Life Happens!

Deer are notoriously destructive when it comes to gardens, but fortunately there are certain plants they simply won’t eat. Scent-rich aromatic herbs and flowers such as lavender, sage, oregano, rosemary, thyme and French tarragon deter deer from approaching. Other simple barriers include juniper bushes and chives as effective barriers. Sage Sage is an essential ingredient in Thanksgiving stuffing and many savory recipes, boasting loads of essential vitamins and minerals. Sage plants with their silvery-gray leaves and aromatic scent can deter deer by disorienting their sense of smell, keeping them away. Their flowers provide beautiful summer color in any garden while

Continue reading

Tea herbs grow well together and can be harvested easily, while many also attract pollinators, support healthy living and taste great either fresh or dried! Make sure the site you select offers good drainage; perennial plants like chamomile, mint and lemon balm tend to grow quickly in gardens, needing regular pruning. Be wary of mint’s tendency to spread; plant it separately either in a pot or garden bed! Chamomile Chamomile flowers make for an enjoyable teatime ritual that can ease aches and pains while also soothing insomnia and anxiety. These delicate plants thrive in warmer climates and spread freely by

Continue reading

Herbs add flavor and fragrance to dishes, teas, beverages and landscaping plants alike. Herbs make excellent additions for adding an exotic flair. Water needs vary among herbs. Herbs should remain evenly moist without becoming waterlogged. Hardy perennials may be left in their gardens to overwinter (with the exception of rosemary and lemon verbena), while tender selections must be brought indoors to provide winter protection. Lavender Lavender flowers possess a sweet, gentle fragrance that makes it popularly used in making aromatic oils and culinary treats. Additionally, its calming properties have proven effective against insomnia, anxiety and depression. For best results, grow

Continue reading

Few things can put a pleasant ending or relaxation to one’s day like sipping on a soothing cup of tea. These shade and partial sun perennial herbs are easy to grow in gardens where sunlight exposure is less than six hours daily. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an attractive evergreen ornamental woody shrub full of aromatic essential oils that thrives in sunny spots with good drainage and minimal summer irrigation needs. Care for this versatile species is easy, making them virtually pest-proof. Lemon Balm Lemon balm’s lemony, sunny scent makes it an excellent addition to herbal teas and sachets, while its

Continue reading

Herbs thrive best in soil that drains freely and offers balanced nutrition, and organic amendments tend to be more beneficial than short-acting liquid feeds or powders in creating healthy soil over the long haul. Use kitchen waste like banana peels, coffee grounds and eggshells to create your own homegrown herb fertilizer. Blood meal is another good source of nitrogen-rich compost material. Compost Compost is the result of biodegradation, an organic material breakdown process in nature which occurs when organic (carbon-rich) materials like leaves, twigs and branches as well as grass clippings are combined with nitrogen-rich green materials such as vegetable

Continue reading

An herb border designed to encourage pollinators activity adds both beauty and function to any garden. From fragrant sage to delicate lilac spires, these easy-care herbs attract bees and butterflies while adding texture, color, scent and depth to any outdoor landscape. Sun-loving sages and perennial chamomile are hardy perennials that provide spring to midsummer blooms, while shear-thin hebes add vivid hues for shade gardens, while sweet woodruff’s delicate white flowers add delicate elegance in springtime. Planting Season February and March are ideal months to peruse seed catalogs, dream about warm spring days and prepare to plant. Now is a good

Continue reading