Search Results for: blog easy and early spring color in the garden

Growing Raspberries in Your Garden

Raspberries: these sweet, tart little nuggets are one of the best things about summer. Put them onto cereal or eat them straight off the raspberry bush. Yum! H ow do you grow raspberries? It’s quite easy to grow raspberries from the various potted varieties in the nursery. If a friend has a raspberry bush, ask if she has any smaller plants popping up in the gardens. I see baby plants in my garden frequently, and they turn into new bushes to give to friends or to plant elsewhere in the garden. Plant raspberries in a dry, sunny spot in the … Continue reading →

What is Your Preschooler Getting for Easter?

I’m going minimalist for Easter this year. Last year I got my daughter and a couple of friends lovely hand-painted wooden animals from Jalu Toys, a company that creates gorgeous original wooden critters. We held an egg hunt at my inlaws’ beach cabin. This year we’re going a little less crazy. I am not a big Easter gift person. I like to give my daughter one nature-inspired object. This year’s choice will likely be a plant for her garden. I might get her some summer bulbs or something that is already growing. Spring is an inspiring time for the gardener … Continue reading →

Spring Has Sprung

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In many places, spring is on its way, if it’s not already here. Spring is a beautiful time to head outside to take photos of all the miraculous things that are happening. Perhaps there are baby ducks in your local park or spring bulbs starting to bloom. Trees may be beginning to bud and the dirt is a deep brown. At my house, the bulbs are peeking out of the ground, but not yet blooming. I am amazed at all the tiny beautiful things just waiting to be photographed. So let’s get moving! Since so many of the wondrous things … Continue reading →

Are School Gardens Leading Children Astray?

I was a little coldish today. Nothing serious, but we stayed home for the morning instead of going to preschool. My daughter played in the garden, blowing bubbles, looking for snowdrops, and trying out her kid-sized skateboard. She was delighted. It was a beautiful day, and later on she went out into our front yard and picked a couple of primulas, excited about the smell. Am I doing wrong by letting her play in the garden instead of going to preschool? According to all of my common sense, no. She’s getting fresh air, free play time, and physical activity. According … Continue reading →

JJ Cole BundleMe: Not Just For Carseats

A well-meaning friend gave us a JJ Cole Original BundleMe for Christmas. It’s pink, it’s thick, and it’s adorable. Is it safe for a carseat? I’m not so sure. For this reason, we decided not to use it on our daughter’s carseat. Although we don’t use it in the carseat, the JJ Cole BundleMe is not collecting dust. I found an awesome way to use it. It is especially handy if you live in a state where winter lasts from November to April and is bitterly cold. Before I get into what I use the JJ Cole BundleMe for, let … Continue reading →

The Seasonal Wreath

In one of my past home blogs, I wrote about our seasonal nature table. It was the cure-all for my daughter’s propensity for bringing home sticks and other natural items. While my bag of seasonal decorating tricks is fairly small, I do have another one up my sleeve. It’s simple, and it’s easy for a child to do. It’s the seasonal wreath. I love to adorn our front door with a wreath for every season. However, I am not nearly ambitious or wealthy enough to head off to the store to purchase a new wreath for every seasonal holiday. My … Continue reading →

Easy and Early Spring Color in the Garden

Here in the Pacific Northwest, spring is peeking through the cracks. It’s been a strange winter, with almost no snow to speak of. I blame my pantry for that, since last year’s four-odd feet of snow inspired me to create the pantry, this year’s snow was likely scared away by the fact that my pantry exists. Perhaps the same can be said for gardening. If I start to plant now, does that mean that spring is almost here? It certainly feels like it around my house. My winter viburnum is flowering, and one of my hellebores is in full bloom … Continue reading →

Prepare your Yard for Autumn and beyond

As summer fades away, there are several things you can do to prepare your yard and garden for autumn and beyond. Begin with mowing, edging, and getting rid of weeds. Even weeds that are dying from the August heat can make your yard look uncared for and unattractive. They don’t always wither completely away, so it’s best to pull them or break out the weed eater. If your garden is no longer producing, but is looking a bit overgrown, you may want to go over it with the mower or weed whacker too. Then, gather all your clippings and spread … Continue reading →

My Third Week in Review

Three times is the charm, right? I’ve had a lot of fun this week, celebrating Christmas, getting ready for the new year and blogging up a storm. Are you having a good holiday season? In case you missed any posts from my third week, here they are again. Reflections in A Dime Store Window: My first exposure with getting good deals happened early on in my childhood. Caught up in the holiday wonderland of Brooklyn, New York, the sort of magic that is captured by the song “Silver Bells, Silver Bells,” I would stare wide-eyed at the shops lining the … Continue reading →