Shallots are a small bulb like plant with a taste that is somewhere between garlic and onion. The flavor is milder and sweeter than onions. But what can you do if you don’t have time to shop, or can’t find shallots for your recipe? Use these shallot substitutes, instead! I buy shallots when I can…
If you are fond of growing perennials, you really should try daylilies. They are one of my favorite perennials. There is such a variety of bloom style, color and temperament. and they are very easy to grow. There are so many types that it is hard to know what you have in your garden. This…
Surround yourself in nature in the 25,000 square foot gardens of Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. This enclosed conservatory is an oasis nestled in the down town area of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The gardens feature tropical displays, waterfalls and a Sonoran Desert display with over 72 types of cacti. In all, the gardens boast over 1200 plants…
The size of the flower heads, alone, make hydrangeas a favorite perennial among gardeners. Hydrangea care involves control of sunlight, adequate moisture and proper pruning. These tips for growing hydrangea bushes will help you get the most out of your plants. Cottage gardeners love the huge hydrangea flowers which have a lovely old fashioned charm. …
I love to find ideas about recycling or re-purposing household items in garden projects. Someone else’s trash can always be a garden treasure. Bicycle planters make great garden accents for both annuals and perennial plants. Many bicycles have baskets or back carriers which are the ideal spot to tuck away some flowers and vines. The frames…
Do you like Bluegrass music with a side of daylilies? If you do, you’ll enjoy this virtual tour of the daylilies at Wildwood Farms in Floyd, Virginia. Located just 42 miles from Roanoke, VA and very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will find Wildwood Farms. This general store features live Bluegrass music from…
If you study the habits of any gardener who has wonderful looking plants and shrubs, you will know that proper pruning is a key to their success. These pruning tips will help you make sure that your shrubs and garden plants will look their best, season after season. Done correctly, pruning will add to the…
If you like the look of cottage gardens, you’ll love purple coneflowers (echinacea purpurea). These tips for growing echinacea will have butterflies, birds and bees flocking to your garden in droves! This easy care perennial draws insects and birds to it, making sure that neighboring plants will have plenty of pollinators all season long. This coarse…
There are many types of perennials, from tender types, which need to be grown in the southern part of the USA, to very hardy perennials that keep coming back after a freezing winter outside. Budget conscious gardeners have a very good friend when they turn to growing perennials. What is not to like about a…
A lot of my time spent in maintaining my summer garden is spent in deadheading. So, finding plants that don’t need deadheading to add to my garden beds is something that I am always in search of. We all love to garden but some chores are not our favorites, for sure. Deadheading flowers is at…
Make your own home made Miracle Grow as well as several other plant foods easily with epsom salt, baking soda and household ammonia. This DIY Miracle Grow fertilizer is a more organic way to feed your plants. The homemade plant food recipe is easy to make and works really well! Many people who garden do…
We all know that we should keep a carton of baking soda in the fridge to take away odors. but there are so many other uses for it too, even in the garden! Baking soda in the garden is often used in various “green cleaning” techniques. It has so many uses in the house, so it…
Fresh dill is a very popular kitchen herb. It is highly aromatic and really easy to grow. The flavor dried dill just can’t compete with that of the fresh herb. Let’s check out some tips for growing dill. Dill (Anethum graveolens) is native to the Southwestern part of Asia. The herb is harvested for its leaves, which…
Have you ever tried growing rutabagas? This cool loving root vegetable has a long growing season and loves to ripen after a frost. The healthy vegetable has a sweet, peppery cabbage flavor that gets even sweeter as it cooks. In the US, more people seem to grow turnips than their vegetable cousin, the rutabaga, also…
Autumn Frost Hosta is one of my favorite hostas. The leaves have blue green centers and wide yellow margins around the edge. By summer time, the margins will turn a creamy white. It’s a slug resistant hardy perennial that comes back year after year. Variegated hostas really pop in any shade garden. This variety has…
The Shasta daisy has lovely summer blooms. Caring for Shasta daisies is easy. It is a fairly low maintenance perennial plant that naturalizes to give more and more blooms each year and is great for filling in garden beds and bare spots in your garden. These care tips will help you to get the most…
This post was sponsored by Boston Scientific as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. It’s time for some heart healthy snacks! Americans love to snack, but this type of food is often filled with fat, sugar and other not so good for you…
This patriotic small porch decor will greet your guests for the 4th of July in a cheery red white and blue way. It’s easy to put together, cost just $20 and is very cheerful and natural looking. Decorating a small front porch can be a challenge. If you add too much to the look of…
