October 2020 - Rock Out with Your Broccoli Out! Well here it is, the last week of the month. Finally the rain has allowed me some time to catch up with computer work. It's easy to feel like gardening is done for the year when the high temperature is 44 degrees today, and we haven't seen the sun in a week. I challenge you and myself, however, to begin another season of gardening.  I won't brag about the state of my vegetable garden right now. I have watermelon vines, morning glories, and late season peppers still in the beds. I did put all the chickens back in their coop for the winter ..read more

September 2020-Seasonal 'Ruts' It's easy for a southern gardener to feel worn out after surviving the summer, and especially the month of August. One might feel like they're in a 'rut', in between seasons, in need of a break, and not knowing if they're ready to start another gardening adventure. Then the seasons change, fall weather peaks into our peripheral and, before you know it, we're wondering when we can get our mums and pansies in the ground. I have found myself digging out summer annuals and getting ready to plant my own cool seasonal varieties this week. That's right, it's Fall Y'al ..read more

Seasonal Wisdom Summer is here and I'm feeling it more than ever. Though I usually look at life with an optimists point of view, I find myself a little down this week because the compressor for our AC unit has been out for a solid week. With temperatures estimated to reach 95 this weekend, I am praying for it to be fixed. I've had to tap into my good attitude reserves this week, looking for a silver linings to this situation. Luckily the outdoors feels better than in my house, so I've been busy watering container plants, weeding pots, potting up succulents, and taking care of the goats, tryi ..read more

The Patient Gardener  As I watched the meteorologist deliver his sermon about the weather this week, he put two words together that I never look forward to......."hot and humid".  You would think after all these years of working in the great outdoors and being a native Texan, the words "hot & humid" wouldn't bother me so much. That's just not the case.  I love a mild climate and I love bundling up in a flannel and jeans.  June, however, has arrived, so put on your shorts and flip flops. It's going to get hotter from here. I find that I have to tap into my reserves fo ..read more

The Whimsical Gardener Welcome to my new gardening blog in which I hope you keep you informed about news from the Clear Creek Gardener, along with monthly tips on how to make you a successful gardener. I’m excited to get started and write more as the months and years come. I hope you’ve had a chance to visit our whole website.  Here you can read more about us, see our landscape work, and learn about this labor of love that is Clear Creek Gardener.  We are coming into our 10th spring and we cannot wait for the season to arrive and thrive!  During February we are already starti ..read more

Mucking around in the snow and mud! We tried to wrap up 2020 with a pretty little bow, and call it done. However, we are in the throws of a new year, and   recently were in the throws of a wild winter storm. The year 2021 appears it might be as confusing as it's predecessor.  I'm originally from Texas and have been blessed to live here in Arkansas for 10 years. We southerners are not accustomed to weather like we experienced. We registered -9* here, with at least 2' of snow. Luckily we made it through with no busted pipes and all animals survived. I would brave the elements almost ..read more

January 2010 - New Year, New Gardens, and New Adventures! Happy New Year fellow gardeners and plant enthusiasts! We have officially wrapped up 2020. I know we are all looking forward to changes in 2021.  I am always enthusiastic for a new year, however, I am also easily filled with nervous energy.  It's easy to feel overwrought with all the things I need to get done in a season. There are gardens to clean out with last year's dead growth, perennials and shrubs to prune, a greenhouse to fill up, seed trays awaiting new sprouts, succulents needing to be propagated, perennials to be p ..read more

December 2020 - Plant what brings you JOY! I have hopes to blog every month, but alas, November came and went as fast as a hot knife through butter. Before Thanksgiving our internet and phone service failed (repeatedly). We've had lack of service, and many calls for technical support throughout the past two and a half weeks. After 5 visits and lots of support members doing "this and that", I am happy to report that our phone and internet have been working for 24 consecutive hours. Praise be, let's start this blog! We've seen some our coldest weather this past week, having a hard freeze with ..read more

October 2020 - Rock Out with Your Broccoli Out! Well here it is, the last week of the month. Finally the rain has allowed me some time to catch up with computer work. It's easy to feel like gardening is done for the year when the high temperature is 44 degrees today, and we haven't seen the sun in a week. I challenge you and myself, however, to begin another season of gardening.  I won't brag about the state of my vegetable garden right now. I have watermelon vines, morning glories, and late season peppers still in the beds. I did put all the chickens back in their coop for the winter ..read more

September 2020-Seasonal 'Ruts' It's easy for a southern gardener to feel worn out after surviving the summer, and especially the month of August. One might feel like they're in a 'rut', in between seasons, in need of a break, and not knowing if they're ready to start another gardening adventure. Then the seasons change, fall weather peaks into our peripheral and, before you know it, we're wondering when we can get our mums and pansies in the ground. I have found myself digging out summer annuals and getting ready to plant my own cool seasonal varieties this week. That's right, it's Fall Y'al ..read more