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Authentic German Potato Salad
This authentic German potato salad recipe has a rustic homemade taste and texture that makes it a great side dish for any summer BBQ or special occasion. I make potato salad all the time. My grandmother had a great recipe that she served on Thanksgiving and it is scrumptious. But sometimes I am not in the […]
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Unusual Flowers – The Best of the Best
I love all flowers – big or small, ornate or simple. But when I see unusual flowers that are amazing and beautiful, they almost take my breath away. Nature is amazing in the type of flowers that it gives us to enjoy. Most of these specimens are tender perennials that grow outdoors only in zones […]
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Tips for Growing Air Plants – Tillandsia
Air plants have specialized leaves that draw in nutrients. I see them all the time at garden centers lately. I love their simple structure and ease of care. Tillandsia is also known as an air plant. Air plants are a member of the epiphyte family. This plant needs no soil to grow and gets its […]
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Campfire Cooking Recipes and Tips for Cooking on an Open Fire
One of the best things about a camping trip is the time and tastes that come from campfire cooking. Nothing seems to taste as good as those recipes cooked on a big campfire. Even though the summer is ending, there is still time to get out there and enjoy the good old outdoors with some […]
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List of Perennial Herbs and How to Use Them in Cooking
Growing herbs can be expensive, particularly if the plants that you choose are annuals that will only grow for one year. Try choosing from this list of perennial herbs instead. They will give long lasting value, year after year. Hands down, the best value for your dollar is a perennial plant. I’ve noticed that many […]
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Growing Gaillardia – Blanket Flower Perennial Care Tips
If you like hardy perennials that have an extended bloom time, try growing gaillardia, also known as blanket flower perennial. The plant is very showy and super easy to grow. Gaillardia is a pretty perennial plant that has an extended bloom time to give you loads of color all season long. If you like daisies, […]
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Shallot Substitutes – Replacements to Use if You Don’t Have Time to Shop
Many recipes call for shallots – a member of the onion family. 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! Shallots are a small bulb like plant with a taste that is somewhere between garlic and onion. The flavor […]
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Daylily Photo Gallery
If you are fond of growing perennials, you really should try daylilies. They are one of my favorite plants that come back each year. There is such a variety of bloom style, color and temperament. and they are very easy to grow. Beginning and seasoned gardeners love them, and other than a bit of deadheading, […]
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Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory – Indoor Botanical Gardens in Fort Wayne, Indiana
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 […]
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Hydrangea Care – Tips for Growing & Propagating Hydrangea Bushes
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. The size of the flower heads, alone, make hydrangeas a favorite perennial among gardeners. Cutting fresh hydrangea blooms gives you terrific cut flowers that last a long time. They […]
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31 Creative and Whimsical Bicycle Planters for your Garden and Yard
Bicycle planters make great garden accents for both annuals and perennial plants. 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. Many bicycles have baskets or back carriers which are the ideal spot to tuck away some flowers and vines. The […]
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Daylilies at Wildwood Farms VA – Daylily Tour
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 […]
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21 Pruning Tips for Great Looking Plants
These pruning tips will help you make sure that your shrubs and garden plants will look their best, season after season. 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. Done correctly, pruning will add to […]
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Growing Echinacea – How to Care for Purple Coneflowers
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 […]
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Basic Sugar Cookie Dough
It’s easy to resort to slice and bake cookies but it is also super easy to make your own basic sugar cookie dough. It keeps well and can be used to make all sorts of delicious holiday treats. July 9 is Sugar Cookie Day. Are you a cookie baker? Why Buy Slice and Bake? Make […]
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Plants That Don’t Need Deadheading
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. Some plants, like daylilies, are very easy to deadhead. Their blooms are soft and come away from the […]
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Growing Rutabagas – Storing, Cooking & Health Benefits
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 […]
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Autumn Frost Hosta – Easy to Grow Slug Resistant Variety
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 […]
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Tips for Heart Healthy Snacks – Food Replacements for a Healthier Lifestyle
If you are looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle, this list of heart healthy snacks is sure to help keep you on the right track. Americans love to snack, but this type of food is often filled with fat, sugar and other not so good for you ingredients. Did you know that coronary […]
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Colorful Patriotic Small Porch Decor Idea for the 4th of July
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 for the 4th of July can be a challenge. If you add too […]
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14 Rose Colors Meanings for a Thoughtful Bouquet
Roses are perennial plants that come back each year in your garden and have a very long blooming season. They are one of the most popular garden plants. Do you know what the different rose colors meanings are? This lovely flower is often given as a gift. The reason is simple – each rose color means something […]
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Growing Determinate Tomato Plants – Perfect for Containers
Determinate tomato plants are also known as “bush tomatoes”. They are smaller than normal tomato plants and generally need no staking but still produce well. Nothing tastes quite like a home grown tomato. They are sweet and juicy and so easy to grow. But they also take a lot of room, so are not so […]
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Wellfield Botanic Gardens – A Fun Filled Day in a Living Museum
The Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart, Indiana are like a living museum with art, nature, and structure all coordinating beautifully. The waters of Christiana Creek stream through the gardens, which are a combination of nature, art and hardscaping that is sure to delight. The Botanic Gardens feature 36 acres of lush gardens against a backdrop […]
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How to Make an Awesome Swiss Chard Breakfast Skillet
This Swiss chard breakfast skillet is crammed full of fresh grown veggies and the salty taste of bacon, all topped with soft cooked eggs and fresh parsley. Breakfast at my house is either a grab and go on the way out the door moment, or an occasion to experiment with flavors and tastes that will […]
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13 Tips for Growing Liatris – Attract Bees like a Magnet!
If you want to attract both butterflies and bees to your garden this year, try growing liatris. This perennial corm flowers in mid summer with a blast of flowers that are a magnet for them. I have 10 garden beds around my home and I’m always interested in growing perennials of all types since they come […]
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Asiatic and Oriental Lilies – What is the Difference?
Asiatic and Oriental Lilies may look similar but they actually have several differences. All types of lilies are grown by home gardeners for their dramatic and colorful flowers on long, sturdy stems. Each type has their own particular growing needs, which may make one a better choice for your gardening needs. Although these types of lilies […]