My Cottage Garden is in my backyard. I grow vegetables, herbs, roses, flowering vines. and flowers all together back there. Other than my Fairy Roses, my front yard is not much unlike most front yards. In fact, before I moved to my house, both the front yard and the back were dull. Bit by bit,…
Dead Nettle Is A Precious Little Flower in My Garden — It Is Medicinal & Great for Tiny Bouquets — and Essential for Early Pollinators
Although I have always liked the way dead nettle looks, I usually immediately dismiss this sweet little guy as a weed. You see, someone poisoned me with that thought many years ago. Therefore, when I saw Dead Nettle making a showing in my yard in early February [blooms in tact]. I almost dismissed it. But…
Carolina Cranesbill: The Good, the Bad, & the Pretty
It is February 18–two weeks after a brutal ice storm crippled my community, and today, I went out into my garden to see whether or not any plants had begun emerging from their wintry beds. I found all the following plants and more: Carolina Cranesbill is not a perennial, but she liberally reseeds, and it seems…
Perennials and Self-Sowing Annuals Flashing Green & Purple in My February Garden – Separating the Winter Weeds from the Keepers
It is February 18–two weeks after a brutal ice storm crippled my community, and today, and today, I went out into my garden to see whether or not any plants had begun emerging from their wintry beds. I found all the following plants and more: Carolina Cranesbill is not a perennial, but she liberally…
Preparing to Paint A Sparrow
I found a great tutorial showing how to paint a sparrow in watercolor kiley@paintedwing But before we paint that sparrow together, let’s draw him–to understand the lights and darks Before you draw the wole bird, try drawing just the head. Pay close attention to the eye.
How to Make A Tussie Mussie, Nosegay, or Tiny Victorian Bouquet Step-by-Step
Image Credit: Alecia Lauren This entire post first appeared in Flower Mag https://flowermag.com/how-to-make-a-tussie-mussie/ SUPPLIES Fresh rose(s), herb sprigs, small flowers, leaves Waxed floral tape 1 yard of 3-inch-wide lace, elastic thread, and tapestry needle One finger cut from a (disposable) cotton glove 1 yard of double-sided satin ribbon about 1/2 inch wide to match the…
The Victorian Language of Flowers and the Tradition of the Tussie Mussie or Small Bouquet
I am planning to have a Blessing of My New Studio the first weekend of May . ( have chosen that weekend because I hope to add a new shopping opportunity next to my studios – a place to peddle flowers, plants, produce from my garden, etc, I plan to call the venture Garden Market–sort…
Alyssum – History of An Heirloom Flower that Dates Back At Least to the Middle Ages
Alyssum Was Introduced to the Garden During the 1500s “Alyssum also known as Sweet Alyssum is a perennial that is native to Southern and central Europe, Northern Africa and Southwestern and Central Asia and was included in gardens as far back as the 1500’s. The plants are prized for their low hummock-forming habit and incredible…
Heirloom Flower Seeds I Plan to Grow in My Garden This Year – Which Plants Need Cold Stratification
Traditionally, I have grown very few annual flowers from seed in my garden. This year, I am changing things up a bit, I am preparing to plant several heirloom flower seeds. In this post, I’ll tell you a bit about the flowers I am growing. I’ll also tell you which seeds need cold stratification. Alyssum…
Calendula – Heirloom Yellow & Orange Flowers – Pot Marigolds – One of the Earliest Cottage Garden Flowers – First Grown As An Herb
Calendula Image Credit: Eden Bros Great as cut flowers and can double in the kitchen as an edible flower Easy to grow annual with mixed yellow and orange blooms Fragrant heirloom with long-lasting spring blooms Thrives in bright, sunny growing areas Seed Type: Heirloom Seed, Open Pollinated Seed Also known as: Pot Marigold, Ruddles, Scoth…