Category: Gardening

Unlock the Secrets to Successfully Growing Indian Paintbrush in Your Garden

Indian Paintbrush, scientifically known as Castilleja, is a beautiful and unique wildflower that brings a vibrant touch of color to any garden. With its striking appearance and feathery, brush-like bristles, it is no wonder that this plant has captured the hearts of gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike. Native to North America, Indian Paintbrush can be …

Continue reading

Through the Garden Gate With the Queen of Annuals

“The Sweet Pea has a keel that was meant to seek all shores; it has wings that were meant to fly across all continents; it has a standard which is friendly to all nations; and it has a fragrance like the universal gospel, yea, a sweet prophecy of welcome everywhere that has been abundantly fulfilled” …

Continue reading

Homegrown First Aid – Aloe Vera

No matter how careful you are, accidents and incidents and other events requiring some level of medical attention happen. There are aisles and aisles in the drug store hawking products to treat, cure, soothe, and anesthetize everyday injuries and illnesses such as cuts, insect bites, sunburn, sore throat, and acne. Some of these products are …

Continue reading

5 Garden-to-Table Herbs to Try

Herbs are the perfect way to freshen up your garden and dinner plate. A few minutes is all it takes to pick up some herbs at the store and start an edible garden that will add a seasonal kick to your meals. “Herbs are easy to grow, require little maintenance and are equally at home …

Continue reading

9 Specialty Herbs To Include In Your Herb Garden

There are hundreds of culinary herbs with flavors that range from earthy to spicy to citrusy to sweet. You probably have your favorite fresh herbs that you plant each year but it’s always fun to save a few spots in your herb garden for something new. You may even be fortunate enough to stumble upon …

Continue reading

5 Ways to Teach Kids to be Environmentally Friendly

Have you ever thought about what you can do to be more green? A great way to start is by teaching your kids about foods and gardens to help them build a deeper appreciation for the environment. 1) Teach your kids about seeds and where they come from. A good starting place is putting a bean …

Continue reading

The Amazing Camellia Japonica And Camellia Sasanqua Flowers

Camellia History in America Japanese Camellia, Camellia japonica. American gardeners in the South know and love the Camellia japonica, a landscape shrub, bush, or tree that can grow 20 feet tall. The Camellia japonica became an important garden landscape plant in the World War II war years in the 1940’s when Dr. Tom Brightwell collected …

Continue reading

Now Remember Rosemary

Mad Ophelia tells us: “There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance”. In Shakespeare’s day it was common knowledge that rosemary helped one remember. Today, as then, herbalists agree: “For weyknesse of ye brayne, sethe rosemaria in wyne and keep ye heed warme”. The leaves of this tough, evergreen shrub, are valued for both medicinal and culinary uses. …

Continue reading

Aerobic Composting: 7 Steps to the Perfect Compost Heap

Earlier I posted about The Town with No Waste for Earth Day awareness, and if you’re interested in moving towards a waste-free life, recycling and composting are key elements. Composting can be daunting, but here are seven simple composting tips to help any beginner get started. When it comes to making a compost heap you can, if …

Continue reading

Bringing the Herb Garden Home for Health and Happiness

For thousands of years, people have grown plants for culinary and medicinal uses. These days, outside of certain communities, it is less common to have an herb garden, and many people don’t know the difference between lemon balm and lemongrass. But rest assured; this guide to the must-haves in any herb garden will help stave …

Continue reading