There is one thing that you can be sure to find in flower shops and nurseries early in spring each year. The trumpet-shaped flower of the Easter Lily – (lilium longiflorum) – is a well known Easter plant decoration. These beautiful perennials are forced to bloom around the time of the religious holiday, but this…
Get a head start on spring gardening by starting seeds indoors with Jiffy Peat Pellets. These handy peat pots have the perfect soil for seedlings and they can be transplanted right into the ground as soon as the weather is warm enough. Some plants need a long time to mature. Others, like bell peppers, need…
Growing a forsythia hedge allows you to add privacy and beauty to the borders of your yard. While not a quick project, it is one that brings beautiful dividends over time. With its abundance of bright yellow flowers and early bloom time, forsythia adds a burst of color to your lovely garden each spring. This…
Growing ginger from root is a fun kids’ project. Ginger is a tropical plant that is easy to grow indoors. All you need is a piece of fresh ginger, some water, and some soil to get a plant growing. It seems that I am on a growing from scraps kick lately. There are many vegetables…
Winter is coming to an end for many of us, and the first signs of spring are everywhere. Growing pansies is a good way to bridge the change of seasons with one plant. They love the cool weather and are very easy to grow. They are one of the most popular annuals and most people…
Oxalis plant care is generally easy but some varieties of the plant can be considered a weed. Even so, it is a popular perennial plant that often shows up around St. Patrick’s Day. Another version (candy cane sorrel) is also commonly seen during the holidays as a Christmas plant, because of its candy cane striped…
The lucky bamboo plant is an indoor plant that can be grown in both water and soil. These growing tips for Dracaena sanderiana will get the most out of your potted plant. Dracaena sanderiana are a genus of indoor plants that are easy to grow and will add a Zen-looking touch to any indoor setting….
This homemade Irish cream recipe can be made at home in just minutes. All you need to make this recipe are 6 common ingredients you probably have on hand and a blender. You’ll never have to go without the fabulous taste of of this delicious drink! Homemade Irish cream is the perfect addition to your…
These best of luck wishes and good luck quotes are fun to share with friends or on social media to send good luck wishes to all. St. Patrick’s Day will soon be here, and that brings with it thoughts of luck. Motivational quotations on photos of nature are a favorite with the readers of The…
This cute St. Patrick’s Day Door Wreath is whimsical and welcomes both my guests and spring with the pretty yellow and purple flowers. The door decoration features a leprechaun hat to give it a whimsical look. It is the perfect way to welcome guests for St. Patrick’s Day. My front door is one place that…
This Leprechaun Hat Centerpiece gives me a chance to celebrate both St. Patrick’s Day and spring in one pretty project. The centerpiece can be made with either silk flowers or fresh flowers for two different looks. I love to make craft projects out common household items. In this case, my project started with something that…
Did you know that certain lucky plants are thought to have the ability to attract good fortune and prosperity to your home if you grow them? St. Patrick’s Day is right around that corner, and that brings with it thoughts of good luck. Whether you are interested in getting better luck, having good health, or…
These creative St. Patrick’s Day recipes will help you celebrate in style this year. St. Patrick’s day is a day steeped in tradition. This year, on March 17, millions of people will wear green and celebrate the luck of the Irish at parades, with good cheer and even drinking a pint of green beer. Cooking up…
Growing spring onions is a garden project that starts early in the year. You’ll end up with small bulbous onions that have a much milder flavor than a normal yellow onion but can be used in the same way. I use onions all the time in my recipes, and fortunately for gardeners, they are very…
We all love easy recipes, and you truly can’t get much easier than these slow cooker recipes. All you need to do is load your slow cooker in the morning and get on with your day! Many slow cooker meals don’t even have additional steps once the cooking is finished. They are easy to clean…
For unbeatable spring color, try growing forsythia bushes. These easy care bushes require very little care. Nothing screams spring in your garden quite like Forsythia. With their vibrant yellow color, these perennials are one of the first bushes to flower in the spring. The shrub is very hardy, and relatively easy to grow. These tips…
If you like the cottage gardening style, you will likely have a cutting garden. A common question from readers of my blog asks “how to keep cut flowers fresh?” When you purchase a bouquet of flowers from a florist or specialty shop, it will likely have a package of flower food attached. But what about…
These romantic rose quotes and sayings with gorgeous photos of roses will make you think fondly of your special person. The rose has long been the symbol of love and is often given as a gift to show how much you care. Quotations on roses are a favorite with the readers of The Gardening Cook,…
Choosing indoor plants with red flowers can add a pop of vibrant color to your indoor space, creating a focal point and enhancing the overall decor. Red flowers are very striking and visually appealing. They are often associated with love, passion, and energy. Having red flowers in your indoor environment can evoke positive emotions and create…
It’s wonderful to watch wild birds in your backyard any time of the year, but if your goal is attracting birds to your yard in winter, there are a few things you’ll need to do to make sure this happens. Thankfully, it’s easy to attract birds to your garden when it’s cold outside! All you…
This guide for taking care of houseplants in winter will make sure that your indoor plants survive (and thrive!) during the winter months. Indoor plants are easy to grow during the spring and summer when sunlight is abundant. However, when the days are short and cold, they need extra care to do well indoors. Whether…
I asked my Facebook fans to share their Winter Garden Views and also to tell me where they lived so we could all get an idea of how the country looks in January in various parts of the country. The weather outside does not lend itself to gardening right now unless you are fond of growing plants…
Topping tomato plants is a process that involves cutting off the growing tips of tomato plants. It is often done in late summer before frost arrives. When you top a tomato plant, you send a message to the plant to stop producing new flowers and fruit and send its energy to the existing fruit. This…
Tomato suckers are small shoots that grow from the area where the main stem and leaf stem of a tomato plant meet. When left to grow naturally, suckers will turn into more stems on your plant. These stems can develop their own suckers and tomatoes which can make for a very top-heavy plant. Should suckers…
Your kids will love to make this sweet snowman Christmas cake. The cake will be the hit of your Christmas buffet. He is made of a chocolate base and covered in butter cream frosting and then decorated. The cake is easy to make and kids will love to help you decorate it with their favorite…
These cute M & M&M gingerbread Christmas tree cookies will make a great addition to your Christmas buffet table. They would also be great for your annual cookie exchange. Gingerbread is a common taste during the holidays. From cookies and houses made of gingerbread, there are lots of options. See my tips for the perfect…