thought for the day...

Garden Fun with Etsy

What is Etsy? It is an online marketplace that has from A-Z home made items, crafts, DIY items for sale and vendors who sell there wares online. I personally do not have an Etsy shop, but finding unique and personally crafted items is fun. There are also many antique items available.
The Etsy Mission is to "re-imagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world. Etsy is a mindful, transparent and humane business. They plan and build for the long term and value craftsmanship in all they make. Etsy believes fun should be a part in everything they do. Etsy keeps it real, always."

Clever, creative, and RePurposing Vintage Silverware on Etsy

ETSY SHOP LINK: MONKEYSALWAYSLOOK 




VINTAGE SILVERWARE GARDEN TAGS: Link
Check out this vendor for jewelry and other amazing items...

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HONEY BEES SIGN: BAINBRIDGEFARMGOODS
Garden signs are what this Etsy vendor is all about!
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ETSY SHOP: NORTHWINDMETALART
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Blooming Cactus

FLOWERING CACTUS THIS MORNING

These cactus blooms only last one single day. Seeing four blooms on my cactus this week and getting a photo was a moment of gratitude! The blooms have a light honeysuckle scent and the white petals are silky soft. Beautiful.

Sunflower Heirloom Seeds

This is a great time to start planting Sunflowers for summer blooms. Choosing to plant sunflowers of any height and variety gives the garden a beautiful summer ambiance.  Sunflowers have long been used as a food and oil supply for cooking, but their beauty makes their value that much more special. The Sunflower symbolizes happiness, longevity, warmth and beauty. A great garden flower!

6-8 foot sunflowers peek over the fence line

small size sunflower for floral display

late summer sunflowers used in a fall display last year

One of my favorite sunflowers- from Renee's Seeds

Succulents: Aeoniums

Aeonium Succulents: 

Leaves arranged in rosettes and flower with white or yellow blooms. 

From the Crassulaceae family of succulents and look like large rose flowers. 

Drought tolerant and easy to grow. 

They do not like intense heat or frost.

Black Rose with Lavender in my front planter beds

Black Rose MacroPhoto 

Variegated Aeonium

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 

May today be a day of thanksgiving for our relationship with our mother's. For those who have passed away and for the memories that will always be with us... blessings.

Purple Contessa Flower

Dahlia Planting Time

Adding more flowers to my garden this year next to my tomatoes and around my herb garden has been very rewarding. If you have not tried Dahlias I highly recommend them! There’s still time to plant them before the summer heat sets in and I promise you will love the sturdiness and beauty of this amazing flower.

The photos below are the Sky Angel Purple Dahlia

Simple Care Guide for Growing and Caring for Dahlias:

→ Plant Dahlias in April and May with morning sun exposure and at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.

→ Plant 4-6″ Deep and 18″ apart. Do not water right away. Less water is better until sprouts have appeared. Since these flowers are planted in April and May the natural rainfall should suffice.

→ Use stakes for tall growing Dahlias over 3 feet.

→ I grow these in my vegetable garden since they both require the same type of fertilizer such as 5-10-10.

→ Dahlia bulbs are tubers. The dahlia plant can mature for years without benefit of seed or spores. To sprout the next season, each tuber must have one eye. This makes a great cut flower.

Monday Inspiration

PHOTO CREDIT: glassfloatjunkie.etsy.com

I purchased a glass fishing float from a vendor on Etsy to add to my "under the sea" succulent garden. The photo and caption above is from her Facebook page and I thought it was a beautiful insight to start the week. Happy Monday!

GLASS FISHING FLOATS IN THE SUCCULENT GARDEN

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10 BEST HERBS FOR THE GARDEN

My favorite TOP 10 HERBS for the Garden. I grow these every year and continue to find more and more uses for each one of them. Fresh, dried, baked or blended, herbs create the perfect addition to the backyard garden. Herbs are also great companion plants.

BASIL - CHIVES - CILANTRO - DILL - MINT 
OREGANO - PARSELY - ROSEMARY - SAGE - THYME  

Making Mint Syrup: Also known as Simple Syrup.

2 Cups Granulated Sugar - 2 Tblsp Corn Syrup -

 1 Cup Water - 1 Cup Packed Fresh Mint Leaves

DIRECTIONS: In a small saucepan heat sugar, corn syrup and water to a slow boil until Sugar is dissolved. Add Mint and remove from heat. Stir for 1 minute. Allow syrup to cool back down to room temperature. Pour Mint Syrup into a bowl through a strainer. Store the syrup in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator until ready to use. Syrup will keep for several months.  (makes 2 Cups)

ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL HERBS

BASIL IS A SUMMER STAPLE!

CHIVES AND ONIONS

Rosemary, Mint, Chives, Basil in one evening harvest