Even though I grow flowers and bring fresh bouquets to add beauty and nature to my space, I’m always sad to see the blooms wither and have to be thrown away. I’ve tried drying special flower arrangements over the years, but my efforts were unremarkable and I knew I needed to leave this endeavor to a professional! Today I’m partnering with Roxanne’s Dried Flowers to show how dried flowers are a low-maintenance way to add floral beauty to your home.

Dried Flowers add Floral Beauty!

 Much of the country is still dealing with the last winter storm that had us using terms like “polar vortex” and “record-breaking snowfall”, but for those of us who garden, we’re counting down the days until spring arrives! If you dream of growing flowers by the armful like me, today’s book review for The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler is for you. 

Select. Plant, Grow, and Harvest Gorgeous Blooms!

 I receive a lot of emails on any given day asking me if I’d like to review books that cover a wide array of genres, and usually, I can tell from the email copy if I’m interested. If you've been around my blog for a while, you know I love gardening and flowers and books- most especially, books about gardening and flowers! so of course I happily agreed to review and host a giveaway for a Garden for Grace, which is simply one of the sweetest books I’ve read in a long time.

A Garden for Grace Book Review and Giveaway:

Happy September, friends. I love this time of year for many reasons, such as the late summer days with their crisp, cool mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. Another thing I really love about September is that parents, especially Moms, get a little break in their busy routines with kids back in school, making it the perfect time to host a coffee gathering! These whimsical Language of Flowers mugs are sure to bring smiles to your guests.

Serve up Smiles with your Coffee!

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

Did you know that Friday, April 14th is National Gardening Day? Are you excited for another gardening season too?  I’ve been itching to get started on all the spring gardening chores I have before me. Sadly, I lost several key focal point shrubs due to a harsh cold snap this winter, so I was thrilled when Nature Hills asked if I’d be interested in learning more about their exclusive French Manicure Panicle Hydrangea. Below you’ll find a wealth of information they shared with me. I hope it helps you decide if a hydrangea is right for your garden. 

Endless Summer Hydrangea:

• 2 – 12x9 Darice wood framed chalkboards
• 1 sheet Prima decorative paper flowers
• 1 sheet- K & Company pearl adhesive gems
• 1 roll – Offray off-white satin ribbon
• 1- box white Crayola Chalk
• Glue
• Q-Tips (to apply glue)

The Basics:

My daughters chose different uses for their ribbon, one adding a border around her chalkboard, and one making a simple bow as shown in the picture below.

• Glue on ribbons, using Q-Tips to dab on small amounts of glue.
• Allow to dry.
• Gently remove Prima paper flowers from package, or leaves will stick to paper.
• Arrange and glue.
• Allow to dry.
• Add K & Company pearl gems. These have self-stick backs, so be sure you place them right where you want them the first time.
• Tie chalk to ribbon, or allow to rest on top of chalkboard if you’re hanging it up.

This really is a super cute and easy craft your teens and tweens will love to do.

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!

• Low levels of natural light and cooler temperatures mean you’ll need to adjust how much water and fertilizer you give.
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• Some plants adapt to hanging planters and terrariums better than others.
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• Some succulents can even be toxic to your indoor animals.

 I enjoy a lovely view of my front yard and flower garden from my home office window and as I type this, I’m watching leaves slowly flutter to the ground, an industrious squirrel search for food, and the bedraggled look of not only my flowers, but a couple of my containers as well. These are subtle signs of the change of season approaching, especially in my container garden, so I’m sharing tips on summer to fall container gardening made easy in three simple steps.

Summer To Fall Gardening Made Easy!