Cosmos growing beside a fence in the cutting garden.

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics

Do you remember your Grandparent’s garden when you were growing up? There was something so special about the old-fashioned flowers they grew. You could wander through the garden and feel a sense of peace and calm. The bees were buzzing all around. Birds were enjoying the seed pods. And you were enjoying the little flowers exploding everywhere. Back when you were young, you probably didn’t think much about what wasRead More →

A wheelbarrow full of autumn leaves.

In: Garden, Garden Basics

We finally had a killing frost last night.  We’ve been squeaking out a few tomatoes, peppers and raspberries most days, but after last night we are officially done.  Once you have a very cold night, it’s difficult to salvage your plants. Even if you cover and try to protect them.  So now it’s time to wrap up the garden for the season. There are certain chores that need to beRead More →

Shasta Daisies growing in the garden.

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics

My cutting garden has slowly faded away as the days and nights have grown colder.  Yesterday, my husband made me a sweet bouquet from the last of the zinnias.  The sunflowers stopped blooming weeks ago, although I have been saving the seed heads for winter food for the birds.  The cosmos and black-eyed susans have just a few scattered flowers.  The coneflowers, daisies and all the rest are completely gone. Read More →

Bucket of bulbs with gloves and spade.

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics

Daffodils, tulips and crocus are the last things on my mind right now.  Instead, I’ve been thinking of pumpkins and apples.  Processing the garden herbs and harvesting the last of the produce.  If you garden, then you know that this is a busy season where you’re trying to wrap everything up for the year.  But if you want some beautiful blooming flowers next spring, then now is the time toRead More →

Woman wearing gloves with fresh vegetables in the box in her hands.

In: Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

You’ve been waiting and waiting for that garden to grow.  You planted and fertilized and watered and now you are finally seeing the results of your hard work.  Slowly the produce starts to ripen and you are enjoying the “fruits of your labor”  But then something happens.  The fruits and vegetables start to ripen more rapidly and all at once you have a massive amount of produce to handle.  HowRead More →

Several bags of frozen vegetables ready for the freezer

In: Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

It won’t be long before our gardens will be overflowing with produce.  Or we’ll be visiting the Farmer’s Market and find a great buy on corn.  The fruit trees will be laden with ripe fruit and the raspberries ripen all at once.  The abundance of fruits, vegetables and herbs during the summer is one of the blessings of living in an agricultural area. Once the harvest season starts you needRead More →

Daisies growing in the garden

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics

Raise your hand if you like flowers. There’s something so special about growing flowers in your yard and garden. But if you can bring them inside, that’s even better. They offer not only something beautiful to look at, but they give off a lovely fragrance as well. A number of years ago, I began planting a cutting garden so I had flowers to bring inside without using my shrubs andRead More →

Herb garden sign with various pots of herbs

In: Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

It’s time to get the herb garden growing.  I have plans for a creating a new Kitchen Garden this summer but it’s not going to be ready for this season.  So I’m planting herbs in my old bed one last time. Some of my herbs are perennials such as the sage, lemon balm and oregano.  Others need to be seeded directly or grown in containers and transplanted.  I use bothRead More →

Garden Shed in yard with area of dirt and missing tree.

In: Garden, Garden Basics

This year we had to say goodbye to an old friend.  The huge tulip tree in our backyard died last year and we had to take it down.  We planted that tree the first year that we moved into our home 28 years ago.  It started as a twig and it grew into a beautiful but massive shade tree.  Our kids and family grew up under the shade of thatRead More →

Grape Hyacinth in bloom.

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

I’m a flower girl! What I mean is that I love, love, love flowers. I try to fill my yard and home with flowers. Especially flowers that I can cut to bring inside. And I’m a little old-fashioned. Some of my favorites are old-style flowers like peonies, lilacs, and daffodils. Each year I work to create a vibrant spring garden and you can too. April is the month that we’llRead More →