T&N Service Inc.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

During the two weeks before a full Moon, (so, right now!) seeds absorb more water. That's the theory behind Planting by the Moon, anyway! Plant your above-ground crops and annual flowers this week to see if it makes a difference 🌱🌓

Here's the science behind the theory: Moisture is increasingly drawn to the soil's surface during the period when the Moon is waxing, causing seeds to swell, promoting stronger germination and better-established plants.

Throughout history, people have planted according to the Moon’s phases—from the Ancient Egyptians to the Romans. Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian, wrote about the Moon’s influence on agriculture. Even in completely different regions like China and Africa, the Moon’s cycles were considered in planting practices 🌕️🌾

Learn more at Almanac.com/planting-by-the-moon

06/03/2026

That plain little brown bird singing its heart out from your fence post right now isn't performing a script — it's performing an original composition it spent a year writing. The Song Sparrow is one of the most musically sophisticated birds in your backyard, and almost nobody knows it. 🎵 Do you have one serenading your yard this spring?

05/27/2026

Most gardens have two good months and ten months of nothing. That's not a climate problem. It's a planning problem.

Walk your garden on the first of every month. Count what's blooming. Any month with zero flowers is a gap you can fill.

The fix doesn't require a redesign. One plant per gap:

Hellebore blooms in the dead of winter when nothing else will. Daffodils carry spring before the perennials wake up. Zinnias cover summer and keep going until frost if you deadhead them. Chrysanthemums carry fall alone if nothing else shows up.

Four plants. Four seasons. That's the minimum that eliminates the worst dead stretches — for you and for every pollinator trying to find food between March and November.

Count the gaps first. Fill the worst one. Then the next.

05/24/2026

Some gardens collapse under summer heat.
Others are built for it.

These plants are adapted to intense sun, dry spells, and poor soil — holding their shape and color when watering is limited and temperatures rise.

Chosen well, drought-tolerant plants don’t look sparse or stressed. They look intentional.

• Russian Sage (Perovskia) — Zones 4–9
Airy structure and silver foliage that thrives in heat.

• Agastache — Zones 5–10
Fragrant spikes that bloom steadily through dry summers.

• Blue Fescue — Zones 4–8
Compact blue mounds that never flop.

• Yucca — Zones 5–10
Architectural form with extreme drought tolerance.

• Lavender — Zones 5–9
Woody stems and aromatic foliage suited to dry soil.

• Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ — Zones 3–9
Succulent stems that hold moisture naturally.

• Gaillardia — Zones 3–10
Continuous color even in lean conditions.

• Prairie Dropseed — Zones 3–9
Fine texture that moves gracefully in heat.

• Lamb’s Ear — Zones 4–9
Velvety foliage that reflects sun and conserves moisture.

Drought-proof gardens work because the plants are built for the conditions — not because the gardener fights them.

05/24/2026

Perennials make gardening feel easier, and rebloomers make it even better 🌿 These flowers are lovely for adding repeat color without replanting.

05/24/2026

A moonlight garden keeps your yard alive long after sunset. Pale blooms and silvery foliage catch whatever light is available—moonlight, starlight, even nearby ambient glow—and reflect it back softly.

The result? A space that feels calm, visible, and quietly inviting without relying heavily on artificial lighting.

Why create a moonlight garden?

As daylight fades, bold colors like red, orange, and deep purple lose their intensity. They blend into the background.

Lighter tones behave differently. White flowers and silver leaves reflect light, helping shapes and textures remain visible in the dark. The garden doesn’t disappear—it simply softens.

Beyond aesthetics, this approach can be practical. Many plants used in moonlight gardens are adaptable and fairly low-maintenance when matched to the right climate. Choose wisely, and you’ll have a landscape that holds up through seasonal shifts without constant reworking.

There’s also a quiet ecological benefit. Fragrant, light-colored blooms are more noticeable to nocturnal pollinators like moths and beetles 🦋. At the same time, your outdoor space becomes more usable in the evening—perfect for slowing down and reconnecting with nature at the end of the day.

Subtle. Functional. And designed for the hours most gardens are overlooked.

05/24/2026

Old weather wisdom still holds up. 🌧️
When clouds start moving in opposite directions, it’s usually nature’s way of saying a storm is on the way.

Have you ever noticed this before the rain hits? ⛅➡️⬅️🌩️