Covington Corner Cottage

06/23/2025

A few highlights from this past weekend are sure to inspire hope! 🪴🌼🌺🧤

09/06/2024

Every gardener should consider growing zinnias this year for several compelling reasons:
1. Colorful and Vibrant Blooms: Zinnias come in a wide array of colors, ranging from vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows to softer pinks, whites, and purples. Their bright blooms add a splash of color to any garden, making it more attractive and inviting.
2. Easy to Grow: Zinnias are known for their ease of cultivation. They thrive in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring minimal care once established. They are suitable for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike, as they are relatively low-maintenance.
3. Attracts Pollinators: Zinnias are excellent for attracting pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden. These pollinators play a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping plants reproduce and enhance biodiversity.
4. Long-Lasting Cut Flowers: Zinnias make fantastic cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements. Their sturdy stems and long vase life (often lasting up to a week or more) make them a favorite among flower enthusiasts and florists.
5. Versatility in Garden Design: Whether used in borders, containers, or as mass plantings, zinnias offer versatility in garden design. They can be planted alongside other annuals, perennials, or even vegetables, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of your garden.
6. Resilience and Disease Resistance: Zinnias are generally resistant to pests and diseases, making them a reliable choice for gardeners looking for plants that require less chemical intervention and maintenance.
7. Continuous Blooming: With regular deadheading (removing spent blooms), zinnias will continue to produce flowers throughout the growing season, providing color and beauty from mid-summer well into fall.
Overall, zinnias are a fantastic addition to any garden, offering beauty, ease of care, and environmental benefits. Whether you have a small backyard garden or acres of land, zinnias are sure to brighten up your outdoor space and bring joy throughout the gardening season.

07/17/2024

07/17/2024

THE STORY OF THE DRAGONFLY

From the book "Tales to grow and heal" by Michel Dufour

"At the bottom of an old pond lived a group of larvae that did not understand why when any of them ascended through the long lily stalks to the surface of the water, they never descended again where they were.

They promised each other that the next of them who would rise to the surface, would return to tell the others what had happened to him.

Shortly after, one of these larvae felt an irresistible desire to ascend to the surface.

He began to walk upwards through one of the thin vertical stems and when he was finally outside he began to rest on a lily leaf. Then she experienced a magnificent transformation that turned her into a beautiful dragonfly with beautiful wings.

He tried to keep his promise, but it was in vain.

Flying from one end of the pond to the other, she could see her friends in the background.

Then he understood that even if they in turn had been able to see her, they would never have recognized one of their companions in this radiant creature.

The fact that after that transformation that we call death, we cannot see our friends or family, or communicate with them, does not mean that they have ceased to exist...

They are not here, they went to another place to take care of us from there with a different view.

"Death is nothing more than a change of mission."

07/15/2024

07/08/2024

1. Marigolds are super hardy.🌼
Annual flowers can be tricky to grow because they typically require a lot of attention, including frequent watering. Most marigold varieties, however, are drought tolerant—you won’t have to fret about your flower patch when a heat wave rolls in. Once established, the hardy flowers can handle temperature fluctuations and tend to bloom well into the fall. They are often the last variety to die off at the end of the gardening season. Marigolds also grow well in containers, so you can enjoy gorgeous, colorful ornamentals whether you have a large garden plot or a few containers on a balcony.

2. Marigolds attract pollinators. 🐝
Pollinators like bees and butterflies are vital to our ecosystems. Choosing to plant flowers like marigolds ensures nearby pollinators have a readily available food source. If you’re a vegetable gardener, pollinators are essential for growing edibles like squash and tomatoes.

3. Marigolds deter some pests.🪲
While many gardeners believe that planting marigolds can help repel unpleasant, plant-munching insects, research suggests marigolds may not be that great at sending away unwanted pests like cabbage worms after all.

ℹ️ For full article: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/why-plant-marigolds-in-garden/