Do it now: What's the hurry? A cool, wet spring like this one is ideal for fungal disease, so don't rush to mulch plants. Instead, wait until the soil has warmed up and dried out bit, which usually happens in mid-June.
Share a garden Do you know about an amazing garden? Nominate it for our Beautiful Gardens contest.
Every year, Home+Garden sponsors the contest to discover great private gardens in the Twin Cities. The winning gardens and gardeners will be featured in a cover story in the Home+Garden section and online.
To nominate a garden, send a letter briefly describing the garden and the people who tend it. Dig up some snapshots of the garden in its glory or take some new ones this spring. Include the gardener's name, address and phone number, as well as your own. If you have a great garden, don't be shy about nominating yourself. The deadline is June 17.
Mail nominations to: Beautiful Gardens Contest, Home+Garden, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. Electronic submissions can be sent to Beautifulgardens@startribune.com.
Peonies on parade Members of the Minnesota Peony Society will show off the best of their blossoms, which include everything from the classic Sarah Bernhardt to Bartzella, one of the newer intersectional Itoh hybrid crosses. The free show, "For the Love of Peonies," includes growing tips, a peony stem competition and demonstrations on using peonies in floral arrangements. 1 to 5 p.m. June 11 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 12 at Bachman's Heritage Room, 6011 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. For more information, go to www.mnpeony.org or call 612-861-7311.
Mickey Mouse makeovers Homeowners who wished upon a star and had their dreams come true received a Disney-themed back-yard makeover on the new HGTV series "My Yard Goes Disney."
On the first episode, which airs at 7 p.m. Monday, a family rides a hand-powered train inspired by the one in the Magic Kingdom around their newly landscaped back yard. Future episodes will feature a swimming pool shaped like Mickey Mouse, a "Pirates of the Caribbean" treehouse and an Animal Kingdom landscape with a fountain made from water-spouting elephants.
