The Gardening Nerd

The Gardening Nerd A Do-It-Yourselfer's coaching service for people who want to create their own home landscape!

It's that time of year again! One of my favorite discount stores has glazed planters in stock in a range of designs, c...
03/08/2026

It's that time of year again! One of my favorite discount stores has glazed planters in stock in a range of designs, colors and sizes. They are noticeably more expensive than last year, but still a decent buy.

I like to use containers in my flowerbeds to add some color and raise plants a bit closer to eye level. I set them on a paver leveled with compacted gravel underneath to keep the container plumb and lower the risk that the drainage hole will be blocked.

I am still here! You know how much I love the clearance rack! I got lucky the other day and found a replacement for a ...
02/20/2026

I am still here! You know how much I love the clearance rack! I got lucky the other day and found a replacement for a gadget I honestly used everyday! My last one lasted 8 years I believe. With the sensor outside, the display unit will show you the temperature at that location along with the time. It also stores the high and low for that day. I kept it in the hall so I could check it to decide how to dress before heading out and what gardening activities would be appropriate at that temperature. I am such a Nerd!

With the price of everything increasing including the fresh flower bunches at my local grocery store, it is nice to fin...
11/09/2025

With the price of everything increasing including the fresh flower bunches at my local grocery store, it is nice to find a deal. Here are two of the three stems in the bunch of oriental lillies I bought for $12. The buds opened in succession for a visual show accompanied with a lovely scent. I decided to put all three stems in tall containers because of their architectural qualities. I had to trim a few blooms and buds off to fit the stems in their vases and I put them in short vases in another room. They provided blooms and fragrance for 12 days. I was happy with that. 🙂

Oooops! Camellia has two Ls!It's fall-blooming Camellias' showtime. When the last of the late-summer bloomers are goin...
11/09/2025

Oooops! Camellia has two Ls!

It's fall-blooming Camellias' showtime. When the last of the late-summer bloomers are going dormant, these Camellias are getting started. I usually don't mention botanical names often on these posts but you need to know the species to know if you are buying a Camellia that blooms in the fall: Camellia sasanqua. There are many species and varieties of Camellia. Camellia japonica are common where I live and bloom in winter for a welcome color pop.

It is always good practice to review the information on the plant's tag to make sure the plant is appropriate for the growing conditions you have. If the plant tag only has the name of the plant, an online resource, like NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, can provide the information you need.

Remember my white robe covered in beggar's lice? A picture is a few posts back on my feed if you do not. I finally got...
10/11/2025

Remember my white robe covered in beggar's lice? A picture is a few posts back on my feed if you do not. I finally got 2 minutes to look up the methods of removing it! Luckily, I am a Swiffer product devotee. This is one of the duster products. Made quick work of the task!

I have dusters that can be washed. I use them for cleaning furniture and knickknacks. I use disposable products for baseboards and under furniture because I don't like cleaning spider webs, eggs sacks and pouches with their stored food off my reusable tools.😝

I love whimsy! Why would you not want a reason to smile?!😄
09/23/2025

I love whimsy! Why would you not want a reason to smile?!😄

Every year, I am seduced by these pretty little flowers on arching stems with lovely dark green leaves. I convince my...
09/23/2025

Every year, I am seduced by these pretty little flowers on arching stems with lovely dark green leaves. I convince myself that I am going to cut them back before they turn to seed. As the second picture shows, I failed again!

Commonly known as beggar's lice, some plants have seeds that readily adhere to animal fur and fabric so they can be spread far and wide. It has done so quite successfully in my front garden. I think I have a native form of one of them. I use that as an excuse not to kill it. Any plant growing where you don't want it to is a w**d after all. And those seeds are terribly hard to remove even in the washer and dryer!

But those little flowers are so cute...☺️

Early in my adventures as a gardener, I saw having blooms in the spring and early summer was relatively easy. I began ...
09/23/2025

Early in my adventures as a gardener, I saw having blooms in the spring and early summer was relatively easy. I began a search for plants that bloom in fall and winter. There are sedums that bloom this time of year. As you can see, these bees are very happy that they are around!

Typical of big box stores, this Home Depot is clearing out for pumpkins and fall annuals. Time to head to the dedicated nurseries for perennials.

My grandparents had one of these beside their side door. I bought one for my mother at the the Wing Haven Garden and Bi...
04/04/2025

My grandparents had one of these beside their side door. I bought one for my mother at the the Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary's Spring Sale a couple years ago and it is very happy in her garden.

There are several semi-annual plant sales in my area that have me giddy. The Central Piedmont Community College Plant Sale is TODAY April 4 until 6pm and April 5, 9am - noon. The Wing Haven sale is April 10 - 12 this year. (winghaven.org) A perfect advertisement, a tree-sized example of the viburnum above will be in bloom by the nursery during the sale. The Charlotte Botanical Gardens plant sale will be April 11 - 12. (gardens.charlotte.edu) These are great events for finding native and unique plants!

I consider my garden a laboratory where I test the fortitude and reliability of the plants I select. Well these tulips ...
04/04/2025

I consider my garden a laboratory where I test the fortitude and reliability of the plants I select. Well these tulips have proven perennial and even bloom in the shade! I also tried the Red Impression tulip but it has not bloomed as well as its cousin for me.

Snapdragons and Dianthus are my go-to for seasonal color in my containers. Both bloom in the spring and will often rebl...
04/04/2025

Snapdragons and Dianthus are my go-to for seasonal color in my containers. Both bloom in the spring and will often rebloom in fall.

It is no secret that I am not a fan of a homogeneous turf lawn. I welcome plants in my "alternative" lawn that give the...
03/29/2025

It is no secret that I am not a fan of a homogeneous turf lawn. I welcome plants in my "alternative" lawn that give the grass-obsessed nightmares, like the common blue violet. Its purple and white flowers along with its green heart-shaped leaves are lovely en masse.

After flowering, the leaves die back and my cool-season fescue lawn interspersed with white clover and Bermuda grass (that I did not plant!) take over the area. Violets, clover and other "w**ds" provide a seasonal show that a single species of grass cannot accomplish.

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