Sunday Potager Ramblings #58 ( Propagating Plants & Meaningful Gift Ideas)

Well, hi there! Happy Sunday! What has your week been like? Are you still gardening? Cleaning house like mad? Or taking a break in the lull period between gardening and the holiday season? In the thick of it with holiday planning and shopping?

I am kind of right in between – not quite lulling but not quite in the thick of it. I think you all know that I am a bit of a grinch/scrooge, yet I really enjoy bits of it as I love making things and gifting things. Trying to come up with meaningful gifts is my most favourite thing to do, especially if it is a mix of homemade and purchased.

I am in the thick of it with cleaning for the holidays though, getting things ready before my son and daughter-law arrive. Yes, I have 4 plus weeks yet, but everything takes a lot longer right now as I hobble about with my new hip.. and there is a lot to do!

I’ve deep cleaning the shower and sauna, cleaned the grout in the foyer, washed the windows yet again (why am I having to clean them so often this year? – Is it because we lost the two large mountain ash trees that were a barrier between us and the busy road out back?)

Oh, if you are on TikTok, have you seen JP? The dad with a 2 year old and 2 month old? The one who cleans the kitchen, the floors, tidies the living room while mommy gets a bit of sleep? Such a sweet guy. He said that he likes this Shark Steam Mop (it’s 36% off right now) so much that if it broke down today, he would immediately purchase another one. That sounds like a pretty good endorsement. Just thought I would share that tip in case you are looking. Oh, and he’s very sincere, not a fake influencer type. I am thinking of getting this steam mop because of him. I struggle to keep the floors as clean as I would like. I want them eat off clean. Am I delulu with dogs and hubbies and such?

A cozy living room scene featuring a St. Bernard dog sitting on a colorful patterned rug, with a bookshelf filled with books and decorations in the background.

Truth! …. I have to tell you all this.

You know how much I love the machine washable rugs, right? Well, when I was posted this photo and saw how vibrant the rug was 2 years ago, I realised that it was now far, far beyond saving. It is dull, faded, dirty looking, and even has a couple of snags in it. It looks, well… quite honestly, dreadful.

So, if you have heavy traffic areas, areas where spills are a thing, where people (hubbies) might walk with shoes on, where dogs love to lie at your feet… These rugs are truly the answer. However, you need to know that if you wash them as often as I do (once or twice a month), they will not last as long as for those who only need to wash 3 or 4 times a year (hah, in my dreams).

If your rugs and floors stay clean on the regular, they may not be for you at all. Truth. Spend more and buy a really good quality rug that you can wash with the carpet cleaner once or twice a year instead.

For me, I need to keep on washing regularly as long as we have a big dog, so these rugs are the bomb, the answer to keeping a clean house. Therefore, the rug in the photo above is now gone, no more washing it or trying to bring it back. Instead, I bought this rug with the same feel and it only cost me $35. Fresh for the holidays : )

Cozy living room scene featuring a light-colored sofa with a floral pillow, a colorful potted plant on the table, and a tall leafy plant by the window, with soft natural light filtering through. — *Give your indoor plants time to rest between November and February.*

Gardening

There are less gardening posts to share this week. It is getting to be that time of year.

Tip – do not feed your indoor plants between now and February. Let them rest during this season of short days and low light. Start feeding again in February.

A vibrant garden in front of a rustic, dark wooden shed, featuring various colorful flowers such as daisies, marigolds, and sunflowers, alongside lush green foliage and a gravel path. — I was unsure about *this picture* as there were so many flowers blooming all at the same time, everything looked really good. I wanted to make sure it was legit before I pinned it, so I checked the Explore button. It is indeed legit and oh so pretty.

Wondering how to know if your Pinterest pictures are AI (it’s getting harder all the time)? When the picture comes up, if it says visit link in the right hand corner, it is legit. It may be stolen content, but is not AI. If it does not say that, but you want to make sure it is real before you pin it one of your boards, click on the explore link in the left corner. If it is real, it will bring up the same photo, but will have some kind of writing under it to tell you what the picture is all about/what the article is all about. Click on the legit picture, save the real one, not the stolen one. You can also click on the photo and enhance a portion of it, to see if you can pull up the actual photo that it came from. If none of these things come up and you do not want to promote AI on Pinterest, do not save that photo.

Also, if everything is in bloom or looks perfect, or if it is just way over the top… it is always, always going to be AI. This applies to homey pics, too. If it is over the top, it is AI. Look at drawer pulls or handles, are there tons of plants in the picture (always a sure sign), check out the faucet. Lights are often a give away, too. Be discerning.

Three glass bottles containing water and plant cuttings with visible roots, placed on a wooden table.

How To Propagate Plants In Water: Easy 5-Step Guide (see more about taking cuttings below in the holiday section. Great gift idea!)

Gardeners Swear By These 5 Plants for Cutting Grocery Costs. These are good ideas, but I would add squash. Winter, summer, preferably both. Both are prolific, versatile in cooking, go a long way.

How to Create a Seed Starting Schedule for Your Vegetable Garden. It’s not too early to start thinking about this. Or make yourself a reminder to check back on it after the holidays. Some things can be started already in January (artichokes, onions, celery)

A wicker basket containing a weekly planner, various papers, and natural skincare products, including soaps and a small bottle. — *Recreate this pretty gift basket… Great soaps from Alberta Natural Products. Cutest calendar/day timer from Etsy. Rattan basket with handle from Amazon. Luxury bath salts from Etsy.* Add *a cosy throw* to make it super special.

The Holiday Season – Ideas & Helpful Tips

The Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas For 2025 – Chatelaine (Canadian sources!)
Growing Cuttings for Gifts – Fine Gardening
13 Houseplants That Grow in Water: Easy, Mess-Free Indoor Gardening
My Top Ten Canadian Vegetable Seed Companies
Gifts for Gardeners | Unique Gardening Gifts Canada | Circle Farms
Organic Heirloom Tomato Seeds | Heirloom Tomatoes TomatoFest (best tomato seed supplier ever!)

This gift idea post is from last year, during our postal strike, but I think the ideas are still really great so I thought I would share it again. I have updated all the links to make sure they are pertinent for 2025. For those of us who have out of town people to gift and are looking for ways to bypass shipping costs/Canada Post.

If you are a reader type, you may have read Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Women’? A very powerful book that, as a woman, makes you cry, laugh, and rage. Here are two of her books that are in my buy basket right now. To gift or keep for myself? Winter Garden (I want to read this based solely on the title) and this Christmassy one ‘Comfort and Joy‘.

*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase any items from one of my links, I earn a wee small commission to support my blog. Rest assured, it does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own

Decorated star-shaped cookies with an orange glaze, surrounded by dried orange slices and cranberries on a wooden board. — *These look so good! See the recipe below, or click on the photo.*

Recipes & Foodie Bits

Hubby came home from the store with those big, fat sugar/shortbread type cookies yesterday. The ones with frosting and sprinkles on them, the ones that melt in your mouth. I then remembered that I had made them last year and they were a big hit with everyone, young and old! This is the recipe I used (if you do not make sourdough, she gives directions on making it without in the notes under the recipe).

This Shredded Brussels Sprout and Prosciutto Salad looks so good… but I am tempted to roast the kale and sprouts first. Doesn’t it seem weird to be eating the brussels raw?

Two wicker baskets filled with dried flowers and evergreen branches on a wooden bench outside a house.

I have my clippings ready to make my handmade wreath. Lots of blue spruce boughs for the base, as that is my largest tree, most forgiving of extra snips. Dried flowers and berries in one basket, pine and very blue spruce clippings to add texture and interest.

The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden