Roasted asparagus with garlic slices.

Ahhh Asparagus.  It’s such a wonderful spring vegetable.  Loaded with nutrients such as Vitamin K, C and folate, as well as potassium, fiber and phytochemicals.  This perennial plant shoots up in the spring for just a month or two and then it is gone for the year. It is easy to grow in your garden but it does take a dedicated area that cannot be planted with anything else.  IfRead More →

Herb garden sign with various pots of herbs

It’s time to get the herb garden growing.  I have plans for a creating a new Kitchen Garden this summer but it’s not going to be ready for this season.  So I’m planting herbs in my old bed one last time. Some of my herbs are perennials such as the sage, lemon balm and oregano.  Others need to be seeded directly or grown in containers and transplanted.  I use bothRead More →

Garden Shed in yard with area of dirt and missing tree.

This year we had to say goodbye to an old friend.  The huge tulip tree in our backyard died last year and we had to take it down.  We planted that tree the first year that we moved into our home 28 years ago.  It started as a twig and it grew into a beautiful but massive shade tree.  Our kids and family grew up under the shade of thatRead More →

Garden Markers in a bucket with a plant and birdhouse.

I live in an agricultural area and that means that when you drive outside of town you will see crops growing.  Many of them are easy to identify such as corn and wheat.  But oftentimes I will see some plant that I am not sure what it is.  Especially if it’s in the early stage of growth.  And inquiring minds want to know!  Sometimes the farmers will post labels alongRead More →

A slice of cake with Rhubarb sauce and whipped cream. A bowl of strawberries are served with it.

You can always tell that it’s spring when the rhubarb is growing. If you harvest it in small batches, you can oftentimes keep it growing into the summer. This way you can make it last for quite awhile. My rhubarb go-to recipes include Rhubarb Pie, Rhubarb Cake and Rhubarb Jam. Today, I’m sharing Rhubarb Sauce made 3 Ways. These are my favorite recipes for Rhubarb Sauce. The first is theRead More →

Red flower planted in galvanized watering can.

Decorating your garden should be more than a chore. Terracotta and outdoor pottery work perfectly fine, but it’s fun to incorporate something unexpected. Using vintage containers in your garden can be just the thing. Over the years, I’ve used a variety of old containers to grow bulbs and flowers. Using vintage containers in your garden is a great way to add some character to your decor. The vintage containers IRead More →

Grape Hyacinth in bloom.

I’m a flower girl! What I mean is that I love, love, love flowers. I try to fill my yard and home with flowers. Especially flowers that I can cut to bring inside. And I’m a little old-fashioned. Some of my favorites are old-style flowers like peonies, lilacs, and daffodils. Each year I work to create a vibrant spring garden and you can too. April is the month that we’llRead More →

Galvanized container filled with lettuce.

Ready, Set, Go!  The planting season is on us.  Well, the early planting season is beginning in my part of the world.  It is still way to early to plant things like tomatoes and peppers outside.  However, there are a number of early season crops to plant now. Some plants like the warming days with chilly nights.  We are still dropping into the lower 30’s with frost most nights.  SoRead More →

A wheelbarrow on pathway in the garden.

Have you been planning your flower and vegetable garden for the season?  There are still weeks left before the actual growing season begins for many of us.  However, there are plenty of chores that can be done now to begin to get your garden ready for planting.  Gardening really involves so many activities during the year.  Here are some of the things that you might want to do to getRead More →

Have you been sick this winter?  There is so much going around that it is hard not to be exposed to something.  I have several family members that have had bad colds this year, but I managed to dodge those bullets.  Part of the reason why I don’t get as many illnesses is that I take an active role in trying to stay healthy.  I have created a cold-fighting arsenalRead More →