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Packing Peanuts = Light pots and Less soil I love the look of large planters. They bring nature onto patios and decks.  Many stores carry very large designs that are just gorgeous. But large planters can be cumbersome and heavy to move around because of their size.  They also use a lot of soil which …

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Did you know that forgetting to compost is one of the most common mistakes that beginning gardeners make? The home is full of unusual compost items that you may not have ever thought to throw on the compost pile. I am a huge fan of composting for vegetable gardening.  The end product is wonderful for …

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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. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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

There is nothing quite like growing herbs to add a farm fresh flavor to all your recipes. And if the plant is easy to grow, even better! Every kitchen gardener should try their hand at  growing basil. If you are into vegetable gardening, it’s a great herb plant to add into your crops, too. Basil is …

Read More about Growing Basil – Learn how to grow it easily – Annual

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 …

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These backyard retreat ideas are perfect for a lazy day.  From a simple stone chair to a lavishly planted shady nook, these are all my idea of a great backyard retreat. We spend a lot of time in our backyards. They are a place for relaxation and getting a recharge from the day. Why not …

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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 beneficial …

Read More about Nasturtiums as Companion Plants Help your Veggies

I live in zone 7b, so I am able to start vegetable gardening fairly early.  I did not get a crop of Brussels sprouts last year, but I am hopeful that my plants will be full of sprouts this year. Brussels sprouts are a healthy cold-weather vegetable that even has its own National Day. January …

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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 …

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Want to get new tomato plants for free? Try propagation! Propagating tomatoes will give you new plants in just a few weeks, which is much faster than growing them from seed. Propagation is the process of growing new plants from a single parent plant by using parts of it. This can be done by using …

Read More about Propagating Tomatoes – Growing Cuttings in Water or Soil

If you grow vegetables in your garden, it’s probably second nature to give them a wash when you bring them inside. After all, they are growing in the dirt and those that grow on vines often have dust and other particles on them. But what about the fruit and veggies that you purchase in a …

Read More about Water Bath for Vegetables & Fruit – Is it Necessary?

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 …

Read More about 35+ Creative Uses for 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 …

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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, particularly yellow pole beans.  The seeds from her pole beans have been passed down from generation to generation and are now growing in my garden.  Since …

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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 …

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