vlogmrdeva

Summer time calls for barbecues, cold drinks, and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. You have already taken the time to plant the perfect garden and your lawn looks wonderful and healthy.  But have you taken the time to think about the non “growing” stuff that you want to add? Hardscaping is the use … Read more

Interestingly enough, stepping stones can play a very important role in your garden and landscape. This is especially true if butterflies are frequent fliers, no pun intended, and if you are planning on putting a butterfly bush in. Even though stepping stones may seem like just a random, cute feature to have in your garden, … Read more

I have found that on the whole, gardeners are generous people. We share seeds, we share plants, we share advice. We share just about everything (except underwear – because that would be gross… And spouses – because the 60s are over and nobody wants to go back to the 70s anyway). Anyhoo, the point is … Read more

In today’s trouble economic times, it behooves ($10 word of the day) us all to understand a little bit about investing money and the financial terms that are used when talking about money. You may not know this about me, but I am a financial advice junkie.  I listen to Marketplace podcasts, I read money blogs and when … Read more

This is the view from my picnic table this week. Look up and you are looking into the blossom filled, galaxy like interior of the massive magnolia tree that resides in my back yard.   I love this tree and I am going to miss it… maybe… if all goes as planned. We are contemplating … Read more

I love my container plantings.   When I was younger, I use to drag my whole garden around with me from apartment to apartment in containers. These days, I have greatly pared down my container collection, but I still have several that I maintain year-round or plant new every year. Some of my container plants … Read more

This week I received a shipment of flowers from Proven Winners. Which is really cool, and really nice that they contacted me about it ahead of time to tell me they were doing this. Last year (when I wasn’t putting anything on the blog) I had near about $200 worth of plants sent to me … Read more

Patio gardening can be a terrific option for those who don’t have all the space needed for a large backyard garden. Patio gardening is not really limited to patios. Really any small space, particularly one in closed, can become a great patio garden. A small apartment balcony, a stoop, or even a small patch of … Read more

If you are one of the more than 27 million people afflicted with the pain from arthritis, you know first hand how debilitating it is. Kneeling to plant impatiens has become torture and the simple act of bending over to deadhead a marigold is often times impossible. So what do you do when you love … Read more

I was watching the history channel the other day on cable television and as luck would have it they were showing a program on the history of raised bed gardening. I was fascinated to see that gardening via raised bed methods dates back in some history books to ancient civilizations. Some cultures would raise up … Read more