Botanica the Wichita Gardens has The Ultimate Children’s Garden

This Brussels sprouts leaves recipe makes great use of parts of the plant that might end up on a compost pile or in the trash can. Brussels sprouts leaves (AKA tops) are not sold in stores. You get them by growing the plants themselves.  The leaves that are used for this recipe are the ones that …

These lovely bird cage planters are a great way to showcase your succulent plant collection and are great for any trailing plants. Their size is perfect and the wire framework of most birdcages makes them very easy to water. You can use plants in bird cages both outdoors and inside the home. I am always …

If you are a gardener on the road and looking for things to do in Wyoming, one of your most often searched terms is likely to be “botanic gardens near me.” Luckily for you, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens will be a search result worth exploring. My husband and I are spending a few weeks visiting botanical …

This recipe for steaks with a Cuban mojo marinade combines spices with orange juice, olive oil and grill mates seasoning for an easy and spicy main course dish. I love the sweet, tangy and savory flavors.  It makes grill night something special. We grill every Saturday’s night at our house. My husband is the grill master …

Looking for things to do in Idaho? If you have an interest in drought tolerant plants, desert gardens and plants for a pollinator garden, be sure to include a visit to Orton Botanical Garden in Twin Falls, Idaho to your itinerary. Also known as Plantasia Cactus Gardens, this five acre garden is beautifully planted with native …

This Montreal steak seasoning recipe has a sweet and spicy rub made from Grill Mates that is sure to delight your friends. Even better, it is simple and easy to prepare. Team the recipe with grilled corn in their husks and you have a crowd pleasing meal. At our house we grill every Saturday night. …

This recipe for watermelon lemonade with raspberries takes ordinary lemonade to a whole new level. It is a refreshing and hydrating drink that the kids will love  – without the alcohol, of course. Summer time…and the drinking is easy with fruit flavored cocktail recipes.  My take on an old tune!  I am a great fan of lemonade. …

If you are a gardener and are looking for things to do in Montana, be sure to add Tizer Botanic Garden & Arboretum to your trip itinerary. Located in the heart of the Elkhorn Mountains, in Jefferson City, Montana, is a delightful botanic garden with a whimsical feel. The garden is situated on 6 acres …

The Memphis Botanic Garden in Memphis, Tennessee gives visitors a chance to connect with nature in a relaxing and enjoyable way. Sculptures, plants and water all coordinate beautifully in this lovely botanical garden. The botanic garden offers lush walking trails with plenty of tall trees to shade visitors from the hot summer sun. The garden …

If you are in the Southeast California area, be sure to add this list of things to do in Sequoia National Park to your must-see attractions. Sequoia National Park is home to giant sequoia trees, and along with King’s Canyon National Park, is a vast designated wilderness comprising over 800,000 acres. The drive through Sequoia National …

Do you have a problem with soil born diseases in your cucumber plants? These cucumber trellis ideas will help to solve this stumbling block. Anyone who has grown cucumbers knows that they take up a LOT of room in a vegetable garden.  One way to overcome the space problem is to use trellises or other climbing …

This crostini appetizer recipe is simple to make. The delicate asparagus spears and distinct flavors of prosciutto and Gouda cheese will make your guests think you spent hours in the kitchen making them. The appetizers are the perfect choice for an easy drinks night. Are you having friends over for drinks any time soon?  The right appetizer …

It’s about this time of the year that I get lots of questions from readers about ripening tomatoes on the vine. I’ve written a whole article about how to ripen tomatoes indoors. Now it’s time to see if we can hurry things up on the vine itself! Nothing is quite as frustrating as tomato plants …

Does your vegetable garden have more unripe tomatoes than you can use in salads? Are you wondering what to do with unripe tomatoes? Try using some of the green ones for this fried green tomatoes recipe. This delicious side dish makes a nice change from raw tomatoes and is very, very tasty. There is nothing …

Are you wondering what to do with an old mailbox? For me, the best way to store garden tools is inside a repurposed mailbox. This neat garden tool storage DIY project not only looks great in the garden, but is functional and weather-proof, too. This means that you can have your tools handy, no matter …

Crassula Ovata ‘Hobbit’ is a small shrubby tender succulent that is popular with followers of J.R.R. Tolkien. because of the shape of its leaves. Grow the Hobbit Jade plant if you enjoy succulents with an unusual look. Crassula are a genus of succulents that are often seen at garden centers. They come in many forms …

Do you have plants in your garden that love to climb? English cottage gardens often do, and a wooden garden obelisk (or tuteur) is a structure that gives them room to roam. You can buy these structures, but the cost is prohibitive. $70 is the cheapest one that I have seen and they can run …

Hydrangea color change is always a surprise to gardeners. You buy a plant with blue blooms only to discover later that the blossoms are now pink. Why does this happen and what can you do about it? Hydrangeas are a very popular garden plant. They are a perennial shrub that comes in a variety of …

This  frozen strawberry daiquiri recipe is super tasty and could not be easier to make. If you have a blender and the supplies, the cocktail is ready in just minutes. To make this drink easy to prepare, the daiquiri recipe features a mix – “Island Oasis Strawberry” – and this gets combined with crushed ice …

This visual guide to herb identification makes identifying herbs a snap. How well do you know the names of the fresh herbs? Many herbs look quite similar, so it’s easy to be confused. Do you often ask yourself – “What herb is this?” I can’t tell you how many times I have come back from …

Every morning I take a garden walk to see what is growing and what needs tending. Today, I spent the morning deadheading daylilies. I have clumps of daylilies – hemerocallis – that have naturalized into plants with numerous blooms on them. Some of them have 12 or 13 blooms out in a day. Since daylily …

Gloriosa lily (gloriosa rothschildiana) is a climbing tender perennial that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who likes dramatic flowers. The flame-colored red flowers have scalloped yellow edges and swept back petals. If you have a bare trellis or a wall in your garden that needs spicing up, plant gloriosa and prepare yourself …

I have a new favorite flower – it’s my beautiful mandevilla vine! This stunning plant is now covered with gorgeous pink flowers that have been blooming for months and shows no signs of slowing down. One of my favorite places to sit outside during the summer in on my back deck overlooking my garden beds. …

The gardens are booming right now and many of my readers ask “why are my cucumbers turning yellow, round and deformed?” Cucumbers are a popular warm season vegetable. Many beginning gardeners choose them since they are normally fairly easy to grow. Cucumbers are easy to plant, taste great, and will give you a big harvest. …

This homemade pasta sauce is made with both pork and beef for a meaty spaghetti sauce that your family will ask for again and again. It is the ultimate topping for any type pasta. This is a recipe that has been a favorite with my family for one reason – it  tastes amazing! I have …

I have been making this roasted tomato pasta sauce for years. It is rich and chunky and one of the best tasting homemade spaghetti sauces I have ever tried. The recipe is just full of flavor. The key ingredient to the taste and texture of the sauce is that I use roasted garden tomatoes. I …