Hummingbird Migration Takes an Incredible Journey

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"It seems almost impossible that a hummingbird could even exist. A bird no bigger than a large beetle, covered with feathers that glow and sparkle in the sun, it hovers on wings that beat more than 50 times per second, dancing in front of colorful flowers to sip sweet nectar. That would make it remarkable enough. But on top of that, some hummingbirds migrate long distances— hundreds of miles, or even thousands—leaving cold climates for the winter and returning in the spring. Read on for insights into how they accomplish these amazing travels."  Comment from Birds and Blooms

The hummingbirds don't come to my part of the world, at least I have never seen them.  I have even put out the feeders in the past.  Very disappointing.

Click here to go to the Birds and Blooms article.

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Seed Starting Calendar

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"If you’re wondering whether it’s a good time to start your seeds inside or when you should put your plants in the ground, you’re in the right place.

With my seed starting calculator, you can quickly find the best time to sow seeds (indoors or outdoors) and transplant seedlings outside."  Comment from Garden Betty

It is so much better to have this calendar than to guess!

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Growing Marigolds With Tomato Plants

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Did you know that planting and growing marigolds with your tomato plants can be one of the best ways to keep your tomatoes healthy, happy, and most of all, incredibly productive?"  Comment from This Is My Garden

Good information to know as a beginning gardener.

Click here to go to the This Is My Garden article.

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Make the Best Seed Starting Mix for Dirt Cheap

 

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"The best seed starting mix needs only three ingredients, and you can find them all in your local garden center. Save money with this simple recipe you can easily make at home (without complicated soil amendments and fertilizers)." Comment from Garden Betty

Excellent article with great information.

Click here to go to the Garden Betty article.

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Best Companion Plants For Peppers

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Companion planting is a term with multiple meanings. Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes. In fruit and vegetable gardens, we select companion plants based on their services to neighboring plants.

The pepper companion plants featured here play various roles in the garden community, enhancing pepper yields through pest reduction, weed management, and soil enhancement."  Comment from Southern Living

Excellent article  for those who love to grow peppers, like me.

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How To Water Succulents Without Causing Root Rot

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Succulents have an amazing adaptation: They store water in their leaves and stems. For this reason, many succulents make great indoor plants. Having adapted to places with sparse rainfall and poor soil, they actually do better when slightly neglected.

As you may have learned by experience, too much watering equals death for many houseplants. This is doubly true for succulents. But if you don't water them reliably, they won't grow much. They may become sparse and wither away until they die. This is how often you should water your indoor succulents to keep them healthy and thriving."  Comment from Southern Living

This article is excellent for beginning succulent gardeners.

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The Perfect DIY Compost Bin

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Creating compost at home is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve garden soil. By turning everyday kitchen scraps and yard waste into rich, organic matter, compost helps plants grow stronger, improves drainage, and adds nutrients back into the soil naturally.

While there are plenty of compost bins available for purchase, many are expensive, flimsy, or simply don’t hold up over time. But that is where making your own can save the day! A well-built DIY compost bin gives you complete control over the size, materials, and design, ensuring it fits your space and works efficiently through every season."  Comment from This Is My Garden

Love the compost bin in the photo.  In my gardening experience, composting is very effective.

Click here to go to the This Is My Garden article.

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Spider Plant Watering - 2 Articles

Photo source:  Hunker.com

 

"Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), which are also referred to as airplane plants, are popular houseplants because they're generally easy to maintain. With its long, creased leaves, this plant makes a gorgeous addition to any space, but you'll need to make sure you're properly caring for your spider plant and giving it the right amount to drink."  Comment from Hunker.com

Spider plant makes a beautiful hanging plant!  They are also so easy to grow and propagate.

Click here to go to the Hunker.com article.

