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🌸 Lemon & Lavender Flower Shortbread Tart

Easter is the perfect time to celebrate the beauty of spring with light, colorful, and creative treats. If you’re looking to move beyond the usual chocolate eggs and bunny cupcakes, this Lemon & Lavender Flower Shortbread Tart is a unique, elegant dessert that captures the freshness of the season. Topped with delicate edible flowers, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious — a showstopper for your Easter table.

✨ Ingredients:

For the Shortbread Crust:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp dried edible lavender buds (optional, for extra floral touch)

For the Lemon Curd:

¾ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
Zest of 2 lemons
¾ cup sugar
3 large eggs
½ cup unsalted butter, cubed

For Decoration:

Edible flowers: pansies, violas, nasturtiums, borage, or marigold petals
Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Powdered sugar, for dusting

🌿 Instructions:

1. Make the Shortbread Crust:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy.
Mix in the flour, salt, and lavender until a soft dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Prick the bottom with a fork.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool.

2. Prepare the Lemon Curd:

In a medium saucepan, whisk together lemon juice, zest, sugar, and eggs.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 8–10 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in the butter, one piece at a time, until smooth.
Pour the curd into the cooled crust and chill for at least 2 hours until set.

3. Decorate:

Just before serving, gently place edible flowers and mint leaves over the set curd.
Lightly dust with powdered sugar for a soft, springtime finish.

🌸 Tips:

Use only certified edible, pesticide-free flowers from a trusted source.
Add a little honey drizzle or a lavender-infused whipped cream on the side for extra indulgence.
This tart is best enjoyed the same day it’s decorated, so the flowers stay fresh.

🌸 How to Take Care of an Easter Lily Plant

Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) are those beautiful, trumpet-shaped white flowers that often show up around springtime, especially during Easter celebrations. They’re elegant, fragrant, and surprisingly easy to care for — if you know what they like! Let’s dive into how to keep your Easter lily happy and healthy.

🌞 Light

Easter lilies love bright, indirect light. If you’re keeping it indoors, place it near a sunny window but out of direct, harsh afternoon sun — too much direct light can scorch the leaves. A spot with morning sunlight or filtered light is ideal.

If you decide to move your Easter lily outdoors, it’ll thrive in a spot with partial shade or filtered sunlight, especially in the warmer months.

💧 Watering

These plants prefer their soil to be evenly moist but never soggy. Water your Easter lily when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Be careful not to overwater — good drainage is key to preventing root rot.

When watering:

Water thoroughly until it runs out the bottom of the pot.
Empty any excess water from the saucer to keep the roots healthy.

In drier indoor environments or hotter weather outdoors, you might need to water more often.

🌱 Soil

Easter lilies grow best in well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. A quality potting mix with added perlite or sand will help improve drainage. If planting outside, make sure the garden soil drains well — heavy clay soils should be amended with compost or sand.

🏡 Indoors or Outdoors?

Indoors: Easter lilies are often grown indoors as a decorative plant around spring. After the blooms fade, you can either keep it as a houseplant (it may go dormant) or move it outside.
Outdoors: Once the danger of frost has passed, you can transplant your Easter lily outdoors. They’re perennial in USDA zones 4-9, meaning they’ll come back year after year with proper care.

🐾 Is It Safe for Pets?

🚨 Important Note: Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats — even a small nibble on a leaf or a sip of water from the vase can be very dangerous, causing kidney failure.

For dogs and other pets, they aren’t considered as toxic, but it’s still best to keep them out of reach as they can cause stomach upset if chewed.

If you have curious kitties in your home, it’s safest to either skip Easter lilies or keep them in a room your pets can’t access.

🌸 Final Tips

Remove spent flowers to encourage longer blooming.
Avoid placing the plant near heating or cooling vents.
If planting outdoors, give your lily space — about 12-18 inches apart from other plants.

With a little attention and the right care, your Easter lily can bring beauty to your home or garden well beyond Easter!

New! Refer a Friend & Earn Rewards at Printhousedesign 🌿

Hey plant fam! 👋

We’re super excited to share something we’ve been working on just for you — our brand-new Referral Program at Printhousedesign1 STARTS this MONDAY! It’s our way of spreading the love (and the leaves) while saying thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community.

Here’s how it works:

🌿 Give $5, Get $5
Send your unique referral code to your friends. When they place their first order of $15 or more, they get $5 off, and you’ll get $5 store credit to use on anything you love — plants, planters, gifts, you name it.

And there’s more… 🌼

We’re adding extra perks just for our true plant lovers:

🌱 Refer 3 friends = Free mini plant or seed packet
🌷 Refer 5 friends = $15 shop credit or an exclusive planter

The more friends you refer, the more green goodies you earn. It’s a win-win!

Ready to start sharing?

SPECIAL CODE: REFERAL5 ( give this code to friends & family & make sure she/he/they mention YOUR name so you can GRAB YOUR DEALS)

We’re so grateful for your support — you help us grow, in every sense of the word. 💚

Angela

Printhousedesign owner

🌼 What Bulbs to Plant in April for Summer Blooms

As the soil warms and spring fully settles in, April is the perfect time to dig in and plant summer-flowering bulbs that will bring vibrant color and joy to your garden during the hottest months of the year. These bulbs love the warming days and will reward you with show-stopping blooms in late spring through summer.

