Walking through a vintage shop in Healdsburg I spotted a shallow Mason jar on a pedestal…it was labeled a “Red Neck” wine glass and was marked $8.00. I thought it looked more like a vase or a planter and I was certain I could make it for less. A quick stop at Walmart for some shallow Mason jars, a run… Read more →
It’s said that scent can evoke feelings and memories from years ago…and I know just how true that is. Growing up I spent holidays and summers with my grandparents in the central California valley. Easter time held the sweetest scent of all in my grandmothers garden. My childhood bedroom was in the front of the big old house, but the… Read more →
My absolutely favorite spring flower is the freesia. The tiny bulb is so easy to plant in the fall and gives such a colorful and fragrant display in spring. The wonderful spicy, floral scent permeates the whole garden and the clear crisp colors brighten the dullest day! Freesias do well in the ground or in containers. In pots use any… Read more →
Out in the country, along a back road, sits a greenhouse full of lush plants along with myriad colorful plants and vegetables outside. With no big sign out front it would be easy to pass right by…but you’d miss the fun! Come and visit A Better Way Produce & Nursery with me. We began our tour in a greenhouse full… Read more →
Spring is popping out all over! So…..we have two special gifts to give away to two lucky winners, courtesy of Renee’s Garden Seeds! All you have to do is: 1) Go to Renee’s Garden Seeds face book page and “Like” them (you’ll love all the great garden ideas! ) https://www.facebook.com/reneesgarden, and 2) list the ten “buds” pictured below in the… Read more →
With an empty spot on the kitchen wall and a huge collection of dried hydrangeas hanging all over the place a hydrangea wreath seemed just the thing. It’s easy to do and adds a natural and homey touch to your wall…or wherever you decide to hang it! Begin by gathering your supplies. I used a 14″ straw wreath (remove the… Read more →
There’s a new service in town, called Crate and Bloom, that makes it easy for you to have beautiful plants delivered to anyone you’d like, on a monthly basis. You can help a new gardener to bloom or just brighten a loved ones day! If my grandmother was still alive I would definitely send her these beautiful plants every month!… Read more →
Fall is here and it’s time to clean up the garden! This weekend I pulled out the zucchini, a dozen ragged statice plants,some overgrown chard and a spent cucumber plant. Once everything is pulled out it’s a great time to add compost to refill your raised beds and get them ready for spring planting. I bought bags of Gro Mulch… Read more →
If you have a dark spot in your garden that you’d like to lighten up….try white Impatiens. A few pots will do the trick. They do well is shade as long as it’s not dungeon dark. You can add some height to your composition by layering your containers. I planted some in an old concrete bird bath but it was… Read more →
Once your roses are done with a nice flush of bloom you can let the petals slowly fall away ….or….you can “dead head” them by cutting off the old blossoms to an outward facing leaf, feed them and stand back for another round of color! Right around the 4th of July these Iceberg roses finished blooming and I let them… Read more →