August Flowers - It's Still Time to Plant

Who says you only plant flowers in during Spring? We're one week into August and today the Garden Nanny crew is planting a wonderful assortment of flowers.

It pays to hire Blooming Rails for your flower garden installation. Not only do you receive fabulous layout and design work by our Chief Gardener, but you also get fantastic prices on the plants.

After installation the Garden Nanny crew can keep you garden looking spectacular with a maintenance program that fits the needs of your garden. This summer has been particularly "HOT" and the Japanese beetles have been out in force.  While others suffered, gardens maintained by the Garden Nanny, flourished.

Here you see the area that will be planted today. Earlier in the year this area was overgrown with weeds and needed some good ol' TLC.

Rather than rush into planting everything at the beginning of the season. Care was given to the gardens throughout the property, creating a healthy environment for additional plants.

Power Planter for Civil Air Patrol Raffle

Blooming Rails was happy to put together this beautiful "Power Planter" for the Civil Air Patrol.

On Father's Day each year, the Woodfield Composite Squadron holds a raffle at the EAA Chapter 153 pancake breakfast at Schaumburg Airport.

This year they asked Blooming Rails if we had something that could be added to the raffle to help support it's ongoing efforts in Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services. Intrigued by the idea, we could think of nothing better than a one of a kind power planter with an aviation theme. As you can see, the prize we created is rich with vibrant color. It is a living plant meant to be outside on the patio, balcony or deck to brighten your spirit. It stands 3 1/2 feet tall and is about 2 feet wide. Named the "Aviators Dream Planted Flower Container", we added four miniature die-cast airplanes to match the theme of the occasion.

It was a joy see the reaction when we delivered this planter to the winner, and to be able to support the Civil Air Patrol efforts. We encourage others to contact the Woodfield Composite Squadron to join in or become a corporate sponsor.

Real Estate Staging with Gardens

The words real estate staging have become popular buzz words for one good reason. It works! Staging is the act of arranging homes in such a way as to attract increased buyer interest.

First impressions make all the difference in the world when it comes to selling your home, and nothing makes a first impression like well-groomed landscape and a beautiful garden. Striking landscaping and an inspiring garden can make the difference in how quickly your home sells and can in some cases can command higher prices.

Read more real estate staging garden tips.

Gardens That Help Sell Your Home
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Privacy Screen
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Advantages to Installing a Rain Garden

A rain garden is a planted depression that absorbs rainwater quickly. Typically they consist of plants native to your area that are naturally used to fluctuating conditions. In areas where sidewalks, driveways, streets, and concrete foundations are prevalent, water runoff and absorption become a problem. In such conditions, water during a rain storm can pick up many pollutants as well as add to erosion and flooding. This can be a damaging proposition to the environment, your yard, and even your basement, necessitating expensive repairs.

Creating a rain garden will help to prevent contaminated storm water from entering the water supply as well as creating a pleasant garden in your yard.

Read more about rain gardens

Deter Birds From Plundering Your Flowers and Plants

So you've got your pots planted, your flower baskets hanging, and your entry ways, sidewalks, and back porch decked out with beautiful flowers and plants. It's wonderful, now you can sit back and relax, enjoying the sights and smells in the morning with a cup of coffee and a good book...Ahhhh.

But wait a minute, looking closer at your newly planted gems. Why is it that some of your plants seem to be thinning. That nice tea plant for example has a couple leaves on the top, but is now mostly just a stick. And several flower blossoms are handing broken or missing all together.

Those dastardly birds have done it to you again.

Bird watching can be enjoyable, but it's not so much fun to watch them ruin your flowers, plants, and all your hard work making the container garden look nice. Your lush new garden is truly irresistible to birds of all kinds, as they look for a perfect nest or the material to make a nest. However, there are plenty of plants in the wild for them to choose from...elsewhere.


So now your garden becomes a battle ground. You find yourself chasing the birds off every time they swoop in for an attack, or you've armed your lawn chair with a handy new weapon called a garden hose and you're constantly on alert. This may work for the moment, but it's not very relaxing and you can be certain, those pillaging birds will be back.

There's an easier way to battle the birds, it's simple, inexpensive, and does all the work for you. Go out to the store and get yourself a few nice shinny pinwheels. Birds don't like the reflection and motion of these guardians of the garden and they work amazingly well. In no time, your garden hose will be back where it belongs, and you'll be back to the serenity of your garden with your coffee and book.

Unfortunately on the horizon there lurks new enemies of the garden. Pinwheels don't do anything to keep away aphids or Japanese beetles... but that's a story for another day.

Recent Garden Projects

Garden Nanny's have been playing in the dirt to keep our client's gardens looking beautiful. Here's a few projects we've been working on. View our gardening services to see how we can beautify your garden, then give us a call at 630-450-1251.

Project 1
Under tree shade garden - soil erosion and root control maintenance.

Project 2
Garden winter clean-up - invasive weed removal, general weeding and pruning of shrubs and spring bulbs.

