It has been a week! The weather has gone from lovely double digits to cold and near freezing at night. Thankfully, I have only planted out my cool season crops thus far (am behind on those, too, this year) and did not fall for the false spring ; )
It has been so cool that I even had to put the portable heater in the greenhouse for the past few nights to protect the flowers I purchased for the hanging basket workshop.
Most of the plants would be fine with the single digits, but shade annuals like begonias and impatiens are very tender and do not like to go below 8°C ish degrees for a low. Basil, too, btw, if you are planting up your herbal planters.
My son, a very new gardener, has been working on fixing up his new yard (new to them house in Saskatoon that they moved into last September). He has a lovely, 8 foot long planter on his deck, right by the back door, perfect for herbs and annual flowers. As he loves to cook, he has planted it up with a variety of culinary herbs, including Thai basil. Well, he sent me this picture yesterday, asking why everything else is thriving except the basil. Most of us have been here, eh? Darn that basil for being so tender!
Anyway, long story short – if you are still getting single digits at night, hold off on planting out your basil.
The two flower basket workshops went off so splendidly this weekend. Thank you to all the wonderful ladies that attended! Was lovely to meet you all and hear garden banter once again. I have so missed the workshops that I used to hold at the acreage; what a treat this weekend was!
Gardening Inspo!
7 reasons you need to grow marigolds.
Meet The Beneficial Insects. When I talk about planting flowers for the beneficials, these are the guys I am talking about. Plant calendula, alyssum, cosmos, zinnias, herbs.
10 ways to enjoy your spring garden.
10 best plants to grow between pavers.
12 garden edging ideas to keep your gardens looking neat and tidy.
How to grow eggplants in pots. I have always grown mine in pots so will just add one thing… do not over-water!
Mulching tomato plants. I have never done this, but think it is a good idea… as long as you remember to cut back on your watering if you mulch : )
Trap crops. The best flowers to plant in your potager (food garden).
When to water your vegetables. This is a good article. Most of us love to water so totally over-water everything, especially tomatoes and peppers.
Sarah Raven’s 10 tips to a kitchen garden.
7 small, affordable updates to enhance your landscape/yard.
if you have the patience to scroll through them all, here are 71 clever ideas for city gardens. Lots of pretty pictures to inspire.
Homey Bits of Inspo!
Cut lilac bouquet how to. It’s lilac season! It is a short season, but one of my favourites!
This super cute allotment cottage and garden in Gothenburg. I went to school in Gothenburg for several years, but had no idea there were such cute little gardens. I would have loved to walk past them and peer into the gardens.
This lovely allotment is in Malmö, where a good friend of mine from nursing school lived. Check out those tulips, the raised beds, and tree in bloom.
Okay, I had to share this as it stopped me in my tracks. Cutest barbeque ever! Like a mini green-egg bbq. Here is a review and write up about it, if you want to read more….
Comes as a stand alone or get a larger ‘egg’ on a stand with folding side shelves. Father’s Day is coming up fast!
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Foodie Bits
This Garden Greens Goddess Pizza is right up my alley! And, hey.. you can make it on your new bbq ; )
I make a similar pizza with the pesto base, artichoke hearts and haloumi cheese. It is divine!
The 10 best anti-inflammatory foods. If you suffer with arthritis, as I do, you will like this article. The only one I am not sure of is the 9th one…. you hear both ways, eh?
25 salads with no lettuce. I love so many of these. I practically live on salads in summertime, especially when the garden starts giving!
Desserts
Rhubarb upside down spice cake.
Rhubarb Cherry Crunch. Cherries and rhubarb is a new combo idea for me, but it is getting close to cherry season!
Key lime bars. Mm, make these for the next family dinner?
Bevies!
Cinderella Mocktail. This one sounds so fruity and fresh!
Simple syrup. Used in most all your cocktail and mocktails.
I love the look of these cocktail glasses. Use for martini’s (I have never had one!) or desserts, mocktails, mimosas, or champagne. Any way you look at it, these glasses will elevate your dining event.
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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