Showing posts with label flowers

Now that warmer days are here, my family and I love spending time outside in the evenings. I love that our home has two outdoor spaces to sit, relax and enjoy the view- a front porch and a back patio, both of which have things in common. Pretty nature views, ample seating, and flowers! I just love the look of a pretty container full of blooming flowers, so when I had the opportunity to review Nature Hills Instant Wall Planter, I said yes. Read on to discover this charming wall planter idea for porch or patio.


Charming Wall Planter!


charming wall planter idea for porch or patio

How to grow ornamental and edible plants together

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, April 15, 2022

Yesterday was National Gardening Day, so I couldn’t miss that wonderful opportunity to share another wonderful gardening book review and giveaway with you today. You know I love growing flowers and herbs, but for the last few years, I’ve been wanting to grow more edibles and have Googled How to grow ornamental and edible plants together many times over the last year or so, so imagine my delight when I received the opportunity to review garden designer Linda Vater’s newest book that teaches us how to pull this gardening style off. Read on to learn more about the book and enter the giveaway.


Grow ornamental and edible plants together


The Elegant and Edible Garden book

All My Favorite Things Summer Edition

in , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Way back in February, before Nashville was hit with a devastating tornado and before the ongoing pandemic flared up, my daughter and I optimistically started a new monthly blog series called All My Favorite Things. You can see the original post here.  We thought this would be a fun way for us to share a few products, mainly beauty and accessories, that we were enjoying that month. Then life happened and our normal routines were upended. Since doing a monthly series seems out of reach right now, we decided instead to do a seasonal post, so here is our All My Favorite Things Summer Edition.



Summer Favorites!




All my Favorite Things Summer Edition

Happy New Year and happy Friday dear blog readers! I’m pretty stoked to be starting my tenth year of blogging this year! My blogoversary isn’t until September, but I’m counting this whole year as a victory! Which leads me to today’s post about a really cool book I received last month to share with you called The Pollinator Victory Garden Book by Kin Eierman. In the Pollinator Victory Garden Book, Kim will teach us how to win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening. Don’t worry if you have never gardened before, this book will take you by the hand walk you through the process and winter is the perfect time to plan for this year’s garden!



The Pollinator Victory Garden Book Review and Giveaway #ad

Wordless Wednesday: Midsummer Blooms

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 17, 2019


Rose of Sharon bloom with raindrops


Wordless Wednesday: February Flowers

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, February 27, 2019
February Flowers Daffodils



Wordless Wednesday: Pink Flower Power

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, May 30, 2018



Vincas






Peony 






Primroses









Wordless Wednesday: Signs of Spring

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, March 07, 2018


Bradford Pear Trees #nature #trees




Wordless Wednesday: Fall Flowers

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, September 13, 2017


An array of Mums fall flowers




Grow beyond Mums in your garden this fall

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, September 08, 2017
There is no mistaking the beauty and allure of a vibrant Chrysanthemum this time of year.  They can be found everywhere from nurseries, to farms markets and even school fundraisers have Mums for sale and I am a willing buyer. Mums are one of the few flowers that can be both annuals and perennials depending on what variety you buy. If I’m lucky enough to find “hardy Mums” the perennial variety, I’ll plant them in my flower beds this month. If I find annuals, they will go in containers. In order to have more variety in my garden this fall, I wanted to grow beyond Mums and found three plants perfect for fall planting I’d like to share with you today. 


Sedum blooms Grow beyond Mums this fall
Sedum Blooms

I adore lilacs of all colors and varieties, but there is just something so nostalgic and perfect about the classic light purple lilac. I'm singing its praises for my April color of the month once more.


purple lilacs



I am counting down the days until spring officially arrives later this month. I know I’m not alone in this count- down to March 20th.  My friends and I are watching for and taking note of all the markers that spring is on its way.  Here in the south, there is a riot of beautiful Daffodils in yards everywhere, the Tulip trees are blooming and the Bradford Pear trees are budding.  Since we gardeners are in a bit of a holding pattern for now, I thought I’d share 3 free (and fun!) gardening apps I’m going to try out this spring to help us pass the time until we can really get out there and garden!




3 free gardening apps to try this spring




1. My first app choice will help all of us who have ever walked through a park or lovely garden setting and thought what is that flower? Aptly named- What’s that flower, this app will help you identify flowers by color, habitat, and even number of petals. Cool right? 




