Martinis & Marigolds | Refreshingly Simple Garden Tips

How to Spend Less Time Watering and More Time Enjoying Your Garden

How to Spend Less Time Watering and More Time Enjoying Your Garden

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. 

Posted in beginner gardener, drip hose, drip irrigation, gardening, low maintenance gardening, soaker hose, sprinkler, watering

Give Foliage the Spotlight in Your Summer Garden

Give Foliage the Spotlight in Your Summer Garden

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.

Posted in beginner gardener, beginner gardeners, garden design, landscape design, low maintenance gardening, senior gardeners

Getting Started with Growing Vegetables - A Beginner’s Guide

Getting Started with Growing Vegetables - A Beginner’s Guide

 

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.

Click below to Read More

Posted in beginner gardener, gardening tips, low maintenance gardening, vegetable gardening, vegetable gardening for beginners

🌱 Gardening Made Doable: 5 Tips for Scaling Back Without Giving Up

🌱 Gardening Made Doable: 5 Tips for Scaling Back Without Giving Up

 

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.

Read on for 5 simple strategies will help you keep growing—even when life says slow down.

Posted in beginner gardener, beginner gardeners, busy gardeners, low maintenance gardening, senior gardeners

Spring Gardening Questions and Answers

Spring Gardening Questions and Answers

 

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!

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

What Are Those Brown Patches in My Lawn?

What Are Those Brown Patches in My Lawn?

 

If you live in an area that received snowfall this winter, you might be noticing circular brown patches like the ones in the photo as your your lawn tries to come back.

Read on to find out what is causing this and what you can do about it!

Posted in beginner gardener, landscaping, lawn, low maintenance gardening

Growing Herbs Indoors Made Easy

Growing Herbs Indoors Made Easy

I see lots of people in gardening groups just itching to plant even though it's still cold outside where they live. Houseplants are great but some of us are looking for more. However,  I found a way to add to my indoor gardening and have delicious herbs to use in my cooking.

Read on to find out how to grow herbs (and other plants) indoors quickly and easily.

Posted in beginner gardener, herb, herb gardening, herbs, indoor gardening, indoor plants, low maintenance gardening, vegetable gardening for beginners

Orchids 101

Orchids 101

 

It's so dreary here in PA. I thought it might be a good time to share my insights from a few years ago when I decided to teach myself about orchids. So if you've got a case of the winter blahs maybe it's time for you to jump in and try growing orchids yourself.

And if you already have orchids, maybe treat yourself to a new one.

Read on to find out more about growing Orchids!

Posted in beginner gardener, flowers, indoor gardening, indoor plants, low maintenance gardening, orchid, orchids

Getting Started with Growing Plants from Seeds

Getting Started with Growing Plants from Seeds

 

Now that the days are slowly starting to get longer, I’m yearning for spring. I’m trying to find more winter hobbies, but I really don’t like the cold. And while I like organizing my house, office, car, etc as a way to get a good start to the new year, my fascination with this only lasts so long.

I find myself looking around my property and thinking about gardening. It’s much too cold here in SE PA to do much of anything outside, so what’s a gardener to do?

 

Well, garden planning is a great winter indoor activity. And this is a great time to plan our your beds and containers and order seeds to so that you can start growing plants indoors. If you’ve subscribed to any seed and plant catalogs, the good news is they start coming now.

Read on to find out how to start plants for your garden from seeds and get a jump on spring.

Posted in beginner gardener, garden planning, low maintenance gardening, starting seeds