Gardening Simplified - Easy Gardening Tips for Real Life

Making the Holidays Your Own

Making the Holidays Your Own

The holiday season is in full swing. While this can be a happy time, it can also be very stressful. The pressure to find the perfect gift, have a beautifully decorated home and bake the most amazing cookies can be overwhelming. Your list of 'shoulds' can be a mile long. And social media can sure add to that pressure.

And what if you're just not feeling it? That can make things even more stressful. in this blog post I'm going to share my tips for navigating the holidays whether you're feeling festive but overwhelmed or you're just not in a fa-la-la-la-la kind of mood.

Read on to find out how I'm navigating the holidays!

5 Tips for Keeping Your Christmas Tree Fresh This Season

5 Tips for Keeping Your Christmas Tree Fresh This Season

The holidays are upon us and for many that means putting up a Christmas tree. Choices abound - live, fresh cut, or artificial. While I have friends that swear by their artificial trees, I just haven't been able to find one I really like. Year after year we keep coming back to a nice, fresh cut Douglas Fir.

While the cleanup of dropping needles is never enjoyable, there are things you can do to prolong the life (and your enjoyment) of this special holiday tradition. 

Read on to find out how!

2024 Holiday Gift Ideas for Gardeners

2024 Holiday Gift Ideas for Gardeners

Finding the Perfect Gift can be Hard... Let us make it Easy

Read on for Great Gift Ideas for the Gardeners in your Life!

Posted in Christmas gift, gardening gifts, gifts for gardeners

Succulent Secrets: Low-Fuss Greenery for the Relaxed Gardener's Heart

Succulent Secrets: Low-Fuss Greenery for the Relaxed Gardener's Heart

NOTE FROM DONNA - My garden bed has been put to sleep for the winter. I'm looking to add to my indoor garden but want something easy to care for, especially during the busy holidays.

Read on to find out how one of our resident bloggers Paula Marolewski uses succulents to add some green to her home without a lot of work.

Posted in indoor gardening, succulents

Gourd Décor

Gourd Décor

Gourds are one of my favorite parts of fall! From the classic orange pumpkin to the weirdest wart-covered wonder, I love them all. Setting up my “gourd décor” each year is a special event, since it gives so much scope for the imagination. 

Read on to find out how Paula Marolewski uses gourds all throughout her fall landscape!

Posted in fall decorating, fall gardening, gourds

On-Line Recipe Organization 101

On-Line Recipe Organization 101

Love cooking but hate figuring out what to make? I can never resist a great cookbook or sharing a yummy looking recipe on Facebook or pinning it on Pinterest. We are so lucky to have so many on-line resources but I can't seem to remember where I saw the recipe when I want to figure out what to make.

Read on to find out to use a low-cost on-line tool that makes saving and finding recipes a breeze

Posted in evernote, organizing, recipes

Using Bud Vases to Deliver Big Impact

Using Bud Vases to Deliver Big Impact

With summer in full swing you probably have lots of blooms in your garden. There is no question that extravagant bouquets of flowers make a stunning visual statement. But there is also a special and rare beauty to be found in single blooms. Read on to find out how Paula Marolewski uses bud vases to bring the beauty of flowers to every room.

Posted in bud vases, flowers, garden, gardening

Mardi Gras and Garden Inspiration

Mardi Gras and Garden Inspiration

Right now Mardi Gras is in full swing culminating next week on Fat Tuesday Feb 25th. If you've never been to New Orleans it's a must see since the...