Growing your own vegetables will give you access to fresh, affordable produce (and organic if you prefer). Vegetable gardens also serve as terrific educational tools for children and can save you money at the grocery store. But first, you need to establish a spot for your vegetable garden. Raised beds offer the convenience of simply…
For a fun springtime family outing, and to gather a little inspiration for your own landscape design, head over to Balboa Park in San Diego. The park features numerous gardens, some designed decades ago by the original founders. Just to give you an idea of the park’s diversity, here is a list of their gardens…
Growing and enjoying your own flowers is only half the fun of gardening. Cutting, making floral arrangements, and bringing them indoors provides even more enjoyment of your hard work, and becomes a hobby of its own! If you’re hoping to add unique elements to your home’s decor, you might be feeling a bit tired of…
You have probably heard about the recent alarm over e coli found in Romaine lettuce. While relatively few people got sick, in comparison to how much Romaine is sold in grocery stores, the problem is still concerning. This isn’t the first time lettuce has been contaminated with a dangerous pathogen, and it probably won’t be…
Now that the weather is cooling off, spring and your favorite flowers might seem a long way off. However, the lushest and beautiful spring gardens are actually planned in the fall. Setting out spring bulbs for next year’s blooms might be the perfect family project, as it teaches kids about plant growth cycles. As a…
Who doesn’t love a fresh bouquet of flowers on the dining room table, or displayed on the mantle? Of course, the downside of fresh arrangements is that they don’t stay fresh for long. You need to consistently replace them, whether with plants from your own garden or by purchasing fresh flowers. An alternative is to…
When time, money, or space are limited, you might feel tempted to put off any improvements to your garden or outdoor living area. However, there are many ways to add smaller, easy upgrades without investing a lot of time or money into the project. A vertical pallet garden is one such addition; it requires very…
How is your garden looking this summer? At some point, you will notice that some of your flowers slow down or stop blooming. At that point, dividing Irises and Daylilies (as well as other rhizomes), to promote better health and prolific blooming next spring is the ticket! Perennials that spread through an underground root structure…
One of the biggest trends in the garden world involves growing your own food, for the benefits of freshness and safety. Your efforts can also cut your grocery costs. But of course, with every new undertaking there is a learning curve. You might already know the basics of storing the fruits and vegetables, but what…
The flexitarian trend has taken over, combining what many believe to be the “best of both worlds” regarding both vegetarian diets and “flexible” (or omnivorous) diets. You’ve probably heard that vegetarians enjoy a myriad of health benefits linked to their plant-based diets, such as a lower risk of various diseases, lower weights, and even better…
Growing your own food at home offers wonderful benefits. You save money at the grocery store and the produce is so much fresher (and more delicious). If eating organic or making home remedies is important to you, the only true way to ensure your plants are “clean” is to grow it yourself! Of course, tending…
When you think of planters, you probably picture the ones you can purchase from any home goods or garden supply store. But you can also make your own planters from “upcycled” items that you already have around the house, or that you pick up at thrift stores and garage sales. Utilizing upcycled planters serves a…
Who doesn’t love a frosty cold mug of beer on a hot summer day? If you’re enjoying the craft beer craze, you might be curious about brewing your own beer at home. There are many ways to do this, most people buy their hops and start from there, but if you want to get really…
What good is a beautiful, fragrant garden, if you don’t spent time outdoors enjoying it? That’s why we often blog about more than just flowers, trees, and other plants. Creating a space to relax and enjoy your hard work is important, too! So, picture this: It’s a warm, summer day, and a gentle breeze is…
If you visit a home improvement or gardening supply store, you can always find a variety of lovely planters for your garden. But sometimes “found objects” add the most unique and interesting touch to a landscaping project. These can be objects that you already have lying around your tool shed, or things that you pick…
For just about any home improvement project that you can imagine, it would be simple enough to head to your nearest hardware or landscaping supply store. There, you will find everything you need to complete your project, but sometimes it’s more fun to create unique touches for your home and yard. You can personalize them,…
So, you must cut down that old, sickly tree, or perhaps, you’ve lost one due to a storm. Whatever the reason, you might find yourself wondering if there is anything you can do with the stump and leftover logs. There are plenty of creative ways to recycle parts of your fallen tree. Make planters. Depending…
Rose bushes provide a beautiful accent to your landscaping, and you will enjoy their lovely aroma throughout the blooming seasons. Some gardeners enjoy cutting roses and bringing them indoors to create floral arrangements throughout the home, while others press the blooms and use them in craft projects. But there’s another terrific way to use your…