that would bring fertility to a newly married couple. It was also thought to bring peace between a feuding husband and wife. At one point, the idea was that if an unmarried couple kissed under the mistletoe, it would be considered a promise to marry.

I guess in the year 2011 we no longer believe that kissing under a piece of greenery is going to bring any kind of change to our lives. But, it does seem like a shame to let such a lovely tradition disappear. So, while you’re out shopping for your Christmas tree, holly, ivy, and poinsettias…don’t forget the mistletoe.