Inspiring you to explore, create, and connect with the Midwest
Category: Gardening
Gardening & Habitat
The Gardening category explores practical ways to grow and care for plants in Midwest gardens and backyard spaces. You’ll find tips on planting flowers, growing fruits and vegetables, improving soil, managing garden pests, and supporting pollinators.
This category also includes container gardening ideas, composting guidance, and simple ways to create wildlife-friendly habitat in your yard. Whether you’re planting seasonal blooms, tending a vegetable patch, or maintaining a small patio garden, these posts offer clear, useful advice.
Gardening connects us to the land. With thoughtful planning and care, even small spaces can support healthy plants and local wildlife.
This year’s AeroGarden tomato adventure kicked off on March 22nd, with both Tiny Tim and San Marzano seeds getting their start in the setup—two different yet equally exciting varieties that promised a mix of indoor...
As the golden hues of sunset paint the sky on this humid July evening and the crickets begin their nightly chorus, I’m drawn back to the simple, heartfelt traditions that tie us to the rhythms...
Hello, dear readers! Picture this: It’s a crisp late-summer afternoon, the sun filtering through the canopy of ancient oaks, and the air filled with the sweet, tangy scent of ripe wild grapes dangling like hidden...
Hey there, nature lovers! Today, I’m thrilled to share a little story about a humble, often overlooked plant that’s been a quiet hero in my life—plantain weed. Not to be confused with the banana-like fruit,...
Junk Journal / Scrapbooking > Foraging, Recipes & Art Creating black walnut ink for drawing or journaling is a fun and eco-friendly way to explore artistic expression.
Making elderberry ink can be a do-it-yourself project. The process involves collecting ripe elderberries, extracting their juice, and combining it with a binder and other ingredients. The ink is then strained and bottled for use.
The cold of winter has set in and there has already been plenty of nasty bugs floating around. I’ve seemed to have found a viral sinus infection bug that I can’t seem to kick. It...
Summer is for berry picking and wild blackberry jam is delicious. We spend a great deal of time out on our UTV enjoying the woodland areas and foraging for wild berries.
There’s something magical about sinking into a warm bath, surrounded by the gentle scent of lavender and the delicate charm of wild violets. These wild violet lavender bath salts are a breeze to make, fill...
Chocolate chip zucchini bread is a delightful treat that combines the sweetness of chocolate with the subtle flavor and moisture of shredded zucchini. Here’s a simple recipe to make it:
Over the summer I created an Adobe project, where I shared pictures detailing my newfound hobby of pressing flowers with the public. I had a link that went to the DIY flower press instructions on...
Lavender is a scent that reminds me of summer. If you grow lavender in your flower garden and sit outside, that heavenly scent will drift in and out of your seating area. I find the...
There’s something truly magical about a steaming bowl of soup that wraps you in warmth, no matter the season. Picture this: it’s a bustling summer afternoon in July, with the sun high in the sky...
One of the staple crops in both home and community gardens is potatoes. Growing garden potatoes is not difficult if you have the knowledge upfront to make you successful. Growing Garden Potatoes Soil Preparation One...
There’s something magical about a summer morning when the garden wakes up with dew-kissed petals and a gentle hum of bees. On days like this one in late July, I step outside with a mug...
If you grow tomato plants each year, you will eventually run into one of the following growing issues with tomatoes. Some you can prevent, others you can not. #1 Blossom End Rot of Tomato This...
Diseases & Pests of Beans When growing any type of bean plant you might run into a few hiccups during the growing season. Below are diseases & pests of beans that you need to be...
10 Flowers Deer Do Not Eat Can’t beat them? Join them. Look for flowers deer do not eat. I cannot promise that they will leave every plant standing but, in general, the list below is...
This just humming along wagon is repurposing done right! Repurpose an old wagon into a hummingbird fiesta. Hummingbirds are a favorite backyard visitor to gardeners. Besides adding sugar-water feeders, garden flowers can attract those fast...
I’m a fan of telling people the only gambling that I do is buying and planting flower seed and vegetable seed. Your chances of growing items from seed increase when you take steps to prepare...
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