10 Beautiful Sunflower Varieties

July 27, 2016 by 2 Comments

Sunflower varieties are endless, and they are a favorite for many backyard gardeners.  Each year I look forward to starting my sunflowers from seed.  Browsing  catalogues and websites in search of the perfect variety to grow each  summer is a favorite past time for me.  Once I decide on a variety, I plant the sunflower seeds in my bottle greenhouses during the winter.  When the seedlings emerge in the spring, I transfer them into the garden.  Today I’m going to give you gardening tips on my favorite sunflower varieties.  

 

 

gardening, sunflower varieties, sunflowers

 

I have become fond of a few varieties of sunflowers, but searching for new ones can be fun.  There are a few sunflower varieties that always find a place in my garden every summer.

 

Here’s a list of my favorite sunflower varieties:

  • Lemon Queen – A must have in my garden.  The Lemon Queen sunflower has pale yellow petals.  I live in Zone 6B.  My Lemon Queens usually get about 4 – 5 feet tall. My Gold Finch love them.  They usually produce 1 – 2 heads per stem.
  • Autumn Beauty Mix – The Autumn Beauty sunflower is an excellent flower for cutting. They can have several heads open on one stem at once, and they make beautiful bouquets. They normally grow around 5 – 6 feet.  The flowers are produced in a variety of colors. Usually in orange, red and yellow.
  • Butter Cream – The flowers on the Butter Cream sunflower are a pale yellow with brown centers. I add these to the Autumn Beauty and Evening Sun Mix bouquets. They look beautiful among the dark flowers in the mix.  They normally grow 4 – 5 feet.
  • Teddy Bear – Children love Teddy Bears and these Teddy Bear sunflowers are no exception. They are a dwarf variety and perfect for containers and/or borders.  Additionally, they look great on patios, front porches and decks too.
  • Evening Sun – The Evening Sun sunflower mixture produces flowers of red, yellow and burgundy, which grow to 6 – 7 feet. I add the Butter Cream variety into the mix for bouquets.
  • Mammoth Russian –  Mammoth Russian sunflower can grow 8 – 12 feet tall with huge sunflowers.  I’ve had some flowers that have grown to the size of a dinner plate. I roast the seeds from the Mammoth Russian and snack on them through the winter.  My backyard birds love them too.
  • Moulin Rouge – The Moulin Rouge sunflower is an absolute beauty.  It is deep, rich, burgundy and is beautiful with the Butter Cream variety in boutiques.  It grows from 5 – 8 feet.
  • Super Snack Mix – Grow your own Super Snack Mix sunflowers.  The seeds are large and great for snacking. The plants grow about 4 – 5 feet and attract butterflies.
  • Mexican  – Additionally, this is one of my favorite flowers for attracting butterflies and humming birds.  Mexican sunflowers make great cut flowers too.
  • Dwarf  – The Fire Cracker and Sunny Smile sunflowers are perfect for containers.  They are dwarf varieties, and are great for container or borders.  They provide a nice contrast to the Teddy Bear.

 

Finally, there are other varieties that are worth checking out.  These are just a few of my favorites.  Before you plant, decide if you want to use them for seed snacks, wild bird feed, give the heads to the squirrels or in bouquets.  Do your homework and purchase your plants or seeds accordingly.  Additionally, sunflowers can be found in a variety of colors other than the typical yellow.  There’s burgundy, orange, crème, and more. Start your search for next season’s garden and have fun.

Also, you may also like Sunflower and Finches in the Garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4 Ideas To Implement In Your Garden

July 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Every mother wants a place of her own to relax and enjoy 5 minutes of peace and quiet.  And this is absolutely normal! While being a mother is a fantastic experience, everyone needs a few moments to recharge the batteries and meditate. Even specialists recommend it!

Sadly, most of the time, the house is too small and your relaxation spot may be difficult to implement considering that kids are all over the place. But don’t despair; you won’t have to wait for your kids to move out of the house to relax. You can think out of the box and transform the garden into an outdoor oasis where everyone can relax. With just a few clever gardening tips, you can transform your old backyard into a new purpose.  Check out tips below:


garden, relax

 

Build a pergola

Regardless of how small or big your backyard, a pergola will look gorgeous! Even more, there are so many designs out there that you can create a unique design in just a few steps.

