One of the identifying characteristics of cottage gardeners is that they grow as much of their gardens vertically as possible. The traditional cottage gardeners were not as financially well endowed as others. Because they had small tracts of land, they needed to grow as much of their gardens upward as possible. Cottage gardeners grew roses…
Category: Cottage Garden Living
Let’s Start a Nature Journal — Let’s Sharpen Our Eyes of Perception
During the remaining days and weeks of pretty weather, I want to challenge everyone to take time to truly see what is around them–and to jot your observations in a journal of some kind. It might be a spiral notebooks–or a simple piece of paper. Rule: You must write your observation while you are outside–actually…
Don’t Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good
I had a perfect plan for my morning today. I had decided to create a litte artist hut outside—a place for me to write in my garden—surrounded by the Glory of God.–and as soon as I arose, I marched out into my garden and began my effort to create a perfect spot. But I quickly…
From Dust to Dust – From Ashes to Ashes – All of Us Are at Least a Truckload of Dirt and a Promise
As usual, I started writing this post with at least two agendas. First, I need to complete the thoughts I began this morning at 3 am–my post “To Everything, There is a Season.” I spent my 4th of July working on my computer, and by 4 pm, my eyes were swollen, and I was having…
To Everything, There Is A Season
To Everything, There Is A Season Ecclesiastes 3:1 This morning, I was out in my garden, and I gathered buckets of tomatoes. I had started those tomatoes as tiny plants under lights in my house in late winter. In fact, we had an ice storm outside, and I was feeding my winter birds at that…
Portulaca – Moss Rose
Portulaca or Moss Rose Jacki Kellum Garden Wall Planting Somewhere along the line, I heard the expression: “Youth is wasted on the Young,” and it is true that is has taken me a long time to overcome many of the misconceptions of my childhood. My dad and my grandmother taught me almost everything I know…
Types of Sunflowers – Arranged by Height
Black Russian Image Credit: Survival Seeds Height: 10′ – 15′ Russian Mammoth Image Credit: Burpee Height: 10′ – 12′ Chocolate Cherry Image Credit: Survival Seeds Height: 6′ – 8′ Autumn Beauty Image Credit: Survival Seeds Height: 5′ – 8′ Lemon Queen Image Credit: Survival Seeds Height: 5′ – 9′ Mexican Image Credit: Survival Seeds Height:…
Cottage Garden Living – Garden Ideas & Help All Year Long
Jacki Kellum is an artist and author, but she has also been an avid gardener for decades. Her blog site is at jackikellum.com, but her garden blog is at cottagegardenliving.com. As of May of 2024, she has committed herself to posting garden ideas almost every day on Youtube–sometimes more than one video a day. What…
Yellow Crookneck Squash: Summer Gold – Includes Recipe For Frying Squash in Cracker Crumbs
I am a Southern Country Girl, and during the summers, my family was sustained by the vegetables that my dad grew. My grandmother grew mounds of strawberries and flowers, but my dad–her son–grew vegetables. I know, for a fact, that I am a third generation gardener–on my dad’s side, but I feel quite sure that…
How to Dry Roses and Other Flowers & Herbs – Preserving Memories from My Past
I have tried several methods for drying roses and other plants, but my overarching preference is to dry flowers naturally No chemicals, No silicone, No microwaver–I just hang my plants upside down in a dark place and wait a few days for them to dry au natural. My grandparents in the early 1900s. Much of…