Category Archives: Garden Themes

Gardening 101~ Elevate Your Garden Game with Vertical Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide

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“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. ” B. C. Forbes

You may have recently seen my last episode on Why Trellising Your Tomato Plants is a Must-Do and 5 Tips for Success which somewhat relates to today’s topic on vertical gardening. In today’s episode I will be elaborating on this topic and showing you the benefits of gardening vertically!

Vertical gardening is a gardening technique that simply involves growing plants vertically, taking advantage of unused vertical space while creating a stunning visual display. Not only does it allow you to maximize your garden space, but it also has numerous benefits, including easier maintenance, better air circulation, and less pest and disease problems. If you’re new to vertical gardening and don’t know where to start, don’t worry – this beginner’s guide has got you covered. I’ll take you through the basics, from choosing the right plants and materials to setting up your vertical garden and caring for your plants. Get ready to elevate your garden game and create a stunning, space-saving garden that’s sure to impress.

Check out my YouTube video below for the whole scoop on vertical gardening & how it will benefit you!

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post on my Top 10 Favorite & Easy Vegetables to Grow for the Home Gardener!

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If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can see my full disclaimer here.

Gardening 101~ Why Trellising Your Tomato Plants is a Must-Do and 5 Tips for Success

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“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” ― Lewis Grizzard

I admit it… I haven’t always trellised my tomatoes. I’ve always used the standard tomato cage, but trellising is something I recently started doing. Yes, I have always known it is the best way to grow my tomatoes, I just never took the time. Well friends, I am taking the time now as it will provide me with a healthier & more abundant crop of tomatoes! 

Quite friendly, I got tired of my tomato plants sprawling all over the tomato cages & the raised beds taking up valuable space all the while making it difficult to harvest those ripe, juicy fruits. Trellising my tomato plants will provide more space for me to grow around them. This will allow me the opportunity to succession plant more effectively. 

It will also improve airflow and reduce the risk of diseases. Not to mention, trellised tomatoes are easier to care for and harvest, resulting in a better yield. 

Now you are asking, “Ok that’s all great Jean, but where do I start? You start right here friends! In today’s episode, I’ll provide you with 5 tips for successfully trellising your tomato plants, from choosing the right trellis to proper pruning techniques. Whether you’re a veteran gardener or novice just starting out, these tips will help you achieve a bountiful tomato harvest & beautiful garden. So let’s get started and take your tomato growing to the next level!

Watch my YouTube Video as I explain Why Trellising Your Tomato Plants is a Must-Do and 5 Tips for Success!

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post on my Top 10 Favorite & Easy Vegetables to Grow for the Home Gardener!

Here a few other photo’s of trellising:

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest stories in your inbox.

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can see my full disclaimer here.

From Lawn to Garden: Why Using Grass Clippings as Mulch is the Perfect Solution for Raised Beds

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“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood

Mulching your raised beds is crucial for optimal growth. There are several benefits to mulching with grass clippings, however there are a few techniques that you need to know!

Check out my easy tutorial on Gardening 101~ How-to Mulch Your Raised Beds with Grass Clippings. Check out my YouTube Video below!

Keep posted for my upcoming blog on the benefits of mulching with grass clippings!

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post on my Top 10 Favorite & Easy Vegetables to Grow for the Home Gardener!

If you enjoyed this blog , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest stories in your inbox.

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Gardening 101~ Maximizing Your Garden’s Yield: The Benefits and Techniques of Succession Planting

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“The first gatherings of the garden in May of salads, radishes, and herbs made me feel like a mother about her baby ― how could anything so beautiful be mine. And this emotion of wonder filled me for each vegetable as it was gathered every year. There is nothing that is comparable to it, as satisfactory or as thrilling, as gathering the vegetables one has grown.” ― Alice B. Toklas

Throughout the winter months I long for the warm days when I can get back into the dirt and smell the scent of plants growing. Yes, they do have a scent and all gardeners know it. It’s like the smell of the first lawn cutting, or the way the air smells after a heavy rain.. It is simply a romantic aroma!

Have you ever wondered how some of your gardening friends always have fresh produce when your garden seems to have given up the ghost? Or how farmers market vendors have fresh lettuce all season, and yours turns bitter and bolts?

What you may not know is their secret… and that’s what I’m going to share with you all of you today! It’s called succession planting, and it’s super easy to incorporate into your gardening plan.

Let’s talk about the benefits & techniques of succession planting. With this method, you can maximize your garden’s yield and enjoy a steady supply of fruits, herbs, & veggies  throughout the growing season.

