Easy to Grow Perennials

If you've been wanting to do a little fall planting and add a few perennials to your landscape. I think this list will be helpful.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Lavender

 

 

If you've been thinking of doing some fall planting. Might I suggest Lavender (lavendula angustifolia). This has to be my favorite perennial. I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to my lavender obsession!

Happy Fall Y'All!

I'm officially ready for fall. Yesterday, I made a triple batch of Pumpkin Pie Spice! I'm now ready for Pumpkin Spiced ANYTHING! And. If you check out my Pinterest Fall Board, you will see that I'm not kidding!

The Last Weekend of Summer.....

Warmer than normal for this time of year. So, this morning (before it got too hot) I wanted to take advantage of the sunshine. I harvested a few of the root crops. Potatoes, beets and some carrots. I also harvested some more herbs to preserve.

Dehydrating Cherry Tomatoes

It seems like I've been pinning a LOT of dehydrating posts lately. Enough posts that I "dug out" the dehydrator and started drying "stuff". And. by "stuff", I mean just about anything....canned pineapple slices, apricots, cherries, fruit leather....basically, whatever I can find in the cupboards or fridge!

Preserving the Herb Harvest

If you grow your own herbs (and if you don't......you NEED to start!), here's a list of some fabulous ways I've found to preserve your herb harvest. They're easy. The aroma of working with fresh herbs is amazing. And. When you're done you will have some fabulous products to use in your own cooking or to give away as gifts. What's better than that?!?!?

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Freezing Herbs

Another easy way to preserve your fresh-grown herbs is to freeze them. This is a great method to keep your herbs like fresh (rather than dried) herbs. There are three methods I'm going to show you.

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Drying Herbs

Another easy way to preserve herbs is to dry them. There are several methods you can use to dry herbs. Choose your favorite and get those herbs drying. You won't regret it this winter when you have home-grown herbs to cook with (or use in tea)!

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Vinegar

Another super easy way to preserve your herb harvest is by making Herbed vinegars. I've been making herbed vinegars off and on for years now. They're simple to make and fun to use.

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Salt

 I enjoy growing herbs. Due to their strong fragrance, most are deer/critter resistant (well, except basil....deer LOVE it). The best part about herbs is the MANY ways you can use them.

Garden Magic

 

Just wanted to share a little "Garden Magic" with you. Above is a photo of one of my flower beds. Lots of things in bloom now.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Spring Blooming Bulbs

 

It won't be long now (it is almost July!), and the fall bulbs will start showing up in your local garden centers. I feel like this is kind of confusing for some people (I can't tell you how many customers I have to explain this to). Fall bulbs are planted in the fall. But. They come up and bloom in the Spring. You would think they would be called Spring bulbs. But, they're not. They're called Fall bulbs, because you buy and plant them in the fall.

 

Easy to Grow Perennials- Dianthus

I spent yesterday morning working in my flower garden. I got some photos of what might be one of my new favorite perennials....Dianthus Deltoides. Dianthus is a large family that includes Carnations and Sweet William. The Deltoides (also known as Maiden Pinks) form a mat similar to a ground cover. Above that mat, the stems shoot up with a small bloom.

Easy to Grow Perennials- Salvia

What can I say about Salvia (Salvia patens)? It's AMAZING! A deep, intense blue bloom. This variety is called May Knight. AND. It's stunning!

First Day of Summer

This evening, on the first day of summer, I decided I should plant some annuals. I've really been enjoying the perennials in my flower beds (which reminds me....I need to do some more Easy to Grow Perennial posts......), but, they just need the punch of summer color annuals provide.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Bearded Iris

Continuing on with my list of Easy to Grow Perennials.......Let me introduce you to the Bearded Iris. They come in a range of beautiful colors. The most prolific of my Bearded Irises is this lavender-y blue color. It was given to me when a friend had divided  her Irises.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Lamium

My garden is really starting to bloom. While I'm enjoying the blooms something occurred to me.....I have been neglectful about sharing my "Easy to Grow Perennials" list. I had actually started this list a few years back. Then, I must have gotten busy (or gotten involved in something else, who knows.....) But, I got to thinking, since it's planting season (at least it's planting season here in eastern Oregon), maybe someone would be interested in the plants I find SUPER easy to grow.

A Little Spring Planting

We've been having very nice temperatures here in eastern Oregon (and by saying that, I apologize to the rest of the country that's been bombarded with snow). I couldn't stand it anymore. I NEEDED to get something planted outside. Before I could plant anything, I had to do a little clean-up.

Dividing Iris

It's the last day of summer and one of the things on my to do list today was to divide my irises. I decided that might need to become a blog post because I constantly talk to customers (I work in the garden center of our local hardware store) about why their irises aren't blooming. They always confirm the irises get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Sometimes it's a matter of not getting enough fertilizer (or not the right type). Most times though, when I ask when the last time they divided their irises and I get a blank stare that says "What's she talking about?" it's time for iris education.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Can anyone else believe it's already July?!?!I thought I would share some photos of some of my favorite things growing in my gardens. The first is this Allium that I planted last fall.