Imagine yourself sitting outside and enjoying the warm air on a summer evening. Now picture yourself sitting outside surrounded by an oasis of flowering and edible plants. Perhaps there’s a meandering path weaving through the flower beds, allowing you to enjoy the different colors and fragrances. The sight of pollinators gathering nectar from native flowers adds even more life to the space. Whether your property is large or small, cottage gardens bring a sense of tranquility and beauty to any space. They also allow you to break the rules and run wild with creativity. Historically, these spaces are filled with […]
Category: Herbs
Exploring Heirloom Varieties: Preserving the Past, Cultivating the Future
The cultural and scientific significance of heirloom plants was highlighted last year when five varieties of seeds, safeguarded for almost 200 years by Choctaw citizens, were sent on a mission to space to help researchers understand how they might adapt to growing in very different conditions. Having been passed down through several generations with little or no intentional modification, the seeds of heirloom varieties of plants are highly valued for their long history and genetic purity. Gardeners who choose to nurture heirloom seeds can enjoy the unique appearance and qualities of old varieties of herbs, flowering annuals, and vegetables. Tomatoes are a […]
Bee Gardens: Cultivating Pollinator Paradises
A bee garden featuring wildflowers, native grasses, and herbs serves as a biodiverse haven for nurturing bee populations. Nectar-rich wildflowers like bloodroot and Virginia bluebells offer a colorful feast for bees, while herbs like sage, thyme, and oregano also provide abundant nectar and pollen for these vital pollinators. Interspersed among them, native grasses like little bluestem and switchgrass provide essential habitat and nesting sites. Together, these elements create a thriving ecosystem where bees flourish, pollinating crops and wild plants alike. Remarkably, a single bee lawn in Minneapolis, featuring a mix of flowers, was found to attract over 50 species of bees. And, […]
Fall Gardening: September Garden Checklist Zones 3-6
For many of us, September is a transition month from summer to fall. We can get a head start on the cooler weather by accomplishing a few tasks in the landscape. Here are a few tips to get you started. Veggies and Herbs Trees and Shrubs Annuals and Houseplants Perennials and Bulbs Special Notes Also, less visible soil in the garden means less sunlight for weeds to germinate. However, there’s a difference between full and overgrown. A full garden bed will have plants that fill in the extra space without crowding out each other. Remember, there’s still time to enjoy […]
Summer Herbs Garden Guide
Herbs are a perfect addition to the garden, offering a combination of fragrance, flavor, and aesthetics. These plants are easy to grow and can be used in various garden settings, like containers and landscape beds. Herbs are normally used to add flavor to food, but many of them offer medicinal value as well. Growing Container Herbs There are numerous benefits to growing herbs in containers. Herbs tend to stay small, making them easy to grow in compact spaces. Consider mixing different herbs to add interest to your pots. For mixed herb pots, it’s good to use plants that have similar […]
Freezing & Drying Garden Herbs: A Guide To Preserving
Preserving herbs for winter is a great way to add delightful organic flavor to warm dishes like soups, stews, and sauces. For optimal results, harvest herbs at their peak when oils are most flavorful. Peak harvest time occurs during the early flowering stages, just prior to the flower’s opening. After picking your herbs of choice, carefully rinse them to remove any lingering dirt or tiny garden pests. Then, gently pat the herbs dry with a paper towel. Now, you may begin the drying or freezing process. How to Dry Garden Herbs Learning how to dry herbs is quite simple. Seasoned […]
Easy To Grow Salsa Garden
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in the United States and some parts of Mexico to honor the military victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Celebrating in the United States, usually involves families and friends gathering together to eat some delicious Mexican foods. What better way to celebrate than with fresh salsa grown in your very own garden. Salsa gardens are fairly easy to grow and can be an enjoyable activity for the whole family. Nothing beats fresh vegetables and herbs used to create your favorite salsa. Concerned about having room for your salsa garden? You can […]
How To Grow Microgreens – Step By Step Instructions
Microgreens are quick and easy to grow. They can be ready to harvest in as short as two weeks. Microgreens are grown indoors and can grow all year round. Follow our step by step instructions below to ensure success with growing your microgreens. Planting Microgreen Seeds Start with Terrafibre Grow Mats made from sustainable fiber-byproduct from industrial hemp plants. Simply sprinkle seeds onto the mat, press them down, and water in. Or you can still fill seed trays with premoistened, standard Seed Starting Mix with a healthy amount of perlite blended for improved drainage and roughage, which helps slough seed […]
Growing Holiday Herbs
There is nothing like the smell of Thanksgiving dinner filling your home. The comforting aroma brings back memories of holidays long past and creates an eagerness to share in a delicious meal. Whether it is an herb-rubbed turkey or parsley sprinkled mashed potatoes or sage and thyme stuffing; fresh herbs take your meal to the next level. They add fragrance, flavor, color, and make a beautiful garnish for a show-stopping feast. Instead of rushing to the market to find what you need, wouldn’t it be nice to grow your own indoor herb garden to use for Thanksgiving and many meals […]
Balcony Gardening
What Is Balcony Gardening and How to Make the Most of It? Balcony gardening can be a very rewarding and relaxing activity, a way of getting in touch with nature and inviting it into your own home, as well as harvesting food you’ve grown yourself. If you’re living in an apartment, maybe you did not consider gardening to be a viable hobby for you, but you can do a little bit of gardening even on the smallest of balconies. Setting up a balcony garden can be quite rewarding. Aside from obvious esthetic reasons, urban gardens, big or small, are also […]