part in lighting the tree. “Is it serious between you?”
Peggy laughed. “I’m not sure what that means. But he’s very nice, and he makes me feel good. It doesn’t hurt that he’s willing to dig up dead cats either.”
“Don’t tell me!” Paul hugged her and smiled. “I never thought my mom would be dating, but it’s okay. I wanted you to know. I know you don’t need my permission or anything, but—”
“It means a lot to me that you said something.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”
“I think I see Al and Mary trying to get in the door,” he said. “I’ll go see if I can help them. I didn’t know you knew so many people. Is that the mayor?”
Peggy didn’t answer as she turned to speak with someone else. At the height of the party, she retreated to the basement. An alarm clock was ringing, but it wasn’t necessary. She’d been waiting for this moment for the past few weeks. A lovely red rose was beginning to open in the darkness beside the pond where its cousin, the water lily, was perfuming the air.
“Hey, you aren’t supposed to be down here with your plants when you have a million people at your party.” Steve put his arm around her. “Looks like your experiment worked. That’s great! This just came for you.”
He handed her a small box that was wrapped in gold foil. She looked at the card attached to it.
Peggy slipped the box into her pocket and smiled at Steve. Nightflyer didn’t show up again at the gaming site. She had Sergeant Jones close the investigation. But Nightflyer wasn’t gone from her life.
“Are you okay?” Steve asked.
“I’m fine,” she answered, focusing on him. “Let’s go back to the party.”
Peggy’s Garden Journal
Autumn
We all know that autumn is a good time to plant bulbs for the spring. It’s also a good time to check your garden for damage from summer storms, heat, and insects. Take the time to go through your garden and notice what’s changed. Time to trim back plants that have grown straggly over the summer. Mulch around trees and bushes to protect for the coming winter. Bring in plants that can’t withstand the cold.
In the house, it’s the same. Plants will grow more slowly once the weather changes, even inside. The sun is less warm even in sunny windows. It’s a good time to cut back unruly growth and use cuttings to begin new plants.
Autumn can be a good time for those outdoor projects, too. With the heat of summer gone and the kids involved with other projects and school, maybe you can get that bench built near the oak tree or create the trellis you’ve wanted for your climbing roses.
Take time to enjoy the cool breezes and warm sunshine before we’re all inside reading our seed catalogs during the winter months. Happy gardening!
Care and Feeding Guide
ANEMONE
Anemones have clear, beautiful colors such as red, pink, and purple. One anemone bulb has lots of flowers. If you pick faded flowers right away, they will flower continuously until the end of their cycle.
Anemone bulbs should be dry and without mold when you buy them. The best planting season is autumn. However, some species are not hardy for the cold climate. If you grow such species in an area where the temperature reaches below 0°F(-18°C), plant them in spring.
If you plant hard-dried bulbs in soil and let them absorb water abruptly, they get cracks on the surface, which may cause infection or promote mold. Therefore, pretreatment is required.
Plant them in vermiculite first and let them absorb the moisture in the air for two days without giving them water. Gradually water them with water spray until germination and then plant them in soil.
Anemones like full sun or partial shade. Wait until the surface of the soil gets dry, and water thoroughly. Take care not to let it get too dry. After the flowers have faded and the foliage has turned yellow, stop watering.
Mix fertilizer in the soil before planting, and give liquid fertilizer while the plants are growing. If you want to reuse the bulbs, give another fertilizer when the flowers start to fade.
You can leave the bulbs in a container in dry-summer regions. However, it is recommended to dig the bulbs out after the aerial area dies back if you live in a climate with rainy summers or cold winters (below 0°F or -18°C). Be sure to thoroughly dry bulbs after digging them up.
AFRICAN VIOLET
African violets will bring color to your home with continuous blooming, but they require some general guidelines.
Water carefully. Don’t let water get on the leaves! It will cause dead spots. The secret is to water well and allow to dry out afterward. Pour room temperature water into the trays or pan, and after about twenty minutes go back and drain off whatever is left in the tray. They can’t sit in water for a long time because the roots will rot. As is true of any plant, they must breathe oxygen from the roots.
Don’t leave dead flowers or leaves on your plant, and don’t subject them to sudden temperature changes. You can buy good African violet potting soil in small bags at the store. It is made of a mixture of primarily pine bark and sand. This soil will allow for good drainage, unlike the peat mixtures. Peat mixtures, however, are perfect for many other plants.
Suckers are little baby plants that grow on the main stem of the plant. Be sure to pick them off. You can sit your plant in the kitchen window to receive the morning sun. African violets need a certain kind and a certain amount of light, and they will flourish perfectly. Spread the plants out so that the leaves don’t touch anything.
PANSY
The plants are on the small side: Most types grow well close together in a mounding habit to just eight or nine inches in height, with a spread of one and a half to three feet across. The foliage is a rich, attractive green, while the flowers are five-petaled beauties that come in a range of vibrant shades.
Because pansies are hardy annuals, they are tougher and more versatile than their somewhat dainty
