Did you know that May 19 is Plant Something Day? The weather is warming up and gardeners are itching to get growing! Do you remember those days from years ago when May baskets were added to a friend’s doorway on May Day, the First of May?  I remember those days, fondly, and it saddens me …

Today’s featured flower is the Red Emperor Tulip.  I love tulips. I have a big patch of these perennial bulbs in my front garden bed and they are gorgeous. They don’t last long but the show that they put on is just incredible for a few short weeks.  Emperor tulips are old hybrids, but have …

Looking for a recipe that is simple to prepare but elegant enough for a dinner party? This easy barramundi recipe features a garlic lemon butter sauce that delivers restaurant-style food at home in just minutes. Barramundi is an Asian sea bass with a mild, buttery flavor and firm yet flaky texture. The sauce is buttery, …

This DIY succulent birdcage planter tutorial shows how easy it is to transform household items into succulent planters. Recycle an ordinary birdcage in a few hours with some simple modifications and an assortment of plants. Succulents are great for a project like this because of their compact size and drought tolerance. Do you have an …

Do you have a shady garden and don’t know which plants will grow in it? Try adding one of these plants that like shade. This list has 18 types of shade garden plants, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. All of the plants will thrive outdoors with full shade and partial shade. Each shade garden plant …

Want to add a bright pop of color to your garden but don’t know where to start? Try incorporating one of the pretty yellow flowers below into your favorite garden bed. There are 15 types of yellow flowers in the list. Some are uncommon varieties, while other are more popular yellow flowers.  Each of the …

These cold hardy vegetables are perfect for the cool weather of early spring. Now is the time to get them planted. Many of us have very cold temperatures going on right now but it’s never too early to plan ahead for vegetable gardening.  With spring right around the corner and daylight savings on the horizon, …

One of the biggest pleasures that my garden gives me is its ability for attracting butterflies to it.  With the right nectar plants, a garden can be swarming with these fluttering friends all season long. But it is not just the plants that attract butterflies. There are a few other things that you can do …

These lovely bird cage planters are a great way to showcase your succulent plant collection and are great for any trailing plants. Their size is perfect, and the wire framework of most birdcages makes them very easy to water. You can use plants in bird cages both outdoors and inside the home. I am always …

Are you an avid gardener? If you are, you may have wondered about the various seed types available for planting. The vegetable and flower growing season is getting closer with each passing day. Here in NC, we have had unseasonably warm weather. It SEEMS that spring has sprung but I still don’t dare really get gardening …

These frog garden decor ideas add a touch of the whimsical to any garden setting. Everyone seems to love frogs. That is a given. They are showing up in all sorts of garden and patio design plans.  Whether your frogs are the DIY kind, a one of a kind creation that you have made,  or …

After a long winter where not much is growing in the garden, it’s nice to have an early crop that likes the cold. Growing sugar snap peas gives the gardener a much anticipated outdoor task to do at this time of the year. Peas like cool temperatures and have a tendency to fade out when …

This tutorial shows how to clean a bird bath in just 30 minutes. All you need are a few household supplies. Clean bird baths will not only attract more birds to your garden, but they can also serve as a water source for pollinators like butterflies and bees. Dirty water can become a breeding ground …

These tips for the care of caladium plants will help you get the most out of them. Caladium tubers are one of the stars of a shade garden because of their brightly colored tropical foliage and rare flower appearance. If you have a shady patio location, caladiums can be grown in pots or containers. In …

To choose cottage garden plants, think of tall flowering perennials, self-seeding annuals, and hardy biennials to give your garden just the right look. English cottage gardens have a very romantic feel to them.  The look may seem haphazard but is actually planned. A cottage garden has a very distinct style that throws formality out the …

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 …

I love to get new plants for free by taking cuttings of some of my existing indoor plants. Purple passion plant cuttings root very easily and I’ll be showing you how to propagate it today. Gynura Aurantiaca – also known as purple passion plant or purple velvet plant is an easy to grow houseplant with …

Many garden vegetables need full sunlight to grow and produce well. However, not all vegetables require full sunlight. This vegetable sunlight chart is a useful resource to tell you whether your vegetables should be grown in low, medium, or full sunlight. If your vegetable garden doesn’t get 6-8 hours of sunlight daily, don’t despair. There …

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 …

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  This easy DIY kitchen gift basket makes the perfect personalized gift for anyone’s mother who loves to cook. It is filled with fun, whimsical, and useful kitchen items made even more special because it includes items geared to your mother’s tastes. This easy cooking gift basket makes the …

Red cocktail recipes are fun for both Valentine’s day and Christmas.  This one would also be a good choice for Cinco de Mayo. Kick off your festive Christmas Party, or start your early morning Christmas brunch with these Spicy Bloody Mary Cocktails. They are one of my favorite vodka cocktails! Let’s find out how to …

This recipe for spicy shrimp tacos uses a salad slaw base that is full of nutritious and healthy veggies.  It is the perfect dish for Cinco de Mayo! It’s easy  to put together with a lime honey dressing that is zesty and delicious. Are you a busy cook? You will love that this shrimp recipe …

Today’s world is full of stress and a lack of time. Sometimes, this causes people to be thoughtless and inconsiderate. But it is never so stressful that it lets me forget that I am thankful for my mother. One simple remedy for what can often be a rude world is to remind people to use …

Ponytail palm (beaucarnea recurvata) is not actually a palm, but a succulent in the Asparagaceae family. It is easy to care for and makes an impressive looking plant, particularly if you have one with multiple stems. The plant has a bulb-like trunk with the texture of elephant skin and long curling leaves. The bulbous trunk …

These Easter coconut and cheese cupcakes will be a nice finishing touch to your Easter dinner, and the kiddies will love them. My friend Regina, who used to blog at Molly Mel, has been baking up some sweets for the upcoming Easter holiday. Aren’t they cute? Easter is such a fun time for us all. …

If you grow irises, you’ll get to the point when dividing them becomes necessary. There are four telltale signs that will let you know when it’s time for transplanting iris.  If you notice fewer blooms, overcrowded clumps, and rhizomes pushing out of the soil, these are indications that your irises need more space to grow. …