by Herb Exchange | Jan 1, 2017 | A Year in the Life.., Gardening, Inspiration, Miscellaneous |
There is nothing new under the sun ~ 20 years ago, I took Dr. Andrew Weil’s advice and put myself, and my family, on a restricted ‘news diet’ to lessen the anxiety and tension of whatever was considered ‘bad news’ back then. Listening to what passes for ‘the news’ can easily send one into a downward spiral! How much not so good news can one take before depression sets in? I have found that taking news in small doses once or twice a week is about all I need and all I can stand to hear. And, I’m pretty picky about who I let give me that news ~ the less biased the better.
I’m a critical thinker, and please do me the favor of NOT EDITORIALIZING – ‘just the facts’. I’m old enough to remember when the news came in to our house, for about 30 minutes each weekday evening, and we considered ourselves well informed. I’m convinced that too much of a bad thing is bad … it can really warp your thinking and distort reality. Yes, there are a lot of bad things out there, but you know what, there are a lot of good things too. And, we have weathered a lot of tough times over our history (which goes back a very long time) and we are still here and kicking! (more…)
by Herb Exchange | Oct 4, 2016 | Basics, DIY Gardening, Indoor Gardening |
This past weekend was spent preparing my 12 favorite herbs for their trip back indoors. All spring, summer and into fall, they have enjoyed a life of rugged survival. Hot, humid days and pounding rain storms. Hot sun, thirsty days and most made it through my vacation when they were ‘on their own’. They were attacked by slugs, munched on by unknown critters (in my yard, it could be anything) and of course cut back at any conceivable time for summer recipes. They made it. Rough around the edges, but survivors.
Now comes the real test; can the herb plants survive the transition from their ‘wilderness experience’ to the lush confines of my glassed in porch. Life is actually going to be more challenging indoors where they will have to contend with less light, more pests and of course, overzealous gardening! However, they survived the fall and winter, so I am hopeful. However, here are a few things I need to remember: (more…)
by Herb Exchange | Jul 13, 2016 | A Year in the Life.., Flowers, Gardening |
With over 35 years of growing plants under our belts, we began to focus on herbs in 2008. We’d always loved growing them, but honestly, the demands for perennials and annuals in our local market meant that herbs only accounted for about 20% of the plants we grew. Once we hopped onto the world wide web, and were able to really use data to research what people wanted to grow, but couldn’t get locally, herbs became our focus. For the past 8+ years, we had added more and more herbs to our lineup. Now, we are offering over 160 different types of herbs for you, our customers!
But, since we are growers and addicted to growing a variety of plants, we’ve been ‘toying’ with the idea of introducing a closely related group of plants. Of course, you don’t need to have a garden to grow plants. You can start with growing your plants in a container and transitioning, or just have house plants instead. You can even check out a website similar to gardenersdream.co.uk to get more information if this is something you’re interested in doing. Just remember that there are many different ways to achieve your garden dream, so, drum roll, please… (more…)
by Herb Exchange | Jun 21, 2016 | Miscellaneous |
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
~ Bob Dylan
Spring of 2016 will have to be told as two distinctly different stories. All was well until it started to rain in May. Already we had noticed that April Showers were missing, plenty of wind, but no rain in April. In early May, it began to rain; it rained like we have never seen before. Rain that persisted day after day. In thirty one years of growing greenhouse plants, we knew how to tuck the plants in and last out a week or even two weeks of cloudy, wet weather. Four weeks of no sun is what we experienced, and the plants just would not grow without sunshine. With the end of the shipping season upon us, we had to send what we had. Unfortunately, plants also began to melt down in the boxes due to excessive moisture. All told, it was the worst plant disaster we have ever experienced. There was nothing to do except wait for the sun to shine through the cloud cover. (more…)
by Herb Exchange | May 10, 2016 | DIY Gardening |
For most of us, spring is still just a distant dream on the horizon, while snow blankets the ground and frost sparkles on every surface of our garden. Although the wintry outdoors can be beautiful, the avid gardener often wishes spring would come early, itching to get out and begin the projects he or she has been planning since fall. These projects don’t have to just include planting; it’s is all about making your garden look aesthetic and turning it into a cozy outdoor living space to enjoy in the sun. Perhaps you want to implement some decking in your garden to increase your houses’ market value, or simply because you’re planning some outdoor parties in the summer and a deck would be a good asset. If you’re looking for some decking boards, https://www.dinodecking.co.uk/category/composite-decking-boards/ has plenty of choices.
The good news is that it’s never too early to start on next season’s gardening plans. Many of us have greenhouses or indoor gardens, where we’re already coaxing the earliest seedlings into life with the help of some vitamax plus. Now is the perfect time to start organizing and working on a variety of gardening projects that don’t require warm weather to enjoy. You might also want to have somewhere to store, your stool when you’re finished. Luckily there are a ton of reviews out there similar to these keter store it out max customer reviews that might help you find the perfect storage shed. Here is a sampling of some of our favorites, which are sure to get you in the mood for the warmth and color of spring!
Creating Works of Art From Old Pots
Old pottery lends a charming and rustic appeal to any outdoor setting, and can even turn into the focal point of an inviting patio. Flower pots of all shapes and sizes can be found at yard sales and thrift stores for a bargain. It doesn’t even matter if the pot is cracked, discolored, or unattractive at first glance. With a few different shades of bright paint (meant for withstanding the outdoors), you can give new life to any number of old pots. Have fun experimenting with primary colors, patterns, and crackle paint. A quick internet search can give you dozens of ideas for pretty pots for your spring flowers. (more…)
