Garden Talk

Gardening tips and advice from Lorraine Kiefer.

A Rose By Any Other Name…

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published September 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

The roses that smell the best are the almost flat type blooms found on the Rugosa rose shrub. They are in both white and deep rose in my gardens and do well in sandy soil.
Summer time and the garden is growing!

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published August 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

Whether you garden in a pot or a plot, it is time to take notice and give the plants one last feeding if you do not already have time-release fertilizer on the plants. Clip or deadhead blooming plants so they [...]
Monarchs are coming…plant butterfly weed!

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published July 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

Butterfly weed is a beautiful fiery orange plant that is now blooming all over southern New Jersey. It has always been one of my very favorite wild flowers. It is known by many different nicknames, but most old timers call [...]
Old Time Favorites

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published June 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

We all know them. Geraniums are truly an old-fashioned summer plant, but did you know that you can enjoy these beauties all year long?
Fun with Herbs

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published May 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

Herbs are fun. They smell good and they are useful. They make me think of a peaceful sunny garden of long ago, and they are among the oldest plants grown by man.
The Hydrangea: A Jewel in the Garden

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published April 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

People are always looking for the longest blooming shrubs as well are for plants that bloom in sun or in shade. Well, this versatile plant is one that really fits the bill.
Wildflower watch begins

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published March 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Gardening

Often the very first blooms of the spring go unnoticed in a secluded woodland spot, but wildflowers are tough and hardy to weather when grown in woodland conditions.
The Fuss Over Tussie Mussies

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published February 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk

February is a special month and the shortest on the calendar. The hours of daylight get a bit longer each day. Buds and other plants begin to quicken and suddenly send forth green or blooms.
Time for Soup

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published January 1st, 2009 in Garden Talk • Recipes

Although we wish it were snowing here, it should be noted that Lorraine is in Franklinville, NJ. Soup instructions are in bold.
Many gardeners love to get outside no matter what the weather. I am always eager to look at the garden [...]
Holly, Winter’s Berries

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published December 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter, with berries everywhere!
Colorful berries are one of the joys of a winter landscape and garden. They sparkle like jewels on a sunny day or when there is a snowfall. I love to [...]
The Pumpkin: Thanksgiving’s Centerpiece

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published November 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk • Recipes

In a historic town like Cape May, seasonal decorations that are quaint and natural are often seen in autumn! I know that some folks begin to decorate for Christmas in mid-November, but others hold out until after Thanksgiving.
Pumpkins are often [...]
Bogged Down with Cranberries

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published October 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk • Recipes

A working cranberry bog mirrors one of American’s earliest agriculture practices. It also showcases some of the newest and most innovative methods used by farmers today. But time stands still when one reflects on these glistening berries during a beautiful [...]
End of Summer Gardens

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published September 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

Sometimes I feel like a character on little house on the prairie when I am in my garden at dusk. Gardens and sunsets are timeless.
As we approach the end of the summer, gardens in southern New Jersey are more colorful [...]
Herbal Tea Gardens

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published August 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

It is not too late to plant a tea garden.
Think about an herb tea garden! Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little herb area in the sun near the kitchen door where you could snip fragrant pieces of fresh [...]
Prunus maritime

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published July 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

I remember a gnarled old beach plum in my mother-in-law’s back ally in Ocean City. That was a long time ago and the tree was taken out by new owners years later. This 95-year-old little lady told us of picking beach plums [...]
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published June 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

The New Jersey coast is one of the best places to have an herb garden. The well drained soil, sunshine and breezes all encourage healthy plants.
Rosemary and lavender grow best at the shore and throughout most of the Delaware Valley, but [...]
Scents of the Season

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published May 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

On a warm, sunny May day, there are many wonderful fragrances in the air. May is the month of hundreds of blooming perennials, shrubs, and trees. Wildflowers dot the ground in shady areas and old fashion perennials, such as iris and poppies [...]
Getting the most from your Sweet Peas

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published April 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

Well, spring and is officially here. Ted worked a lot of chopped leaves and all sorts of compost into our sandy garden. He made the rows and limed them well as we have very acidic soil. I did the fun part [...]
Starting your garden naturally

Text by Lorraine Kiefer | Published March 1st, 2008 in Garden Talk

It is time to begin the garden! I love an old fashioned garden. An enchanting kitchen garden is a wonderful place to work, relax and enjoy nature. A colorful, fragrant kitchen garden can be as large as a vacant lot or [...]