Christmas Gifts - Living Plants

Living Plants Are a Gift That Expresses Life 

Many of us struggle with what to give for the holiday.  My thoughts go to gift cards and money.  However, this option seems too trite, and I know I love to get a gift that someone has put a little thought into.  Gift cards to a nice eatery are common in my family.   I struggle with the idea that you can't have your cake and eat it too.  Eating out is nice, but once the gift is gone, where is that lingering reminder that someone cared enough to give me a gift?  

Here are a few ideas of gifts that I would like to receive, and I hope you can create a loving moment when you give these living gifts.  Living - yes, as in plants.  Greenery that is alive, fragrant, and creates a lasting image of the one who gave it. 

This little 4 inch orb comes with sand, gravel and the plant with instructions so simple even kids can succeed in growing it.  This Hinterland Trading Air Plant Tillandsia Bromeliads Terrarium Kit with Pebbles and Moss Great Little Houseplant is a sweet little gift.

Fragrant plants are a special treat, especially indoors when the outdoor plants are under a blanket of winter.

Hirt's Arabian Tea Jasmine Plant - Maid of Orleans - FRAGRANT - 4" Pot

  

This Jasmine grows indoors and can be moved outside in warm weather.  It is ever blooming and only needs a bright window for light.

Italian Herbs on the kitchen window are great gift for the cook in the family.  For salads, pastas, and sauces, these herbs will provide a freshness to many meals all winter long.

Garden at Home 42414 Italian Herb Trio

Three ceramic containers included in this set will grow chives, basil, and oregano.  The 3 x 3 x 3 in containers sit in a drip tray to keep window sills neat.


A favorite aromatic herb of mine is Rosemary.  I love to rub it's branches as I pass by, and the fragrance lingers in the air and on my hands.  A great holiday gift, in my opinion.

Tuscan Blue Rosemary Plant One Gallon



Rosemary is hardy only to Zone 8, so it cannot be outdoors in my Zone 6 winters.  That is when I bring this plant into a bright, sunny location for the winter.  Care is minimal, and watering too much can be a problem.  Only water when branches start to droop.  And speaking of branches, rosemary branches and leaves are a great addition to poultry dishes and sauces.  

Citrus trees in containers are another fragrant plant we can give for the holiday gift.  Orange and lemon are popular trees grown as houseplants.  Imagine that aroma on a dark, dreary day - sure to brighten up the mood.

2-3 Year Old Improved Meyer Lemon Tree in Grower's Pot, 3 Year Warranty

The Meyer Lemon tree has lush foliage and fruit is delicious.

Terrarium & Fairy Garden Plants - Assortment of 5 Different Plants in 2" Pots

These five terrarium or fairy garden plants come in 2 inch containers and are perfect to freshen up a container or start a new one.   To provide a suitable container this  is available also.

Anchor Hocking 2-Gallon Heritage Hill Jar with Glass Lid

H Potter Square Terrarium Gothic Style

Terrariums enclose the plants into their own eco-system when planted with potting soil and a slight amount of moisture.  The enclosed case keep the soil moist, and the plants thrive in a 'rain forest' type of environment.


Some of these small plants do well in a miniature garden.  All design features of an outdoor garden, sitting on a table top.  Many garden features can be replicated with pathways, benches, and accessories one would find in a full size garden.

Miniature Fairy Garden Driftwood Bench, Assorted

     

This fairy bowl is a sweet combination of miniature garden and terrarium.


Giving a live plant is a heart-felt gift.  Life is expressed in the growing of plants, and will enhance any decor.  And who isn't blessed with a gift that grows on you?
































       

Summer Chores For Continued Blooms

The July 4th holiday here in the US is a date on my calendar to get summer chores started in the garden.  Now is the time to ensure blooms continue on perennials and shrubs.  To do this I get out the hedge trimmers and pruners. 
Here are some of the plants I give a summer haircut.  By cutting them back now, the plants do not produce seeds.  Setting seeds indicates to the plants that the season is over.  I want the season to continue well into the coming months. 