Of course, if you’re the DIY kind of family, you can unite your forces and make your pergola out of salvaged materials. This way you’ll improve your garden’s design, get a bit of exercise and family time, and you won’t have to make a big investment. To me, this sounds like a fantastic idea!

The best part about a pergola is that you can cover it with vines, flowers and all sorts of decorative things. Thus you’ll get to have a cool-looking shadow in those torrid summer days, and you’ll enjoy that lemonade even more.

Invest in high-quality furniture

Your patio furniture doesn’t have to look like it’s been through several wars! If you want to relax, you have to extend the modern, stylish design from the inside, outside. Invest in furniture that will be pleasing to both the eyes and the skin. Get some large, luxurious chairs that can extend and some big, fluffy pillows. Also, you shouldn’t forget about the table – a cute, antique piece will make the morning coffee a lot more pleasant.

To make sure everything looks as elegant and inviting as possible, play with colors and textures. Let your creative inner self free and combine the furniture with the pergola covered in vegetation. The result will be stunning!

Make a special place for the kids

As a mother you can’t be selfish; especially when you have to share your oasis with the kids. So, you can divide the garden into areas, and you can have a relaxation area and a fun and games area. The fun and games area could have a sand pit, a tree house, a small garden where kids can learn about plants and more. The best part is that the children will get to play outside, and you can supervise them from your relaxation area.

A place for friends and family

Another garden tips, if you don’t want to divide the garden, you can make it all into one great place. Add a barbeque or a fire pit, some comfy chairs, and a table and you’ve got a fantastic place where to invite family and friends. While adults relax around the fire, kids can play in the garden.

Finally, as you can see there are plenty of ways to transform your garden without investing a fortune. And, if none of the above interest you, consider starting a vegetable garden. Kids will be thrilled to learn more about growing plants, and you might get to cut off some food costs during summer. It’s a win-win situation.  We hope you enjoyed our garden tips and you will implement a few. 

About the Guest Contributor: Katrina, is a proud mom of two gorgeous girls who loves writing about home improvement and décor. Katrina contributes regularly on various blogs and online publications like Mother2Motherblog.com.

 

Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Nature-Gardening, Outdoor Living Tagged With: , ,

Haus & Garten Titanium Garden Shears Review

June 21, 2016 by 2 Comments

Note: This website contains endorsements for products and services, which means when you click on a link that we recommend, we may receive a commission to help pay for the maintenance of this blog.  However, not every link is an affiliate link.  I am a member of the Amazon Affiliate program.  However, there will be additional expense to my readers.

I was given the opportunity to review the Titanium Pruning Shears by Haus & Garten. In return I was given a pair of the garden shears to use in my backyard vegetable garden.  However, all opinions are my own.  When you’re a gardener, having a quality pair of garden shears is imperative.

 

gardening, garden shears, garden pruners

 

 

I used them in my shrubbery beds, my vegetable garden, and trimming flowers on my deck.  First, I pruned a Nadina in my shrubbery bed, and it was like slicing butter.  Afterwards, I trimmed a few overhanding branches from my Dogwood Tree, and it was easy as 123.  Effortless would be the word I would use.

I headed around back to my deck and trimmed a few of my geraniums.  The job was quick and easy.  The cut on the plant was perfect.  These shears were going to be my go to for cutting back plants and removing vegetables in the garden.

Unfortunately, my vegetable garden wasn’t producing vegetable yet, but I was able to remove lower branches from tomato and pepper plants.  I have no doubt that the shears will easily remove my peppers, squash, zucchini and tomatoes from the plants without issues.

Quality material is evident in the shears.  They are heavy, but not a distraction. I have carpal tunnel, so the design and comfort of the shears is important to me. Ergonomically designed shears are a must for any gardener really.  These shears are definitely a pro, and the feel great in your hands.  The blades are thick and strong.  So, you will be able to perform most gardening tasks with these shears. They are easy to grasp and position on plants, flowers and small limbs. Little effort is needed to complete the task.

