This is an updated post (2024) with information to help our pollinators. Several years ago I wrote about what to do to help bees, Make Your Garden A Haven For Bees, and butterflies, 5 Steps for a Butterfly Garden. Does it seem strange to write about gardening in February? No, now is the time to dream and plan. Forget the snow, and imagine a spring day.
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September is the height of hurricane season. It’s been hot, and we’ve had rain which means everything is growing. After years of getting up with an alarm clock, I wake up early most mornings. Sometimes I see a beautiful pink sky.
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There’s nothing more beautiful than waking up, stepping outside into your garden, and hearing a flurry of wildlife. From birdsong to crickets chirping, there can be a lot of potential for wildlife to exist and flourish in your yard. In our modern times, so many meadows and fields have been developed, it’s hard to find wild places for animals to live. There are so many different ways to attract wildlife to your garden and ensure that it’s the perfect place for a whole variety of different creatures. Even if you don’t have acres of land. This is a great idea if you’d love a garden that feels truly alive, vibrant and completely natural.
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Have you ever wanted to live a more self-sustainable life? To know exactly where your food is coming from because you grew it with your own fair hands. Well, that life is easier to achieve than you think. And can all start with a vegetable patch.
Eating food you’ve grown yourself has so many benefits. You get better quality food, save some of your hard earnt cash, and you’ll feel good about yourself. Because getting out into the garden is great for your mental health. And there’s nothing better than nurturing something from seed to harvest.
Ready to take the leap? Here are 3 vegetables you can grow easily at home that make excellent additions to any mealtime.
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! I’m wishing you good luck and happiness today. This last week has been incredible in the amount of snow that hit the country. Many of us are wanting spring while nature gives us more winter. Here in central Florida we had high 80s degree weather last week. This week the cold front came down and Wednesday was in the 50’s F. I know that is not cold to most of you but it was to me. The sky started out gray with cold rain. Later the sun came out. I know that eventually the weather will start to warm up everywhere. When the sun shines brighter and little green things poke their heads out of the soil, it’s the perfect time to bring your garden to life. Create a vibrant outdoor space to enjoy throughout the summer. Though, it’s important to remember that nature doesn’t rush its processes. As Lao Tzu once said, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Take the time to plan your garden layout, choose the right plants, and incorporate the elements that will make it beautiful and functional. Several years ago, I shared basic garden landscaping ideas and printables. They’re great to use when you want to update your garden too.
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I’ve shared Beverly’s orchids several times before. She has plants hanging around the outside of her home in Broward County which is a tropical growing zone. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL is in Broward.) This last month has been a wonderful time for orchid blooms. The light purple with a dark center started blooming at the end of December and has continued right up to this week.
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When the holidays are over and a new year begins, I look forward to spring. It doesn’t matter that it is over 2 months away. Spring is my favorite time of year. In most of the country, winter is a “downtime” in the garden. During those months, you have time to consider what you want to add or change in your garden. I always start with a piece of paper and a rough drawing of my yard. It’s never to scale but it helps me plan what projects I’m doing this year. Are you growing vegetables or making a raised bed? Adding to the shrubs or trees that form your basic landscape? Winter is the time to dream and plan.
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Back when I first started planning my garden and adding native Florida plants, I bought a small fire bush plant. It loves the sun, thrives in the central Florida’s rainy season, and survives dry periods. That little bush became huge and took lots of time trying to cut it back and to control it. In the last few years, I am not physically able to do many things I used to do. I had a good yard guy who helped me maintain the yard. I lost him two years ago and have struggled trying to find help I can afford. I found a new guy to mow the lawn. Lots of people do that, but his full-time job is maintaining the local elementary school. He doesn’t have time to do many other projects. I have a plan to cut back the gardens to a smaller areas. As I mentioned the other week, I have found a gentleman to do landscaping projects.
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