Milkweed for the Monarchs

In my last post, "Poster Child of Pollinators: Monarch Butterflies" I introduced you to the beautiful monarch butterflies that are a vital part of the ecosystem. They are necessary for the reproduction of almost all flowering plants and for the pollination of about one-third of our food plants. But pollinators, including monarchs, are also in danger … Continue reading Milkweed for the Monarchs

Rear Garden Refresh

Along the back fence line we had three big spruces that afforded us privacy from the rear neighbors. But age, disease, weather and water were not their friend. After one fell down and the second came perilously close to falling down, we ended taking them out April. My previous posts, "Another Tree Toppled" and "Spruce … Continue reading Rear Garden Refresh

Happy New Year 2020: A Look Back To 2019

Happy New Year's from my house to yours! 2019 was in "interesting" year at my house. The Good It had lots of excitement, like being picked as one of Burpee Home Gardens 2019 Gardeners of the Year! I tried a bunch of new plants in the garden. We took some wonderful vacations. But, most exciting … Continue reading Happy New Year 2020: A Look Back To 2019

2019 Stephi Gardens Holiday Gift Ideas

This has been a very hectic December at my house. Are you as behind in Christmas shopping and preparations as I am? Here's some (slightly late) holiday gift giving ideas from things I love! Friends: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for each sale. All reviews … Continue reading 2019 Stephi Gardens Holiday Gift Ideas

It’s Garlic Time!

If you've followed my blog at all, you know I love to grow garlic. I recently harvested this season's crop and right now is the perfect time to order your garlic bulbs for fall planting. While a lot of things in the garden didn't do well this year, it was a banner year for garlic … Continue reading It’s Garlic Time!

How Are the Burpee 2020 New Varieties Doing Mid-Summer?

Despite the weather and "other issues", I think it's turning into a pretty good garden year. I really enjoyed getting the 2020 Burpee New Varieties in May ("Yay, My Burpee Home Garden Plants Have Arrived"), and they are looking fabulous! Definitely loving the summer heat that has finally arrived. How are they doing? The sweet … Continue reading How Are the Burpee 2020 New Varieties Doing Mid-Summer?

It’s July! Time to Celebrate Being One of Burpee Home Gardens Gardeners of the Month

It's July and it's my turn to be featured on the Burpee Home Gardens blog and Instagram site as one of their 2019 Monthly Gardeners of the Year. You can see the announcement in my previous post, Burpee Home Garden 2019 Gardeners of the Month-I’m July! Still so exciting! I've loved seeing all the other gardener's experiences and … Continue reading It’s July! Time to Celebrate Being One of Burpee Home Gardens Gardeners of the Month

Back From Vacation

May is probably not the best time to take a vacation, but this was a big year in the Stephi Gardens household. My twin boys graduated from college, thankfully, 2 weeks apart! In celebration, we planned a family trip with all three kids, which if you have older kids you know is no small feat. … Continue reading Back From Vacation

Seedlings on the Move

I've been anxiously awaiting Mother's Day, and not just because I get to be the center of attention, but because it signals the official beginning of the outdoor garden season in my area. Generally once Mother's Day passes, I can start planting the warm weather plants without too much fear of a cold snap. Some … Continue reading Seedlings on the Move