Ideas & Tips — Gardening

Are you in charge of throwing a friend or family member a wedding or baby shower? If so, consider using a garden-theme for a fun and flower-filled affair. Here are some tips:  Arrange fruit: Set out this beautiful basket and fill it with fresh fruit for your guests to snack on. Invite them in style: Send mailed invitations that are in keeping with your garden theme. You might choose a floral stationery or tuck a silk daisy inside the envelope.  Make floral straws: We love many bloggers' idea that turn paper straws into awesome floral centerpieces. For the "stems," use our stainless...

Nothing brightens your home or your day quite like a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. On the other hand, nothing is more frustrating than finding your blooms sad and wilted shortly after you bought them. Did you know that how you treat the bouquet can make a big difference in how long it lasts? Here are some tips for better-looking, longer-lasting flowers: Avoid the sun: It may seem counterintuitive, since live plants need light, but Woman's Day says direct sun actually hastens your flowers' demise. Keep them in a cool, shady area in your home.  Change the water: This is one of...

Salads are a popular meal choice for the nutritional content they supply. The cornucopia of vitamins and minerals they provide are key to a healthy lifestyle. A single salad can have anywhere from under 400 to well over 1,000 calories in one dish based on its ingredients.  Here are two tips to consider when making your next salad: Tasty foundation: Possibly the most important component of a salad is its base of greens. Not only does a good amount of greens load the meal with vital nutrients like lutein and folic acid, but you can use the foundation to add hunger-killing protein,...

There are many upsides to maintaining or starting a garden in the winter, the first of which may be that gardens make for beautiful additions to the home. Also, the options are more profuse than normally assumed with greenhouses, indoor and outdoor gardening all serving as viable options, even with the extra care needed to defend against any oncoming frost. Some of the benefits that come with gardening, specifically during the winter, include the cost effectiveness of growing your own produce and the bonus of extra activity and exercise during the months when people are typically inclined to stay in...

It's the middle of winter, your garden is frozen, and the herbs you can get in the grocery store just aren't cutting it anymore. What's an herb lover to do? You might think you would need an elaborate indoor lighting setup to grow herbs indoors during the winter, but fortunately, all you really need is a spot that gets a good amount of light and the right knowledge and techniques. Here are some tips to get you started: Start out with a strong plant. If the plant you choose already has brown or wilted leaves before you even bring it home,...