Betsy Rinehart's Garden

Meet Bentley Rinehart, pictured to the right. Bentley is only a few months old and, at such a young age, has realized the good life. I'm sure that pictures of Bentley will often appear on Betsy's page.

Like many, my interest in gardening started with my first house in Connecticut. I didn't do much in terms of gardening because it was so well done by the previous owners. But I did learn about ground covers, bulbs, and some perennials. In my yard that meant : pachysandras, daffodils and hostas. In New Jersey I tried vegetable gardening, ( yes, New Jersey tomatoes are the best!) but I really enjoy flowers. When we moved to St. Louis I hit pay dirt. My former neighbor, Elaine, is a very accomplished gardener and my inspiration. When the opportunity to join Mason Ridge Garden Club presented itself, I knew it was going to be a great fit in terms of learning, doing, and having fun.

I've always admired container gardening and have learned a few tips to pass on. To keep the containers lighter, fill them with Styrofoam pellets, then add your soil. To help retain moisture add a product called Soil Moist. After you add your favorite plants, sprinkle Osmocote on top. (thanks, Elaine!) Viola! An instant punch of color.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my love of hydrangeas, especially blue ones. I also get pretty excited when my peonies bloom. Ah, the fragrance. Gardening is so rewarding!