Martinis and Marigolds - Refreshingly Quick Tips for Home and Garden

We had a pretty cold winter here in PA so I'm really happy that spring is here.

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 lawn tries to come back. 

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

Orchids are always something I have admired but have been afraid to try. So I decided to do a little research and see if I could grow them. I mean, after all, there are literally thousands of different varieties. There's got to be one that's right for me.

Read on to find out about the easiest orchids for a beginner to grow and how to get started.

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.

Winter can be tough on all of us including our houseplants.

So if you're yearning to do a bit of gardening, why not give your houseplants a spa day?

Read on for a few quick tips on the care you can give your plants now that will keep them healthy through the long winter months.

Houseplants can really add to our indoor decor. But for many folks, growing them is not as easy as the gardening websites would have us believe. Yellow, brown or dropping leaves, insects, fungus, and general bad health can plague us all. Fortunately, most houseplant problems can be traced back to a few easy to solve causes.

Read on to find out how to cure what ails your houseplants.

A while back I wrote an article about 5 easy to care for houseplants that also clean the air. If you missed it, you can check it out here. One of our readers posed a great question. She asked whether any of these were toxic to pets. Unfortunately all except the spider plant were. 

So she got me thinking that since so many of us have pets, it might be good to find some plants that we could grow indoors and that wouldn't be toxic to our furry friends. 

Read on to find our more about 5 Houseplants that are considered safe for dogs and cats

As the cold temperatures are here for many parts of the country, it might seem a strange time to think about what to plant this spring. But this time of year is a great time to work on planning your garden.

Good garden design starts with thinking before digging.

Read on for my 5 Tips for Successful Garden Planning. 

Then curl up by the fire with a few plant and seed catalogs, pen and paper and your favorite beverage and start dreaming of spring.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The winter months are upon us. And now that the holidays are over and spring is a few months away, there's not much to do in the garden. So what's a gardener to do?

Well, our resident blogger Paula Marolewski, really enjoys the birds that visit throughout the winter. Please enjoy Paula's article with some helpful tips to get birds to flock to your feeders.

The New Year is finally here. And with it comes the time-honored tradition of making New Year's Resolutions. 

For most us, resolutions don't really work. Studies have shown it. While stating what you want to see happen in your life is always a good idea, many times things don't change. But in 2018 I found a way to achieve at least some of the goals I set for 2018.

Read on to find out the 5 things I did to Turn Resolutions into Reality

As 2020, with all of it's 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 2021.

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. 

It's no secret that I like a good cocktail. I really don't like soda. In fact, I don't like super sugary drinks (including ones with alcohol) at all. And while I try to drink a lot of water, it's well -  boring. So I look forward to something more interesting. However, there are times when I don't feel like drinking alcohol. I'm always looking for something fun and festive (including non-alcoholic options) to drink when I'm at a party or out to dinner.

Since the holiday party season is upon us, I thought I'd share 5 of my favorite drink options. Read on to find out what I'm drinking this holiday season!

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!