It’s time for a shed makeover. My garden shed is definitely in need of some decor. I see so many garden sheds that are as sweet as can be. Some are tiny, some are huge and all seem to have character. I have one of the “huge without character” types. My husband and his friend …
Learn How To Garden Like a Pro With These Gardening Tips and Tutorials
What is better than an idea for a creative planter? Why, many creative garden planters, of course! I recently asked some of my gardening friends to share their creative planter and container ideas and they did not disappoint. Their ideas are a cascade of fun and will add a great look to any garden setting. …
I love creative gardening ideas. This cowboy boot planter is would make a great table accent. This metal cowboy boot is gorgeous all by itself, but the star shaped cut outs on the side of the boot make it the perfect container for a whole host of succulents. Creative succulent planters come in all sorts …
I love gardening signs of all types. They add a touch of whimsy to any garden setting and give you an idea of the personality of the gardener too. Just about any saying can be made into a garden sign. All you need, really, is a piece of wood, some paint and a paint brush …
It is never too early to consider how you will deal with storing garden vegetables that you have at the end of the season. The growing season still has time to go and many of us are in the middle of the vegetable gardening season. Very few homes have the perfect storage conditions for fresh produce. …
We had visitors from the UK recently and spent a day at the North Carolina Zoo, in Ashville, NC. The zoo is divided into two parts – North America and African animals. We spent our time at the African animal exhibits since we all wanted to see the large wild animals not on our continent. …
It didn’t take long before I changed my mind about one of my favorite critters because of the squirrel damage in my vegetable garden – all caused in a couple of days. To make matters worse they started digging up and eating all my tulips last year! I am an animal lover. I don’t like …
Readers of my blog will know that my project for this year (and the next two) is my test garden. I have a model that I am emulating from Garden Gate and will grow shade, semi shade and full sun plants in it to write articles about for my blog. Read about the beginning here. …
Dieffenbachia is one of those stately looking indoor plants with very large leaves that are variegated. It is fairly easy to grow, and makes a great addition to your collection of indoor plants. Most people grow dieffenbachia for their eye catching leaves. The plant has a tropical look and various varieties can be striped, spotted …
The Raleigh Rose Garden is a place that you should visit if you are ever in Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh’s little Theater has a wonderful rose garden behind it. I discovered it year’s ago when my daughter performed in a play there as a middle schooler. It has a splendid array of roses of all …
Aluminum disposable pie plates are recycled all the time to use as trays for left overs. But they are also very useful in the garden, as well. I love to find neat garden uses for common household items. There are so many things that we throw away that can be put to good use around …
The middle of summer is the peak time for vegetable gardening. This type of garden gives us loads of fresh vegetables to use in healthy recipes. But an amazing garden doesn’t just happen by planting seeds. It’s easy to make vegetable garden mistakes, even for a seasoned gardener. These 19 easy vegetable gardening tips will …
Mimosa trees are one of those trees that you either love or hate. They are considered by some to be “trash trees” because of their short lifespan. They also have weak wood which breaks easily in high winds, and are vulnerable to disease. To make it worse, they are a rampant spreader, sending out hitchhiker …
Bees are extraordinary creatures. They move from plant to plant transferring pollen, making sure that the species thrives. They are so necessary in our gardens and it is a shame that their numbers are decreasing in part due to huge mega farming operations, loss of their habitats and pesticide use. One of the Fans of …
It is often said that happiness is a choice….a state of mind. Some people find it illusive but just look within and it’s usually there. Even the term inspirational happiness quotes just puts a smile on my face. Quotes and inspirational sayings are very popular with my readers so I am always on the lookout …
Earlier this year, I wrote about a test garden that I will be having in my back yard. I am using the garden bed to grow all sorts of things as test plants for the blog posts that I write. Some grow well there and some don’t like it at all, but everything gives me …
Japanese Silver Grass – Miscanthus sinensis – is a perennial plant that has variegated green and white striped leaves and huge plumes in the fall that stall well above the top of the plant. The plant can be used to hide neighboring views and completely cover a chain link fence. It also has lots of winter …
Growing vegetables is one of the true joys of summer for me. It appears the same is true of my Facebook fans, from the look of these vegetable gardens. One of my favorite things to do on my Facebook page The Gardening Cook, is to ask my fans to share their favorite photos from their …
Every now and then, it is fun to just let your hair down and enjoy a bit of gardening and cooking humor. These graphics and jokes are a way for us to lighten your day. Life should not always be too serious. The Gardening Cook agrees. So we have made a collection of some of …
Turning a compost pile can be time consuming and a bit difficult to do. The material can get very heavy and cumbersome to move around which is needed in order to change the organic matter into hummus. All vegetable gardeners know that composting is a great way to get organic fertilizer for your garden beds. …
Planters near an entrance way are a great way to add pizzazz to a front door. But add some house numbers and a staggered planter and you will get some instant curb appeal to boot. I enjoy having plants on my front step and love to change them out with the seasons. This pretty planter …
I recently wrote an article that talked about a long list of weird things that you can compost which you might not have thought about. Today, I am going to discuss those things you should never compost. Vegetable gardening is greatly enhanced by the addition of organic matter formed by composting. If you enjoy growing vegetables, …
Hate junk mail? Turn this unwanted mail into garden mulch with this easy gardening life hack. All you have to do is look into your mail box and you will see how much junk mail you get on a daily basis. Junk mail is unwanted, wastes paper and other materials and ends up on our …
Composting allows me to add some organic matter to my garden, but the material often needs sifting. Instead of buying a compost sifter, I made my own DIY Compost Screen by using common plastic garden trays. These trays are readily available at most garden centers when you purchase a flat of seedlings. The come with …
A rolling compost pile is much easier to manage that a normal pile in a compost bin. It is an easy way to avoid a common gardening mistake – forgetting to add compost to the soil. I am committed to organic gardening. My vegetable garden is treated for insects with homemade remedies and I control …
A fan of my Gardening Cook Page on Facebook recently shared with me some photos she took on a recent Garden tour of Stott Garden in Goshen, Indiana. My husband and I spend the summer months touring garden centers around this country. We have visited several of them in Indiana, but when someone mentioned it …