These tips for growing calla lilies will let you experience their beauty in your garden at a much less cost than from a florist. Have you ever priced single calla lilies at a florist?  If you have, you will have discovered that they sell for up to $10 a STEM.  Why pay those kind of …

Tomato bottom rot is a problem that many vegetable gardeners face. What causes that ugly black rot on tomatoes? There is nothing like biting into a lush, ripe garden tomato that you have spent months growing. Discovering those prize tomatoes with large rotten areas on them is no fun, though. However, sometimes those luscious tomatoes …

The tobacco hornworm is a voracious eater that can do a great deal of damage in a flower or vegetable garden. It is a pest in the family Solanaceae. The tobacco hornworm is quite commonly seen in the southern United States, especially the Gulf Coast States. Its range extends northward as far as New York. Caterpillars …

This list of cold hardy succulents includes plants that can take cold temperatures that would kill their more tender cousins. There are three main varieties of succulents that can thrive in freezing temperatures – sempervivums, sedum stonecrop, and delosperma. Most types of these varieties will tolerate temperatures as low as -20° Fahrenheit (some even to …

The Veracruzana cocktail is my featured drink of the day. If you are looking for a cocktail with a tropical feel to it, try this one! This tequila pineapple cocktail has a wonderful flavor. Hello summer time and its long and warm evenings!  These days are perfect for refreshing and fruity cocktail recipes like this …

If you are searching for a versatile and drought tolerant ground cover, look no further than liriope. It is tough, easy to care for and can be used to cover a garden area quickly. It is also called monkey grass or creeping lilyturf, looks great in planters and makes a great border plant.  Liriope plant …

“Why won’t my echeveria bloom?” is a common question that I get from readers. Keep reading to learn about some things that you can do to make echeveria flower. Gardeners who love to grow succulents, such as echeveria, know that they are easy to care for and trouble-free. To me, one of the best things …

This recipe for Mediterranean lemon chicken piccata combines lemon and capers for a tangy topping.  The seafood recipe is quick and easy and perfect for a weeknight meal. You’d never think it when you see them in a jar, but capers come from a prickly bush called capparis spinosa. It grows wild across parts of …

Schefflera gold capella is a dwarf, variegated variety of the umbrella tree – schefflera. All schefflera plants are outstanding and easy to grow indoor plants. In temperate locations, they are large and graceful tropical plants. In colder climates, they are often used in interior decorating for homes and offices. They are a superb and long-lasting …

Gardeners and lovers of flowers alike love columbines.  This wild version called eastern red columbine – the name is derived from the Latin word for eagle. Wild columbines grow across North America from Canada to Florida and from Texas to the Dakotas. Red columbine grows easily from seeds.  Columbine grown from seed will not bloom in …

Chain link fences are great for security and for keeping critters out, but not so pretty to look at. The answer is easy – landscaping along a chain link fence hides it beautifully. These chain link fence covering ideas use plants and shrubs to hide an ugly fence quickly! Our neighborhood is made up of …

These varieties of coneflower will have your garden blooming in style all summer long! Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, are native to eastern and central North America, where they originally were found on prairies and open woodlands. They are a popular cottage garden plant that is robust and very hardy. The plant can easily be …

Today we’ll be discussing gazania plant – a lovely and bright perennial which is native to South Africa. If you like a low maintenance flower that gives a lot of bang for its buck, try growing gazania rigens. Lovers of English cottage gardens will find gazania a nice choice to add to their cottage garden …

A few months back, I starting seeing a Florida avocado – a  larger green skin avocado in my local supermarket called a “Slimcado.” It was marketed as having 35% fewer calories and 50% less fat than a Hass avocado. For those people who count calories or are concerned with fat intake, this Florida light green …

Looking for easy appetizer ideas that will be a great start to a cocktail party, or a fancy dinner for special friends? This phyllo cup recipe with crab and cream cheese will delight the most discerning of guests. These little bites of goodness are super easy to make since they use frozen miniature tart shells. All …

A commonly asked question from readers of my blog is “how to keep squirrels from digging up bulbs in my garden?” Since fall is bulb-planting time for daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, the question is posed even more often right now. If you spend much time in the garden, you will likely have had a run-in …

One of my mother’s time-honored traditions was to serve a pumpkin cake each year, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, with her special toasted coconut frosting. She is not with us now, but that does not mean the cake will be missing! My whole family takes turns making the cake for our Thanksgiving celebration. The pumpkin …

If you are traveling with children and looking for things to do in Kansas, be sure to put Botanica, The Wichita Gardens on your list of things to do. Nestled in the heart of Wichita is one of the best kept secrets in Kansas. This stunning attraction is a botanical garden that is beautiful in …

If you are a gardener on the road and looking for things to do in Wyoming, one of your most often searched terms is likely to be “botanic gardens near me.” Luckily for you, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens will be a search result worth exploring. My husband and I are spending a few weeks visiting botanical …

This steak recipe with a Cuban mojo marinade combines spices with orange juice, olive oil and grill mates seasoning for an easy and spicy main course dish. I love the sweet, tangy and savory flavors.  It makes grill night or a camping trip meal something special. We grill every Saturday’s night at our house. My …

Looking for things to do in Idaho? If you have an interest in drought tolerant plants, desert gardens and plants for a pollinator garden, be sure to include a visit to Orton Botanical Garden in Twin Falls, Idaho to your itinerary. Also known as Plantasia Cactus Gardens, this five acre garden is beautifully planted with native …

This Montreal steak seasoning recipe has a sweet and spicy rub made from Grill Mates that is sure to delight your friends. Even better, it is simple and easy to prepare. Team the recipe with grilled corn in their husks and you have a crowd pleasing meal. At our house we grill every Saturday night. …

This recipe for watermelon lemonade with raspberries takes ordinary lemonade to a whole new level. It is a refreshing and hydrating drink that the kids will love  – without the alcohol, of course. Summer time…and the drinking is easy with fruit-flavored cocktail recipes.  My take on an old tune!  I am a great fan of lemonade. I …

If you are a gardener and are looking for things to do in Montana, be sure to add Tizer Botanic Garden & Arboretum to your trip itinerary. Located in the heart of the Elkhorn Mountains, in Jefferson City, Montana, is a delightful botanic garden with a whimsical feel. The garden is situated on 6 acres …

The Memphis Botanic Garden in Memphis, Tennessee gives visitors a chance to connect with nature in a relaxing and enjoyable way. Sculptures, plants and water all coordinate beautifully in this lovely botanical garden. The botanic garden offers lush walking trails with plenty of tall trees to shade visitors from the hot summer sun. The garden …

If you are in the Southeast California area, be sure to add this list of things to do in Sequoia National Park to your must-see attractions. Sequoia National Park is home to giant sequoia trees, and along with King’s Canyon National Park, is a vast designated wilderness comprising over 800,000 acres. The drive through Sequoia National …