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 …
This homemade fly repellent formula uses the common household cleaner Pine Sol. We all know how bothersome flies can be in any outdoor gathering. Keeping them away often means using harsh chemicals. What if I told you that a common household cleaner, Pine-Sol, could be used to do this job? The reason it works is …
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 …
Preparing a homemade mosquito repellent with a lovely aroma and natural ingredients is easy with this tutorial. This DIY essential oil mosquito repellent spray is made with a few common household ingredients, and works well to keep the mosquitoes away. Summer is here. The days are longer and it’s so nice to sit outside in …
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, …
This recipe for DIY disinfectant wipes is easy to make and great for all-purpose cleaning. These easy-to-make cleaning wipes are so much cheaper than store-bought ones and can be made at home in about 10 minutes with just a few supplies. They offer great convenience as well as having both disinfectant properties and the ability …
We love to camp at our house, but sometimes it’s hard to find the time to get away for a real camping weekend or the weather just won’t allow it. For times like this, the kids can still have a lot of fun by having an indoor camping party. Are your kids feeling cooped up …
Are you feeling down right now? These inspirational quotes about hope will help to lift your mood and make you more optimistic about the future. Quotes are a great way to change a down mood into one that is more uplifted. Use them to make your own personalized greeting cards. to share with your friends …
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 …
Caring for echeveria is a task made for those gardeners with brown thumbs – they are that easy to grow! These rosette forming succulents have spectacular flowers that would make you think they need a lot of special care, but these plants actually thrive on a bit of neglect. If you love succulents as much …
Vertical gardens make more use of available space by growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs up a wall instead of taking up lots of growing space on the ground. I speak to people all the time who admire my large yard and gardens, but say, “I don’t have the room to do this.” While a large …
Looking for things to do in Albuquerque, New Mexico? A day out at the Albuquerque Aquarium is sure to delight. It is part of the ABQ BioPark system. The Albuquerque Aquarium exhibits saltwater species from a variety of habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and South Pacific. One of the nice aspects of the entry …
This colorful Healthy Antipasto Salad Recipe is super easy to make and sure to keep you full for hours. It’s made with Italian meats, Provolone cheese, and veggies tossed in a vinaigrette dressing – it’s truly amazing. And best of all – this is my healthy version. You can serve this Italian antipasto salad recipe …