 

garden, garden shears reviews,

 

It is my opinion that these shears will withstand many gardening seasons. Compared to other shears that I own, these are superior. They are actually shameful in comparison. I’m looking forward to using them this fall when I cut back my woody shrubs hard.

I recommend these shears for the home gardener.  They will also make a great gift for the gardener in your life.  Click on the link and head over and check them out.

 

Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Nature-Gardening, Vegetable Garden Tagged With: , , ,

20 Flowers To Use In A Wildflower Garden

April 28, 2016 by 1 Comment

First, summer is around the corner.  And if you’re like me you can’t wait to get outside and start working in the garden. I have found that there’s nothing prettier than a wildflower garden.  Not only are they beautiful, but they attract birds  and butterflies.  As a result, I love sunflowers in my garden.  They can be used in a wildflower garden, but there are so many flowers that can be used in addition.  Be sure to check out my other gardening tips too.

 

 

garden wildflowers

 

 

Flowers for a wildflower garden:

 

 

  1. Coneflowers
  2. Red and Yellow Poppies
  3. Black Eyed Susan
  4. Zinnia
  5. Shasta Daisy
  6. Cosmos
  7. Coreopsis
  8. Autumn and Lemon Queen Sunflowers
  9. Turtle Heads
  10. Fireweed
  11. Blue Aster
  12. Cornflowers
  13. Texas Blue Bonnet
  14. Sweet William
  15. Wild Petunias
  16. Four O’Clocks
  17. Blanket Flowers
  18. Butterfly Weeds
  19. Wild Golden Glow
  20. Marsh Marigolds

 

 

growing wildflowers

 

 

Sowing or planting any or all of these flowers will result in a beautiful garden.  Furthermore, wildflowers look great even among grass and weeds.  However, I do recommend that you remove as much grass and weeds as you can from the area where you will be sowing your seed. This will give the seeds an opportunity to  sprout and grow a strong root system.

Also, before you purchase your seed or flowers know the difference between annuals, biennials, and perennials.  So, here’s a straight forward description of each:

  • Perennials  – Most of the wild flowers listed are annuals, Cosmos, Poppies, Cornflowers, and will return year after year.  They bloom abundantly and will drop lots of seeds before dying   More plants will grow the following year.
  • Annuals –  You will have to purchase annuals yearly. Marigolds, petunias, geraniums are popular annuals.
  • Biennials –   Biennials will sprout one season but not bloom until the next year. They self-seed, so more and more plants will sprout in the spring. Black-eyed Susan and Sweet Williams are examples of biennials.

 

Finally, regardless of whether you’re planning a cottage garden or just a small spot in your backyard, plant plenty of flowers.  Most importantly, there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy the fruits of you labor.  And bringing fresh cut flowers into the home.

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5 Amazing Gifts From Your Garden

April 4, 2016 by 2 Comments

Garden gift ideas don’t have to be purchased.  You can make amazing gifts from your flower and/or kitchen garden?  Second, family and friends appreciate homemade and handmade gifts.  Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on gift ideas from your backyard garden. 

Making gifts has become the norm in my house.  I know my family and friends appreciate them and I save money by not having to purchase retail.   Next, when I’m planning my summer and fall gardens, I always add extra flowers and gourds to ensure that I have enough for myself, family and friends.

 

 

garden gift ideas, gifts for gardeners

 

 

 

 So, here’s a list of my favorite garden items for gift giving and uses:

 

Dried Flowers – Plant plenty of roses, herbs, Hydrangeas, coneflowers, and wildflowers.  Anything that can be used in crafts, to make potpourri, or sachets bags.

Pressed Flowers – Pansies, daisies, violets, ferns, roses, daffodils, cosmos, poppies, gladiolus, and verbenas make great pressed flowers. They are beautiful on cards, bookmarkers and in crafts. Additionally, make sure the colors are bright and vibrant when you pick them.  Most importantly, they should also be dry when you pick them.

