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For most people, October and November are the end of the growing season. Not so if you live in what we call a Mediterranean climate. What exactly is this climate, and what Mediterranean vegetables can you grow this time of year? We’re glad you asked, because we’ve got the answers! What is a Mediterranean Climate? Climate is characterized by its weather patterns. Mediterranean climates have cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The soil can be characterized as loamy/rocky. Loamy soil is great, but the rocky part isn’t so great. It means you might have a difficult time growing some of the more common plants. Where are Some Examples? Here are a few places that have a Mediterranean climate. This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers the larger regions. Turkey Morocco Greece Ita... (More)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The squash are ripe, the apples are juicy, and the pumpkins are begging to be picked. Whether or not you decide to go to the patch or the store this year, there should be at least 1 real pumpkin somewhere in your home. Other than that, feel free to use our 4 fake pumpkin ideas for Halloween decorations. 4 Pumpkin Ideas for Halloween Decorations #1: Pumpkin Book This is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to make a unique pumpkin. All you need is a book, hot glue, scissors, orange spray paint, and a branch from your yard! Instructions: Remove the cover from the book, taking care to keep the spine together. Take your sharpest pair of scissors and cut the pages into a half circle (pumpkin) shape. Bend back the book so you can glue the spine togethe... (More)

It’s that time of year again: Halloween! The leaves and the temperature are falling, the wooden garage is getting decorated, and the ghosts and goblins are creeping. Whether you love or hate this holiday, it’s important to know the history of Halloween. Why? It’s one of the most popular days of the year! Origins Halloween can trace its roots back 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This is pronounced sow-in. November 1st was the Celt’s New Year, and the night before, October 31st, was the festival. What was Samhain? This festival was on the last day of summer. This also coincided with the last day of the harvest. They Celts were entering the time of the year where darkness and cold took over. A time of the year they associated with death. To be fair, most of the... (More)

Fall is one of the best times of the year to find grapes. Sure, they are delicious by themselves. Freeze them and you’ve got healthy hard candy. Put them on the windowsill and they turn to raisins. So, the question becomes what to make from grapes that you have never thought of before. The following are some of our favorite recipes that feature this sweet fruit! 3 Mind Blowing Recipes #1: Cashew-Chicken Rotini Salad This delicious lunch or dinner meal will have you begging for more. It’s a tasty spin on the original that mixes some interesting flavors. Ingredients: 16 ounces spiral pasta 4 cups cooked chicken, cubed 1 cup seedless red grapes 1 cup seedless green rapes 5 ounces dried cranberries ¾ cup thinly sliced green onions 1 ½ cup diced celery 20 ounces of drained pineapple tid... (More)

If you have ever purchased new trees, you know they are an investment. Like any investment, you want to help your trees grow. You probably already know everything you need to about watering and sunlight. Unfortunately, healthy soil can be a somewhat tough subject. Fortunately, we are here to explain how to create the best soil for new trees. The Best Soil for New Trees 101 Perform a Soil Test Why is performing a soil test the first step? Because knowing the health and pH of your soil is vitally important to creating the best dirt! You can purchase a soil testing kit at your local garden store to test for pH. If you want to see what nutrients are missing, you can pick up a more inclusive kit at your local extension office. Determine Your Soil Type Dirt is dirt, right? Wrong! There are so m... (More)

Clematis are vines that are impossible not to fall in love with. They come in a wide variety of different colors and sizes. There is literally something for everyone. However, they can be a bit difficult to grow if you don’t know what you are getting into. In this article, we will walk you through the steps of how to plant clematis. By the end, you will realize it isn’t as difficult as you think it is. With some patience and time, anyone can grow this gorgeous vine for the full 80 years! How to Plant Clematis: A Guide for Beginners Step 1: Choose Your Variety Clematis vines are all the rage lately. Everyone seems to be growing them and that’s good news for you. That means the garden stores you frequent should have a variety in stock. It also means specialists will know more about th... (More)

Selecting a beautiful tree to plant can be hard work. There are so many different options, don’t you wish you had a list? Now, you do! Stay with us as we tell you about the 17 gorgeous trees that are worth your money and time. 17 Beautiful Trees to Plant in Your Garden 1.  Saucer Magnolia In zones 4 through 9, you can’t go wrong with the saucer magnolia. Each spring, this ornamental tree blooms with pinkish-purple flowers. The tree actually gets its name from the saucer shaped flowers! 2. Dogwood Dogwoods are beautiful the whole year through. In the fall, the leaves turn red for an attractive foliage display. In the winter, the bare branches are gorgeous in the snow. Finally, the spring brings luscious blooms in white, red, or pink. This tree can survive and thrive in most places. 3.... (More)

If you want to know how to plant Begonias you have come to the right place! We will teach you the proven method of growing these gorgeous flowers. Also, you will learn how to take care of them after the initial planting stages. How to Plant Begonias: A Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Choose Your Begonias Begonias come in two varieties: tubers and seeds. We recommend choosing tubers every time. The seed grown flowers tend to pale in comparison, and health, to the tubers. There are over a thousand different species of this plant, so you will have some decisions to make! The flowers themselves vary in size from a foot to a few centimeters. In terms of color, you can find just about every shade under the sun except blue. You can even purchase the upright or cascading varieties. We recommend doing ... (More)

Ginger is an easy-to-grow plant that can be used for a variety of different things. If you can be patient and keep a watering schedule, you will have no problem. From cooking to teas to remedies, this root has been used throughout history for healing and wellness. In this article, we will teach you how to plant ginger and how to take care of it. Both are necessary to grow the healthiest ginger for your purposes. 7 Steps to Grow Ginger Step 1: Decide on the Ginger There are 2 primary ways to grow ginger. The first is by purchasing a live root. You can usually get them online or in a nursery or garden center. The second is to head straight to your grocery store and buy an edible ginger! That is by far the easiest and least expensive. To pick a root, find one that is plump and feels firm to ... (More)

There are many reasons to grow basil indoors. It’s protected from the rough elements, you control the light and water completely, and there are no pests to eat your herb! Maybe you live in an apartment, or don’t have any more room in your garden. We are here to help. In this article, you will learn how to plant basil on your windowsill. Not only that, but we will offer you some tips and tricks on how to take care of this delicious edible as well! How to Plant Basil: A Guide Literally anyone can learn how to plant this herb and take care of it. The cost is minimal and it only takes about half a day to complete the project. Afterward, you will have fresh, aromatic, delicious basil! Materials Herb seeds or plants Potting soil or seed-starter kit Containers complete with saucers and drai... (More)