My Book on the New York Mets

I'm about finished writing Long Before the Miracle...the Making of the New York Mets, a 130,000-word history about how the Mets originated and the players who made up the teams of the early-to-mid 1960s. Soon, it will be listed on Amazon for your purchase.

Container Gardening

For plants in pots, window baskets or hanging containers on fences, regular watering is critical. Such plants have a limited water supply since the evaporation rate is extremely high. Plants in the ground can at least suck up water from deep in the soil. If possible, place your containers where the plants will receive some shade. Even plants that "prefer full sun" need a break from the heat in Northern Virginia summers.

It's Hot, Hot, Hot

For 10 consecutive days in July, the temperature was 95 or above, which broke a record dating to 1871, yes "eighteen" seventy one. And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association reports our country is in its worst drought since the early 1950s. As a result, the corn crop has suffered the most, not to mention plants across the nation. It's discouraging to see a plant die in your garden but when your livelihood is affected by adverse weather...

Keep Those Yards Clean!

MSNBC reports that a Mount Pleasant, S.C. woman who failed to pay a $480 fine for having a messy yard was sentenced to 10 days in jail, but came home a few days early to find support from strangers.

Linda Ruggles, is a photographer whose business tanked during the recession. She was fined in 2010 after neighbors complained about debris outside her home.

But when Ruggles' story was published in the Charleston Post and Courier, she received aid from unexpected sources.

Ruggles' problems began in 2008, when home improvements stalled as the economy soured. Unopened packages of shingles sat on her roof for three years, The Post and Courier reported. She even stored scrap metal in her driveway to help pay bills. The town cited Ruggles for a "clean lot violation" after neighbors complained, saying her mess was driving down their property values.

A municipal judge ordered Ruggles to pay a fine or go to jail for 10 days. Officials say she didn’t pay the fine within 90 days and dodged court appearances. After a year of trying to resolve the situation, Ruggles was arrested."We went well beyond what we were required to do," Police Chief Harry Sewell, told The Post and Courier. "W even knocked on her door personally in the hopes of finding a solution."

Send Me an Email

If you would like a free consultation or just have a general question about your garden or landscape, email me personally at: billsullivan41@gmail.com

For an In-Depth Look at Landscaping...

Visit my web site at: www.sullivanslandscaping.net which features links on: low maintenance landscaping, flagstone patios, 12-month interest, patio gardening, watering & mulching guidelines, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, vines and tips on container gardening.

My Second Book...

Focuses on plants, period. Plants will be listed alphabetically in three categories (for easy reference): sun, shade or both. With some plant descriptions, I have drawn pencil sketches of a leaf or flower. With every plant, I provide links so you can log onto the Internet and get a look at each specimen. I wanted to make this a reference tool (like my first book) and every garden project should start with "do I get full sun, total shade or something in-between?"