This catmint still had blooms and the bees were active.  It was getting straggly and covering up another aster. The catmint, as any plant in the mint family, can become aggressive and spread into the garden.  I have planted this in a gallon container with the bottom removed.  The roots still have garden soil to get nutrients, but the roots are more contained and cannot spread. 

Typical of any plant in the mint family, the stem is square.  Kinda cool!



I have asters in this bed. And I have said before, that I prefer asters to mums because they are more hardy and reliable.  Mums are considered to be ‘tender perennials’ in my Zone 6 garden.  The reason I cut back the asters  by at least a third at this time is to have the plant produce more tips and become more compact.  The more tips, the more buds will be produced for the fall bloom time. 
The Moonbeam coreopsis also shown here gets a haircut too.  Trimming the spent blooms tidies up the plant and, it too, will rebloom in a very short time. 


This stingy mass is a native plant called spiderwort,  Tradescantia. I have several varieties of spiderwort.  Some have gold foliage with deep blue blooms, (Sweet Kate), and some have a pale purple bloom, or a pure white bloom, or a true blue blossom.


At this mid-summer time however, spiderwort get really leggy and blooms are spent.  Cutting them back to 6” allows for the plant to produce fresh foliage will rebloom.


Some herbs that I should have cut back sooner like this lemon thyme and lemon balm have already bloomed and unfortunately have set seed.  That will ensure an invasion of new plants where I least expect them. 


These shrubs, the ninebark and forsythia will not rebloom this season, but they can be pruned at this time with little loss of blooms for next season.  Spring blooming shrubs should be pruned just after the blossoms fade to allow the shrub to grow new stems and set buds. 
The spirea also go a sever cutback. The spent blossoms are brown and the shrub is over grown. I do expect the spirea to rebloom later in the early fall.

As you can see, the overgrown spirea were hiding lungwort and hosta. 
Now with the garden all tidy, I can smile and know that my job as caretaker is under control. 
Enjoy your summer, and with just a few chores, the garden will continue to bloom.
What reblooming plants do you enjoy in your garden?

Herbs from Our Garden–Using Basil

Basil Salt

Sorting the tender leaves of the basil.  We needed about a cup.


Using 1/2 cup of kosher salt and 1/2 cup of firmly packed basil, we did a course grind. 



Spread this salt and basil blend out on a cookie sheet.  And in a 225 degree oven, dry the mix for 30 minutes.


After drying and cooling a bit, we put the mixture back into the grinder.





Grind to a fine powder.  Use as a seasoning for tomatoes.  Season Romas, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake till cheese just melts.  Basil salt can be used in salad, or on poultry.  Pasta can be seasoned with this aromatic blend also.  I need to thank my husband, Charlie for standing in for Emeril today.

You are only limited by your imagination.   I hope you enjoy. 
Want other herb ideas or information on growing herbs, check out Healthy, Happy Herbs.

Organic Method For Growing Herbs

 Herbs - Organic, Please

dill

Tips To Care For Organic Herbs

There are many benefits to cultivating an organic home herb garden. Going organic means you avoid using chemicals that can harm you, your plant, and the environment. Using organic products also help keep your plants healthier and improve the quality of your soil over time. Avoiding chemicals is specially important if you intend to use your herbs for cooking. 

Nothing fresher than herbs in our recipes.  But I want my herbs to be free of pesticides.Going organic need not be complicated or expensive. There are many alternatives that are available to an organic gardener like you. There are store-bought products that you can use, or you can choose to create your own organic products if you wish.

Here are some tips to help you create and care for an organic home herb garden:

1. Using organic fertilizers. Whenever you engage in planting, you will need fertilizers to help make sure your herbs find all the nutrients they need in the soil you put them in. Choose to use organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers. Not only will you help your herbs get the nutrients they need, but you also make sure that your soil becomes richer and more fertile over time. Chemical fertilizers have a tendency to enrich the soil now, but strip it of nutrients over the long run. So choosing organic is your best bet.