In today’s blog post, I’ll teach you the various benefits of succession planting, including increased productivity and reduced waste. I’ll also discuss the different techniques and strategies you can use to implement this method successfully. So, whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting, today you will discover how to make the most of your garden with succession planting.

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post for more info on Succession Planting & a 3 Season Garden Plan!

If you enjoyed this blog , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest stories in your inbox.

You can get some really great tips in Elliot Coleman’s, Four Season Harvest!  Great book!
**Information adapted from Organic Gardening Magazine, “Keep It Coming” By Barbara Damrosch. Feb/Mar 2010, pg.s 42-47

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Gardening 101~ How-to Properly Plant Potatoes- HACK using store bought organic potatoes!

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 “A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world. He is producing something to eat, which makes him somewhat independent of the grocery business, but he is also enlarging, for himself, the meaning of food and the pleasure of eating.” ― Wendell Berry

Choose Organic Potatoes!

Growing potatoes is easier than you may think, however there are a few key tips & tricks!  Recently while I was at a few local garden centers, I was kind of amazed at how much seed potatoes were and thought to myself, “I wonder if I could use organic store bought ones?” Well, sure enough you can!  If you choose to do this, you’ll want to purchase organic potatoes as others have been treated with a anti-sprouting agent. 

PRO TIP: Be sure to store the potatoes in your fridge until you are ready to plant them. Take them out and place them on the counter at least a week before you want to plant them in order to stimulate root growth.

PRO TIP: In optimal growing conditions, you can count on harvesting approximately 10 pounds of potatoes for every pound you plant, give or take. You will want to take this into consideration when calculating how many potatoes you want to grow.

Now check out my easy YouTube Video, Gardening 101 Tutorial on How-to Properly Plant Potatoes- HACK using store bought organic potatoes!

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post on my Top 10 Favorite & Easy Vegetables to Grow for the Home Gardener!

If you enjoyed this blog , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest stories in your inbox.

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Gardening 101~ How-to plant invasive herbs such as mint, oregano, & thyme so they don’t take over your garden!

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“My passion for gardening may strike some as selfish, or merely an act of resignation in the face of overwhelming problems that beset the world. It is neither. I have found that each garden is just what Voltaire proposed in Candide: a microcosm of a just and beautiful society. ” Andrew Weil

Check out my easy YouTube video tutorial on how to properly plant invasive herbs such as mint, oregano, & thyme so they don’t overtake your gardens!

Supplies you’ll need:

Large planter
Ground cover or landscape fabric to line the inside of the planter
2 cups of pea gravel
Enough organic potting mix to fill the planter leaving about 2 inches of head space
1 perennial herb plant of your choice such as mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, or sage.

I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start! 

Be sure to check out my Blog Post on How to Create Container Gardens with Herbs and How-to grow Mint and Harvest them!

If you enjoyed this blog , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

Read all posts ↓

If you aren’t following me on Facebook or Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Until next time friends, eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Check Out My Classes Taking Place at the Waterford Parks & Rec Department for May!

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Join me as I begin teaching classes for the Waterford Parks & Recreation Department this May and throughout the year!

Plan Your Summer Garden Now!

Tips & Tricks on what & how to grow to ensure a successful growing season! In today’s class Jean Roman will discuss the best fruits, vegetables, and herbs to grow in your home garden, and how to care for them. She’ll share her wealth of knowledge on growing and how you can have a bountiful harvest. Roman will provide information on gardening in containers, raised beds, and traditional tillable gardens. Downloadable PDF will be provided to all attendees.

Register Here!

Plant Your Own Salad Bowl!

In this class you’ll plant your own salad container. Having fresh come again salad into the late fall will be so special!

All supplies will be included: planter, organic potting mix, variety of lettuces, and easy how-to care for sheet!

Supply fee of $30 to be paid on day of class directly to the instructor.

Register Here!

2023 Class Schedule for The Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market!

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Jean will be teaching monthly gardening & cooking classes May through October at the beautiful Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market!

Class Descriptions & Dates!

May 13th, Mothers Day Weekend

Container Gardening with Herbs: Learn how-to make & grow an herb garden planter! 

The container gardener is limited only by your imagination! Whether you have a large garden, raised beds, or the smallest patio or balcony, Jean will show you how you can reap a crop of herbs. It’s all in the harvesting friends! Today Jean Roman will showcase how you can create thriving herb containers you’ll be able to bring in during the winter as well, if you choose! Whether you are an experienced or novice gardener, this class will be loads of fun with tons of great information!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Learn how to make easy freezer strawberry jam!

