Now that summer is here, home vegetable gardeners are just starting to enjoy the fruits of their labor. A common question that I get from readers is “why are my cucumbers bitter?” Many also want to know if bitter garden cucumbers are safe to eat. Bitter cucumbers can stem from a combination of factors, particularly …

Learning how to devein shrimp is a necessary cooking tip for those who love to cook with shrimp. It’s the final step to make sure that your finished dish looks clean and restaurant quality. Sometimes, this task may have been done for you by the retailer where you purchased the shrimp. Other times, you will …

This manicotti with meat recipe adds a nice mix of veggies to the normal manicotti recipe that is made with pasta and ricotta cheese.  It is a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables and not complain. If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine and enjoy experimenting with flavors, then this recipe is …

This tasty Mediterranean Greek Salad combines juicy tomatoes, green peppers and fresh cucumbers in a tangy dressing. It is a great addition to my collection of Mediterranean recipes. The flavors are delightful and combine creamy goat cheese and tangy kalamata olives for a nice change to a normal tossed salad. It makes a great side …

I really love stuffed portobello mushrooms. They are so creamy, warm and delicious. I am always looking for new ideas on how to prepare them. We often have meatless Mondays at our house and this is a recipe that I make often. These stuffed Portobello mushrooms with Laughing Cow cheese make an impressive appetizer or …

Cocktail recipes are so much fun to share with friends. This Malibu rum punch recipe with Earl Gray tea is called the “Paradise Punch” cocktail. It is a great drink for hot evenings. This fruity rum punch combines traditional Earl Grey Tea (which will delight your English buddies) and Malibu original rum for a refreshing …

Looking for a perfect spring or summer time cocktail recipe? The Tom Collins drink is a refreshing gin highball that is an excellent cocktail for hot summer evenings. This recipe uses a combination of simple sugar and lemon juice with gin and club soda. The Tom Collins is one of the best everyday cocktails and …

As a tomato enthusiast I know, firsthand, the frustration of discovering black spots on tomato leaves. There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of seeing those first ripe fruits, only to be disappointed by unsightly blemishes on the leaves. After encountering this problem in my own garden, I did some research and discovered the various causes …

As Easter approaches, many families are looking for fun and creative ways to celebrate the holiday. One popular activity is an Easter egg hunt, but why not add a twist to the traditional hunt with some Easter egg hunt clues and riddles? In our blog post, we’ll be sharing ideas and tips for an Easter …

Growing eggplant (also known as aubergine) can be a fun and rewarding experience for any gardener. Eggplant is a versatile and tasty vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. If you’ve decided to grow eggplant in your vegetable garden this year, you’ll be pleased …

  Are you planning a camping trip and looking for some easy campfire recipes that your family will love? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of 15 food ideas for camping that are sure to satisfy your appetite and make your outdoor adventure even more enjoyable. From breakfast to dessert, these recipes require minimal …

Are you tired of your fresh flowers wilting after just a few days? Do you want to know the secret of how to make flowers last longer in a vase? Look no further than vinegar for flowers! Using vinegar in flower water can help you keep your cut flowers looking fresh and vibrant for several …

Learn how to repot succulents for healthier growth and a more attractive display! In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of repotting succulents, including when and how often to repot succulents and so much more. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a new-comer to growing succulents, you’ll learn everything you need to know to replant …

Even when I spend a lot of time and energy on my vegetable garden, I often encounter some problems that I wasn’t expecting. This year, I came across some tomato plant leaves curling for the first time. Walking around my garden, expecting to find a lush harvest of plump tomatoes and discovering a plant with curled …

I have been gardening for many years and my experience has taught me lots of tips and tricks for success. Today, I am sharing 22 vegetable garden mistakes to help anyone just starting out. Even though my first cucumber plant yielded me only a few cucumbers, I knew that vegetable gardening was for me and …

Pruning shrubs regularly will keep them more healthy, will maintain a manageable size for them and will help them to produce more flowers. When it comes to trimming bushes, the most important factors to take into consideration are proper pruning techniques for shrubs and when to trim bushes. The trick really is knowing where to …

Would you like a list of winter spices or wonder what the best herbs for Christmas are that you can grow and use in recipes? This Christmas spices list is for you! The holidays will soon be here and a home cooked dinner, along with all the trimmings, is on many menus this year. Whether …

Selaginella kraussiana ‘variegata’ (and its cousin varieties) are Christmas plants that are also known as frosty ferns. They are relative newcomers to the holiday plant scene, and popular because of their lightly frosted white tips. If you are bored with the tried and true plants for Christmas, such as amaryllis, Christmas cactus and poinsettia, try growing …

Growing amaryllis indoors allows you to enjoy stunning blooms for Christmas or during the winter months. It is one of the easiest garden decorating projects that you can do to use Christmas plants for the holidays.  Forcing amaryllis bulbs gives you a spectacular houseplant, and the bulbs are a great gift for a gardening friend. …

Sunrooms are a wonderful place to admire your gardening endeavors. I thought it would be fun to share some ideas for decorating a sunroom with you, with photos of these amazing sunrooms. If you read my blog often, you will know that I have a bit of a passion for garden beds.  I have 11 …

Kalanchoe houghtonii, also known as “mother of thousands,’ along with other common names, is a tender succulent that is very easy to grow. In fact, left to its own devices and uncultivated, the plant can be quite invasive. These growing tips for mother of thousands succulent will show you how to easily grow this interesting …

White bugs are a problem for many gardeners who like to grow houseplants. There are several would-be plant bugs, but a common one is mealybugs on plants. If you have discovered what looks like a white fuzzy coating on the stems and leaves of your succulents or other indoor plants, it is likely that you …

Halloween is coming soon and, since black is a color associated with this holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on black plants. Adding these specimens to your roster of garden plants adds a dramatic look that will transform any outdoor space into a goth garden. Many of these plants can …

These tips for poinsettia plant care will make sure your pretty holiday plant will continue to delight you all through the holiday season and into next year.  More poinsettia plants are sold during November and December than the yearly sales of all the other potted plants, other than orchids. There is a good reason for …

 Many of us look forward to picking pumpkins for fall projects, recipes and decor. If you have planted and nurtured a crop of these vegetables, you likely have wondered when to harvest pumpkins. Depending on the variety, regular pumpkins and heirloom pumpkins normally take between 90 and 120 days from planting seed to maturity.  Early …

 A holiday cactus is a short-day plant which produces flower buds when daylight hours decrease. Fortunately for gardeners, this happens when much of the garden is not blooming, just in time for the major holidays – Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. There are three different types of holiday cactus plants, Christmas cactus – schlumbergera bridgesii, Thanksgiving …