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Growing Winter Herbs

Just because it’s colder, doesn’t mean you have to give up on your herb garden. Have you tried growing herbs in the winter? It can be easily done by using seeds from one of the listed herbs below and using a small planter to plant your little herb garden!

So, here are some herbs that do a little better in chilly weather—the perfect winter herbs to grow and eat. Remember that you can freeze or dry fresh herbs throughout the year to give yourself a supply of your own herbs through the winter months!

Rosemary is a perennial herb, which means that it can be grown year-round, and sturdy enough to defend it against icy temperatures. This herb will bloom throughout the year.

Rosemary pairs well with heartier meats like lamb and beef and its oils—have been used to treat things like poor memory, migraines, and digestive issues

Mint and parsley are both cold-hardy and parsley in particular will keep growing even through a little snow. Its slow growth, though, and you won’t be able to use that much of it unless you have a lot of plants. Parsley pairs great with beef, carrots, chicken, and fish. Parsley tea is an antioxidant, which means it flushes out toxins from the body. It is rich in vitamin C, which supports the absorption of iron in the body.

Thyme is also a great accompaniment to sage, as well as pork. These sturdy little shrubs will add brightness to your dishes few other herbs do thanks to its lemony tones. They will survive over the winter will little to no up-keep, though there will be very little growth as well. Thyme essential oil, which is obtained from its leaves, is often used as a natural cough remedy.

To keep your winter herbs thriving they will need as much natural light as possible. Place them in a sunny spot near a window where they’ll get at least 6 hours of sun daily. Windows that face south or southwest are your best shot at sun, though east- or west-facing windows also will do. North-facing windows are not bright enough. To find a cute decorative planter to start your garden you can find unique 3D printed planters at Flymeawaycreations shop on Etsy!

www.flymeawaycreaitons.com 8920-herbs-on-windowsill

Holiday Succulents

Succulents have been a hot trend for many years with no signs of leaving the spotlight. Not surprising, given they are an easy plant to maintain and come in a wide variety of forms; this is why I fell in love with these beautiful flowers! You can incorporate them into your planters such as many designs at(Flymeawaycreation Etsy shop) or your own DIY terrariums. They’re so picturesque; it would be a shame not to include them in our holiday decorations. From wreaths to a new take on the Christmas tree, succulents are the perfect way to spice up traditional holiday décor

Adding succulents is a chic way to update the typical holiday centerpiece for your fireplace mantel or dining room table. Even if you’re looking for the typical red, green and white color combo, the unusual color and textures of succulents will keep it interesting. Try adding roses and berries to bring in shades of red, or you can use candles to add the color of your choice.

Apart from a Christmas tree, wreaths might just be the most widely used holiday decoration, so why not make yours original? Succulent wreaths are popping up everywhere which makes them even easier to source. If you find (or make) one that isn’t geared toward the holidays, just add berries or red ribbon for an easy fix. Or go another method and cover a grapevine wreath with moss and add a simple cluster of succulents to make it pop.

The succulent kissing ball is a new twist on the traditional mistletoe version. Using a metal basket or moss ball to help form your base and then add a mixture of your favorite succulents and berries to create a one of kind kissing ball!

You can follow the link below to read instructions on creating your own succulent kissing ball!

http://www.goodshomedesign.com/how-to-make-a-succulent-ball/

yellow door succulent wreath product shot

hanging-succulents-planter-ball-102285741-hero

yellow door succulent wreath product shot

Taking care of Air Plants

Did you know the reason why this unique plant is nicknamed “Air Plants” because they get the majority of their nutrients from the air? Their true name is Tillandsia. Although air plants used to be a rare greenery, these hardy plants have become popular in the past couple years, so you can find them at almost any garden center—or even in the check-out line at the grocery store. There are also a number of online nurseries specializing in air plants.

These low-maintenance plants are the perfect little companions for home, work or school. They require very little up-keep, and are a nice green addition to brighten any setting regardless of the season.

They should not be placed in soil, and they love bright, indirect sunlight, or artificial light, and require good air circulation. A good sign for whether or not they are thirsty is the curvature of the leaves of your Air Plant. They will curl in as they are getting a little too dry. Their roots are only there for anchoring them as they grow, but are not necessary to maintain, and can be trimmed down without harm to the plant. If the tips of the plant begin to dry out, it is a sign that they might be getting too much direct sunlight or are a little dry.

If one of your plants looks severely dried out, pull off the bottom dried parts and place the plant in a bowl of water for several hours. In the winter, if your home’s heater is on, your air plants may look a little dry. Simply mist them with water (concentrating on the base of the plant) every few days to keep them looking fresh. When taking care of the plant Water/mist/soak more often if it is hot and dry, and less often when it is cold, dark or damp.