June 17th

It’s strawberry season in Michigan friends! Join Jean Roman as she teaches you how easy it is to make homemade freezer strawberry jam! Recipe will be included. Roman will have her popular cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats available at a discounted price for attendees today. Samples will be provided.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!


How-to Make Homemade Pesto

July 8th, 2023

Easy & Delicious Pesto Sauce- How to make & preserve it! Jean Roman, Author, Podcaster, & Self-professed Master Gardener will teach you how to make her delicious & incredibly easy Pesto recipe, and how to preserve it so you can have it all winter long. She will share tips on how to grow & stimulate continued growth of your plants. Roman will have her popular cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats available at a discounted price for attendees today. Samples will be provided.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!


Plan your fall garden now! Lettuces, spinach, kale, broccoli, & more!

August 5th, 2023

Did you know you can continue growing delicious, fresh veggies late into the fall? Well, you can even here in Michigan. All you need to know is the right crops to plant, and how to care for them. Join Jean Roman as she guides you through the steps of preparing for a bountiful fall garden.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

How-to Make Marinara Sauce

September 23rd, 2023

Homemade Marinara Sauce- How to make & preserve summer’s bounty! Jean Roman, Author, Podcaster, & Self-professed Master Gardener will teach you how to make her delicious & incredibly easy Marinara sauce recipe from your homegrown tomatoes. Don’t grow your own? That’s ok, Jean will share how you can purchase large quantities at your local farmers market. She will have her popular cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats available at a discounted price for attendees today. Samples will be provided.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

October 15th

Fall Garden Clean Up: 10 Step How-to Fall Vegetable Garden Clean Up

Cleaning up your fall vegetable garden is an important step in preparing for next year’s crop. By removing dead or diseased plants, clearing debris, and adding compost and organic matter to the soil, you can improve the health of your soil and reduce the risk of pests and diseases for years to come. Jean Roman will go over her easy 10 Step How-to Fall Vegetable Garden Clean Up.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Easy How-to start spring garlic from garlic bulbs!

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“We’re only truly secure when we can look out our kitchen window and see our food growing and our friends working nearby.” ― Bill Mollison

Have you ever wondered how you can have spring garlic?

What is spring garlic you ask? Well, simply is very similar to scallions or green onions. You simply harvest your spring garlic like you would green onions.

You can start these in the house in mid to late March and transplant out according to your zones planting guide.

Check out this super easy tutorial on how to plant garlic cloves for spring garlic from your garlic bulbs. You can purchase garlic bulbs from most garden centers.

Keep posted for recipes coming on how to use your spring garlic!

Watch now at my YouTube Channel

This is not for fall planting! Keep posted for videos coming once I’m ready to harvest mine!

For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

Read all posts ↓

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, Share & leave me a comment!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook & Instagram go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden! 

Added bonus: You can go to my blog at http://www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats in either a spiral bound soft cover OR NEW, a Downloadable PDF version. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!

Until next time remember to,
Eat fresh, shop local & have a happy day,
Jean


Copyright Policy
All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Get Ready for Hummingbird Season: When to Start Setting Up Your Feeders

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If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I am an avid birder! I love to watch the birds, and I’ve always included my kids with that. We have a couple bird books where we date the first sightings of any birds we’ve seen.

Be sure to check out my blog on Feeding the Birds!

As the weather starts to warm up and the flowers start to bloom we are not the only ones getting excited! Another exciting part about spring is the arrival of hummingbirds is just around the corner. These tiny and colorful birds are a delight to watch as they flit around our yards, sipping nectar from flowers and feeders. 

If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, now is the time to start preparing. Setting up a hummingbird feeder is a great way to provide a source of food for these beautiful creatures and enjoy their presence throughout the season. But when is the best time to start setting up your feeder? In today’s episode, I’ll describe the best practices for getting ready for hummingbird season & share some tips on how to attract these amazing little wonders to your yard.

So, get ready to welcome the hummingbirds and create a beautiful and vibrant habitat in your backyard.

To learn all the tips & tricks on Getting Ready for Hummingbird Season: When to Start Setting Up Your Feeders, watch my YouTube Video below!

Check out my blog post on Feeding the Birds for more information on helping out our little feathered friends, and my recipe for Homemade Hummingbird Nectar!

Click HERE to see the 2023 Hummingbird Migration Map for The United States.

If you enjoyed this blog, please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook & Instagram go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden! 

For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

Read all posts ↓

Added bonus: You can go to my blog at http://www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats in either a spiral bound soft cover OR NEW, a Downloadable PDF version. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!

Until next time remember to,
Eat fresh, shop local & have a happy day,

Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.