Dried and Fresh Herbs – Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme and Marjoram make the best dried herbs.  Find a cute decorative jar, pint size jelly canning jars, put a decorative label on with the name of the herb, and tie a pretty ribbon.  Grow fresh herbs in Mason Jars, tin buckets, chalk painted clay bowls, tea cups or anything imaginative. Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, and Chives make great gifts.

Gourd Birdhouses – Grow bottle gourds and make decorative birdhouses for family and friends. You can paint sunflowers on them, paint them in your family and/or friends favorite colors. Be creative.  These make the perfect house for Purple Martins, Red-headed Woodpecker, Bluebirds, Tufted titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker.

Sunflowers – Last, sunflowers make beautiful flower arranges.  Cut a few and place them in a mason jar, tall metal vase, a boot and any other creative container.  You can also dry them for floral arrangements and use the seeds to roast or feed the birds. Squirrels love to eat the sunflower heads.

Finally, get your children involved in planting flowers and gourds. They will love painting and turning them into birdhouses.  Also, they can also remove the seeds from the sunflowers and roast them or save the seed to feed the birds during the winter months.  As a result, make sure you plant plenty of everything.  You’ll want items for garden gift ideas and you will want to keep a few items for yourself.

You may also Holiday Gift Ideas for Bird Lovers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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7 Uses For Sunflowers

August 23, 2015 by
Today, I’m going to share a few gardening tips on uses for sunflowers.  So, don’t throw those dried sunflowers away. First, I love the strength, grace and beauty of sunflowers in my garden.  They’re one of my favorite summer flowers.  I love sunflowers because they stand tall, erect and they’re showy.  They tower above everything else in the garden, and their bright color makes an impact.  Furthermore, there are different varieties to grace your garden and they all grow to various heights.  This particular variety is the Russian Mammoth.  It usually grows to about 10 or 11 feet.  The fence in the background is 6 foot.   So, it is truly massive.  A bee is enjoying the pollen on the sunflower below.  
sunflowers

 

It is true that sunflowers make a statement.  But, did you know that every part of the sunflower is beneficial?  Sunflowers are actually considered the cash crop.  There are uses for flowers that include the seeds, petals, stalk, leaves and roots.  Here are a few examples:

 


 

1.  Seeds – Humans eat the seeds raw, roasted or dried. Therefore, they are a healthy snack and a great source of protein, Vitamins A, B, E and iron.  I love the seeds raw in salads or roasted to snack on.

2.  Birdseed Use – Birdseed mixtures often contain sunflower seeds.  Furthermore, I actually leave the majority of my sunflowers in the garden for the cardinals and finches to enjoy.  You will find black oil sunflower seeds in my bird feeders during the winter.

3.  Petals – Additionally, sunflower petals can be dried and used along with other natural items for summer or fall potpourris.

Mammoth Sunflowers, sunflower variety, how to grow sunflowers

 


 4. Leaves – Another use is the leaves.  Also, sunflowers leaves can grow quite large and tasty.  Sunflowers leaves are often used to feed livestock or seeped to make tea.

5.  Stalks – Noteworthy, the stalks of sunflowers are strong.  I actually use some of my sunflowers stalks as a trellis for my cucumbers.  Consequently, you can cut the sunflowers off at the base and allow the stalks to dry over the winter. Next season you have a great source of poles to use as a trellis for your veggies.  You can also break them in sections, dry them, and use them in fire pits or wood stoves over the winter.

 

russian mammoth sunflower

 

6.  Roots – Next, the roots of a sunflower can grow quite deep and large.  As a result, they are used to make herbal medicine.

7.  Dried Flowers – Last, sunflowers can be dried and used in floral arrangements.  They are quite pretty in fall arrangements or on wreaths.  Some of the best flowers for dried arrangements are those that are just opening.  So, pick sunflowers before are they fully open.  They will continue to open as they dry.

 Finally, I hope that you like our uses for sunflowers and you will plant a few in your garden.  It’s a great project to do with kids too.  You may also like:  How Make Bottle Greenhouses    As a matter of fact, this is how I start my sunflower seeds.

