Pruning shrubs regularly will keep them more healthy, will maintain a manageable size for them and will help them to produce more flowers. When it comes to trimming bushes, the most important factors to take into consideration are proper pruning techniques for shrubs and when to trim bushes. The trick really is knowing where to …
Would you like a list of winter spices or wonder what the best herbs for Christmas are that you can grow and use in recipes? This Christmas spices list is for you! The holidays will soon be here and a home cooked dinner, along with all the trimmings, is on many menus this year. Whether …
Selaginella kraussiana ‘variegata’ (and its cousin varieties) are Christmas plants that are also known as frosty ferns. They are relative newcomers to the holiday plant scene, and popular because of their lightly frosted white tips. If you are bored with the tried and true plants for Christmas, such as amaryllis, Christmas cactus and poinsettia, try growing …
Growing amaryllis indoors allows you to enjoy stunning blooms for Christmas or during the winter months. It is one of the easiest garden decorating projects that you can do to use Christmas plants for the holidays. Forcing amaryllis bulbs gives you a spectacular houseplant, and the bulbs are a great gift for a gardening friend. …
Sunrooms are a wonderful place to admire your gardening endeavors. I thought it would be fun to share some ideas for decorating a sunroom with you, with photos of these amazing sunrooms. If you read my blog often, you will know that I have a bit of a passion for garden beds. I have 11 …
Kalanchoe houghtonii, also known as “mother of thousands,’ along with other common names, is a tender succulent that is very easy to grow. In fact, left to its own devices and uncultivated, the plant can be quite invasive. These growing tips for mother of thousands succulent will show you how to easily grow this interesting …
White bugs are a problem for many gardeners who like to grow houseplants. There are several would-be plant bugs, but a common one is mealybugs on plants. If you have discovered what looks like a white fuzzy coating on the stems and leaves of your succulents or other indoor plants, it is likely that you …
Halloween is coming soon and, since black is a color associated with this holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on black plants. Adding these specimens to your roster of garden plants adds a dramatic look that will transform any outdoor space into a goth garden. Many of these plants can …
These tips for poinsettia plant care will make sure your pretty holiday plant will continue to delight you all through the holiday season and into next year. More poinsettia plants are sold during November and December than the yearly sales of all the other potted plants, other than orchids. There is a good reason for …
Many of us look forward to picking pumpkins for fall projects, recipes and decor. If you have planted and nurtured a crop of these vegetables, you likely have wondered when to harvest pumpkins. Depending on the variety, pumpkins normally take between 90 and 120 days from planting seed to maturity. Early varieties like Darling and …
A holiday cactus is a short-day plant which produces flower buds when daylight hours decrease. Fortunately for gardeners, this happens when much of the garden is not blooming, just in time for the major holidays – Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. There are three different types of holiday cactus plants, Christmas cactus – schlumbergera bridgesii, Thanksgiving …
This delicious gluten free apple crumble is full of flavor but contains no wheat at all. What do you do when you are pining for a pastry style crumble but are following a gluten free diet? No problem at all with substitutes like oat flour and gluten free oatmeal. I love using apples in the …
These basics will help you learn how to grill like a pro. Included are my top 25 grilling tips to make sure that your next barbecue is something your friends will rave about. It’s that time of the year again. One only has to be outside around 6 pm to smell the aroma of someone …
Looking for a sweet dessert to serve as the ending to a romantic dinner? The easy strawberry cheesecake swirl brownie bars recipe are the perfect choice! These cream cheese brownies are rich and delicious and make a great addition to your collection of cheesecake recipes. I love any desserts that are strawberry flavored. This easy …
Pizza for breakfast? Yes, you can enjoy this meal often if you make my slimmed down version. This breakfast pizza recipe is easy to make, super tasty and healthy, too. English muffin pizzas are a fun way to incorporate vegetables into breakfast. The kids will love to help you make this breakfast recipe by assembling their own …
Looking for a hearty pasta dish that your family will really love? Try this bow tie pasta salad with sweet Italian sausages. The salad is ready in just minutes but very hearty and tasty. It has a zesty kick from the Italian sausages and a fresh garden finish. Keep reading to find out how to …
For many gardeners, the promise of lush, red tomatoes is one of the highlights of summer. However, a common question that I get from readers is “why are my tomatoes splitting?” Cracked tomatoes can show up at any stage of the plants growth, either when green or ripe and red. No matter what time it …
These left over rice patties are crunchy and savory with a fresh flavor that comes from a variety of garden herbs. I got a rice cooker a while ago and now I make rice all the time. When I prepare it, I usually make extra servings so that I can have some on hand to …
These tips for growing calla lilies will let you experience their beauty in your garden at a much less cost than from a florist. Have you ever priced single calla lilies at a florist? If you have, you will have discovered that they sell for up to $10 a STEM. Why pay those kind of …
Tomato bottom rot is a problem that many vegetable gardeners face. What causes that ugly black rot on tomatoes? There is nothing like biting into a lush, ripe garden tomato that you have spent months growing. Discovering those prize tomatoes with large rotten areas on them is no fun, though. What what causes those ugly …
Do you have a problem with radishes not growing bulbs? This is a common issue in a vegetable garden. What causes this to happen? Radishes – raphanus sativus – have edible greens which can be used in salads, but the main reason they are grown is for their crunchy and spicy round root. Expecting to …
Yellow leaves on tomato plants can be caused by several reasons. Nutritional deficiencies, plant diseases, and even the way you water tomatoes can play a part. Getting the right answer for why there are yellow leaves on tomato plants in your garden requires lots of research and a bit of trial and error. Tomatoes are …
The tobacco hornworm is a voracious eater that can do a great deal of damage in a flower or vegetable garden. It is a pest in the family Solanaceae. The tobacco hornworm is quite commonly seen in the southern United States, especially the Gulf Coast States. Its range extends northward as far as New York. Caterpillars …
This list of cold hardy succulents includes plants that can take cold temperatures that would kill their more tender cousins. There are three main varieties of succulents that can thrive in freezing temperatures – sempervivums, sedum stonecrop, and delosperma. Most types of these varieties will tolerate temperatures as low as -20° Fahrenheit (some even to …
The Veracruzana cocktail is my featured drink of the day. If you are looking for a cocktail with a tropical feel to it, try this one! This tequila pineapple cocktail has a wonderful flavor. Hello summer time and its long and warm evenings! These days are perfect for refreshing and fruity cocktail recipes like this …
Are you on the hunt for unique succulent arrangement ideas? This DIY succulent arrangement comes together in just minutes and looks wonderful as a table centerpiece. One of the best things about succulents is their size. It makes them ideal for a succulent dish garden because you can include plenty of mixed varieties. Succulent plants …
Fan flower (Scaevola aemula) is an excellent warm weather plant that is often grown as a summer annual. It is useful to grow in window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, or as a border plant. Even if you are a seasoned gardener, you may not of heard of scaevola. It is a relative new-comer to the …