Garden Walks with Judy: Thinking spring as we slip into October

Lilacs were not what I had in mind when I visited Sandra Hudson’s garden.  I wanted to see her red geraniums that she said were blooming profusely, taking up more than their share of her garden.

The geraniums were just as she said, beautiful, thick, and shining in the sunshine. I think bringing a few into the house as a potted plant would be a good way to enjoy and preserve them. But there are other simple ways to winterize them for replanting next spring.

I will give you some easy directions for overwintering these geraniums.

That is just as soon as I tell you about Boomerang lilacs. Lilacs are one of my favorite spring flowers, but they are always too brief. However, this variety which has been around since 2009 will flower in April, then take a break until July, when the second flowers bloom and then stay around until September.

More: Garden Walks with Judy: Fall is here, yet summer gardens are at a peak

This summer Sandra bought four Bloomerang lilac trees.  They are small trees now and would make a nice lunch for a deer.  So Sandra bought a roll of black wire fencing and made four square guards with wire tops to put over each tree.  They look neat and strong and are guaranteed to frustrate any deer that visit.

Boomerang lilacs are a bush and much smaller than our traditional lilacs.  But they bloom in all lilac colors, from light purple to a very deep rose.  And the scent?  Still, the wonderful sweet fragrance that reminds us of spring.

And now to the geraniums. This is a super easy garden chore.  If frost is predicted it is time to dig them up.  Shake off the dirt but there is no need to soak them in water. If weather permits, let them dry in a shady place outside.

Store them in a cardboard box or a paper bag and close the top securely. They should be kept someplace that is only 50-60 degrees and that is the hard part.  We keep our houses much warmer than that so where?  The garage is the best place or the basement if you can keep the heat lower.

Check for mold once a month and remove any dried leaves.  The stems should be firm, but if they look dry, soak them for a few minutes in water. Put them back in the container or sack and tuck them away for a later check.

This seems like a simple procedure.  It is worth a try and come next spring maybe it will save you at least one trip to the garden centers. Keeping the same ones blooming year after year should be a fun challenge.

Note : “Orchids are a Scream” is back for the 11th year. The Halloween-themed Orchid Show & Sale is Oct. 19-20 at the Elks Lodge Hall, 801 33rd Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids .

Judy Terry is a freelance garden writer who hopes to lead you through many fantastic gardens.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Garden Walks with Judy: Thinking spring as we slip into October