Project 3
Established a pool perimeter garden and provided thinning and weeding maintenance on a perennial garden.

Project 4
Designed and installed a balcony container garden.

Garden Of The Future

This next post is a little off the beaten path. Imaging the garden of the future you can envision scenes from your favorite Star Wars moving coming to life as Uncle Own and Luke discuss the harvest and how the droids will help them so Luke can run off to join the force! While Star Wars may be science fiction ...these droids are now reality and improving rapidly. The "corn planting robot" was from a 2008 competition without a driver steering from the sidelines.. The New AI robot is due out next spring and will deliver a new technological alternative for moving stock, watering, disease and pest control. While this technology may replace the need for your "Garden Nanny"...we can't help but think what fun it will be to have your own droid helping you around the house with vital chores and tasks.

Field Robot Event 2008.


Harvest Automation robots.

Organic Controls For Pests

Below are some of the best home remedy to get rid of aphids:

The best way is organic control of aphids. Bring in predators that feed on aphids and this will solve your problem. Predators of aphids include lacewings, lady bugs, aphid predator (which is actual bug called that) and hoverflies.

You can also plant companion plantings like mint, fennel, dill, yarrow, clover and dandelions in garden which attract aphid predators to your garden and thus keep your gardens aphid-free naturally.

Mix the following ingredients: 1 cup vegetable oil or white mineral oil, 1 ½ cups water, 2 teaspoons of dish soap or Murphy’s soap. Spray this on aphids attacked areas for few days. Aphids will run away of suffocation.

Alternatively, I’ve used a half baking soda and half water solution with a couple of drops of Dawn dish detergent which creates a dusty paste that the aphids do not like and sends them packing for more scrumptious goods. After you are sure they are gone, you can simply rinse off the powder with your garden hose. More stubborn dustings may need to have you fill a small bowl or plastic baggy and immerse and swirl gently until the baking soda dissolves.

Another remedy is to avoid over fertilization of plant. Aphids are attracted to over growth in overly fertilized plants and attack whole plant.

Fighting Japanese Beetles and Aphids at the same time? Spray the plants with the oil solution, and then purchase a Japanese Beetle Trap and attach fly paper to the top to catch the aphids! But be sure to put these traps at least 15 feet away from your plants you are trying to protect. It is important to empty the traps daily and ensure the bait is fresh. Beware: full bags can attract raccoons who will gladly eat your trappings.

If you get to the point where you want to grab a blow torch, you can always call the Garden Nanny for help!

Garden Technology

Do you love the idea of gardening but don’t know where to start? Burpee has developed a few mobile applications that may make this task a little easier.

http://gdncoach.mobi/mydesigner is a simple garden designer which will tell you which plants are available in your color scheme and suggests how to plant them in either a garden bed or container. It’s limited but a great start to help you know which plants can work together! Alternatively, you may also choose a favorite plant, add that to the garden designer and they will suggest companion plants. It’s a great little gadget…

http://gdncoach.mobi is a garden coach service that you can submit questions and get great advice from the experts at Burpee. You can also sign up for their newsletter and seasonal reminders for garden tasks and ideas.

Did you know?

That many plants in your favorite nursery’s now have Q Codes or QR Codes which you can scan with your smart phone and get instant access to information about that plant? It may save you a lot of headaches and a bit of money by helping you select appropriate plants for your different growing zones within your garden.

Find more great gardening ideas at Blooming Rails Garden Nanny.

Garden Nanny for Mother's Day

Give mom the gift of gardening this Mother's Day. Now's your chance to give something special and different. Mom will love it!

• Watering
• Weeding
• Planting
• Trimming
• Ornamental and Vegetable Garden Maintenance
• Container Garden Design and Installation

Setting up and maintaining a garden takes a lot of work and mom could use a break. Garden Nanny will care for mom's garden year round or for short periods while she' away on business or vacation.

Blooming Rails Garden Nanny - New Video

View our new video for Garden Nanny Services - Discover how Blooming Rails Garden Nanny can become the answer you've been looking for. Residential Services, Commercial Services, Commercial Partnership, Garden Design and Creation.

Blooming Rails Makeover

Blooming Rails (www.bloomingrails.com) has undergone a complete makeover. The company is now going by the name Blooming Rail Garden Nanny and has added a whole new assortment of services. As the name describes, new gardening services are now being offered. However, our services go well beyond typical casual gardening support.

Our new services include residential gardening, commercial gardening, commercial gardening partnerships, and container garden design and installation. We are based in the Chicago area, Schaumburg to be specific, and provide a solid solution for plant care or plant sitting if your heading out of town. If you need gardening maintenance on a regular basis, Blooming Rails Garden Nanny is the place... no contracts!

Blooming Rails also has industrial relationships with Riggers, Machinery Movers, Electricians, Builders, Plumbers, Handyman, and HVAC contractors. For roof top gardens and beautifully elaborate garden creations, we have the resources to make your vision come alive.

For more information view www.bloomingrails.com/services.shtml or watch their video at www.bloomingrails.com/videos.shtml