Lavender Uses

Lavender is known for its soothing, mood-boosting and anti fungal properties. Discover 10 uses for lavender for a relaxing, clean home. Click on the link for more information about each use from Mother Earth Living.

1. Smooth Skin

2. So Fresh

3. Heaven Scent

4. Counter Intelligence

5. Top Mop

6. A Better Bath

7. Sweet Sleep

8. Stretch It Out

9. Top Drawer

10. Face Time

Lavender Uses

Heirloom Versus New Varieties

Some say heirloom plants are best for vegetable and flower gardening. Others swear by new varieties. Get tips for where each kind grows best in the following article from Mother Earth Living. I personally tend to favor the heirloom varieties of vegetables, fruits, and flowers!

Heirloom and New Variety Tips

Lavender Update

The lavender made it through the freak snow on Easter!  Still thriving!!!

Culinary and Medicinal Herb Garden Update

Last night I got most of my culinary/kitchen herbs and medicinal herbs planted.  I only need to work on my mint garden this week and start working on the herb wheel area I am planning on adding this year.  

I have these herbs planted now:

1. Thyme (3 varieties)
2. Rosemary (3 varieties)
3. Lemon Balm
4. German Chamomile
5. Chives
6. Dill
7. Oregano (2 varieties)
8. Sage
9. Parsley (2 varieties)
10. Cilantro
11. Basil
12. Lavender (3 varieties)
13. Mint (8 varieties) (I will post when the mint garden is updated this year)

28 Companion Planting Combinations To Grow The Tastiest, Most Bountiful Food & Beautiful Flowers

Some plant companions can help to improve the flavor and yield of homegrown fruits and vegetables, others help to repel pests and parasites, others improve soil health, regulate shade or aid pollination and so much more.

Check out this article from Natural Living Ideas to see which things are best for each other in the garden!

Companion Planting Combos  

Happy Gardening!

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution with Houseplants

Trying to improve the air quality in your home in a natural way?  I am!   These 12 common houseplants are scientifically proven to reduce indoor air pollution.

1. Aloe Vera
2. Areca Palm
3. Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’
4. Dragon Tree
5. English Ivy
6. Ficus ‘Amstel King’
7. Gerbera Daisy
8. Peace Lily
9. Rubber Plant
10. Snake Plant (also known as mother-in-law’s tongue)
11. Spider Plant
12. Weeping Fig

For detailed information on each plant see the following link at Mother Earth Living:

http://www.motherearthliving.com/healthy-home/reduce-indoor-air-pollution-zm0z14ndzhou.aspx?PageId=1#ArticleContent

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Tomatoes

Check out this article about how to grow tomatoes from one of my favorite garden people: Mike The Gardener!  I LOVE Seeds of The Month Club!!!!

http://www.averagepersongardening.com/blog/index.php?node=86

Choose Prairie Natives Over Manicured Grass

Prairies matter because of their immense root systems; dense, sprawling, complex biological systems that store one third of the world’s carbon and subsequently clean our future water as it precipitates from moisture-laden clouds onto diverse plant communities, and filters down through the mass of litter, roots, soil organisms, and soil horizons.

• Every day more than 5,000 acres of land are converted to lawns in the U.S.  By some estimates, this figure exceeds 385,000 acres.
• Lawns currently cover more than 41 million acres, the most irrigated graminoid plant in the U.S.
• Americans apply over 30,000 tons of pesticides to their yards every year.
• Of the 30 most used lawn pesticides, 17 are routinely detected in groundwater.
• The National Cancer Institute finds that children in households that have lawn treated with pesticides have a 6.5 times greater risk of developing leukemia.
• American lawns require 200 gallons of fresh water per person per day to maintain and keep green. People in Developing Countries would kill for that amount of water, and here we are carelessly using it on silly turfgrass.
• Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 13 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 26 with liver or kidney damage, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system.
• Of those same pesticides, 17 are detected in groundwater, 23 have the ability to leach into drinking water sources, 24 are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms vital to our ecosystems, 11 are toxic to bees, and 16 are toxic to birds.
• If present consumption patterns continue, two out of every three people on Earth will live in water-stressed conditions by the year 2025.

For more information follow the link below:

https://healthylandethic.com/2013/11/17/why-prairies-matter-and-lawns-dont/

Lettuce ALL Season

I want lettuce all year!  This plan may help me achieve this goal!!!

Plan For Growing Lettuce All Year

Spring Gardening Tasks

Here is an excellent post about what to do in the garden this spring!

http://www.angiethefreckledrose.com/spring-gardening-tasks/

How To Till A New Vegetable Garden

If you plan to grow your vegetable garden directly in the ground, the quickest and most efficient way to remove sod and prepare the vegetable garden bed is using a garden tiller.

Check out the the following link for the steps I am following in making my new vegetable garden area. 

http://www.veggiegardener.com/how-to-till-a-new-vegetable-garden/

Tiller Fixed

Last night the tiller was finally fixed!  I got the first round of tilling done on the west garden area!  This is what it looked like before I tilled.  When I am done I will post pictures of what it looks like finished! 

Potatoes Planted

I am trying to grow potatoes for the first time since I was a kid!  My grandmother used to grow potatoes and so I am going to give it a try.  I planted them in the old wash tub we have in the rock garden area.  Hoping they grow like crazy!

Strawberry Pallet Garden

I got this pallet free and made it into a strawberry planting bed.  I just need to add some more soil and then the plants! I am also going to make or get strawberry rocks to deter the birds from the berries! I also put mulch and straw around the area to keep the weeds at bay.  I will post updated pictures when it gets all finished!!

Backyard Fruit Trees - Pears

The backyard pear trees are in bloom!  Cannot wait for the future pears to be here!

Hanging Basket Update

Bought a new hanging basket and added violas to it.  Also planted Johnny Jump Ups in one of my other hanging baskets.  

Culinary and Medicinal Herb Garden

Got a few of my herbs planted last week!  Had to bring them in to protect them from the frost this weekend. Planted Lemon Thyme, French Thyme, and Spicy Orange Thyme.  I also planted Spice Island Rosemary and Gorizia Rosemary.  These are on the herb shelves outside the kitchen door.

Raised Beds Update

Last week I worked on my raised beds.  They are complete and some are planted in.   I have 4 types of lettuce in the small bed.  I have cold hardy veggies in the large bed.  Waiting for the last frost before I plant in the middle sized bed.  I also got free mulch and put it around the walkways to control the weeds! I am planning on getting some small hanging plants for the black hooks to encourage the pollinators to come to the garden.

Spring Break Reads

Here are the books I read last week during my spring break to help me with my garden!