Many of the 3D printed planters that are listed at Flymeawaycreations shop works great with air plants! One of the newest planters that were just added this month (November) A cute whale works great holding small or medium size air plants! You can follow the link below to see the whale planter and many more 3D printed planters at the shop!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/643329634/whale-planter-for-air-plants

Gardening with Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is probably the largest insect you’ll see in your garden, and this predatory species is always on the prowl, eating pretty much any other insect that moves. The appearances of these insects can instantly spark curiosity among people who are able to see it. One of the things that people usually ask about praying mantises is their habitat. This is because many kids want to know if they would be able to find praying mantises in the backyards of their own homes.

I have several gardens throughout my yard and I’ve made the commitment to organic gardening. Attracting ladybugs and praying mantises is allowing me to get rid of pests without using chemicals. Beneficial insects often visit your garden by themselves if they can find an abundant food source. If ladybugs and praying mantises haven’t found your garden yet, attract them by providing water, ground cover and fragrant, colorful plants. Bushes are the preferred habitat for newly hatched praying mantis, so landscapes that include plenty of shrubbery usually have an abundance of this predatory insect.

Provide beneficial insects with ground cover for protection. During the day, insects need protection from predators, particularly birds and larger insects. Grow a low-growing plant, such as thyme or oregano, to give insects the cover they need. Alternatively, cover the soil with a layer of straw mulch or cut leaves. Also, practice organic pest control. Refrain from using any type of chemicals, including pesticides, in your garden. Pesticides kill most types of insects indiscriminately, making it impossible for praying mantises and ladybugs to live in the garden.

In gardens, praying mantises can feed on flies, mosquitoes, moths, and even roaches. They also prey these insects from day to night. There are a lot of kinds of moths that are responsible in damaging the appearances of leaves because they chew away the edges. Mantises can help control moth population in your garden!

I had the opportunity to see a praying mantis visiting one of my gardens a few weeks ago. I didn’t see it at first until I went into the house and turned around and it leaped onto my front door!

Herbal Tea Garden

Our family is expanded our southern tea choices to a few herbal teas over the past few weeks. Herbal teas can come in a wide range of tastes and flavors and make a tempting alternative to sugary beverages or water. In addition to being delicious, some herbal teas have health-promoting properties.

A tea garden is a delightful hobby. It will offer you with the delight of fresh herbal teas. You can drink a single herbal tea on its own, or you can try mixing together 2 or 3 different complementary herbal flavors with your southern sweet tea or Green tea! You can grow herbs for tea in relatively little space. If you choose to only include 1 or 2 tea herbs in your garden. It’s easy to grow your tea garden in the kitchen or inside near a window. Flymeawaycreations has several planters that work great starting out your tea garden. One planter that the shop offers is 3D printed Pyramid hanging planter or the Vintage metal lace planter. These planters can be hung by a window and offer a great way to showcase your herbal plants!

Most types of tea herb will thrive in fertile, well-drained soil. You can purchase fertilized soil at a garden supply center, or add your own compost to enrich the soil in your garden. There is a variety of herbs that create a smoothing tea. Such as peppermint plant, its tea is a perennial favorite for many people. Peppermint is generally easy to grow and enjoys semi-shaded spots. This herbal plant is great to plant indoors and especially is does not need full sun all day to thrive, so it can be planted in any room with partial sun light.

Have you consider planting lavender? Lavender leaves are a delightful, softly fragrant tisane that is perfect for making a soothing cup of tea. Lavender grows well when placed in in full sun. Plant your lavender in well-drained soil. It prefers not to be over-watered, so only water the lavender when its soil is completely dry. The lavender buds and flowers are both used for tea. Similarly to peppermint tea, lavender tea is recommended for reducing tension in your body and soothing headaches. I love making Lavender lemonade as well, you can check out my self-awareness blog to find the recipe to create this flavorful drink!

Lastly, chamomile is one of the more common herbs used in teas. It is a delightful apple-scented herb, which is traditionally used to induce calm and sleep. Chamomile needs full sun to semi-shade. Chamomile flowers are easily grown from seeds. The flowers are the preferred part for making the tea! The tea is a caffeine-free alternative to black or green tea and for its earthy, somewhat sweet taste that is loaded with antioxidants that could help lowers your risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

By following the links below you can see the different types of hanging planters that the shop offers to help start your Herbal Tea Garden inside!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/604127762/hanging-planter-3d-printed-pyramid

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188713701/hanging-metal-planter