Martinis and Marigolds - Refreshingly Quick Tips for Home and Garden
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.
Don't Forget The Foliage
May 30, 2024
As you’re planning your summer garden, don’t forget the foliage! Foliage plants are chosen for the beauty of their leaves, rather than their flowers. Some foliage plants have colorful leaves, such as coleus. Others have striking geometric patterns, like the canna lily (which also has showy flowers). Still others are selected because of their unique shape, such as cactuses or succulents.
Read on for three great ways to use foliage plants in your garden.
Getting Started with Growing Vegetables - A Beginner’s Guide
May 16, 2024
Although I’ve been gardening for almost 40 years, I’ve never really been a vegetable gardener. I played with a few tomato plants in pots on my deck but never anything more serious than that. Maybe it’s because I spent my teenage years helping my parents in the huge vegetable garden they planted every year. I personally would have preferred to use that field to house a horse, but that’s a whole other story!
But this year, I decided to give vegetable gardening a try. It’s been a really fun journey despite the heat this summer offered and in this article I’m going to share the steps I took.
If you’ve never grown vegetables before, read on. I hope I can inspire you to give vegetable gardening a try!
What Can I Plant in the Shade? - 7 Easy Care Shade-Loving Perennials for Your Garden
Apr 25, 2024
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.
Tips for Success with Mulching
Apr 18, 2024
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.
Who Needs a Spring Haircut?
Apr 08, 2024
One of my favorite perennials is Variegated Liriope. The bright green and white foliage looks great from late spring into fall. Liriope does not need much maintenance - except in the spring. In spring, it needs a good haircut.
Read on to find out how a spring haircut helps this plant look great all summer long
7 Easy Care Sun-Loving Perennials to Plant This Spring
Apr 04, 2024
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
How To Care For Spring Flowering Bulbs
Mar 28, 2024
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 Is Finally Here! What Can I Plant Now?
Mar 21, 2024
It looks like Spring is finally here!!!
One of the questions people ask me most often as the temperatures get warmer is when can I start planting??? The answer is, it depends on where you live and what you want to plant.
Read on to find out how to know what you can plant now!
Spring Gardening Questions and Answers
Feb 29, 2024
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!
Veggie Garden Roundup
Nov 17, 2022
For those of you who have been following me this year, you know this year was my first real attempt at vegetable garden. If you missed that post, you can review it here.
I decided to start small with a raised bed. And I tried to choose plants that were pretty easy to grow and did not take up a lot of space. I planted 3 different types of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, jalapeño peppers, green peppers and cilantro.
Read on to find out which varieties I planted, how they faired at the end of the season and what I'm going to do differently next year.