Lacey – Page 5

How to Make a Mason Jar Terrarium

November 24, 2014 by Lacey 1 Comment

Proper plant selection is key to a happy terrarium. Make sure you pair plants that have similar growing requirements. For example, pairing succulents which thrive in drier soil with lush, humidity loving tropical plants will result in environmental discord within your terrarium. Satisfying the growing requirements of both will be impossible. Choose plants that require similar light and watering requirements. Since my mason jar terrarium with have a lid and therefore higher levels of humidity, I selected plants that would thrive in that environment.

For my high humidity terrarium I chose

…

Six Free Fall Chalkboard PNG Graphics

November 6, 2014 by Lacey Leave a Comment

all six graphics are available for download below in PNG format. enjoy!

Crabapples

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Pumpkin

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Branch

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Acorn

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Corn Cob

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Pilgrim Hat

Click here to download in white, and here to download in black

Fall Quote

October 30, 2014 by Lacey Leave a Comment

download printable here

How to Divide Ferns

October 22, 2014 by Lacey 2 Comments

It’s October. Technically its late October, but here in Orem, UT it doesn’t feel like it. But that’s life along the Wasatch mountain range. We can have snow as early as September or we can freeze our tomato starts in June. This fall has been perfect. The leaves have taken their time changing, and I’ve only had to wear my jacket at three afternoon sophemore football games. Perfect.

Aside from the weather allowing me to be a stalwart high school football fan, its permitted me to be continue my work in the garden. The climate has been perfect for dividing and transplanting perennials, and I’ve tried to take advantage of every brisk afternoon to do just that. This past weekend I was lucky enough to be the recipient of some hand me down ferns. I love ferns {you can read about some of my favorite varieties here} but I don’t have a lot of suitable space for them. Our 1940’s home had nary a tree on the lot when we moved here in March, so shade is hard to come by. But when asked by and old neighbor if I’d like a bunch of Lady Ferns from her garden I couldn’t say no, and I became determined to find a place for them.

At high noon I went wandering in the back yard, figuring that if I could find somewhere with some shade at straight up 12:00 I’d be set to go. This is what I found:

A lonely south-western corner of the yard home to nothing but a Diablo ninebark and a very small Russian sage start. With shade in the middle of the day, and promise of protection from the hot afternoon sun I knew I found the perfect spot to park my fern transplants until I started to get some shade from my newly planted weeping willow and crab apples.

I took all of my lovely fern starts and planted them just below the soil surface. After planting I sprinkled a little root starting fertilizer before a thorough watering. I’m planning on keeping this bed moist until my plants are established a little bit. I’m looking forward to bunches of feathery fronds come next spring!

Free Island Planting Bed Design

October 16, 2014 by Lacey 2 Comments

Fall is in the air and with the crunchy leaves and pumpkin flavored everything comes clearance sales at nurseries and garden centers! I’ve spent the past few weekends rotating through my local garden centers scoping out the sales and trying to find items on my must have plant list. I got lucky last weekend at Vineyard Garden Center when I came across some lovely maiden grass on sale 50% off. Maiden grass is one of my favorites because it can grow up to 3-5′ tall and wide, providing substance and size in a hurry.

Another benefit of ornamental grass is fall and winter interest. As they go to seed in the fall, most grasses produce lovely seed heads that add texture and visual interest to a fall garden. Their blades change from greenish hues to varying shades of crackling brown, yet remain upright in spite of all that lovely nitrogen returning to the roots for winter storage. As other deciduous trees and shrubs abandon their leaves completely by late fall grasses will maintain their structure. The wispy browns pair nicely with evergreens to transition nicely into winter months. Ornamental grasses can become less of a visual factor once heavy snow hits, as it will here in Utah at some point. The blades bent down by snowfall won’t perk back up as the snow melts, they will simply lay there crushed and horizontal to the ground. In early spring the grasses should be trimmed back, about 6 inches or so from the soil. As soon as warmer weather starts to arrive, fresh new blades will emerge.

With the inspiration from my newly purchased maiden grasses I drew up a quick island planting bed design. In addition to maiden grass this design features some of my other grassy favorites: blue oat grass and dwarf fountain grass. I focused on perennial and shrub pairings that show specifically some fall interest , and grounded the entire design with evergreen mugo pine and decorative landscaping rock. As you can see I received a little help during the final phase of the design process. A certain little girl woke up from her nap and was dying to assist me. At four months she already has an adoration for all things growing. especially anything yellow and growing. My explanation of the design literally had her drooling as pointed out the placement of my salvias and heucheras. A girl after my own heart.

Uintah National Forest & Four Great Residential Evergreen Trees for Your Landscape

September 29, 2014 by Lacey 1 Comment

There is something about a rainy Saturday. Something that makes it easier to not be upset about the long to do list remaining undone. Something that calls for a large pot of creamy potato soup and freshly baked rolls. Something that demands a balance between snuggling a four month old baby girl while listening to the rolling thunder and setting out for a drive up the canyon to experience the misty mountains.

