You don’t have to put your whole garden to bed for the winter. There are some plants that will continue to flower late into the fall – some all winter long! Snapdragons will survive light frosts and even a light snow (as will the mums): Violas flower all winter long: Pansies are another flower thatRead More

But Just barely! My little pumpkin was thrilled to finally be able to harvest his “baby plumpkins”. He carried them around all day: We are acquiring quite a collection of pumpkins on our porch. The porch is shady and protected from the elements, so I use it to store our pumpkins as they are harvestedRead More

We have had the most gorgeous weather! This is the most beautiful fall that I have experienced since moving to Nevada. Warm day, cool nights – but not too cool – and calm breezes. And best of all NO snow! I have checked the forecast and it is supposed to continue this way for theRead More

Yesterday, I shared how being a lazy gardener is both frugal and green. However, there are some things that I find putting a little effort into pays great dividends, namely my vegetable garden. I finally captured an eggplant flower! Since the eggplant is still flowering and because it does not like cold, I am addingRead More

Some of you may not be ready to discuss the impending change of season.  However, it is just around the corner; I already have leaves that are beginning to change color. Autumn is the when, whether you realize it or not, you lay the foundation for next year’s garden. It sounds like a lot ofRead More

I wish that I had massive blooms all summer long, but since I live in the desert I have come to appreciate when something, anything is in bloom! Fortunately there is one time of year where I can sit back and enjoy the beauty! Late summer ( I refuse to call it fall) is whenRead More

I tell everyone that I plant vegetables in unusual colors for my kids. I say that “kids like eating colorful food. It makes meal times more fun…” But I also tell people that I am reading the Percy Jackson books so I can discuss them with my children. And I tell people that I watchRead More

I know you are thinking that I am going to share a creative way to use your drink bucket as a planter. I’m not. I like pretty things, especially flowers, but I am more of a function before form type of person. Below are a couple of practical ways that I repurpose my bucket when weRead More

Included in my post on gardening with children was the tip to allow children to have their own garden. Below is Andrew’s garden. He picked out all of the flowers himself and helped plant them. It is heavy on orange flowers because one of our gardening rules is that he is only allowed to pickRead More

Container gardens are not just for apartment dwellers!  Even though I live on several acres and have a nice sized garden, I have a container garden. We have a short growing season, coupled with a 30 degree temperature swing every day. This means that spring and fall are pretty inhospitable to plants that like warmRead More

If you have ever tried square foot gardening, you know that you can grow an amazing amount of food for your family in a few raised beds. However, there are a few things you can do to maximize your limited space. Intense Square Foot Gardening is particularly useful if you are living in an areaRead More

Just last week I was complaining commenting that my Rose of Sharon had not yet bloomed. Yesterday, when I walked out the door, I spied a branch that had a few blooms on it: This shrub was planted long before I moved here, so I am not sure which variety  I am growing. Rose ofRead More

I finally captured a butterfly on a Butterfly Bush! We have a dozen Butterfly Bushes scattered through out our backyard and they do attract butterflies, but I never seem to have my camera when the butterflies are visiting. When I was watering yesterday, I noticed a few butterflies, dropped the hose and ran for myRead More

The tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are definitely liking our hot August days. The tomatoes continue to roll in and show no sign of letting up. I have been using our surplus cherry tomatoes in Broiled Cherry Tomatoes. I am waiting for these beauties to ripen to start canning: We are harvesting peppers daily: What IRead More

The most amazing cloud formations roll over the mountains in the late afternoon. My oldest son often comes in from feeding the horses, grabs a camera, and heads out to capture the prettiest part of Nevada: The sky. This post has been linked to Outdoor Wednesdays.

For me each first bloom is exciting! This year it seems like I have waited longer than ever before for some of my flowers to bloom, but better late than never! A Shasta Daisy, which is hardy to –20, in case you were wondering: And a Cosmo, which survived an indiscriminate weeder: I am stillRead More

I wanted to have this post up early this morning, but I became engaged in another Battle of the Bugs in my squash beds. I was the victor in this battle, but the war continues… Our unusually hot, dry summer was frying my poor Everbearing Strawberries; the berries were just shriveling up on the stem.Read More

When I was looking through photos for my post on Gardening with Children, I discovered this picture. My oldest son took it last year during “fire season”. I seriously hope he does not have an opportunity to take a similar picture this year! My friends up in Truckee, CA often say they have two seasons:Read More