Read on for 5 simple strategies will help you keep growing—even when life says slow down.
Gardening Simplified - Easy Gardening Tips for Real Life
Guarding My Blooms: Strategies to Discourage Deer in a Country Garden
Jul 31, 2025
I have a live-and-let-live approach to dealing with wildlife that sometimes can be destructive. As long as things don’t get too out of hand, we share and deal with the downside.
In the past the deer have browsed on the lower limbs of trees on their way to other feeding grounds. Not a problem until last summer when I found that they had eaten every single daylily flower (and there were lots) and munched on my favorite begonias. And this year they’ve added flowers from the pots on the front porch to their menu.
Read on to find out what options I've explored and what I'm doing about it!
Kickstart Composting: Transform Your Scraps into Soil Magic
Jul 24, 2025
I love this time of year! We are so blessed with the bounty of summer fruits and vegetables. I hope that you are finding delicious ways to enjoy them!
But we are also faced with the resulting peels and pits that many times end up in our trash. According to the EPA “The estimated 35.3 million tons of wasted food that went to landfills in 2018 represents 24.1 percent of all MSW landfilled.” Somehow that just doesn’t make sense, since all of this organic waste can quickly break down and return lots of nutrients to the soil.
So what’s a home gardener to do? Composting your kitchen and garden waste is a great way to reduce the amount of waste you dispose of in the trash. By composting, you can generate a free source of nutrient-rich material to help improve your garden.
Read on to find out how to get started!
Sizzle and Serve: Garden Goodness on the Grill
Jul 17, 2025
With summer in full swing, the bounty of fruits and vegetables available is almost overwhelming. Grilling is an ideal way to cook not only meats, but fruits and vegetables as well.
Never done it before? Don’t worry - the good news is that grilling perfect produce is easy. Read on for a few helpful hints to make your fruit and veggie grilling a success.
How to Spend Less Time Watering and More Time Enjoying Your Garden
Jul 10, 2025
In most of the US the heat of the summer is upon us. This is the time of year that we see our plants drooping under the hot summer sun and we need to spend more time watering. Hmmm or do we?
Not if you use my secret weapon. Read on to find out how to decrease the time you spend watering your flower beds, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your garden.
It's Too Hot to Plant - Now What?
Jul 02, 2025
The heat of summer is upon us in most of the US. While it might be tempting to continue planting, the next optimum time to plant perennials and shrubs is fall.
So what' a gardener to do besides maintenance chores? (And hopefully by following our tips you don't have too many of those!)
Read on for 5 of my favorite gardening-related and relaxing things to do now that the rush of Spring planting is over.
5 Easy Ways to Host Stress-Free Summer Gatherings
Jun 26, 2025
Ready to enjoy your backyard without the party prep stress? Discover five simple tips to make your summer entertaining relaxed, beautiful, and totally doable—even if you're short on time or energy.
Read on for my tips on how to be a guest at your own parties!
From Salsa to Stew: Why Cilantro Deserves a Spot in Your Garden (Even If It Drives You Crazy)
Jun 19, 2025
Cilantro can be a tricky herb—beloved by some, despised by others, and quick to bolt in the heat.
But don’t give up on it! This one plant offers two flavors: fresh, zesty cilantro leaves in the spring and warm, aromatic coriander seeds by fall.
Read on to learn how to grow, harvest, and make the most of both.
Give Foliage the Spotlight in Your Summer Garden
Jun 12, 2025
Think flowers are the stars of the summer garden? Think again. Foliage plants bring bold color, texture, and structure that can take your garden from ordinary to unforgettable—and many are surprisingly low maintenance. Whether you're designing a lush container or refreshing a tired garden bed, leaves can do more than just fill in the gaps—they can steal the show. In this post, you'll discover three simple ways to use foliage for big visual impact. Ready to see how a few well-placed leaves can transform your garden?
Keep reading—you might never look at flowers the same way again.
Creating a Garden Butterflies Will Love
Jun 05, 2025
When creating our low maintenance garden spaces, it’s fun to provide a habitat for garden visitors like butterflies. Butterflies can add even more beauty to already beautiful landscape. I love sitting on my deck and seeing them flutter from one plant to another along with the bees and hummingbird moths. It’s fun to see them enjoying all of the flowers that I spent so much time planting.
Butterfly gardens require several things to be successful. Read on to find out how to create a garden that butterflies will 'flock' to.
Getting Started with Growing Vegetables - A Beginner’s Guide
May 29, 2025
Thinking About Growing Your Own Vegetables But Not Sure Where to Start? 🌱
If the idea of planting a vegetable garden feels exciting—but a little overwhelming—you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve grown a few herbs or tomatoes in pots, or maybe you’re starting completely from scratch. Either way, this beginner-friendly guide is here to help.
In this post, you’ll find the simple steps I followed to get started, what worked (even in the heat!), and tips to make your first veggie garden feel doable—no matter your experience or space.
Whether you're dreaming of fresh-picked tomatoes or wondering what you actually need to grow your own food, this is a great place to begin.
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🌱 Gardening Made Doable: 5 Tips for Scaling Back Without Giving Up
May 22, 2025
Gardening doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’re short on time, space, energy—or just feeling the strain of doing it all—you don’t have to give it up completely. With a few thoughtful adjustments, you can still enjoy the beauty, joy, and satisfaction of gardening on your own terms. In this post, I’m sharing 5 practical tips to help you scale back without stepping away, so you can keep your hands in the dirt and your heart in the garden.
Creating a Low Maintenance Garden - Step by Step
May 15, 2025
We all want to have beautiful gardens in the summer. But who wants to spend hours and hours tending plants that are high maintenance or just don't do well? Not me.
I love to garden but I also like to 'set it and forget it'. Meaning, I want to plant something and have it look great with very little maintenance. Impossible, you say? Not really.
Read on for my secrets to a low maintenance garden.