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.

AeroGarden Tomato Project – Tiny Tim & San Marzano

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AeroGarden Tomatoes: Tiny Tim + San Marzano (My Indoor-to-Outdoor Grow) 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 charm and outdoor potential. And if you’ve ever dealt with … Read more

Cozy Up with My Easy Stuffed Green Pepper Soup: A Summer Garden Delight for Any Day

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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 and my garden bursting with vibrant green peppers swaying in the breeze. But even on those unexpected rainy days that sneak up on us, nothing beats stirring up a pot of Stuffed Green Pepper Soup.

It’s like a hug in a bowl—simple, hearty, and oh-so-satisfying. It’s become a family favorite because it’s as easy as fry, chop, measure, dump, and simmer. Plus, whether you’re plucking peppers straight from your garden or grabbing them from the store, this recipe works wonders. Let me walk you through it, step by step, with a few personal twists from my own kitchen adventures.

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Growing Garden Potatoes

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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 of the most overlooked things when growing garden potatoes are soil preparation. After the first frost goes out, squeeze a … Read more

Harvesting Sunshine: My Journey with Calendula Oil

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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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Growing Issues With Tomatoes

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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 problem is caused by a lack of calcium in the soil which is triggered by irregular moisture supplied to the … Read more

Blue Cheese Potato Salad Recipe

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Blue Cheese Potato Salad Recipe

Blue Cheese Potato Salad Recipe

A few weeks ago I stopped off to see what items they had prepared at the deli. I was looking for something different to try. Their blue cheese potato salad recipe caught my eye.

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Tomato Basil Mozzarella Skewers

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Have basil and cherry tomatoes coming out of your ears? I do! Try these fresh mozzarella skewers for a quick snack or appetizer. There is nothing better than pairing this recipe with fresh Wisconsin mozzarella cheese balls.  I’m telling ya, Wisconsin cheese is the bomb.  Pure perfection! But, I will not hold it against you … Read more

Organic Deer Plant Repellent

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Got Deer? Keep Em' Out Of Your Gardens

Organic Deer Plant Repellent Recipe

Deer love to munch on certain plants and it is rather comical how in one area a gardener will have luck with a certain product keeping deer away from their plants and in another area – they ignore the product or repellent all together. It really is the luck of the draw or what the animals get used to in their environments.

The organic deer plant repellent recipe below has had great a wonderful success rate for people in our Northwoods area keeping the deer away from their flower and vegetable gardens.

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Top 10 Purple Garden Plants

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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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