The vegetable and flower growing season is getting closer with each passing day. Here in NC, we have had unseasonably warm weather. It SEEMS that spring has sprung but I still don’t dare really get gardening in full steam in case we get a bit of a cold snap. Are you an avid gardener? If…
If you have an avid gardener in your life, (or you are one!)you will know that they think about gardening most of the time. When the weather is cold like it is right now, and gardeners are not able to tend to their gardens, all is not lost. These flower pins make the perfect gift…
Astilbe is one of my favorite perennials for a shade garden. There are not many plants that really like the shade that also flower beautifully, but Astilbe is one of them. Astilbe colors could even be called the stars of a shady garden. Astilbe makes a wonderful border edging plant for a large garden bed.…
If you go to the big box hardware stores around the holidays and during the winter months, you will most likely find African Violets for sale in a lovely variety of flower colors. Even though African Violets can be somewhat picky about care, they are still one of the most popular indoor plants grown. Saintpaulia, commonly known as…
Osiria Rose is a hybrid tea rose that was first hybridized in Germany by Mr. Reimer Kordes of Germany in 1978. The rose was introduced in France by Willemse France under the name ‘Osiria’. Photos of the rose that have made their way around the internet are highly photo shopped. Several of my readers have grown the rose…
My husband and I recently spent several days in the mountains of North Carolina with our daughter. The highlight of the trip was a tour of Biltmore Estate. We enjoyed the tour of the estate, for sure, but what really impressed me was the perennial gardens and conservatory. I thought my readers would enjoy reading a…
Foxglove biennial plants are spectacular to view. The term biennial means that the plant will grow for two years and then mainly die off. Under favorable conditions, they will last a year or two beyond what their normal biennial classification would warrant. Foxgloves will re-seed themselves easily, so once you have one plant, you garden…
When it comes to versatility, blossoms and easy of care, very few perennials can match daylilies. They give a magnificent show of flowers, sometimes more than once during the summer season, can be managed by inexperienced gardeners and multiply like crazy to give more plants as the seasons progress. I thought it would be…
If you are fond of growing perennials, you really should try daylilies. They are one of my favorite perennials. I started my collection with the common Stella D’oro that is seen by all the road sides in North Carolina and have moved on to more and better flowers. There is such a variety of bloom…
The JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh is a wonderful place to spend a day. We recently had visitors from the UK who are gardeners, so we took them for a visit. One of my favorite parts of the gardens is The White Garden. It has a plethora of white annuals, perennials and bulbs growing. There is…
Budget conscious gardeners have a very good friend when they turn to growing perennials. What is not to like about a plant that comes back year after year and needs very little care and watering after the first year? There are many types of perennials, from tender types, which need to be grown in the…
If you garden, you will know that the cost of buying new plants can get very expensive over time. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a wonderful garden. Just follow some of these plant propagation tips and you will have both perennial garden plants, as well as indoor plants for…
I love all sorts of sunflowers. They are my daughter’s favorite flower and I plant them in all of my garden beds each year. I have some in my test garden that are about 7 feet tall right now and still not opened. I plant the large yellow type and rust colored ones too, but…
Starting seeds indoors in the late winter and early spring really increases the time that you can enjoy your vegetable garden in the growing season. Doing this gives you earlier vegetables and flowers and is such a fun project to do with kids. You don’t even need to invest in expensive seed starting containers. There…
I know that in most parts of the country, the ground is still covered with snow, but as any good gardener will tell you, “it’s never to early to start thinking about spring gardening!” There are lots of things that you can do to get ready. These early spring garden projects will get a jump…
Osiria Rose care can be a bit of a challenge. Not only is this rose with its white center and rimmed edges quite hard to find here in the USA, it also tends to be a bit on the weak side. The beauty and fragrance of this rose makes it worth the extra time and patience…
My North Carolina winter garden is a wonderland this week. Winter storm Jonas has been all in the news this week. It left a blanket of snow and ice from the South in the US right up the corridor to New England. My North Carolina winter garden is a sight to behold. Winter storm Jonas…
These Seasonal Plants will Dress up any Room in a Festive Way During the festive season, there are many different seasonal plants on offer at most garden centers. They add a lovely touch to your seasonal decorating theme and can be carried over as houseplants from year to year. Two seasonal plants that I love are…
DIY No Carve Sunflower Pumpkin Here is another idea for those of you who do not like the mess of a carved pumpkin. It’s also one that gardeners will love! This no carve sunflower pumpkin uses the heads of sunflowers or any other colorful daisy like flower to cover the outside of the pumpkin. Silk…
I love a cottage garden. I am not a rule follower by nature, especially when it comes to gardens, and I love the way a cottage garden throws caution to the wind in the rule department. Do you like lots of flowers, flowing lines and a not so formal look? Then a cottage garden might…
This post brought to you by Gilmour. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Gardening Cook. Get A Successful Garden Make Over With 14 Easy Tips. It’s that time again. Time to transform one of my garden beds that just won’t seem to keep to a single design. I call it my…
There is nothing like cooking with, and growing, fresh herbs. If you enjoy vegetable gardening, be sure to have some herbs growing, too. Do you know whether the one you are growing is an annual, perennial or biennial? This can sometimes be confusing and the answer is not always cut and dried. Are your fresh…
Pink Oriental Lily Today’s Puzzle is a pink Oriental Lily from my garden last summer. I have lots of different colors of them but this one is one of my favorites. I love doing puzzles online when I have a few minutes. I hope you do too! If you love lilies too, you may be…
I like any plant that has a daisy like flower, so Coreopsis is a natural for me. This pretty perennial is today’s plant of the day. It is called Coreopsis Star Cluster. It is easy to see where the plant gets its name. The lovely yellow center radiates out in a star pattern with a…
Inspirational Sayings With each new year, I am filled with the hope of things to come and also reflect on the year that passed. I find comfort in motivational sayings to help me keep on track for the resolutions that I have just made for the new year. Many of these photos come from flowers…
Explore Nature at Its Best in Photos Since I am a gardener, it stands to reason that I love everything beautiful in nature. There are times that I am simply amazed by the beautiful, unusual and sometimes humble side of our planet. I especially love unusual nature photos. I thought it would be fun to…
