This cement blocks Plant Shelf project is the perfect way to show off a collection of plants and to add a focal point to a garden bed. I love recycling old materials into something new. A big collection of cement blocks got a new lease on life today. This not only saves me money but helps…
These musical planters are a whimsical way for me to ring in the sounds of the South West. I have a new garden bed which has a South West Focal point as a seating area and I have carried the colors of turquoise and terra cotta through the garden with both accent pieces, planters and…
These DIY hose guides are a great way to keep your hose from trampling your plants. They can be made for a fraction of the cost of a retail set. I have really large garden beds in my front and back yard. Some are easy to manage as far as the hose goes and others…
These clever gardening hacks will make light work of garden chores and many recycle common household items into useful garden products. A win-win any day! I love to write about clever ideas that gardeners can do to make their garden chores easy. Sure, it is easy to throw money at a project, but with a…
My husband and I recently finished this budget front yard make over in an afternoon. I love the way it turned out. I am all about gardening on a budget. With the amount of garden beds that I have, (8 and counting!) I have to be. I had a neglected Pine tree garden that was…
This DIY Yard Sale Shepherds hook make over is my latest project and adds a nice touch to my new seating area. I love to go to antique fairs, yard sales and flea markets. There is something really special about finding old things to re purpose or to add to a collection of vintage items….
It seems that almost everything that is found around the house can be turned into creative planters. No matter how large or small, a plant seems to be able to find its way into anything with an opening large enough to put in some soil. Typewriters, bicycles, cowboy boots, paint cans, child’s wagons and even…
Now is the perfect time to winterize garden tools. The garden will be resting for a few months but tools still need TLC. Once the cooler weather sets in, and thoughts of the upcoming holidays come to mind, that last thing we want to think about is gardening. But trust me, your garden tools will…
This recipe for Italian Herb Vinegar is perfect for any Italian or Mediterranean recipe. I love growing herbs and combing them with vinegar and oil gives me a great ingredient for cooking. Herb infused vinegar oils keep the flavor of the herbs well and add such a special taste to any recipe. Make Your Own…
Teach your child the joy of gardening with these fun projects using cut and come again vegetables. This vegetable garden hack is easy to do and makes use of vegetable parts and pieces that would normally end up in the trash. Vegetable gardening is so rewarding. But not everyone has the space for it. There are…
Christmas will be here before you know it. If you are looking for a special DIY Christmas gift for a gardener, these giant jingle bells will ring in the festive season in a natural way. They are easy to make and are a great gift idea for anyone who loves to potter in the garden….
My Favorite Stone and Natural Pathways. Garden paths add so much to your back yard space. They take you from place to place in the garden, and if used properly can also add a bit of mystery to your outdoor space. There are so many materials to use for your garden paths. Some are very…
The birds that visit your backyard are a part of the whole ecosystem. The Importance of bird houses can’t be understated if you want to attract birds to your yard. Having a home for your feathered friends adds some interest to your yard and makes sure the birds will keep visiting. There are also many…
This project for growing potatoes is a simple and yet very effective vegetable garden hack. Just combine everything into a large trash bag. The potatoes will grow in the bag itself, saving the space for other veggies and works really well. I’m a meat and potatoes kind of girl. No meal seems quite complete with…
Did you know that forgetting to compost is a common vegetable garden mistake? Making newspaper mulch is simple and so beneficial so there is no reason for you to make this error. Newspaper is a great product to use to control the weeds in your garden. It is beneficial in both flower and vegetable gardening….
These creative hummingbird feeders will attract the delicate birds to your garden with their colorful red designs. I am always fascinated when I see hummingbirds flitting around my garden. They are so delicate and seem to defy all rules of aeronautics as they hover over flowers gathering nectar. Hummingbird Feeders for any garden setting You…
Each year I think about my grandmother with nostalgia when I plant seeds from her heirloom beans. My family comes from a long line of vegetable gardeners. I can still remember when my great grandmother had her vegetable garden, I used to wander through it when I was about 6. My grandfather on my mother’s…
Hydrogen peroxide is one of those things which people have in their bathroom, that they use primarily for healing wounds and cuts. It is a shame to save this handy bottle for just medical uses, when there are so many more uses for it around the home. And it is so inexpensive too! Hydrogen peroxide…
Did you know that growing pineapples from a discarded top is quite easy to do? I love pineapples. They are so sweet and the fruit makes great salsas and is perfect in cocktails and drinks. It’s wonderful grilled with a barbecue too. And one of the beauties of this project is that, if you don’t…
As much as we all love to see birds splashing around in a bird bath, bacteria and grime will soon make it not such a pleasant sight. For today’s project, I am testing Alka Seltzer and copper to clean a bird bath. I have several bird baths in my garden beds. I just love to…
Growing herbs adds a ton of flavor to all your recipes, but keeping track of what is growing can be challenging. These wooden spoon herb plant markers are both functional and decorative. Herb Identification might seem easy but those tiny seedlings have a frustrating way of looking the same! I have a large group of herbs…
I have a garden bed in my front yard that I call my “Jess border.” The reason for the name is because my daughter and I made the bed together and it always has a big patch of sunflowers in the middle of it each year. Sunflowers are Jess’ favorite flowers. Like all my other…
I love vegetable gardening. There is nothing quite like harvesting and cooking vegetables that you have grown. If you like to grow vegetables but are a beginner, be sure to ready my post about how to troubleshoot vegetable garden problems as well as some solutions. It is helpful in learning what to do about problems…
Anyone who has priced hardscaping lately knows how expensive it can be, particularly if you have large areas to cover. I am redoing my whole area that I used last year for veggies. Long story short, the squirrels were a nightmare for me and I don’t plan to go through that experience a second time. …
This DIY Bean Teepee is a fun vegetable garden hack, and gives great support to climbing beans. This year, I changed my vegetable garden into a combined perennial/vegetable border. It’s a long story but basically, the squirrels got the better of my veggies last year and I swore never again. Since I will have flowers…
One of my favorite things to do on Sunday morning is to meet friends for breakfast or brunch and catch up on the week. Normally, we go out to a variety of restaurants and alternate each week between them. This week, I wanted to have our friends over to our house for breakfast. I’ve been…