I have two favorite gardening magazines that I subscribe to: Garden Gate and Fine Gardening. Each issue is chocked full of timely information and tidbits every gardening “hound” loves. I scour them from cover to cover. Both arrived several weeks ago, strutting their gorgeous fall-themed covers. Unfortunately, I could hardly look at them while we were all suffocating from heat stroke and wondering if the weather would ever cool down.

But, alas, change is in the air. Mother nature IS following the calendar and bringing us cooler temperatures! So, it’s time to think about those gardening projects that we refused to do in sweltering heat.

LAWN REPAIR — now is THE prime time to repair summer damage. We offer both organic and traditional options for fertilizing.

PLANT COOL SEASON VEGGIES — lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, and more can be planted now and harvested before winter sets in.

TREES/SHRUBS/PERENNIALS — love to be planted in the fall (most varieties) so that their root systems establish well before next summers heat.

PERENNIAL BEDS — established beds benefit nicely from a fresh 1” layer of MUSHROOM COMPOST in the fall. New planting beds can also be prepared now.

SPRING BULBS - Plan ahead and plant spring blooming bulbs now for a shower of color in 2011.

PLANT PANSIES-A STAFF FAVORITE — We love their cheery faces and happy colors. That’s why we celebrate every year with PANSYMONIUM. Many varieties will bloom into much cooler weather, lay dormant for the coldest months, and then spring to life again in March.

Now that we set your wheels of creativity in motion, make a list of all those fun fall projects you’d like to do. Don’t sweat the details though.