Martinis & Marigolds | Refreshingly Simple Garden Tips
Gardening in the Shade: 7 Perennials You Can Count On
May 01, 2025
Got shade? Gardening in the shade can be tricky. I’m always looking for plants that do well in the shade and I'm especially fond of perennials because they come back every year. Many also spread or grow large enough to be dug up and divided, giving me more value for my money.
Read on to learn about a few shade loving perennials that have worked well for me. I've included their hardiness zones so you can see if they will be perennial for you, too.
Mulch Your Way To a Happier Healthier Garden
Apr 24, 2025
I love a freshly mulched garden bed in the spring. While it can be a lot of work, I love the tidy look when we've finished. Besides the aesthetics, mulch provides a few more benefits.
Read on to find out how to get the most out mulching your flower beds and make your gardening life easier.
Spring Planting Guide: 7 Hardy Perennials That Love the Sun
Apr 17, 2025
Perennials are a great way to add color and seasonal interest to your flower beds. They have the advantage of coming back every year and many spread to fill in spaces, giving you more value for the money spent on them.
Read on to explore 7 sun-loving easy to grow perennials to plant this spring
Caring For Spring Flowering Bulbs
Mar 27, 2025
After a long winter, seeing the daffodils blooming along our roadways really lifts my spirits. And I do see some tulips emerging in time for Easter. If you have spring bulbs in your yard, you might be wondering how to best take care of them.
In this week's tip, I'll give you a few easy steps to caring for your spring bulb plants so that they keep flowering every spring.
Spring Gardening Questions and Answers
Mar 20, 2025
Spring is finally here so the amount of questions popping up in on-line gardening groups is increasing. I love participating in these groups, trying to answer questions and/or give advice.
There are a few questions that keep coming up over and over and at least one that I never thought about.
Read on for the questions and my answers!
Beauty in Every Season
Feb 13, 2025
Most of us have a favorite season of the year. But part of the joy of gardening is that, as we actively engage with nature in the intimacy of our own yard, we can find beauty in every season.
Read on as Paula shows us the beauty she finds in every season of her garden.
How to Save Time and Money by Planting Perennials
Oct 10, 2024
Fall is a great time for planting and a great time to take advantage of plant sales. By planting perennials in the fall you get a jump on spring. Read on to find out how to get the best value for your dollar when buying and planting perennials.
Easy-to-Grow Perennials to Plant This Fall
Oct 03, 2024
Perennials are one of the most popular types of flowering plants, both for the beginning and experienced gardeners. And fall is a great time to plant them.
But there are so many varieties, choosing can be overwhelming.
Read on to find out about some of the most popular varieties to plant and how to get started.
Planting Bulbs for Spring Color
Sep 19, 2024
Fall is a great time for gardening. Cool temperatures make for a great climate for both gardeners and new plants. While it may be tempting to put away your tools and forget about gardening until spring, fall is the perfect time to plant for spring color. And one of the most colorful spring plants that do need to be planted now are spring flowering bulbs.
Read on to find out how to plant bulbs this fall for spectacular color next spring.
It's Too Hot to Plant - Now What?
Jun 27, 2024
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.
Creating a Garden Butterflies Will Love
Jun 20, 2024
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.