Over the past few years, I have grown calendula (Calendula officinalis) in my garden, exploring its diverse array of varieties. This season, I experimented with a particular cultivar known as ‘Pacific Beauty Mixed Colors’. Among its delightful array of hues, one shade stood out—a captivating, vibrant orange that truly took my breath away. Its beauty was so amazing that I felt compelled to preserve it by saving calendula seeds. Thus, the inspiration for this article was born, driven by the sheer allure of that magnificent flower. Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a versatile herb celebr ..read more

In the realm of houseplants, there exists a fascinating and diverse group known as air plants, scientifically classified under the genus Tillandsia. These peculiar plants, with over 650 species, have captured the imagination of plant enthusiasts worldwide, offering not only aesthetic appeal but also an intriguing glimpse into the wonders of nature. Let’s explore the fascinating world of air plants. Five years ago, as I began visiting Florida, I became captivated by these intriguing plants. They adorn trees and garden centers have interesting displays. Initially, they struck me as distinctly tr ..read more

The Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of those house plants I never planned to purchase. Research suggested they are a bit finicky and can grow large. Neither characteristic was appealing to me. However, when I was at a garden convention, these beautiful plants caught my attention. A vendor at the convention was selling a variety of plants. The Fiddle-leaf fig stood out with their beautiful green leaves on tall 4-feet stems. Ok, I simply could not resist. I left the convention as the proud owner of a new Fiddle-Leaf Fig plant. After having the plant in our home for 4-6 weeks, it did not lo ..read more

I have been starting seeds indoors for over 5 years. In fact, during most of the year, I have seeds going through the seed starting process. Why then has it taken me so long to realize this one quick and easy seed starting tip, I do not know. Ok, I will not make you wait for the tip. The tip is this, plant seeds in their own individual seed beds (e.g., containers). What do I mean by this? Let’s take an example. Assume you are planting tomato, cucumber, and eggplant seeds. In my old approach I would use a 12-plug container. In each plug, I planted one variety of seeds. Therefore, four plugs con ..read more

One of my favorite things about the start of a new year is garden planning. I know, to some it may not sound exciting. However, it is the essence of a productive garden during spring, summer, fall, and winter. This post will look at three key aspects: garden space, what you will grow, and timing. At the end of this post, I will share resources that will help you go even deeper into the garden planning exercise. Ok, let us learn more about garden planning. Step 1: Garden Space If you are like me, you have ambitious plans to grow many plants. Well, that is great. However, it is important to know ..read more

The content comprises three tips for creating pressed flower art advised by an expert, which also is exhibited in a video. The tips are: using high-quality cold-pressed watercolor paper of at least 140lbs; arranging flowers by size to make the design more aesthetically pleasing; and taking a photograph to identify design inconsistencies. The post My Three Valuable Pressed Flower Art Tips appeared first on Gardening4Joy ..read more

I am so excited to share with you my 2023 Pressed Flower Christmas card designs. In addition, I am including a few useful tips. After making well over 100 cards these tips should help you avoid a few mistakes. Why all those cards? Well, mostly for my Etsy Store that launched over the summer. The cards include both general-purpose cards along with the new Christmas cards. So, click on the video below and see all the Christmas card designs and the tips learned along the way. Christmas Card Tip Summary Tip 1 – Make a template I find it useful to make an individual template for each card. I use th ..read more

As we enter the fall season, I see several articles on sustainable gardening. While I have my own idea of sustainable gardening, I decided to further explore the meaning and practices. If you are reading this post, I assume you also wonder about the topic of sustainable gardening. First, what is sustainable gardening? Sustainable gardening refers to the ability to carry on gardening with minimal impact on the environment. Second, why is it important? Sustainable gardening is important because it reduces polluntion, creates biodiversity, supports wildlife and conserves limited resources. The gr ..read more

Celosia Pink Flamingo (Celosia argentea spicata) is a pretty spiky annual flower that grows up to 3 feet tall. It is in the Amranth family and provides blooms from summer until fall. Celosia prefers full sun and good rich soil. Once established it is drought tolerant. Because its flowers resemble the head of a grain plant, it’s considered a wheat cultivar. I love the texture of the flowers. In addition, Celosia presses nicely and can be used for art creations. In this article, I will share how to save seeds from Celosia – Pink Flamingo. Why save seeds? Here are five reasons why I like to save ..read more

Today, August 18, 2023, I am excited to announce the grand opening of my Gardening4Joy shop on Etsy. To celebrate the grand opening, I am offering a 15% discount and free shipping on all items from now through Monday, September 4, 2023. Currently, the shop features five designs of individually handmade cards using dried pressed flowers from my garden. Each design is simple and highlights the beauty of the flowers. Featured flowers include lavender, cosmos, bachelor buttons, celosia, and nigella. For the past five years, I have been developing content on this blog to help gardeners grow he ..read more