I finally did it! I finally bought a Mr. Buddy Heater. The Ice Storm of 2026 made me do it! I held out as long as I could. I made emergency candles and a couple of clay pot heaters. The clay pot heaters helped a bit the first two nights without heat, but they were…
Jacki Kellum – Avid Gardener, Painter, and Author
I admit it; I am a Jacki of Many Trades. But to make up for the fact that I spread myself thinly, I pursue a few of my interests with zeal. Some people know me as an author of picture books — especially my Donkey’s Song: Some people know me as a painter: Others know…
Beatrix Potter’s Garden at Hilltop Farms – Potter Was Much More than a Quaint Old Lady Who Wrote and Illustrated Peter Rabbit
Beatrix Potter was far more than a quaint old lady who wrote and illustrated books about Peter Rabbit and other creatures. Potter was an avid gardener, and her garden at Hilltop Farm is a living testament. The following video is a priceless glimpse into the house and garden at Hill Top Farm. It also shows…
How to Survive An Ice Storm or Other Power Outage – Start Early – Make a Plan
My power has just been restored after a 4-day outage caused by a brutal ice storm. This is the 21st Century, and long before it happened, I knew that this storm was coming. Start Early to Prepare for an Ice Storm Three Days Before the Ice Storm was Expected to Hit, I Bought Crisco and…
A List of Old Garden or Antique China Roses – What Is A China Rose?
“Old Garden China Roses are known for introducing repeat-blooming and a wider color range (pinks, reds, whites) to Europe, with famous examples including ‘Old Blush’ (Parsons’ Pink China), the vibrant ‘Slater’s Crimson China’, the tea-scented ‘Hume’s Blush Tea-scented China’, the constant bloomer ‘Cramoisi Supérieur’, and the unique color-changing ‘Mutabilis’ (Fortune’s Five Coloured), alongside others like…
A List of Old Garden or Antique Polyantha Roses – What Is A Polyantha Rose?
“A Polyantha rose is a hardy, compact shrub rose known for its abundant clusters of small, repeat-blooming flowers, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders, hedges, and containers, prized by novice and experienced gardeners for its continuous color and disease resistance. Developed in the late 19th century from crosses with wild roses like Rosa multiflora, these…
Propagating Old Garden Roses – A List of the Easiest to Root – How to Propagate Roses
This will seem crazy to some, but I always start my garden season in the dead of winter. In my opinion. gardening is the best way to beat the winter blues. Winter is the time that I start seeds inside, and this year, I’ll be trying something I have wanted to do for years. I’ll…
January Is a Good Time to Sow Bachelor Button and Poppy Seeds in My Mississippi Garden
Today. the people in my little town are scurrying about stocking up on groceries and candles and getting ready for the snow that has been forecasted for a few days from now. In anticipation of the same snow, I am scurrying about for another reason. I am hurriedly trying to get my poppy and cornflower…
How to Paint A Spring Landscape Study – Jacki Kellum Watercolor Tutorial
Begin by sketching a simple group of twigs: Immediately after you do your wet in wet wash, walk away until the paint sets. Wait a bit before using the hairdryer
How to Draw and Shade a Winter Tree with Graphite Pencil – Jacki Kellum Tutorial
When you realize that drawing and shading tree trunks and limbs is nothing more than drawing and shading a series of cylinders, your effort to draw trees will become simpler.