What's that flower app
source


What’s that flower app will narrow down your options to a couple dozen, and then you just scroll through that list until you find the right flower.  Once your flower is found, you can read about it and see if it will work in your garden space/home. Android users can download app here This app isn’t available on IOS yet, so I suggest trying Garden Answers app. It looks like it has similar features. Download here.





DIY Gardening Tiips App



2. My second app just may add a serious amount of phone time to my schedule because it covers so many topics I find interesting. The DIY Gardening Tips app helps you find great gardening and DIY tips that you can easily use.  Plus it has tons of useful information for vegetable gardens, something I want to explore more this year. There’s tips on flowers and herbs and even garden design!  This app is available for Android here and IOS here





BeeSmart app




3. My third choice is Bee Smart App.  In a time when our bee populations are dwindling at an alarming rate, I know all gardeners share my concern and passion to help aide the bee by planting flowers and shrubs they like. What attracted me (pun intended) to this app was their mission statement: The BeeSmart™ Pollinator Gardener is your comprehensive guide to selecting plants for pollinators specific to your area. Never get caught wondering what plants to buy again! I like the sound of that and it looks so easy to use. Just plug in your zip code and hit enter! If you want to get bees, hummingbirds and butterflies in your garden this spring, download Bee Smart here for Android and here for IOS. 




I hope you'll give at least one of 3 free gardening apps a try this spring. If you do, please come back here and let me know your thoughts in comments and be sure to share a gardening app you like in comments too!


 Which app do you think you are mostly likely to try and why? 




Mums for potting for my porch and deck







Purple wildflowers by our pond #fall #flowers







Sunset Daisy bloom #fall #flowers



Please share in comments: What's blooming in your garden now? Or what are you potting in your containers?

Wordless Wednesday: Morning Dew

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, August 24, 2016



Berries dripping with morning dew #nature






Clematis bloom soaking in the much needed moisture from morning dew






Rose of Sharon flower with dew drops #nature




Please share in comments: Do you take early morning garden/nature walks too?



Coneflowers do well in southern gardens







Zinnias are perfect for container gardens







Daisies make any garden happier



Happy Wednesday!


Please share in comments: What's blooming in your garden this week?


Wordless Wednesday: Buds and Blooms

in , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, May 04, 2016



Pink Primrose, Gardening, May, Flowers, Bloom




Pink Peony Buds, flowers, gardening, blooms, May



White Lilacs, flowers, blooms, fragrant, gardening, May


Happy May!


Please share in comments: What's budding and blooming in your garden?
We are in the midst of a true spring fever here at our house. All the flowers have buds, the leaves on our trees are that lovely new leaf green color and the sun is shining so brightly today that I’ve had to take two breaks just to step outside and soak it in. Living just south of Nashville, TN. has it’s perks and lots of green space is one of them, that’s why my family and I will be helping locally on Earth Day this year by attending the Nashville Earth Day event held at Centennial Park. 


Centennial Park Nashville, TN.
Source

This is the sunken garden at Centennial Park with the Parthenon in the background. We love bringing our daughters to this park and have a lot of fun family memories here. It's the perfect place to hold our local Earth day event!



I’m thankful for the ability to walk outside and enjoy fresh air. To get lost in bird watching because our front yard is teaming with birds in our mature Maple and Pin Oak trees. We’ve planted trees in past years to celebrate Earth Day because they are so important to our planet! 


Our land has lots of trees and green space


Sadly, there are some areas of Nashville that don’t have enough green space due to our steady growth. Neighborhoods seem to pop up overnight and we are losing one of our best and most natural resources- trees


That’s why I was excited to learn about a Music City initiative to preserve our trees called If Trees Could Sing. This cause has the backing of the country music industry with Reba McEntire and Amy Grant leading the way.


If trees could sing Nashville TN project


I’ll be looking for this booth when we’re at Centennial Park on Saturday the 23rd celebrating earth day, Nashville styleYou can  learn more about this  project here if you aren’t in the Nashville area.



 Fun Ways we help while attending our local Earth Day Event:

  • We listen to local bands
  • We shop local businesses and farmers
  • We listen to and participate in educational booths so we can become better stewards of our resources
  • We recycle all containers used in their proper containers
  • We donate to local foundations
  • We smile and applaud and laugh and talk to strangers and pet puppies and try samples which adds to Nashville’s friendly vibe

It’s a fun filled day for the whole family, including dogs so if you live locally, come on out and join us!  And yes, attending really is helping because without attendees sponsorship to parks and rec centers would go away! You can learn more about Centennial Park and the Earth Day Event HERE



A view from my morning garden walk Nashville, TN.



