Want to plant something that attracts bees?  Here are three examples of plants that they love!  They are also really easy to grow.  The top is  Confederate Jasmine.  It will bloom a couple of times a year and smells really nice!  It's so fragrant you that you will be able to smell it all over your yard.  The second picture is a southern favorite that loves shade.  This is hosta.  Something most people do not consider is that bees also will enjoy shade loving plants.  Hostas will also spread. If you have a bed that you need to fill that doesn't get a lot of sun, this is the way to go. Both the jasmine and hosta will come back year after year.

Sunflowers!  Just looking at them seems to make people happy.  The bees go crazy around our sunflowers.  They aren't perennial like the jasmine or hosta, but they are really inexpensive.  Most seed packs are under $3.00.  

DIY Candles and Garden Markers

 These projects are super simple to make, and take less than thirty minutes each! They're also kid-friendly, and cost-effective, as both deal with recycling.

 These candles are made from old tealights, broken candles and seashells.

Before the wax can be melted down and shaped, you must first remove the wick from your tealights. Flip your tealight over and remove the metal backing, and (VERY) gently pull on the small, metal circle. This will remove your wick. Set aside for now.

 Once you have removed your wick and designated your amount of candles, place the wax into a double boiler, or a tin can inside of a pot filled with boiling water. (Personally, I do this fairly often. If you are working with children, I suggest intervening at this part due to the heat.) Keep an eye on the wax, as it will begin to melt fairly quickly. Continuously stir until fully melted.

 

 After your wax has melted, position your wick in your seashell. Try to keep it from moving, and away the inside of the shell. Once positioned, gradually pour your wax into the shell. Before using your new candles, remember to let them cool a few hours in advance. :-)

 These lovely garden markers are made from wine corks and bamboo skewers, however chopsticks or old paintbrush handles would be perfectly fine, too. Obviously this isn't much of a tutorial since it's just sticking a cork onto a stick...But ta-dah! 

We're trying to grow new plants and use different types of containers to do so.  One thing we're trying is growing potatoes in a recycled bushel container.  I punched holes in the bottom for drainage.  If (keeping my fingers crossed) this works, the vines should look really pretty coming out of the top.  I put a layer of organic container soil (not potting soil, container soil!) in the bottom, placed the seed potatoes on that and then covered with another layer of soil.  We'll see what happens!

I love when the forsythias bloom.  It is always the first signal that spring is here in our part of the world!  My daughter and I were in a big box grocery store just the other day and saw some forsythia branches for sale in the floral department.  The branches were being sold in groups of five for five dollars!  A dollar a branch?  Apparently, we have a small fortune in forsythia bushes and never knew it~  =0)

We are now picking tons of peppers daily! Well, not exactly "tons" but a whole bunch of them!!  =0)   I love using them in everything from eggs to stir fry.  This year we are freezing a good many of them.  It's a very simple process to prepare them!  All you need to do is the following:

1. slice and remove seeds
2. add peppers to rapidly boiling water for two minutes
3. remove peppers and instantly submerse in ice bath
4. drain, pat dry and place them in freezer bags

That's it!

Weekends, Birthdays, and Gardening

Well, we will be celebrating my son's birthday this weekend. His birthday was on the tenth, but it was a matter of getting everyone where they needed to be.  Sometimes it works out that way.  I have a feeling he kind of enjoys it.  Who wouldn't want two birthdays?? We have family coming in from the upstate for the festivities and my daughter will be coming home from camp. I've missed her soooo much.  A week can seem like an eternity when one of your children is away!!  At some point I hope to start some seeds/plants for our Fall garden.  Can you believe we are already thinking of Fall?  The summer is flying by!  Hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend  =0)

I heart gardening!

This afternoon's bounty!  I have to say that I'm highly impressed with what this little raised bed is producing. From the looks of things, we should have A LOT of beans by the weekend. It's funny, once the garden starts producing, I am already planning for next year.  I guess when we start seeing the fruits of our labor ( pun intended!) you automatically become inspired.  

I love using fresh herbs from the garden. It's something so easy to do and most are very easy to grow. Always be careful with any of the mints, though. They will quickly take over any garden! I find keeping them in containers is the way to go. Lately we have been experimenting with drying herbs so that we can enjoy them year 'round. The dehydrator my husband bought for me is the gift that keeps on giving!

Jasmine and Pine: Gardening

Jasmine and Pine: Gardening: This lovely beauty was planted about 7 years ago. At that time, it was only about as long as my arm.  Look at this gorgeous plant now!  I...