We had such a Saturday. There was exterior trim to be painted, weeds to be pulled, attics to be swept out, and {ironically} a rain gutter to be installed. But we woke up to the sound of thunder and our plans for working outside washed away with the raindrops running down my gutter-less brick house. We could have followed the example of the stalwart fans at the park across watching little league football and thrown on our rain coats but we didn’t. Instead we pulled up some Netflix and made a pot of soup. Not to say there wasn’t any work done. Some laundry was definitely folded, and the hardwood was swiffered, but there was definitely more baking of things like rolls and chocolate chip cookies than chores. There’s just something about a rainy Saturday.

In the early afternoon my husband suggested we take a drive up the canyon and although I wasn’t too eager to leave my cozy spot on the couch and pack my giggling, smiley baby into her car seat I agreed. The rain was a little heavy as we headed up Provo Canyon, but it lightened a bit as we turned of the main highway and climbed the mountain towards Sundance.

The mountain meadows were like something out of Tolkien. Varying shades of green were dappled with yellowing leaves of early fall. The fragrance of rain in the mountains was incredible, and the air had the icy chill that signifies the end of summer.

We had intended to go up and over the Alpine Loop but we ended up turning off towards Cascade Springs and heading down the dirt road to Midway. Views of Deer Creek Lake were completely obscured by the clouds and the mist as we wound our way down the mountain. It was truly breath taking, the pictures snapped on my phone don’t do it justice.

I find as much inspiration for my design work in the natural world as I do in formal landscaped gardens. On this particular drive I was reminded about the grounding and foundational characteristics of evergreens. Throughout spring and summer evergreens can be passed over in favor of shrubs, trees, and perennials heavily laden with blossoms, but they get their time in the spotlight come fall and winter.

On our drive I noted the beauty of yellowing aspens, and the fire like hues of transitioning Big Tooth maples. But I also appreciated the structure provided by the firs, pines, and spruces. Some appeared almost black in the landscapes and all ensured consistency during the mountain’s transition.

In residential applications evergreen trees can provide the same consistency and structure year round. Most backyards aren’t well suited for the majesty of Ponderosa pine or fully grown blue spruce. However, there are many varieties whose size is perfect for a residential garden. Click here for my top four favorite residential evergreen trees.

Fantastic Ferns

September 24, 2014 by Lacey 1 Comment

One of my favorite ways to add visual interest into a landscape is through texture, and one of my favorite ways to add texture to shade gardens is through the use of ferns. I adore them because they give off a delicate, frilly vibe. The above photo was taken in a cemetery in Salzburg, Austria. In fact it’s you can see part of the cemetery in The Sound of Music, right when the Von Trapp family is hiding in the convent. It’s a beautiful, old cemetery and these two ferns were planted right near the headstone and a breathtaking wrought iron fence. We got there a few hours after a massive rain storm so everything was all fresh and green. I was captivated by the contrast between the springy green fronds against that of the darker arborvitae behind them. I ended up taking way too many pictures than is appropriate for a cemetery. but I couldn’t help myself. So I ignored the strange looks from all the other tourists as I sat there snapping pictures of plants in a cemetery.

I’ve been working on the planting bed plans for my own backyard, and I’ve been planning for what I hope will someday be my shade garden. I keep asking myself how I could purchase a beautiful 70 year old home and not inherit one big tree. So although I don’t have shade at the moment I’m waiting patiently until I can plant my shade garden, and these four ferns are right at the top of my list.

Brilliance Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’

Autumn Ferns are a great addition because in addition to texture, they bring a pop of color interest to shady spaces. New fronds uncurl into beautiful red, which slowly fades to orange, and finally green. They create an impact when planted in clusters, or just add splashes of color if planted on their own.

Ostrich Fern

Matteucia struthiopteris

Who wouldn’t want to own on Ostrich Fern based on the name alone? These tend to have a more upright growth habit and they can grow up to 4 feet tall. Planting them towards the back of a bed makes them a nice backdrop for other shade perennials. Or simply pairing them with a low growing ground cover creates interest as the eye is drawn up the almost columnar bright green fronds.

Ghost Fern

Athyrium ‘Ghost’

If the Autumn Fern is a pop of color for shade beds then the Ghost Fern can be considered an explosion. The beautiful blue-purple fronds give an almost frosty appearance. Since this fern is a little shorter than the others, planting it towards the front of a bed will ensure that it gets the attention it deserves.

Golden Male Fern

Dryopteris affinis

I saved one of my absolute favorites for last. The Male Fern to me is the perfect classic fern. With a slightly spreading and very full habit, it’s the perfect plant for filling in shady spaces. My mom has a few of these planted in her almost permanently shaded garden. She paired them with sweet woodruff ground cover and the contrast is just fantastic.