Here’s a list of bulbs to plant in April, along with some care tips to help them thrive:

🌷 Dahlias

Bold, beautiful, and available in nearly every color and size, dahlias are a must-have for any summer garden. Whether you love the dinner-plate varieties or the charming pom-poms, dahlias are show-stoppers.

Planting tip: Plant dahlia tubers in well-drained soil and full sun after the danger of frost has passed.
Bloom time: Midsummer through first frost.
Care: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Taller varieties may need staking.

🌺 Gladiolus

Known for their tall, spiky blooms, gladiolus add vertical interest to beds and borders. They’re fantastic for cutting gardens, too!

Planting tip: Plant the corms 4–6 inches deep in groups every couple of weeks in April and May for a longer blooming season.
Bloom time: 8–12 weeks after planting.
Care: Keep soil moist during the growing season, and support with stakes if needed.

🌸 Lilies

Oriental and Asiatic lilies bring elegance and fragrance to the summer garden. They’re perfect for borders and containers.

Planting tip: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Plant bulbs about 6 inches deep.
Bloom time: Early to late summer, depending on the variety.
Care: Mulch to keep roots cool, and water during dry spells.

🌿 Crocosmia

These fiery red, orange, or yellow blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies. With sword-like foliage, they’re a great textural plant.

Planting tip: Space bulbs 3–4 inches apart in a sunny location.
Bloom time: Midsummer to late summer.
Care: Water regularly and divide clumps every few years to prevent overcrowding.

🌼 Calla Lilies

Sleek, trumpet-shaped flowers in a rainbow of colors, calla lilies work well in containers or flower beds.

Planting tip: Choose moist, rich soil and a partly shaded spot.
Bloom time: Late spring through summer.
Care: Keep soil moist and fertilize monthly during the growing season.

🌹 Tuberous Begonias

Ideal for shaded patios or hanging baskets, these lush bloomers bring color to low-light areas.

Planting tip: Start tubers indoors in pots, then move them outside after frost.
Bloom time: Summer through fall.
Care: Protect from direct, hot sun. Keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy.

🐝 Bonus Tip: Add a Pollinator Twist

Plant summer bulbs alongside wildflowers or herbs like lavender, basil, or echinacea to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Not only will your garden look stunning, but it’ll also be buzzing with life.

April is your moment to dream in color! With just a little digging now, you’ll have a garden bursting with summer beauty in a few short months. Get your bulbs in the ground, grab a glass of sweet tea, and start counting down the days to blooms!

Happy planting! 🌸🌿

Sage Advice: How to Grow and Care for Sage in Your Garden

If you’re dipping your toes into herb gardening, sage is one of the best herbs to start with. This beautiful, aromatic plant not only adds savory flavor to your dishes, but it also brings soft green-grey texture to your garden or containers. Whether you’re planting in the ground or in a pot on your porch, sage is a hardy herb that’s beginner-friendly and low-maintenance.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know—from seed to harvest!

🌱 How to Plant Sage Seeds

When to Start:
Start sage seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost. If you’re in a warm climate, you can also direct sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Seed starting tray or small pots
- Seed-starting mix (light and well-draining)
- Sage seeds
- Spray bottle or gentle watering can
Planting Steps:
- Fill your tray or pots with seed-starting mix.
- Place 2–3 sage seeds in each cell or pot, pressing them gently into the soil—about ¼ inch deep.
- Mist with water to moisten the soil without washing the seeds away.
- Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a humidity dome to help germination.
- Place the tray in a warm spot with plenty of indirect sunlight (or under grow lights).
Germination Time:
Sage seeds can take 10–21 days to sprout, so be patient and keep the soil moist but not soggy.

🌿 Transplanting and Sage Plant Care

Once your seedlings are 2–3 inches tall and have a few sets of true leaves, they’re ready to move outdoors.

Choosing the Right Spot:
- Sage loves full sun, so choose a sunny area in your garden or a bright spot on your patio.
- It prefers well-drained soil—consider raised beds or containers with good drainage.
Transplanting Tips:
- Space your sage plants about 18–24 inches apart.
- Water well after transplanting to help the roots settle in.
Watering & Care:
- Sage doesn’t like wet feet! Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Once established, sage is drought-tolerant and doesn’t need much babying.
- Trim leggy stems to encourage bushier growth.
Fertilizer:
Sage doesn’t need much fertilizer. In fact, too much can reduce its flavor. A compost-rich soil will usually do the trick.
Pests & Problems:
Sage is pretty pest-resistant, but keep an eye out for aphids or spider mites. A gentle spray of water or insecticidal soap can help if needed.

✂️ How to Harvest Sage

You can begin harvesting sage once your plant is well-established and about 6–8 inches tall.

Best Time to Harvest:
Morning, after the dew dries but before the sun gets too hot, is the best time to harvest for maximum flavor.
How to Cut:
- Snip a few leaves or cut stems just above a leaf node (where new leaves are growing).
- Always leave at least two-thirds of the plant to keep it healthy.
Drying & Storing:
- Tie stems together and hang them upside down in a cool, dry spot with good air circulation.
- Once dry, crumble the leaves and store them in an airtight jar away from sunlight.

Have you grown sage before, or are you just getting started? Let us know in the comments below and share your favorite way to use fresh sage in the kitchen!

Happy gardening!