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...]
Fabulous Indoor Terrarium Inspirations
By the time the end of winter comes around I'm craving green growing things. And right now I'm kind of obsessed with terrariums - it's a great way to bring beautiful plants into the home and create these magical looking little worlds of growing beautiful things. The cool thing about terrariums is that there are now so many amazing and beautiful glass containers available that a terrarium doesn't have to be a boring fishtank. Check out these fabulous terrarium inspirations. Hanging Terrarium Globes These hanging glass globes are perfect for hanging accent pieces or grouping together for an eye-catching look. They don't hold very many plants so choose an accent plant wisely - Check out this gorgeous tutorial at Ciera Design. Recycled Wall Lantern Terrarium This adorable … [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...]
Back-to-School Teacher’s Gifts for Every Budget
How do you make sure, from day one, that your child is Teacher's Pet? You send a teacher's gift on the first day, of course! We're all on a budget these days. Don't let the idea of a teacher's gift make you put a Master Lock on your wallet. You can give an impressive "thanks for teaching my student" token of appreciation for as little as a couple of dollars. Really. Keep reading. /1/ A Succulent Garden - This succulent garden will be special on day one of the school year and beyond. /2/ Let's Kick Off this Year with a Splash! - Fill a child's {new} rain boot with a few of teacher's essentials and maybe even a gift card to offset her expenses. This gift she'll surely get a kick out of! /3/ Teacher Subway Art - Here's a super simple gift idea that will cost you very … [Read more...]
6 Scent-Sational Things To Do With Lavender Flowers
Even if you aren't lucky enough to have a garden bursting with lavender flowers, you might be able to find it at a local gardening store, or perhaps even the flower section of your favorite grocer. Alternatively, you can likely find lavender bunches at a farmer's market, florist, or organic gift shop. What to do with all of those lovely smelling, purple flowers to hold onto that fragrance for as long as possible? Perhaps make lavender essential oil (technically an extract), as shown in this tutorial by Condo Blues. Use it in natural cleaners, recipes, or bath products from there. Have some organic lavender? Try this mouth-watering lavender and onion side dish. From Veggie Belly. Thrifty moisturizing bath soak recipe...looks divine. Tutorial by Sweetwater Style. Let's not … [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...]
