One of the elements to consider when planning your garden spaces is the texture of the plants. I especially love to include plants that are fun to touch in gardens near my front door, back patio, or other high-traffic areas. Here are some of my favorite edible plants perfect for a sensory or children’s garden. Many of these are explored in-depth in Gardening Like a Ninja: A Guide to Sneaking Delicious Edibles Into Your Landscape. 1. Sage – Broader, textured leaves make sage a lovely addition to the edible landscape. It grows as a woody perennial and the texture alone would be enough to make it worth adding to the landscape. But sage is available in a variety of colors – tri-color with burgundy streaks and splotches and a variegated green and white form are two of my … [Read more...]
Grow a Salsa Garden in a Jar
Photo of salsa by Florian (Ed Note:The weather is warm and garden stores are showing off a wide variety of herbs and vegetables to plant in your garden (if you have a garden). Here's a great way to bring fresh flavors to your table with just a little outside space.) Strawberry jars are urn-shaped containers that have openings or "pockets" on the sides. Originally, they were made for growing strawberries as the jar structure allows the crown of the plant to stay above the soil line, which is important for the plant. The design also keeps the fruit off of the ground. It turns out, these handy jars are excellent for all kinds of planting themes such as growing a salsa garden on your patio or deck. What you'll need: 1 Strawberry jar (Terra Cotta or plastic) -- or a regular planting … [Read more...]
Planting the Color of The Year – Radiant Orchid Plants in Your Garden
The color of the year, chosen by Pantone, is Radiant Orchid. It's a bright purply-pink color and it's a huge hit in home decor accents and fun office accessories all over the place. But if you want to GROW something in your garden or home landscaping that features the color of the year can you? The answer is yes! See some of my favorite plants that will bring the radiant color of the year to your outdoor spaces. Hatsuzakura Tulips from Colorblends Oh I adore these gorgeous tulips by Colorblends. Plant bulbs in the fall when the leaves start turning colors for gorgeous blooms in the following spring. Lavender Bloom-a-Thon Azaleas by Proven Winners These Azaleas are reblooming azaleas so they are shade-loving, evergreen shrubs that flower at least twice a year with … [Read more...]
Top 5 Easiest Herbs to Grow
Herbs in general are some of the easiest plants to care for and the majority of them will thrive without any fussing from the gardener. I find that not only are rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, and mint easy keepers in the garden, but they're also extremely container-friendly. They're happy to grow in just about anything that they're tucked into including discarded colanders, hanging baskets, and even (literally) a kitchen sink. Just make sure they have plenty of soil, sun, and drainage (herbs don't enjoy wet feet) and they'll make themselves at home. 1. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Rosemary is a handsome, evergreen perennial herb with fragrant, needle-type leaves. You'll find rosemary comes in both trailing and upright varieties. Of course, the scents and flavors will … [Read more...]
Creative and Useful Edible Gardens for Containers
It can be tough to grow as big an edible garden as you want to have if you don't have a large yard. So container gardening allows you to grow edible plants in a fun, creative way that fits your existing home decor. Here are some of my favorite ways to create an edible container garden. 1. Match Your Home's Decor With a DIY Container If you have a particular home decor look you want to enhance or match you can create a container to match like I did on Untrained Housewife with this rustic tiered strawberry planter. 2. Turn Your Hanging Basket into an Edible Oasis Hanging baskets are traditionally used for annual ornamentals so this technique I saw on Better Homes and Garden makes it easy to add not only great color, but delicious vegetables as well. 3. Edible Herbs in … [Read more...]
Cucumber Mint Flavored Water {and 50 other combinations}
There's nothing more refreshing than the taste of that ice cold beverage they pour you at the spa after a massage. Kick your feet up and relax the day away with this cucumber mint water. It always seemed so complicated to me, but it's truly simple to make flavored water! Add your favorite fruits and herbs to water, let it steep overnight in the fridge and in the morning you'll have deliciously flavored water. Now, it's time to be creative and make loads of different flavored water combinations using some of my favorites: Mango Pineapple Lemon Lime Basil Cucumber Mint Strawberry Watermelon Blueberry Rosemary Raspberry Orange Grapefruit Blackberry--- Now, mix up flavors! You could make: Cucumber Mint Cucumber Mint Lime Cucumber Mint … [Read more...]
