So I've always had this goal to be my own boss by the time I was 40. Since that happened TODAY, the turning 40 thing that is, I decided that it was high time to make good on that deal with myself. So I Thelma & Louise'd it a couple of weeks ago, created my very own fiscal cliff and drove right off it!

As of 12/29/12 I will officially be a free agent full time with Halleck Horticultural. I will be providing horticultural, marketing and business consulting for green industry businesses. I will also continue providing residential horticultural consults. This move will also free me up for more garden writing, teaching, media and keeping my blog up to date here at growLively!

I've had an awesome eight-year run as general manager for North Haven Gardens here in Dallas. I love the business, staff and customers and I'm still highly invested in its success. The plan is for me to continue working with NHG as a consultant so I can help keep up the "awesome".

Happy birthday to me! And happy gardening to you! I look forward to many new gardening adventures in 2013...

Leslie

Down here in the South, we have to pre-chill our tulips each fall in order for them to have an adequate vernalization and initiate a flower bud. It's a pain. But, tulips are gorgeous and I always find it worth my while to repeat this task each season. Typically, we can start planting our pre-chilled tulips in the garden after Thanksgiving, once soil temps have reached about 50F. Well folks, if you haven't noticed, it's still 80F outside here in North Texas, and many parts of Texas. Soil temperatures are simply not yet where they need to be in order to plant your tulips. Honestly, I never plant my tulips until about the 3rd week of December, here in Dallas. After my tour of duty at the Dallas Arboretum, where I was responsible for planning and scheduling all of the color and bulb installations (we planted abouta bizillion), I know a think or two about doing tulips right.

One of my favorite single late tulips, 'Maureen', in my garden mixed with Dutch Iris 'Imperator'

Don't plant to early, but don't plant to late either. My advice, keep those tulip bulbs chilling for now. If you don't have one, invest in an inexpensive soil thermometer. Start checking soil temperatures next week, a couple of times per week, to see where they are heading. My bet is still always on the 3rd week of December as the optimal planting window. Get them in the ground by end of December. Don't wait until January. Plant deep...6"-8", no exceptions. Then add 2" of mulch on top of your tulips plantings.

Have trouble with squirrels digging up your precious bulbs? Once you've set your bulbs in their planting hole, cut out a piece of chicken wire and lay it on top of the bulbs, then cover with soil. The squirrels will have a much tougher time getting to them that way!

If you live in Texas, you're probably having one of the prettiest pansy and volia seasons in recent memory. Boy has this mild fall just put the love on our cool season color! Pansies are blooming like gangbusters and the flowers are big and bold. Mild days, cool nights. Perfect! Here is one of my favorite viola varieties, 'Peach Jump Up':

Just gorgeous! The mild warm days have also really brought on the nectar flow and fragrace from these cool season favorites. The bees are as happy as can bee! It's still a great time to plant these beauties so get to the garden center and get digging!

It's "Green Friday" today and I just found myself at North Haven Gardens...figuratively and literally. Here is my tree! It's a lovely Nordmann Fir that will be going home with me today. We care lovingly and painstakingly for our fresh American grown trees and greens at NHG.

No matter your religion or choice of celebration, bringing the outdoors indoors this time of year just makes you feel good. The fragrances are wonderful so I always make sure to add garland to my entryways, banisters and use some mixed greens as table centerpieces. So whether it's a Christmas tree, Festivus tree, Solstice tree or you name it, it's just pretty. And it smells good. Nothing wrong with being pretty and smelling good. Enjoy the season!

Over the last couple of years I decided that at the garden center I run, North Haven Gardens in Dallas, we weren't going to call it "Black Friday" anymore. I decided "Green Friday" was much more fitting. So before I wish you a happy Thanksgiving, I'll just say that maybe you should consider staying out of the "black" on Friday and try a little green for a change. Hit up your local independent garden center for fresh American grown Christmas trees and fresh greens, blooming gift plants, daffodil bulbs for the garden, tiny terrariums, fragrant pansies and violas...you name it. At NHG, we'll have warm cider and cookies out for you too, plus plenty of parking. Go "Green" this Friday and stay away from the crazy! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

A few years ago, I started designing these cute tiny terrariums for the holidays for North Haven Gardens in Dallas. They've become quite popular the last couple of seasons and I couldn't help but share a few photos of the first ones put together this season.

I love using Tillandsias, because they require little to no care in a tiny environment such as these ornaments.

I also love using reindeer moss and assorted lichens, wood chips, branches and the like.

This year I started up some tiny square ornaments. TOO CUTE. You can create these kinds of low maintenance terrariums in just about any containter. Just a little fun homeade gift goodness! These terrarium ornaments are available for sale now at NHG.

It’s Garden Giveaway time! Live in the Dallas, Tx area? In need of a professional Horticultural Housecall? Want to start a veggie garden or maybe keep backyard chickens? Well, you do for me and I’ll do for you! I’ll be giving away an in-depth home garden consultation, which typically values at $175-$250. Seriously? Seriously!

First, head on over to my Halleck Horticultural Facebook page. To enter, write a once sentence comment on the Garden Giveaway post about why you need my help, and please share the post (or recommend my FB page) on your page if you think you have other gardening friends who could benefit from my expertise. I’ll let this giveaway run for a week, and then I’ll randomly pick a winner from the list of comments (yes, I’ll write all your names down and put them in a hat so that it’s fair!)

I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday 11/14 so be sure to check back! You can read more about my consultation services HERE.