So there you have it. Four of the best ferns for adding texture and interest to spice up a shady garden bed. Pairing these with bleeding hearts, heuchera, brunnera, or ground covers like sweet woodruff or bishops weed will ensure that a shade garden is a worthy competitor with full sun blooming favorites.

How To Regrow Green Onions

August 17, 2014 by Lacey 2 Comments

Green onions are the best. I love how they add a similar flavor to traditional onions without the sweat and tears. They’re just so darn convenient. I don’t even whip out the cutting board, just a pair of scissors. I can snip the desired amount into scrambled eggs, bread dough, salads, or homemade pizza without breaking stride in my dinner preparations. Most grocery stores sell them in little bunches of about six or seven which lately hasn’t been enough to get me from one shopping trip to the next.

So this past week I decided to work some propagation magic and see exactly what I could get out of the six skinny stalks from the grocery store. When it comes to the culinary, green onions and lettuce have a lot in common. The most delicious and desirable parts of these two plants are the leaves, which makes them a perfect plant for propagation because of their speedy maturity.

Let’s get all botanical for a second. All fruits are created by the sexual reproductive parts of the plants {the flowers}. Once the flower is fertilized the plant’s ovary matures into a fruity structure destined to carry the ovules or seeds. Then there’s veggies like potatoes and carrots where we’re eating the root of the plant. With plants like green onions however, we’re eating the leaves of the photosynthetic part of the plant. With roots still attached, the plant is able to continue to produce leafy deliciousness and there’s no waiting for a flower to develop into a fruit.

The process is simple. I grabbed some green onions from the produce section of the grocery store and removed any damaged/wilty looking outer leaves. Unhealthy pieces would decay quickly in water and encourage the growth of smelly bacteria. For my container I just used a small canning jar. I wanted something short so that as my onions grew I could snip them down easily, without combating the sides of the container with my scissors. But really any jar/vase/cup would do. Make sure to chose something fairly narrow though, so that once the stems are trimmed they can lean up against the sides of the container and wont fall horizontal into the water.

I snipped my onions about 2 1/2 inches from the base, making sure to leave the little roots intact. The tops were sliced up and added to a variety of yummy things including pasta salad, paninis, and some fettuccine over the next couple days.

Exactly one week later my onions looked like this:

Remember, the onions will drink the water so checking the water level every few days is important. I’ve had this batch in my kitchen for about four weeks. I cut off of them at least every other day but I’m finding that they don’t produce nearly as quick as they used to. The reason for this is that while they’re receiving plenty of water, they’re not getting supplemented by other nutrients. Rotating them out for a new batch every six to eight weeks will result in a consistent supply of green onions.

Going Green- A Foliage Bridal Bouquet

August 6, 2014 by Lacey Leave a Comment

The “go green” trend has influenced more than just the environmentally friendly. And while I’m all about recycling and all that jazz, I love what it has meant for floral work. Today I attended a floral design teacher workshop where we got tons of lab ideas for our students. We made these all foliage hand tied bridal bouquets, and while I think their sized more for bridesmaids the principle is the same: clean and green.

This bouquet features a twist, some Design Master Rose Gold floral spray. Adding a metallic accent adds some flair without overtaking the overall green effect.

Garden Journal

April 3, 2014 by Lacey Leave a Comment

There have been a few times when I’ve tried to hunt down the napkin, or envelope, or random scrap of paper that I’ve used to pen down something important. I know most people would advise becoming a citizen of the 21st century and recording important information into my smartphone or tablet and thus eliminating the search for the utility bill envelope upon which tonight’s new experimental recipe for chicken enchiladas is written.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of times when I’ve taken screen shots, pinned images, or forwarded links. I’ve used my phone to take pictures of garden bed designs I’ve found in magazines while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store. But I have come to the realization that digital isn’t always best. Files can be deleted, hard drives can become slow and bogged down, and batteries can run out where there isn’t a place to plug in the charger.

For these reasons, and many more, I love a good notebook. I have several that I keep scattered around the house, in the car, and in my purse turned diaper bag. Some are a little unorganized. Within a few pages you’ll find everything from next month’s dinner ideas to lesson ideas for my floral design class. But there is one notebook that I favor above all others, one that has smudged pages and one consistent theme: everything green.

Since we purchased our home this past March, I’ve used it to keep track of our yard renovation budget and keep track of new ideas for projects. Because we’re doing a complete redesign I’m keeping lists of perennials and shrubs I’m considering for our yard. It’s a great way to keep everything in order while I’m drawing up our master plan. Also, keeping track of things like pest timelines and fertilizer schedules helps me keep things consistent from year to year.

« Previous Page
1
…
3
4
5
6
7
…
14
Next Page »