These top 10 ways to protect the environment at home take very little time to do. It’s just a matter of making a commitment to doing something good for the planet and sticking to that plan. I call this “my environmental to-do list.” Earth Day happens in April, and lots of people talk about how …
Learn How To Garden Like a Pro With These Gardening Tips and Tutorials
This no carve sunflower pumpkin uses the heads of silk sunflowers or any other colorful daisy-like flower to cover the outside of a faux pumpkin. This is a great idea for those of you who do not like the mess of a carved pumpkin. It’s also one that gardeners will love! Fall is my time …
Save your money and help the environment at the same time with these DIY log planters. They are rustic and easy to make and look natural in any garden setting. You don’t have to spend a fortune on planters at the nursery store. Like so much else in gardening, start by looking in your own …
The common name of this pretty perennial says it all – candy corn plant has blooms that look quite similar to the popular candy that we love to eat in the fall! It wouldn’t be fall without a candy corn martini, or a candy dish or two loaded with candy corn. Good news for gardeners …
Are you looking for a natural and easy-to-care-for fall arrangement? Try making these DIY Pumpkin Succulent Planters. They look great and can be put together in almost no time at all. This arrangement would be perfect as part of a Thanksgiving centerpiece. All your guests will wonder where you got it. Pumpkins are one of …
Old Man cactus has so much character and personality! Even the botanical name – Cephalocereus senilis – hints at the senility of an Old Man! The spiky body of this cactus plant is covered with fine white hair which gives the impression of a frail senior citizen – thus the common name. I first discovered …
It’s time for one of my DIY garden ideas on a budget! This Rotisserie Chicken Mini Terrarium is inexpensive to make and looks great as a table decoration. It is also a fun way to get a head start on spring gardening by using the recycled container to start seeds. Early spring or late winter …
Make your own seed tape with some seeds and a roll of toilet paper. Why waste money on store bought seed planting tape when you can make your own seed tape with this common household item? The tutorial shows you how easy it is to plant tiny seeds in a vegetable garden. Have you ever …
These homemade greenhouse ideas make use of recycled household materials in a fun new way. Extend your growing season with one of these creative ideas for DIY greenhouses, cold frames and terrariums. When I tour Botanical gardens around the USA, the ones that appeal to me most are those that have greenhouses as part of …
Plants need nourishment to perform in the best way. Flowers and vegetables love potato starch and using potato water in the garden is a good way to give it to them. To add starch in a “green way”, save the water you boil your potatoes in. Starchy water will spur the release of plant nutrients …
These inspirational flower quotes are both pretty and motivational. Share one today with friends. I love to start the day with an experience that gives me a moment of inspiration. Often, that is simply walking through my garden, admiring the flowers. Why are Quotes so Popular? When things in life get tough, like they have been …
Are you bothered by the cost of maintaining a garden? These creative DIY garden ideas on a budget should help to keep your costs down. I’ve put together a list of 30+ vegetable garden hacks that will make your gardening life easier and cheaper. One of the big pleasures of summer for me is tending …
Vegetable gardening in small spaces can be a challenge. My answer to this problem is to build a concrete block planter to use as a raised bed vegetable garden. Concrete blocks are inexpensive, and making a raised bed with them is an easy project that can be accomplished in just a few hours. This year, …
Swiss chard is one of the easiest and most versatile of vegetables for home gardens. Its colorful stems and big, crinkly leaves are packed full of nutrients. Read on for tips on growing Swiss chard. What is Swiss Chard? Swiss Chard – beta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisis a leafy vegetable in the beet family, but it …
If you enjoy walking trails that immerse you in a tranquil lake scene, with 113-acres of lovely themed gardens, the Springfield Botanical Gardens are for you. My husband and I spend the summer touring and writing about botanical gardens around the country. We recently spent some time in Missouri and discovered this little gem of …
The flavor dried dill just can’t compete with that of the fresh herb. Let’s check out some tips for growing dill. Fresh dill is a very popular kitchen herb. It is highly aromatic and really easy to grow. Fresh herbs are something that I grow year round, both indoors and outside, either in pots or …
This giant hosta variety is called Blue Angel Hosta. This plantain lily is one of the larger mounding varieties that is perfectly happy in the shade. A recent trip around the JR Raulston Arboretum provided me with a chance to look at their magnificent collection of hostas. I have a large collection of hostas in …
Tarragon is a perennial herb with an anise-licorice flavor that is often used in French cuisine. Follow these tips for growing tarragon in your kitchen herb garden. This herb comes in several varieties, depending on the region that it is grown. I find French tarragon the hardest to find for sale. It is worth sourcing …
If ants are invading your home and you don’t want to use retail products, home made Borax Ant Killers may be the answer, but how effective are they? I decided to test five of them to find out! Using more organic ant killer remedies is something that many environmentally conscious homemakers have an interest in. …
Make your own home made Miracle Grow as well as several other plant foods easily with epsom salt, baking soda and household ammonia. It’s time for another fun vegetable garden hack. This DIY Miracle Grow fertilizer is a more organic way to feed your plants. The homemade plant food recipe is easy to make and …
Would you like tips for attracting monarch butterflies to your yard this year? I’ve been seeing them in my garden for a few weeks now. The first Saturday in May is marked as National Start Seeing Monarchs Day. What an appropriate national day for this time of the year! This day was chosen to raise …
There are many vegetable garden problems that can plague the average gardener. Fortunately, there are also easy solutions to those problems. Not everything about vegetable gardening turns out as expected. Whether you choose to garden in raised beds or in the round, troubleshoot your vegetable garden with these easy tips to get a bumper harvest …
Do you have a problem with squirrels? If so, these natural squirrel repellent ideas may prove useful to you. Dealing with squirrels has been an ongoing problem for me in one way or another for several years. If you read my blog often, you may remember reading about the squirrels in my vegetable garden a few …
Many beginning vegetable gardeners make the common gardening mistake of starting too large. If you don’t have a big yard with room for a large vegetable garden, try growing a vegetable garden on a deck. Vegetable gardening is one of the great pleasures of the summer months for many gardeners. But for many of us, …
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens has something special in store for both animal lovers and those interested in botanical gardens. This 135 acre zoo and botanical garden was founded in 1966 and is home to more than 1,400 birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. Comfortable shoes are a must, since there is a lot …
If you are passing through San Angelo, Texas, be sure and fit in a visit to the International Waterlily Collection. You will get a chance to view the premiere collection of waterlilies found anywhere in existence. Water lily, from the family Nymphaeaceae, comprise 58 species of freshwater flowering plants, native to the temperate and tropical …