In my New England garden, the optimum period to pluck hydrangea blooms to dry indoors is when summer turns to fall and before it frosts. For the best vase drying results, patiently wait until they’ve already started to dry on the plants. From there, the rest of the process is simple. I turn my dining room into a drying station where I’ll collect specimens at the end of the season when I don’t mind cutting the glorious buds from my flower garden.
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As I promised, I’m sharing my first-year beginner experience growing vegetables and herbs in galvanized steel raised garden beds. Overall, I’m thrilled. I’ve learned so much. I loved the anticipation watching vegetables I planted grow. I will consider this year my starting point. Even if it was the wettest summer in recent history which compromised the growing season, I’m ready for more. I’m already planning to invest in more raised beds next year.
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The time is here to make basil pesto at my house. While later than usual due to weather conditions and a delayed start planting, I can’t get through summer without sharing my traditional basil pesto. Every summer, I make sure to plant plenty of basil to make at least one giant batch (usually two) to gift to family and friends and stow in the freezer.
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A simple pasta sauce (sometimes with shrimp!) is something I like to whip up for dinner especially when I get a surplus of cherry tomatoes in the heat of summer. Adding in raw shrimp at the end, elevates this dish from simple to sophisticated in no time! This recipe also works well with larger tomatoes cut into chunks. If you have homemade pesto on hand, simply swap it out for the garlic and fresh basil, making this main course even simpler to make.
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I’m finally trying out raised beds, made of galvanized metal, to elevate my vegetable gardening options. Over recent years, my vegetable and herb container gardening has been growing. Literally! I started out with a few pots on the deck, then it expanded to several large containers in my driveway. Last year, I integrated veggies and herbs in my flower beds and heavily pruned out a spot in the shrubbery of my back foundation area. I’ve had some success, but it wasn’t really working for me. I just wanted some raised beds. But I wasn’t sure how to go about it until I discovered the modern-yet-vintage style of metal raised beds at my friends’ house. I immediately fell in love with them.
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I look forward to the small window every spring when we wait with bated breath for the world to burst into bloom. Right now, where I live, it’s happening. I love watching the trees transition from buds to fully unfurled leaves. Then one day … just like that … the trees are suddenly lush and the world just seems so much better. It’s during this period that I like to take stock of what’s growing in my yard. While still early, I like to investigate that my faithful perennials have returned while hopeful what I planted the previous year is starting to come up. In this post, I’ll take you on a tour (even before I started sprucing up my beds!) of what’s growing so far to set the stage for this growing season in central New England.
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When it comes to growing flowers, I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb because not everything I attempt to grow turns out as expected. Instead, I’d say I’m tenacious and patient. Determined to have color in my flower beds throughout the summer, I’m willing to try new plants, move them around and give them a chance if first they don’t succeed. In fact, I always use brown mulch as it helps hide the evidence of moving things around throughout the season.
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I’ve had a love affair with bigleaf hydrangeas for as long as I can remember. Every summer, I’d admire the huge blue mops during Cape Cod family vacations. This is what I expected I’d grow when I planted my first Nikko blue hydrangeas. Of course, I now know that these old-time hydrangeas can be a challenge.
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How I wish we could bottle up this time of the year as we approach Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer. As a New Englander, you have to admit it’s one of the best times of the year as we get ready for the warm-season groove. Why not? The days are longer and warmer as we march into summer solstice. And where I live in Massachusetts, all the trees are finally in full bloom. It seems like overnight the world turned lush and green. Memorial Day marks a date on my calendar where I strive to check outdoor work off my list. I wonder … Is this true for others? Is it your personal prerequisite to have certain pre-summer preparations underway before Memorial Day to start your summer off on the right foot?
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