Category: #ThursdayTips

A Rose (Top Gun) and a Motivational Tip for the Day

On By SCLMRoseIn #MotivationalTips, #PositiveThinking, #ThursdayThoughts, #ThursdayTips, Blogging, Hobby, Inspirational1 Comment

Name of Rose: Top Gun

Class: Shrub

Registration Name: Rosa cv. ‘WEKmoridahor

Parentage: ‘Memorial Day’ x ‘Home Run’

Hybridizer: Tom Carruth

Date of Introduction: 2016

‘Top Gun’ rose is a true breeding breakthrough. True to its name, this new rose tops in disease resistance and flower power. It even shows resistance to rose rosette disease. ‘Top Gun’ offers intense red with dark red veining flowers that seems to glisten in clusters of 3-5 blooms, 3” in diameter with moderate, fruity fragrance. ‘Top Gun’ produces clusters of single to semi-double, and is quick to repeat bloom cycles so you’ll enjoy constant color in your garden, even into late fall. It has large, glossy, full, dark green foliage of 3-7 leaflets that greatly enhanced disease resistance. This tough-as-nails landscape rose grows 3-4 ft. tall x 4-5 ft. wide.

Looking for a tough, easy-care rose with loads of brilliant glistening blooms? ‘Top Gun’ rose knocks out the competition in test gardens. ‘Top Gun’ exhibited excellent natural resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust, black spot and even rose rosette disease, so common in other “tough” roses. This new introduction is a top choice for beginning gardeners or gardeners who want a healthy low-maintenance shrub rose that can be grown without chemicals. It’s true best performing shrub rose you can grow.

I have two growing in pots and they are constantly in blooms and make a great statement with that vivid red petals with yellow stamens!

Tip of the Day – Do a good deed. Helping others helps you. Acts of kindness spark release of the hormone oxytocin, which is good for heart health. You’ll get a psychological boost, too.

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Thursday Tips – Summer Care in the Garden

On By SCLMRoseIn #ThursdayTips, Author's Life, Gardening, Hobby, Perennials, Plant MaintenanceLeave a comment

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Keep all plants mulched and watered.  Water first thing in the morning to avoid wetting leaves which can cause fungal diseases.  Use a rain gauge to tell exactly how much rain has fallen on your property.

Deadhead perennials and annuals regularly.  Mow grass as needed.

Keep ahead of weeds; never let them develop seeds.

Look for signs of insects or diseases; control quickly.

Feed annuals and container plants.  Harvest vegetables, herbs, and fruits as they ripen; protect from bird damage.

Trim hedges and prune shrubs that require shaping.

Cut herbs and flowers for drying.

Divide spent perennials if needed.

Roses need weekly attention throughout the summer (water, fertilizer, fungus and insect control).

 

Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.

Rosalinda, The Rose Lady

Author and Garden Writer

Helpful Tips to Make Housecleaning a Breeze

On By SCLMRoseIn #amwriting, #ThursdayThoughts, #ThursdayTips, BloggingLeave a comment

We all hate it, but it has to be done.  Don’t spend your entire weekend inside cleaning.  Here are seven helpful hints to get the job done with speed and precision, so that you can get out and enjoy your free time!

 

  1. Begin with machines first. Get the clothes washer or dishwasher started so that it will be ready to empty by the time you are done with other tasks.

 

  1. Clean your home from top to bottom.  Dust first, vacuum last.

 

  1. Use your time wisely.  Spray cleaning solutions on fixtures and mirrors, so that the cleaners can begin to work while you are cleaning other areas.

 

  1. Use the right tools.  A damp sponge will get pet hair off upholstery.  Cloth diapers are excellent dusting clothes.  And wearing cotton gardening gloves will make mini-blind dusting a snap.

 

  1. Get rid of clutter.  Give it to charity or throw it in the trash.

 

  1. Use an Astroturf mat at the entrance to your home.  You will be surprised at how much dirt it will catch.

 

  1. Remove temptation.  Get rid of the table or place where all of the daily junk is piled.  You are more apt to put items away if this spot is no longer available.

 

Following these simple tips can help you reduce your cleaning time and make the job much easier—guaranteed.  You will notice the difference!

 

Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.

Rosalinda, The Rose Lady

www.rosalindarmorgan.com

 

 

30 Tips on Becoming a Better Writer

On By SCLMRoseIn #Author's Life, #Books, #ThursdayThoughts, #ThursdayTips, Blogging, Good Writing, Inspirational, Motivation, Writer's GoalLeave a comment

Without knowing it, I started my writing career when I used to write little stories for myself and put them away in a folder. Then the big break came when I was asked to be an editor of a gardening newsletter in 2000. I started to write for publication. People enjoyed reading my articles and I started getting awards. That gave me confidence and I started to think I could write a novel which I really wanted to do for a long time. When I moved south in 2011, I had more free time so I started writing in earnest and reading voraciously. I had plenty of ideas for my stories having lived in a third world country and then in New York and now in South Carolina and have seen the lives of people on both sides of the track. I haven’t won the Pulitzer yet but who cares. Not many new writers have but I’m happy to share my stories to readers who enjoy interesting books and learn something from reading them. So I began my journey.

Here are some tips I have learned along the way to become a better writer:

  1. First thing, you should do to be a better writer is to get a good dictionary.
  2. Second to a good dictionary, you should get a thesaurus.
  3. Read the work of good writers especially those on the genre you are working in or plan to work in.
  4. Find and establish a place to write comfortably and productively.
  5. Develop a good working habit and write every day.
  6. Write what you enjoy reading.
  7. Get inspiration from around you.
  8. Do your research.
  9. Use your imagination and let yourself fantasize.
  10. Stop procrastinating and write that first sentence already.
  11. Use Standard American English.
  12. Write your book for your audience.
  13. Begin a Writer’s Notebook.
  14. Set realistic writing goals.
  15. Familiarize yourself with general writing terms.
  16. Be Consistent.
  17. Where to begin – write one page at a time.
  18. Have a memorable title.
  19. Have an attention-grabbing book cover.
  20. Watch the chronology.
  21. Use flashbacks.
  22. Back up your novel as you go along.
  23. Finish the first draft and put it away for a while.
  24. After putting some distance away for a while, you’re now ready to reread it but read it slowly and absorb everything you read.
  25. Revise or rewrite your manuscript.
  26. Edit and proofread; Get critical feedback from someone you trust.
  27. Publish your manuscript.
  28. Be thankful.
  29. Research potential markets for your work.
  30. Think and act like a pro. Build your writing career and continue to grow as a writer.

 

Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.

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Rosalinda, The Rose Lady

Author and Garden Writer

The Wentworth Legacy

The Iron Butterfly

BAHALA NA (Come What May)