Happy National Gardening Day! Gardening requires a lot of effort to keep the plants healthy and safe from pests and diseases. Instead of using harmful chemicals that can kill bees and other helpful pollinators, you can attract beneficial insects to your garden. These bugs can help your garden to thrive by controlling the population of pests, pollinating plants, and improving soil health. In this article, we will discuss the different types of beneficial bugs and how you can invite them to your garden. Types of Beneficial Bugs: Ladybugs (lady beetles): Devour aphids, mealybugs, and other soft ..read more

Starting garden seeds indoors is a great way to get a head start on the growing season. Here’s an eight in-depth step-by-step guide on how to do it: Basil seedlings in an Epic 16-cell tray. 1. Choose the right seeds: Not all seeds are suitable for indoor starting. When choosing what seeds are best for you and when to start your seeds indoors, first look up what growing zone you are in. Look for seeds that are marked as “indoor start” or “early start”. Next, visit your local extension office website, Farmers Almanac, a local garden friend, a greenhouse, or a nursery to determine which seeds to ..read more

As a gardener, you have the power to make a difference for our planet’s precious pollinators! Pollinator populations are declining at an alarming rate, but by creating a pollinator-friendly garden, you can provide a haven for these vital creatures. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to create a garden that welcomes bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Bumblebee covered in pollen on a sunflower. Choose the Right Plants Native wildflowers, herbs, and shrubs that provide nectar, pollen, and host plants for pollinators. Plant regionally appropriate milkweed for monarch butt ..read more

Composting is a fascinating process that transforms kitchen scraps and yard waste into a valuable resource for your garden. By harnessing the power of microorganisms, you can create a nutrient-rich soil amendment that boosts plant growth, improves soil structure, and reduces waste. In this article, we’ll explore the magic of composting and how to get started with this eco-friendly practice. The Benefits of Composting Composting offers numerous benefits for gardeners and the environment: Enriches soil fertility and structure Encourages beneficial microorganisms Reduces the need for synthetic ..read more

April is the perfect time to enhance your garden with pollinator-friendly flowers in Zone 7a. As the weather warms up and spring showers bring new life, attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your outdoor space with these top picks. You may see some of the flowers listed below throughout the month and others are a great idea to get planted this month to help the pollinators throughout the rest of the year! April Blooms for Bees Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Dainty, bell-shaped flowers that provide a sweet source of nectar for bees. When purchased, you’ll often receive bare r ..read more

Spring is finally here! Daffodils, tulips, and grape hyacinths are popping up, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing. It’s time to get your garden ready for the new growing season! Spring garden clean-up is an essential step to ensure your garden looks its best and stays healthy. Here are some tips to help you get started! >Remove Dead Plants and DebrisClear out any dead or damaged plants, leaves, and branches from your garden beds. A little effort now goes a long way in the growing season to come. Think of this as preventive maintenance to help stop problems before they take root ..read more

The finished Blackberry trellis supporting the primocanes we pruned from last year. Growing Healthy and Productive Blackberries In June 2019, we planted two Blackberry plants (Navaho Thornless and Triple Crown Thornless) and over the years they have thrived and grown well beyond what we expected and now need a Blackberry Trellis installed. We were happy to see that the material cost was less than $100! After using rebar supports last year for staking up the canes we decided this year to put a more permanent support structure in place. We put in a relatively inexpensive “T” trellis using two 4 ..read more

Hi friends, Modern Sprout sent Hope & Wildflowers their Rosemary Hydroponic Grow Garden Jar Kit to review for our followers and a 10% discount code for anyone who wants to place an order. Use code HOPEANDWILDFLOWERS at checkout. This post contains affiliate links with Modern Sprout. Hope & Wildflowers will receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Thank you for being so supportive! Let’s Begin Grow Fresh Herbs year-round with the NEW Rosemary Hydroponic Grow Kit! This kit arrived well-packed and protected from the company. The kit was such a simple and easy set-up that o ..read more

Hi friends, Modern Sprout sent Hope & Wildflowers their Seed Ball Kit & Seed Pop to review for our followers and a 10% discount code for anyone who wants to place an order. Use code HOPEANDWILDFLOWERS at checkout. This post contains affiliate links with Modern Sprout. If you make a purchase through our links, Hope & Wildflowers will receive a commission. Thank you for your support! Let’s Begin The Seed Ball Kit and Seed Pop were both simple and fun to plant, making them ideal Easter basket fillers or gifts for ages 3-99 (you can give it to someone over 100, we won’t tell). Modern S ..read more

Beginning this month, we will be publishing a monthly newsletter sharing the latest from Hope & Wildflowers. If you’d like to sign up, please click here. Look for a confirmation email and make sure to confirm your subscription otherwise, we can’t send you the latest news from Hope & Wildflowers. The February Newsletter can be previewed by clicking here. After February, newsletters will not be posted on the blog, but through email only. Keep Going, and Keep Growing! The post Introducing the Hope & Wildflowers Monthly Newsletter appeared first on Hope and Wildflowers ..read more