Martinis and Marigolds - Refreshingly Quick Tips for Home and Garden

How to Save Time and Money by Planting Perennials

How to Save Time and Money by Planting Perennials

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.

Posted in flower gardening, gardening, perennials

Easy-to-Grow Perennials to Plant This Fall

Easy-to-Grow Perennials to Plant This Fall

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.

Posted in fall gardening, flower gardening, gardening, perennials

Planting Bulbs for Spring Color

Planting Bulbs for Spring Color

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.

Posted in bulbs, fall planting, flower gardening, tulips

It's Too Hot to Plant - Now What?

It's Too Hot to Plant - Now What?

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. 

Posted in beginner gardener, flower bed, flower gardening, flowers, garden, garden design, garden planning, garden tips, gardener, gardening, gardening tips

Creating a Garden Butterflies Will Love

Creating a Garden Butterflies Will Love

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.

Posted in attracting butterflies, flower bed, flower gardening, flowers, gardening

What Can I Plant in the Shade? - 7 Easy Care Shade-Loving Perennials for Your Garden

What Can I Plant in the Shade? - 7 Easy Care Shade-Loving Perennials for Your Garden

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.

Posted in flower bed, flower gardening, garden design, garden maintenance, garden planning, garden tips, gardener, gardening, gardening tips, new garden, perennials, planning my garden, planting, shade loving plants

Tips for Success with Mulching

Tips for Success with Mulching

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.

Posted in flower gardening, garden, garden maintenance, garden planning, garden tips, gardener, gardening, gardening tips, mulch, mulching, new garden, planning my garden, weed control

7 Easy Care Sun-Loving Perennials to Plant This Spring

7 Easy Care Sun-Loving Perennials to Plant This Spring

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

Posted in flower bed, flower gardening, flowers, garden, garden design, garden planning, garden tips, gardener, gardening, gardening tips, new garden, perennials, planning my garden, planting, spring gardening

How To Care For Spring Flowering Bulbs

How To Care For Spring Flowering Bulbs

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.

Posted in daffodils, flower gardening, flowers, garden, garden planning, garden tips, gardener, gardening, gardening tips, spring bulbs, spring gardening, tulips

Spring Gardening Questions and Answers

Spring Gardening Questions and Answers

Spring is getting closer and closer 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!

Posted in beginner gardener, container gardening, flower gardening, gardening tips, herb gardening, low maintenance gardening, spring gardening, vegetable gardening for beginners

Beauty in Every Season

Beauty in Every Season

As 2023, with all of its challenges, draws to a close, it's a great time to reflect on what this year brought to us and take time to appreciate the good things it had to offer before moving on to 2024.

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. 

 

Posted in flower gardening, garden planning, gardening