Harvesting Sunshine: My Journey with Calendula Oil

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 of tea in hand, drawn to the bright orange blooms of Calendula officinalis nodding in the breeze.

It’s a plant that has woven itself into my own story of simple kitchen experiments and natural remedies, turning ordinary olive oil into a golden elixir. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, let’s explore how to make Calendula oil, straight from my sunny windowsill to yours..

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Top 10 Purple Garden Plants

Top 10 Purple Garden Plants

Here are my top 10 purple garden plants to be sure to add to any purple flower garden.

The color purple contains a wide variety of floral garden choices.  From plum flower shades to striking mulberry tones, right down to the romantic and early spring lilacs.

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Collecting and Planting Milkweed Seed

Collecting and Growing Milkweed Seed for Monarchs

Collecting and Planting Milkweed Seed

Each female monarch butterfly lays one egg on an individual milkweed plant, depositing up to 100 eggs daily.  The only food source for the caterpillar is milkweed plants. For that reason, it is important to have a healthy milkweed population. 

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Morning Glories Are One Of My Favorite Climbing Vines

Morning Glories Are One Of My Favorite Climbing Vines

Morning glories will always have a special place in my heart as one of my favorite climbing vines.  When I was a young girl, I would pass a trellis of morning glories entering my neighbor’s home.  I always thought they were pretty but didn’t realize their true beauty and symbolism until later in life.

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Grow Your Own Safflower Seed

Grow Your Own Safflower Seed

Wildlife > Birds > Bird Recipes, Crafts, and Care

Looking to keep the squirrels off your feeders?  Try changing your birdseed.  Birds like safflower seed squirrels dislike it. So, if you are looking for a great way to feed the birds and keep the squirrels at bay, look toward the seed.

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Saving Flower Seed

Saving Flower Seed

I remember as a little girl my great-grandfather and also my grandmother saving flower seed from the plants they loved to grow.

They looked for characteristics in certain flowers, and then picked out the best plants of the batch to save the seeds from.

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Dried Flower Potpourri

Dried Flower Potpourri

Dried flower potpourri dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians who incorporated it as part of their royal rituals.  Today, the art of drying florals is making a come back and are included in potpourri, sachets and blended with fragrant and richly scented essential oils.

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