Herbs, Pollinators, Shrubs, and Flowers Planted in My Garden in 2024

I work in my garden almost every day, and planting is a continuum for me. I’ll start with December of 2023, when I planted 2 gallon-sized Zepherine Drouhin Roses. I planted them on each side of an entrance into my rose garden. I was a bit worried about how they would fare during the winter–especially…

Tips for Growing Vegetables in Containers

Jacki Kellum Garden – Raised Bed I garden in raised beds. In a way, my entire garden is a huge container. But for purposes of variety and to create height in places, I also grow some of my outside garden plants in containers. Container Planting in Jacki Kellum Garden Contents of the above container: Purple…

Daffodils, Jonquils, and Other Spring Bulbs in My Garden for 2024

Snowflakes (Leucojum) Image Credit:  North Carolina State Extension Office “Snowflakes (Leucojum) have white bells and green dots and are very common pass-along bulbs in the South.” John Rushing Mississippi Gardening Facebook Post – February 16. 2024 Narcissi Miniature ‘Tete a Tete’ Daffodil Image Credit: Votaniki Lent lily (Narcissus pseudo narcissus) Image Credit: De Warrande Words…

Recipes for Cookies and Muffins Made with Sourdough Discard

Image Credit: Make It Dough Sourdough Molasses Cookies Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 10 mins Servings 22 cookies Calories 141 cal EQUIPMENT baking sheet small cookie scoop stand mixer or hand mixer INGREDIENTS – Cookie Dough 113 grams unsalted butter softened [1/2 cup] 113 grams organic cane sugar [1/2 cup] 113 grams organic dark brown sugar [1/2 cup] 85 grams organic blackstrap…

Pesto Recipes

Recipe for Classic Basil Pesto 4 to 6 Cloves Garlic 4 cups shredded fresh basil leaves 1 cup olive oil 1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, preferably a mix Salt “Place the…garlic, basil and oil in a food processor and blend as fine as possible. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and stir…

Swiss Chard: A Beautiful Plant that Is Also Nutritious

Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ (Beta vulgaris var cicl) I must be twitterpated by the thought of starting my 2024 garden, but today I noticed, for the first time, a gorgeous vegetable plant Swiss Chard Bright Lights. I had always heard that Swiss Chard is bitter, and perhaps I have simply blocked out this gorgeous plant…

Setting Up My Flower, Herb & Plant Business – First Steps

Cottage Garden Living Plant Shop For many, many years, I have been building a plant business, but until now,  my efforts have been on the back burner. But this spring, I’m moving forward with my plan. I have maintained my garden website Cottage Garden Living for at least ten years: https://cottagegardenliving.com/ This spring, I’ll set…

Bee Balm or Monarda – Queen of the Herbs in My Garden

Bee Balm or Monarda is a Native Plant, and it is a pollinatorBee Balm ‘Jacob Cline’ (Monarda didyma) Image Credit: American Meadows Height: 36-48″  tall The hummingbirds must believe that the bright red Jacob Cline is a delicacy. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Image Credit: American Meadows Height: 24 – 48″ tall The Native Americans made…