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7 Easy to Grow Indoor Houseplants

May 11, 2015 by
Needless to say, not everyone is born with a green thumb. In fact, many are born with a special talent for destroying beauty.  However,  there have been a few lucky houseplants that have survived. It’s these that I highly recommend if you’re interested in easy to grow indoor houseplants.  Plants also have other benefits like added color to the interior and improved air quality.  So, I have a few flower gardening tips on indoor plants that I would like to share with you today.

 

 

I highly recommend the following easy to grow indoor houseplants:

1.  Ponytail  Palm – This  mini-tree houses a head of long green leaves that are arranged in a way that is reminiscent of elementary school pigtails.  It is easy to care for with  just a cup of water a week.  I think I can handle that – it can grow up to 3  feet tall.
2.   Aloe Vera – Both attractive and  functional, aloe vera is a modern-looking plant with incredible healing properties. Break off one of the shoots and apply the ooze inside to sunburns  for instant relief.
3.  Autograph  Plant – This is by  far one of the coolest indoor plant options. The Clusia rosea is known as the  autograph tree.  The plant’s leaves act as the perfect host for keeping special memories. Simply sketch in your name or draw a picture and it stays  there forever – or at least as long as you keep it alive.
4.   Peace Lily – A perfect plant if you’re fighting a lot. Really,  though, there are few better plants that help clear the air. Known for its great oxidizing attributes, the peace lily – with its white-flag flower – is exceptionally easy to grow and does well in low-lit areas.


5.   Spider Plant – Noteworthy, and another no-fail green. This plant is available in variegated shades as well as monochromatic green.  It has shoots of leaves that spit out from the base like the legs of a spider. 
6.   Pothos – My parents were given one of these as a housewarming gift, and it flourished  under their care, which is somewhat of a miracle considering the horticultural thumb of death runs in my family. Seriously, though: You can start with a small pot of pothos, and before you know it, a blazing trail of green starts to take over.

indoor houseplants
7.   English Ivy – This is the perfect choice for ridding your home of  litter air. English  Ivy can help break down and reduce the amount of fecal matter in the air left  behind by your beloved furballs. It is, however, toxic to animals and kids; so keep it out of their reach.
Last, try out these seven indoor houseplants options, and may the Gods shine upon them – and your thumb with favor.

 

BIO: Ali is a “Jill of all trades.” She writes about  gardening, home advice and healthy living on her blog Homey Improvements and is a  princess for hire at kids’ parties. Follow her on Twitter @DIYfolks.

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DIY Newspaper Seedling Pots

January 24, 2015 by
DIY Newspaper Seedling Pots are fun to make and great for the environment. Furthermore, newspaper seedling pots are biodegradable.  And, you can plant them directly into your garden or container.  Most importantly, they will decompose and help nourish the soil.

So, to help cut down on my gardening expense I make newspaper seedling pots.  I can get newspaper from family and friends or from the recycling center. They are all too happy to get rid of it, and I’m happy to recycle it.  These frugal containers have become a big part of my gardening season.  As a result, I thought I would show you how to make these pots.  If you have children that can handle making the newspaper seedling pots, let them spend the afternoon making them for you.   Making newspaper seedling pots is a great gardening with kids project.

 

newspaper seedling pots

 

 

DIY Newspaper Seedling Pots:

What you will need:

 

 

Easy Steps:

 

Step 1 – First, as shown in the picture below use 1 single sheet of newspaper folded in half.  Do not use the glossy or colored sections of the newspaper. The ink is not environmentally friendly. 

Step 2  – Second, fold the sheet of newspaper in half not length wise.

Step 3 –  I used a pint size canning jar.  Also, leave about a 1/4 inch of the mouth of the jar out of the newspaper as shown below.

Step 4 – Roll the jar until all of the newspaper is used. Make sure the newspaper is rolled tightly and evenly.

Step 5 –  Next, tape the ends of the newspaper together.  Kraft Paper Tape is biodegradable, so you can leave it on your pots when planting them directly in the garden or pot. 

