How to Start a Cut Flower Garden

This article from Lovely Greens covers the basics of growing a garden dedicated to cut flowers.  The author lives on the Isle of Mann and is an organic gardener.  She lists must-have varieties and with our club's plant sale, you are able to purchase a flat with some of the flowers she mentions, such as cosmos and zinnias.  Win-win! If you are short on space, great opportunity to explore a community garden plot. 

Read the article HERE

Here is the information on our plant sale and the deadline to order is Friday, May 1.

 Click HERE to go directly to TGC's ordering page.

Some cut flower inspiration

This article will provide tips on arranging all of those beautiful cut flowers.

Read article HERE

Happy gardening!

Protect Your Head

With hotter and sunnier weather approaching, remember to protect your head from harmful UV exposure.

Cotton Crusher Hat at Terrain

$36

Availabe in 5 colors

Bug Repellent Sun Hat at Terrain

$52

Available in 2 colors

Women's Crusher Packable Sun Hat at Duluth Trading Company

On Sale $17.97

Available in 3 colors

Unisex Ultra Sun Hat by Coolibar with UPF 50 Protection

$55

Available in 3 colors

The North Face Unisex Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat at REI

$35

Available in 2 colors

Women's Outdoor Researh Oasis Sombrero Hat with UPF 50 Protection at REI

On sale $29.73

Stay cool!

How to Grow & Care for Hostas

Learn how to grow and care for hostas HERE

Now that you know how to achieve spectacular hostas, ready to try some unusual varieties in the garden?  

Wiggles & Squiggles Hosta from Michigan Bulb Company

Purchase HERE

Also available at Rare Roots (Get a 20% discount for signing up for their email)

Purchase HERE

White Feathers Hosta at Eden Brothers

Purchase HERE

Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta at Spring Hill Nurseries

Purchase HERE

Shadowland® Waterslide Hosta at Great Garden Plants

Purchase HERE

Firn Line Hosta at Direct Gardening

Purchase HERE

Happy shade gardening!

Free Virtual Garden Tours

Since actual tours are not permitted at this time, enjoy several beautiful virtual garden tours.  Start in France and end up in Portland.  Bon voyage!

 Claude Monet's garden, Giverny, France

Take the tour HERE

Waddesdon Manor, Waddeson, England

Take the tour HERE

Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, US

Take the tour HERE

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Papaikou, Hawaii

Take the tour HERE

Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon

Take the tour HERE

Happy touring!

How to Make Compost Tea

If you watch the video below on how to maintain a lush lawn organically, it's mentioned that using compost tea is a good fertilizer.  What is compost tea and how do you make it?  The short article from The Praire Homestead below explains the two types of compost tea and how easy it is to make it. Once made, the compost tea can be applied as a foliar spray to increase microbial activity in the lawn soil.

Read article HERE

The other organic lawn product that was mentioned in the video is All Natural Lawn Restore.
The Backyard Boss' website list the best 2020 organic lawn fertilizers (All Natural Lawn Restore is one of them) and where to purchase them.

See list HERE

Happy organic gardening!

How to Grow and Maintain a Lush, Full Lawn Organically

Garden Exposure Chart

Here's a handy reference for garden exposures and what to plant in each one.  For more details about each type, visit HERE

DIY Concrete Garden Globes + Other Craft Projects

Concrete garden globe tutorial HERE

Once you create a concrete globe, you can embellish it with marbles using E-6000 glue.

Flower pot centerpiece tutorial HERE

Rope wrapped pot tutorial HERE

Happy crafting!

How to Attract Toads to the Garden

I think there's something cute about toads. They seem like inquistive visitors to the garden and they are very beneficial as well.  This article explains a little background on toads and why you should encourage them taking up residence in your garden.

Read it HERE

Since toads need little hiding places, why not give them one with some style?  These toad abodes are handmade from artisans on Etsy.

Refining Fire Pottery (Cleveland artist)

$18 + $11.90 shipping

Refining Fire Pottery (Cleveland Artist)

$16 + $12.15 shipping

Refining Fire Pottery (Cleveland artist)

$22.00 + $13.65 shipping

Falkner Studio 

$42 + free shipping

Dawn Davare Designs

$35 + free shipping

Hop to it and invite toads into your garden!

Repurposing Old Garden Hoses

Old garden hoses can be repurposed in many ways that are functional and creative.

Learn some ideas at One Good Thing by Jillee.

Several garden hose wreath tutorials at Lora B.

Smile :)

Happy repurposing!

DIY Farmhouse Style Potting Bench

Ana White will take you through the detailed steps on her website where there is also a video tutorial on constructing this bench.  All materials come in at around $50!  

Visit Ana White's website HERE

Happy construction!

Lasagna Gardening

Lasagna is delicious, but this is not about growing the ingredients for a tasty casserole.  Lasagna gardening is a method of using organic materials in a layer to create good garden soil for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.  Read how you can create a lasagna garden HERE.

Happy layer gardening!

Easy Garden Hacks

Sowing the Seeds of Love

I created a free seed packet template for personal use to share your flower and vegetable seeds with friends and family.  You can download the template:

I used this card stock, but even regular copy paper will work.  

After you cut out the packet template, use a straight edge to fold in the front of the packet.  I like metal rulers for this task.

Fold over the back of packet and glue tab A first.  Glue tab B and let dry. (If you use card stock, it helps to put something heavy like a book on top of the tabs to keep from folding up.) 

Place seeds in packet and close top tab with either double-sided tape or washi tape. Write your seed information on the packet and share with friends.

Happy crafting!