Dear $$firstname$$,

With autumn here to stay, you can bet winter isn’t too far behind. Get your garden winter-ready with these gardening tips and tasks to transition your yard. And since Halloween is right around the corner, we’ll get you in the spirit of things with a simple project, pumpkin carvings and a recipe that is sure to vanish before your very eyes.

Happy Gardening!
--From the editors of Backyard Living and Birds and Blooms

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READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Garden Question of the Month
• NEW! Where's Dottie? Where's Webster? contest
• Autumns Allure
• Halloween Ideas

Submit Your Story

Plant of the Month

‘Farmington’ Michaelmas Daisy
All-America Rose Selections Winner for 2007

The upright and mounding habit of this plant accentuates the dense lilac bloom clusters for a dazzling display of color. Ideal for perennial and rock gardens.

Botanical name: Aster novi-belgii ‘Baldco.’

Mature size: 18 inches tall; 24 inches wide.

Hardiness: Zones 3 to 9.

Featuring: This mildew-resistant variety has deep, emerald-green leaves that are heavy in texture.

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Yardsmarts

Leaf Hamper
Leaf bags have an irritating tendency to close and collapse, making them difficult to fill. To make things easier, cut out the bottom of a laundry hamper and insert the hamper into the leaf bag. Fill the bag with leaves or grass clippings, and pull out the hamper when it’s full.  –Norm Bromley, Albany, New York

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Garden Question of the Month

New Sprout on Spruce
Q: I’ve had this dwarf spruce for over 2 decades. One year, it sprouted a new shoot from the top. What caused this unusual growth?  –Lucille LoCicero, Shirley, New York

Melinda: I’ve seen similar growths on several plants throughout my career. Dwarf Alberta Spruce, like many dwarf conifers, are propagated from a mutation found growing on a “normal” plant. The abnormal growth was reproduced and sold as a unique variety.

Occasionally a branch will revert back to the original species. Simply remove these stray branches to maintain the compact and unique appearance of your tree.

See more of Melinda’s answers

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NEW Contests! Where's Dottie? Where's Webster?

Our hidden object game is now on-line! Backyard Living’s ladybug, Dottie, and Birds & Blooms’ duck friend, Webster, are hiding somewhere on the Web pages of your favorite magazines’ sites. Log onto BackyardLivingmagazine.com or BirdsandBlooms.com and click on them for your chance to win!

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Autumn's Allure

Fall is one of the prettiest seasons. It’s humbling to walk underneath a canopy of color as the season changes. We owe colorful autumns to nature’s perfect plan. See how it works.

By adding a few late bloomers to your garden, you can attract butterflies and extend your flowering season. See how.

Just because your garden’s not growing doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. Here are 10 must-do tasks.

And try these reader-tested tips to prepare your garden for winter and, hopefully, a successful spring.

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Spooktacular Ideas

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to create this spooky scene in your backyard. All you need are round, white balloons, cheesecloth cut to lengths of about a yard, and glow sticks. We used green, 4-inch glow sticks, found in party supply stores or on-line.

1. Activate a glow stick and insert it into a balloon. Then inflate and knot the balloon.
2. Position the knot at the top of the balloon, and use an indelible black marker to draw eyes and a mouth.
3. Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon, cut a small hole and push the knot through the fabric. Secure with string and hang in the breeze.

Carving a pumpkin for Halloween? Check out these winners of our Best of Boo! pumpkin contest to get you inspired.

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"Boo"rrific Black Bean Dip with Chips

There’s nothing scary about these savory ghostly delights. Served with a festive bean dip, these hearty chips create a stir at any Halloween party.

9 flour tortillas (7 inches)
2-1/4 teaspoons Mexican seasoning
4 bacon strips, diced
1/4 cup each chopped onion, sweet red pepper and green pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
2/3 cup picante sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Cut tortillas with a 3-inch ghost-shaped cookie cutter. Place on baking sheets coated with nonstick cooking spray. Spritz tortillas with nonstick cooking spray; sprinkle with Mexican seasoning. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings. In the drippings, sauté onion and peppers until tender. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute longer.

Add one can of beans and mash. Add the picante sauce, lime juice, chipotle peppers, cumin, salt and remaining beans; heat through. Stir in bacon and cilantro. Serve with ghost chips. Yield: 3 cups dip and 3 dozen chips.

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More from your favorite gardening/birding magazines:

• --Winter Blooms Beautiful!
• --Fall Shrubs
• --Monarchs on the Move
• --Ask the Bird Expert—See his answers to common birding questions.

It’s Your Club. As a valued member, tell us what features you’d like to see in your garden club. Click here.

Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

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