 

  

 

 

Step 6 – Additionally, turn the jar upside down. The opening of the jar should be face down, and why you should leave about 1/4 inch of the jar out of the newspaper.

Step 7 – Next, fold the bottom of the newspaper as if you’re wrapping Christmas gift.  Tape the folds down with the Kraft Paper Tape. 

Step 8 – Remove the jar from the newspaper.  

 

 

newspaper seedling pots

 

 

Step 9 – Last, fold the top of the pot down about a 1/2  – 1 inch to make the pot smaller.

 

 

newspaper seedling pots

 

 

Fortunately, these seedling pots are ready to start your herbs, tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, melons etc. Simply, fill the pot with seed starter mix (I use Miracle Gro), and you’re ready to plant your seeds according to the package. 

Most importantly, when you start your seeds you will want to water from the bottom up so you won’t displace your seeds.  What do I mean by watering from the bottom?  Place your seedling pots in a tray.  Pour water into the bottom of the tray, and allow your pots to soak up the water instead of watering the seedling from the top.  Watering from the top can dislodge you seed.  Also, add more water if necessary.  You can use tin roasting pan from the dollar store, plastic storage containers, your oven roasting pan, and anything you can find to house your seedling pots. 

 

 

DIY newspaper seedling pots

 

Also, I recommend planting 2 or 3 seeds in your pot.  You have better odds of germination using 2 or 3 seeds. Once the plant(s) has grown 2 – 3 inches, you can leave the strongest seedling and discard the other plants. It’s simple, just pinch off those you don’t want and discard them.  

Finally, now start making those newspaper seedling pots so you will be ready to sow your seeds and remain on schedule with your kitchen garden. Also, it’s best to make the pots in advance so you will be ready to go.
You May Also Like:  Kitchen Garden Sowing Schedule
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Holiday Gift Ideas for Gardeners

November 24, 2013 by

Today, I’m sharing holiday gift ideas for gardeners.  Any gift that I can use in my backyard vegetable garden is a great gift to me.  They will help you select the perfect gifts for your gardening friends.  I’ve found that my most memorable gifts have been homemade items and gift baskets that I’ve put together for my family and friends.  Furthermore,  I’m a huge garden and birding lover.  I assure you, if your family and/or friends are garden and bird lovers, they will love these gifts too.

 

gift ideas for gardeners

 

 

 We have put together a list of holiday gift ideas for gardeners:

  • Packets of seeds – You can’t go wrong here.  Sunflowers, flowers for borders, and vegetable seeds are great gift ideas.
  • Garden Tools – Every gardener needs tools.  Pruners, hand trowel, hand rake, hand shovel, and a bulb planter are ideal.
  • Kneeling Pad – I use mine regularly.  Helps protect the knees when planting and pulling weeds.
  • Gardening Gloves – I go through several pair each season.
  • Gardening Hat and Sunblock – Protecting yourself from the sun is a most for the gardener.
  • Gift Certificate to a Local Nursery – We love to browse any place that has vegetables and flowers for sell.  I’ve found that nurseries have unique items that you can’t find at most garden centers such as Lowes, Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

 



 

  • Tool Caddy – We love organization, a tool caddy keeps our gloves and tools in one place.
  • Garden Cart – It’s easier on the back when you can sit and pull weeds.  Check out the Garden Hopper at Amazon, I’m sure this item is on every gardener’s wish list.
  • Flower pots – We love to place geraniums in clay or decorative pots. I also love large pots on my deck for petunias.  They won’t fit into a gift basket, but they will look wonderful with a pretty bow.  My favorite pots came from Big Lots and Dollar General.
  • Indoor Heat Pad and Grow Lights – I sow my seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season.  For successful germination, heat is a most.  Seed germination heats pads and indoor grow lights will make excellent gifts.
  • Peat Pots or Seed Starting Kits – Gardeners love to germinate their seeds in peat pots.

 

Last, we hope that you find one or two selections from our holiday gift ideas for gardeners beneficial.  Also, check out my ideas for a bird lovers gift basket.

Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Vegetable Garden Tagged With: , ,