The Right Way To Water A Spider Plant So It Will Thrive from Southern Living

"Despite its name, a spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is an attractive, popular houseplant that’s easy for every type of plant parent. The herbaceous perennial's name likely comes from its long, slender leaves that resemble spiders’ legs and the way its offsets dangle from the main plant like spiders from a web. While they are pretty forgiving of neglectful owners, spider plants thrive with bright, indirect light and moist, well-drained soil. Soggy soil and chemicals in tap water can lead to problems. To keep your plant happy and healthy, here’s the right way to water a spider plant to keep little offsets coming."  Comment from Southern Living

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Tips for Pruning Crape Myrtles

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Timing is everything when it comes to pruning a crape myrtle. So when is it too late to prune crape myrtles if you want blooms in the summer? Along with not cutting off next year’s flowers, your pruning goals are to encourage strong new growth and maintain the tree's natural shape. Here’s what you need to know about when to prune your crape myrtle to achieve these results."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

I have experienced crape myrtles respond to pruning with lots of blooms

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens article.

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Grow Your Own Plants From A Sweet Potato

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Did you know that you can grow and plant your own sweet potato plants by starting slips from an existing sweet potato? Not only is it possible, but it’s a great, inexpensive way to grow healthy and strong sweet potato plants!"  Comment from This Is My Garden

Great information if you want to grow sweet potato plants.

Click here to go to the This Is My Garden article.

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Things You Should Never Do To Your Lawn In Winter

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Gardeners can become antsy during the winter when there are fewer opportunities to get their hands in the dirt or put all those tools in the shed to use. It's even harder in the South, where winter temperatures are relatively mild and it can feel like April in December. Luckily, there is still plenty of work to do to keep your garden and lawn in shape. Just be sure you're doing what's best for the grass. Here are 7 things you should never do to your lawn in the winter."  Comment from Southern Living

I'm ready to pull all my grass out.  Seriously!

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Growing Onions from Seed Successfully

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Growing onions from seed takes a bit more planning than planting onion sets, but it has a lot of perks. Not only are onion seeds more affordable than onion sets, but you can also grow a wider variety of onions from seed since some types are never sold in set form. No matter where you live or the varieties you choose, these simple tips will help you plant and grow a successful harvest of onion bulbs from a handful of tiny seeds."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

I have onion seeds ready to plant and I'm happy to have found this article.

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Leafy Greens to Start from Seed Now for an Earlier Spring Harvest

 

Photo Source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Can’t wait to enjoy fresh food from your garden? With these cold-hardy leafy greens, you may not have to. While tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers are warm-season crops that only grow during hot weather, many of leafy greens tolerate chilly days and can be started very early in the season. Whether you’re starting them indoors or direct sowing them in your garden, here are 10 leafy greens to start now for an early harvest, plus seed sowing tips to get the growing season off to a good start."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Timing is everything in gardening!

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DIY Terrarium: A Woodland Version

 

Photo source:  House of Hawthorne

"House plants have made a huge resurgence in home decor trends in the last few years (did they ever really go away?) and terrariums are an easy way to get the look without a lot of fuss!"  Comment from House of Hawthornes

Love terrariums, but never had one and I don't know why.  Maybe this year?

Click here to go to the House of Hawthornes project page.

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Raised Garden Bed Ideas

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"From rustic to modern, the raised garden bed ideas for growing vegetables and flowers are nearly endless. Although plenty of kits you can buy and assemble are available, you can also opt for DIY raised garden beds using upcycled or repurposed materials. Building your own raised bed lets you customize the design and get creative with materials. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can use logs, brick, or even metal for a modern style. Here are some raised garden bed ideas that don’t require an engineering degree to build or advanced gardening skills to maintain."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

So many great ideas!  Check out this article for tips and inspiration.

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Mandevilla Care in Pots

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Growing mandevillas as outdoor perennials is out of the question if you live where winters are cold, but growing them in containers for the summer is within reach for everyone. Whether you choose a vining or a mounding variety, mandevilla care in pots is easy enough when you know what these beautiful flowering plants require. Use the following tips to grow mandevilla plants in containers and you'll enjoy plenty of bright, tropical blooms."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Mandevillas are beautiful!  

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