Skip to Content

Nature Photos- A collection of Nature at Its Best

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. Since I am a gardener, it stands to reason that I love everything beautiful in nature. I thought it would be fun to have an ongoing page featuring some of …

Read More about Nature Photos- A collection of Nature at Its Best

The Best Orange Flowers for your Garden

With Halloween almost here, my mind looks for the color orange.  Orange is such a rich color.  People tend to think of orange as a fall color because of Halloween and pumpkins, but there are many orange flowers that bloom in the summer and add sizzle and dramatic flair to your garden beds. Both annuals …

Read More about The Best Orange Flowers for your Garden

Phalaenopsis Orchids – Exotic Perfection

Imagine a beauty of a plant that you could water by just adding three ice cubes once a week.  Does that seem impossible?  It really is, if you purchase a phalaenopsis orchid (commonly known as a Moth Orchid.) Did you know that there is a National Day devoted to orchids? It’s celebrated on April 16 …

Read More about Phalaenopsis Orchids – Exotic Perfection

How to Grow The Best Daylilies

These tips for growing daylilies will ensure that yours are the stars of your neighborhood. They are easy-care and even deadheading daylilies is a simple task! Daylilies are one of those perennial bulbs that everyone should try to grow somewhere in their garden. I have several patches of them. The flowers are showing and dramatic …

Read More about How to Grow The Best Daylilies

Strawberry Begonia – Great as a house plant or a ground cover

I’ve always considered strawberry begonia plants as an indoor plant, since that is the way that I have generally grown them.  But I had a surprise this year when I discovered that the plant is a hardy perennial for me here in North Carolina. Growing Requirements for Strawberry Begonia Plants I purchased several small strawberry …

Read More about Strawberry Begonia – Great as a house plant or a ground cover

Mexican Hat Coneflower – Sombrero Perennial

My local garden center does not often have plants that are too much out of the ordinary, so I was delighted to find this Mexican Hat coneflower right here for sale in Raleigh.  This interesting variety of coneflower is also called the “Red Prairie Coneflower.” The perennial served as a dye source for Native Americans …

Read More about Mexican Hat Coneflower – Sombrero Perennial

Nasturtiums as Companion Plants Help your Veggies

I’ve always loved garden nasturtiums in my flower beds. But there are many other ways that these fairly common plants can be a great addition to your vegetable garden. Companion planting is a method of planting plants together so that they benefit each other in some ways.  Some enrich the soil and others attract attract …

Read More about Nasturtiums as Companion Plants Help your Veggies

Cosmos – Easy Care Annual That Does Not Mind Poor Soil

Do you possess a brown thumb instead of a green one?   If your soil very poor?  Then this is the flower for you!  One of the easiest annuals to grow from seed is Cosmos. They are prized for their prolific, silky, daisy like flowers and their  easy-care nature in the garden. They will tolerate even …

Read More about Cosmos – Easy Care Annual That Does Not Mind Poor Soil

Hydrangea Wreath – DIY Fall Door Decoration

This pretty hydrangea wreath uses the beautiful big blooms of a mop head hydrangea bush for a door decoration. My hydrangea bush flowered late this year and gave some lovely color to an otherwise fairly bare garden bed.  Did you know that you can make a holiday hydrangea wreath from hydrangea flowers that are done …

Read More about Hydrangea Wreath – DIY Fall Door Decoration

5 Generations in One Garden Bed

My family has long loved gardening.  It all started with my great grandmother (and I am sure her mother before this but I never knew her).   She loved vegetable gardening and particularly yellow pole beans.  The seeds from her pole beans have been passed down from generation to generation and are now growing in my …

Read More about 5 Generations in One Garden Bed

It’s Lily Time – Varieties of Lilies in my Garden

My husband used to buy me lilies all the time because he loved the look of them so much.  I love them too, but not as cut flowers indoors (they have a stinky smell inside that I don’t like.)  I never had the inclination to tell him that they were not my favorite cut flower …

Read More about It’s Lily Time – Varieties of Lilies in my Garden

Red Vols Daylily is a True Garden Stunner

Red Vols Daylily is a spectacular daylily that was a Better Homes and Gardens winner of the year in 2000 and it’s easy to see why. Anyone who gets interested in growing perennials while find themselves also interested in daylilies. These showing perennial bulbs are dramatic, come back year after year and are easy to …

Read More about Red Vols Daylily is a True Garden Stunner

20+ Plants for A Shade Garden plus My Garden Make Over

Trying to get color and interest in a shade garden can be a challenge. But there are some that don’t mind it at all . In fact, these 20+ perennial and annual plants love the shade. There is a lushness about them that I really enjoy, too. Keep reading to learn what you an grow …

Read More about 20+ Plants for A Shade Garden plus My Garden Make Over

Today’s Garden Flower – My Bearded Irises are Blooming

Each morning, all during the spring and summer, I start my day with a walk around my flower beds.  I just love to see what has happened from the previous day.  I’ve been waiting for my bearded irises to bloom so it was a lovely surprise today. This particular variety is one of my great early …

Read More about Today’s Garden Flower – My Bearded Irises are Blooming

Today’s Flower – Gladiolus

Gladiolus bulbs are one of my father’s favorite. I added them to my garden bed that features flowers from five generations. Growing perennials means lots of color when you plant gladioli. There is something about a bare piece of ground that suddenly breaks with foliage at an amazing rate and then bursts in a splendid …

Read More about Today’s Flower – Gladiolus

My Garden In March – Spring has Sprung (or at least it is trying to)

It’s time to check out my garden in March to see what is blooming for me. This has been the longest winter ever.  I used to live in Maine and am used to long, cold winters. But here in North Carolina, normally, I have a lot of things growing, especially vegetables, by this time in …

Read More about My Garden In March – Spring has Sprung (or at least it is trying to)