Once the first hard frost of the season hits, it’s time to wrap up your garden for the year. There’re many things that need to be dealt with, such as putting tools and hoses away, winterizing your irrigation pipes, removing dead plants, and raking leaves. The last thing you think about in the fall is preparing your garden for next year. But there are things you can do now toRead More →
Each season it can be tempting to go out and buy new decor items for your home and family. For years, my husband and I have found pleasure in hitting yard sales and shopping at thrift stores. And I certainly enjoy shopping at Hobby Lobby and Home Goods for seasonal items. This autumn, however, I’m challenging myself to not buy any new decor items for the season. Instead of shoppingRead More →
The calendar says that it’s still summer. Dahlias are blooming and tomatoes are ripe for the picking. But the garden is out of control. Weeds have taken over many of the garden beds. Keeping up with the produce has become an agonizing task. And the motivation to deadhead plants has gone by the wayside. I chalk this situation up to our new puppy, Gunny. Every time I work on theRead More →
You’ve planted your flowers, the vegetables are growing, and the weeds are under control. Now it’s time to enjoy your cozy garden. Time to relax and make the most of all the surrounding beauty. This can be a hard thing to do… taking the time to just enjoy your garden can be difficult for some of us. When we’re in the garden, we see all the chores that need toRead More →
Have you noticed how your likes and dislikes change over the years? Tea is a good example. As a young woman, I thoroughly enjoyed a cup of regular tea. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve discovered that the tannins in the tea irritate my mouth. I switched from regular tea to decaf. That helped a little, but even decaf tea contains some tannins. Then I tried herbal tea. I startedRead More →
It’s the season of wind in eastern Washington. While we get wind most seasons of the year, spring is often the worst. You can recognize the signs of a windy area by looking at the plants. Trees lean in one direction if not supported. Plants take on a beaten look and many plants will flop over. In order to have a beautiful floral show this garden season, something needs toRead More →
Change is inevitable. We often want things to stay the same. But at some point, changes will come. We can accept those changes, even embrace them if possible. Or we can fight against them. As a gardener, you see your garden change from year to year. Plants die, structures deteriorate, and areas can become overgrown. Rather than becoming discouraged, consider how you can make the most of these opportunities forRead More →
While the weather continues to wreak havoc on our outdoor garden, starting seeds indoors can bring a bright spot to our lives. There’s something wonderful about being up close and personal with the growing experience. I began my indoor seed starting journey about three years ago. That was after many years of failed attempts. Once I got serious about growing seeds indoors, I set out to learn as much asRead More →
Winter is a good time to assess your garden and determine what changes you need to make for the new growing season. It’s also a good time to look at the bones of your garden. This can give you insight into any mistakes you’ve made in your garden. You can undo some garden mistakes, while others just have to be worked around. I want to share five of the topRead More →
As gardeners, we often need valuable information about our plants, the weather and pests. Many of us have become reliant on the quick access we have to garden information on the Internet. You can look up any topic you want and get an array of ideas. But what if you didn’t have that information readily available? And can you always trust everything you read on the Internet? Despite the easeRead More →