Good afternoon, everyone! Boredom is not my friend, (I’m lookin’ at you, COVID-19). While nobody particularly enjoys the feeling, I think I have a more dramatic reaction to it than most. Plant lust is already a problem on the pocketbook, but plant lust mixed with boredom definitely leads to high credit card bills and frustrating failed projects. But before we get into the weeds, sort of speak, I feel that I need to clarify a couple of things. Photo by Canva This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. To me, gardenin ..read more

Rules are meant to be broken. This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. If you follow my blog, you likely already know that tulips have never been my thing. It isn’t that I don’t absolutely LOVE them. I do. Rather, I grow so many tropical plants that are at their best during the summer months. Tropical plants take lots of water, and summer watering tends to rot out any tulip bulbs, preventing them from returning the following year. Tulips have never been known to do too well in Texas unless they’re replaced each ye ..read more

This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. True story – Numerous times I’ve been on the phone with someone while lounging about the garden, only to have the caller ask, “Where are you?” “I’m in the backyard,” I’d reply. “It sounds like you’re at the zoo or something.” Literally, several different people thought I was at the zoo and not because of the small herd of Chiweenies running around, but because of all of those birds! My backyard is a haven for birds and not just because of the trees, but with everything I pla ..read more

This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. Sometimes press releases are just too good to pass up on! Since we are ALL ABOUT the beach around here, I figured our readers might benefit from this data. I realize it’s rather lazy work on my part, sharing the comprehensive research done by somebody else, but hey, why invent the wheel? Many thanks to digitaloft for sending over comparethemarket’s fast facts! From the release: THE CITY BEACH BREAK INDEX – RESEARCH REVEALS THE BEST SEASIDE CITIES New research from comparethe ..read more

As a huge fan of tropical plants and flowers, one of my favorite places to visit is Key West, Florida. In addition to having loads of flora and fauna in the garden settings and at resorts, it’s also found everywhere in the wild! It’s an absolute dream to find Birds of Paradise growing in abandoned lots and Bananas popping up at gas stations. One of the understory plants that I fell in absolute love with was the Giant Leather Fern. This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. My Giant Leather Fern (Year One) underneath ..read more

Yesterday was an eventful day. Firstly, there was this little football game that you may or may not heard about. Ya’ know? The Super Bowl? We had a party to attend, which was a mixed blessing because the weather in Texas was phenomenal. I wanted to stay outdoors doing yard work, even though watching the game outdoors with friends turned out to be pretty amazing, too. This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. Secondly, and more importantly, if you ask me, Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, gave his predictions for win ..read more

Good morning, guys! I came across this presser in an email this morning and thought it was too interesting not to share. It’s especially interesting to anyone interested in buying a home overseas. This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. Annual Index: World’s Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2020 Author and Retirement Expert Kathleen Peddicord Compares International Destinations  in 15 Categories, Including Cost of Living, Real Estate Affordability, Health Care Paris, France – Live and Invest Overseas, the leading o ..read more

Many thanks to Saltverk for this yummy recipe! This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when you click on the links at no extra cost to you. Saltverk is a flaky sea salt that is beloved for its distinct umami flavor and hand-harvested from the pristine seawater of Iceland’s remote Westfjords. Saltverk’s Super Bowl Chili is sure to impress your guests with unique and delicious flavor courtesy of their Licorice and Arctic Thyme Salts. SALTVERK SUPER BOWL CHILI  – 1 tsp of Saltverk Arctic Thyme – 1 tbsp of Saltverk Licorice salt (add into chili while its cooking and a ..read more

I adore butterfly gardens! Despite my adoration for all things tropical, I also really enjoy my butterfly and hummingbird garden. Unlike the majority of our test gardens, this is an area (nearly) dedicated to native plants, xeric plants, and wildflowers. Many people are totally unaware that some rather common wildflower plants are actually tropical plants grown as annuals in colder climates, such as one of my all-time favorites, the versatile, easy, and totally lovely Amaranthus. If you’re new to our Fake It Until You Make It series, it’s all about easy plants that are true tropicals or sub-tr ..read more

I bet you guys thought I forgot about the blog! Quite the contrary. However, things are really different in the McCann household these days and those changes explain my temporary absence. Haley and Levi moved in! It’s only temporary, however. Our brave soldier, Logan, is serving his country overseas. Haley and Levi moved in so that we could offer some support during Logan’s deployment. It’s tough on Haley and Levi being without him, and it’s been a trying time for the entire family. It’s been years since we had a toddler around here, and it’s been an adjustment for everyone involved! No soone ..read more