Pineapple sage is perhaps one of the most fitting descriptions for a plant’s fragrance I’ve ever encountered. Gently rubbing the leaves of this plant produces that sweet, tangy citrus smell of pineapple with a hint of traditional sage aroma. It really is a plant out of this world, which is why I have five of...
Vermiculite – you probably hear that term tossed around quite a bit among garden websites. ‘Add some vermiculite to your soil,’ ‘plant in vermiculite,’ ‘don’t use too much vermiculite,’etc. But what exactly is this strange sounding gardening product and how is it used? What is vermiculite Vermiculite is an umbrella term given to hydrated laminar...
Growing lamb’s ear is a great beginner’s plant for just about any garden setting you can think of. It’s a perfect ground cover that will spread if you want it to. This soft and fuzzy perennial has multiple purposes aside from looking cute. This plant requires full sun but you can also get away with...
Dipladenia is one of my favorite plants because of its tropical origins. It’s a great indoor plant and can be grown outdoors in the right climate. It hails from South American tropical rainforests and is hardy enough to grow outside of its ideal tropical zone. In zones 9-11, Dipladenia is an evergreen bush. In zone...
I have a love of indoor houseplants, as you might guess. One of my favorite plants (and let’s face it, they’re kind of all my favorite plants) is the devil’s backbone plant. This simple but elegant plant hails from warm, tropical parts of North America and is a solid addition to an indoor botanical garden...
Cuban oregano is one of my all time favorite plants because it’s so easy to grow and smells amazing. Cuban oregano, also known as Spanish thyme, Indian borage, and Mexican mint, isn’t actually a type of oregano but is a type of succulent. And like most succulents, they are drought resistant and hardy. Being related...
Using ducks instead for pest control might be coming into vogue for farmers everywhere. Two of the biggest issues farmers face on a daily basis are pests and weeds. Pests, like bugs and mites, destroy crops. Weeds take over fields and use up valuable resources that crops need to grow. Farmers are constantly trying to...
In another article, we talked about how to incubate coturnix quail eggs and some of the advantages of choosing that breed of quail, but they aren’t the only type of domesticated quail commonly kept by quail breeders. Bobwhite quail are another breed commonly kept, but most quail breeders find that they aren’t an optimized bird...
Raising backyard animals is, in my view, and important part of any garden. Of course, not every gardener will be able to, and that’s fine. Animals like ducks produce delicious eggs and manure that can be composted and used in your garden. The duck breed that I keep are the Campbell variety of ducks. In...
Fennel is one of my all time favorite herbs to grow. It’s a tall, sturdy, hardy herb similar to dill that adds a wonderful aroma to my garden and is good in several dishes that I frequently cook. I just like the plant too. The frond-like leaves swaying in the breeze on a warm summer...
Horse manure is one of those amendments to a garden that really kicks it off and charges it up. Horse manure, like rabbit manure, is something I apply to my garden and compost heap pretty much every single year. For rabbit manure, I have my own source. This is another story though. Rabbit manure is...
