Zinnias are annual plants in the Asteraceae family that offer a wide variety of heights, colors, and types of flowers. Zinnias are very easy to grow and require little maintenance but offer bright, showy flowers. They attract butterflies and make excellent cut flowers. Plant heights range from 6 inches to several feet tall. Zinnias can be grown in zones 1 through 10. They prefer well-drained, fertile soil and should be grown in full sun. How … [Read more...]
Review of Aluminum Raised Bed Corners
Raised bed gardening in my neck of the woods is a great way to avoid dealing with our sticky clay soil and it's practically the only way to grow root vegetables. I have two large raised beds that I installed last year and am making use of for tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and cucumbers this year. Gardening in a raised bed solves many issues - soil condition, drainage issues, and height (making it easier to reach). Building a raised bed isn't … [Read more...]
Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed grows throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada. Like its name suggests, it attracts butterflies and it especially beneficial for monarchs whose larvae feed on the leaves of the plant. It also provides a nice splash of bright orange color for your garden. Butterfly weed is drought tolerant and deer resistant. It can grow in dry soils with little trouble and prefers full sun. Although most native butterfly weed is … [Read more...]
Green Bean, Ham, and Potato Soup Recipe
One of my grandmother's recipes for soup is my favorite way to use fresh green beans. It's simple to make and goes really well with homemade cornbread (my Southern twist on it). She lives in Pennsylvania, so I suspect it's an old Pennsylvania-Dutch recipe. Here's what you'll need a ham hock (use only half of it if you're making a smaller batch of soup) 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 cups of beans, snapped 1 onion, chopped salt and … [Read more...]
Hershey Gardens
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hershey Gardens has 23 acres of gardens including a rose garden, herb garden, ornamental grasses, Japanese garden and more. My favorite, of course, was the butterfly house and perennial garden. Garden Art Sprinkled throughout the walkways were wind chimes and other garden art that added to the experience. I took a photo of some of my favorites and those that I thought might be easy to make. Container … [Read more...]
How to Build a Trellis Wall
A lattice wall can provide additional privacy in your yard as well as create an attractive feature for you to grow flowering vines on. For under $250 (plus some manpower) we built these two 6 foot tall by 8 foot wide lattice wall on the back side of the raised herb garden. I really like the look of square lattice panels, which are hard to find pre-made. Most lattice you find in hardware stores is diagonal. So we set to work making some … [Read more...]
Giant Coneflower – Rudbeckia maxima
Rudbeckia maxima, otherwise known as the giant coneflower, is in the Asteracea family. The flower resembles a brown-eyed susan, but the petals of the flower hang down and the center is much taller. This plant can grow up to 7 feet tall. Planted in a large group, it makes a nice visual impact. These showy flowers are great for drier spots in your garden. Despite being found in moist soils in its native habitat, it is drought tolerant. I have … [Read more...]
How to Save Time Watering Your Garden
I can not tell you how much I appreciate having this sprinkler system installed in my vegetable beds. All I have to do is hook up a hose and set a timer. It has been quite the time-saver for me and due to its customizable shape, I am not wasting water on things I don’t mean to water. As much as I love having a large vegetable garden, I do not enjoy watering. Standing there with a hose or even setting up a sprinkler that I have to move around … [Read more...]
The Cayenne Pepper vs. Squirrel Experiment
I may have mentioned this before, but my yard has a LOT of squirrels. With several oak and pecan trees, there is plenty of food for them. The problem is, whenever I plant new seeds, the squirrels (and cats) dig up the soil. I end up with empty spots that never grow. I planted beets and carrots in my two raised self-watering beds. The soil in these containers is excellent, making it great for root vegetables. Usually the squirrels and cats … [Read more...]
How To Identify Poison Ivy
Every gardener will encounter poison ivy at some point. It’s an important plant to be able to identify – even when it doesn’t have leaves. All parts of the plant are poisonous. While some people may not have a reaction to this plant, many will get an itchy, painful rash. The substance (uroshiol) that causes the rash or blisters can be transferred from pets or clothing to your skin and also cause a reaction. So knowing that the plant is in your … [Read more...]