If you love being outdoors like we do, whether that's digging in your flowerbeds like me, planting a garden full of veggies, or just bird watching, then you are ready to celebrate earth day locally! If you’d like to learn more about Earth Day events in your community, just head on over to EarthDay.org and look under events. You’ll find a wealth of information and ways to plug in and help our earth stay green!



Please share in comments: Do you celebrate earth day and if yes, how?

How to pick the best floral fragrance for you

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Happy Tuesday and happy spring, everyone! It’s a frosty 36° here in middle Tennessee this morning, making me shiver and be glad none of my flowers have started blooming yet. I may not be gardening today, but I can still talk about flowers of the floral fragrance kind! Since yesterday was National Fragrance Day and I’m an Avon lady, I thought it would be helpful to share a quick tutorial on how to pick the best floral fragrance for you this spring. 

how to pick the best Floral Fragrances for spring
Source

Finding a new fragrance for you or to give to someone can be challenging! You walk into the fragrance department at your favorite shopping spot and your senses are assaulted. Overpowering scents fill your nose, shiny bottles in an array of colors and sizes twinkle on glass shelves and the ever-present associate is there to spritz you with the latest scent from the current pop star fave of the moment. Hopefully my tutorial will have you shopping for fragrances with confidence, whether you shop at the mall or with me and Avon!


Understanding the 6 types of floral fragrances: 


1. Romantic Florals are soft, delicate and feminine. These romantic florals are characterized by lush bouquets that have sweet and powdery notes with hints of musk or warm amber. Sound like you? Try Forever, which has hints of pink pepper, orange blossom and sensual musk.
Forever a romantic floral fragrance
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2. Oriental Florals have hints of spice mixed with amber and woods, which give oriental florals an exotic allure. Sound like you? Try FarAway ‒ dreamy florals, softly spiced amber and inviting wood.

Far Away an Oriental Floral fragrance
Source


3. Fruity Florals are bursting with the scent of delicious fruits. These scents add an everyday sweetness to your fragrance wardrobe. Sound like you? Try Luck, a fragrance with sparkling citrus and luscious berries wrapped in creamy white florals, rose petals and sandalwood.  (Luck was also a CEW Insiders Choice Beauty Awards Finalist!)

Luck- a fruity floral fragrance
Source

4. Fresh Florals are clean and crisp, reminiscent of a just-bloomed spring garden. Sound like you? Try Haiku Kyoto Flower ‒ full of velvety violet leaf and white peony with soft cotton musk. 
 
Haiku Kyoto Flower- a fresh floral fragrance
Source


5. Woody Florals add depth and warmth. They are enriched with earthy notes of sensual woods. Sound like you? Try Candid, with sparkling bergamot, blooming tuberose and sensual patchouli. 

Candid- a woody floral fragrance
Source


6. Flower Gourmand is a sweet treat. The dessert of scents, floral gourmands have delectable notes like rich crème brûlée. Sound like you? Try Outspoken Party by Fergie, a mix of pink peony with luscious raspberry.

Outspoken Party - a Flower Gourmand fragrance
Source


Changing your fragrances with the seasons is a fun way to add a layer of confidence to your wardrobe. I hope that this tutorial will help you pick the best floral fragrance for you this spring. Would you like a free sample of an Avon fragrance? Join my customer mailing list here!


Which type of floral fragrance would you try first and why?

Wordless Wednesday: Inviting nature in our home

in , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Acorns, leaves, berries found on our nature walks are displayed on a depression glass pie plate and small vase- making inviting nature into our home a breeze. 


Acorns, leaves, berries, displayed for Autumn decoration on MWP




This just because bouquet made my day! I adore Sunflowers, Daisy's and Mums!


Sunflowesr, Daisys, Mums make a beautiful "just because" fall bouquet MWP




Adding copper and Autumn toned leaves to this iron wall art makes a happy statement.


Copper leaves on Iron wall art makes a fall statement MWP




If I could wear this perfect fall flower palette- either in my makeup or clothing, I would. 


Fall bloom perfection MWP


I hope that you have been able to get outside and enjoy this beautiful season! 



Please share in comments: How do you invite nature into your home this time of year? 

Wordless Wednesday: summer flowers in bloom

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 29, 2015
The summer heat has taken its toll on some of my flowerbeds and containers, but these faithful plants bloom for me season after season.


My WAHM Plan: Begonias in pots





My WAHM Plan: Succulent blooms



My WAHM Plan: Gladiolus



My WAHM Plan: Marigolds


Please share in comments: What's blooming in your garden this hot July?
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