BACKYARD GARDENING
WITHOUT THE BACKACHE
Forcing Forsythia Indoors For Early Spring Blooms
Forcing spring bud branches to bloom inside is a fun and easy process. All you need is a pair of sharp clippers and a container to fill with water and place your cuttings in. Once you’ve gathered your supplies, head outside and look for a branch (or ten) that needs pruning. You can accomplish two tasks in one this way - prune off unwanted branches at the perfect time of year to do so, as well as bring some beautiful flowers indoors!
Growing Nasturtium Flowers In Your Garden [Guide]
Nasturtiums are beautiful flowers that come in a range of colors, including shades of yellow, orange, red, and even variegated combinations. What makes nasturtiums even more appealing is their versatility, as they can be grown in various garden settings, such as containers, borders, or hanging baskets. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, nasturtiums are a great choice due to their ease of growth and low maintenance requirements.
Unlocking the Culinary Potential of Your Garden With Edible Flowers
When starting a cut flower garden with edible flowers, you may not know in advance if you’ll actually enjoy the flavor of the flowers you are growing - most of us have never eaten flowers before! Often, they taste a lot like they smell. But in the case of nasturtiums for example, they can have an unexpected heat. Go into your garden planning with a mindset of experimentation and you are sure to be amazed, even if your flowers end up being more for the birds and bees than your plate. There’s no such thing as a flower failure. And don’t forget that many of your favorite vegetables and fruits like snap peas and strawberries start off as flowers that can be eaten and adorned too. If you’re new to gardening, these experiments will give you the experience you need to grow confident in all your future gardening endeavors. If you’re already a gardening expert, edible flowers offer the opportunity to bring something new and unexpected into your regular gardening routine, a colorful surprise to enjoy all summer long.
Preserving the Beauty of Peonies: Strategies for Prolific Blooms and Healthy Plants [Guide]
May is for three things; asparagus, rhubarb and peonies. These are the first true signs that spring is really here to stay after a long, cold and dark winter. Our pink double peonies live just outside my bedroom window, and in May I begin checking on them daily for signs of life. Almost overnight they can burst into a beautiful display of fragrance and color, ready for picking.
10 Perennial Plants That Will Thrive in Your Shady Garden
Beautiful shade gardens are a bit trickier than sunny gardens simply because there’s a much wider variety of perennials that grow in full sun than perennials that grow in shade. It can be done, though, and I’m here to help you do it.
Plant a Sustainable Future: Celebrating Earth Day with DIY Wildflower Seed Balls
Seed bombs are one of my favorite nature craft ideas, because they are simple, fast and easy for anyone to do and the result is a more beautiful planet. Since the seeds do not need to be buried to grow, you can just toss your seed bombs into empty and neglected areas, watch and wait and in a few months you should have some beautiful flowers growing! The patch will likely self-seed and continue to develop and grow with each passing year that goes by.