1. Creating your own compost pit. If you have the time, creating your own compost pit is something you may want to look into. It’s cheaper than buying organic fertilizers from the store and at the same time you get to recycle some of your kitchen and garden scraps. You don’t need a lot of space to be able to make compost. There are a lot of compost bins that you can buy from stores and they don’t take up a lot of space.

1. For more information on how to set up your own compost pit, you can check out Jeannie Woods’ “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening”. It offers a great guide for anyone who’s new to organic herb gardening. You can learn more about the book here: Healthy, Happy Herbs.

1. Using natural methods as a deterrent against pests and illnesses. Herbs that are healthy, receive sufficient sunlight and nutrients from the soil naturally repel herb illnesses. They’re able to resist and fight diseases compared to plants that are undernourished. Clearly, taking good care of your herbs is the most important thing you can do to keep them safe and thriving.

1. Another way to strengthen your herbs’ immunity naturally is to plant them next to other herbs or other plants that can help keep pests and diseases away. For example, planting a neem tree next to your garden is a good idea to keep bugs away. Another example is planting horseradish, which is a type of herb, around the perimeter of your garden.

1. Creating natural pesticides. Preparing homemade, natural pesticides is a great way to keep pests away. These solutions are harmful to pests but are gentle and safe for your herbs. Again, since these are organic, it is safe to use even on herbs that will end up in your food.

1. One example of an organic pesticide is made from steeping horseradish roots. Spraying your plants with this solution can keep pests away from your garden.

If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: Healthy, Happy Herbs.

Miniature Gardens - Tabletop and Landscape

Winter is rearing its cold, snowy head today.  But we gardeners have our ways to garden regardless of the weather.

Local garden centers and garden clubs have workshops planned in the coming weeks to build terrariums and  dish gardens. So I thought we could take a look at this type of garden.   This muffin tin of baby's tears, a moss type creeper, is quite easy to grow if kept moist. Place on the kitchen counter under a florescent light and enjoy.

herbs on the windowsill is another small garden we can ease into the home. We can get our fresh herbs as well as our gardening 'fix'.  Parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary all at our fingertips.

Now who doesn't have room for this little guy?  Sempervivum , or a succulent known as Hens and Chicks, is so cute.

Now just imagine our little fairy friends come to visit.  Make a welcoming sitting area for them and surround them with mini-thymes. All of these dollhouse accessories can be found at the craft store or I've seen fairy garden sites on the web if you are searching for something a little different.

 Terrariums are a garden in a glass container.  These small plants can be inserted into potting soil with a base of charcoal and sand to filter the moisture and keep the plant material fresh. The houseplant section of the hardware store has a variety of plants that will do well in low light and a moist environment.

Cacti or succulents sitting in a sand base have a nice contemporary style. And with this one, keep the moisture to a minimum.

Fairy gardens can be incorporated in the outdoors too.  Using miniature herbs miniature herbslike thyme, or even mini hostas can make the setting charming.  Rocks offer an added dimension  to replicate caves where the fairies would live in the forest.  Dwarf conifers would also be appropriate in a mini-forest. This mini-hinoki is just one example.

Here the gardener has created paths and walkways with small gravel and pebbles. And, don't forget the door to enter the world of the fairy.

Succulents make a great dish garden.  The arid terrain can be copied with sandy potting mix, gravel, and the dry environment will need little water.  Succulents come in many colors, so you won't miss the blossoms - but wait!  They do bloom - too cool!

Here is that muffin tin, again. 

Conifers make a great small garden.  Evergreens make this one a year round event. I would suggest picking plants that will sit out year round, to be hardy to one zone colder than your area.  The above ground roots that are exposed to the winds will withstand the cold better.

Mini hosta make a great dish garden.  They come in shades of gold, green, blue, variegated and, in a container, they are not on the slugs radar.  A fresh little garden I enjoy.

Well, I hope you have time to create a mini-garden.  Whether it is a fairy garden, a succulent garden, a terrarium, or a tiny corner of your landscape,..... we can always smile and say the 'size' does matter.