When you’re planning your vegetable garden, it’s easy to focus on what you want to harvest—tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers. But one of the simplest ways to grow a healthier, easier garden is often overlooked: adding herbs and flowers right into your vegetable beds. Herbs and flowers don’t just add color. They help attract beneficial insects,…
Lemon Balm Mojito Mocktail for Dry January | Garden-Fresh Herbal Drinks
I don’t drink alcohol very often, but I’ve been seeing a lot about Dry January lately. If you decided to take the challenge — or you just want something refreshing without alcohol — this is a great time to have a few fun, flavorful options on hand. One of my favorite things to use in…
How to Make Fragrant Herb Posies from Your Garden
Sunday’s weather was perfect for working in the yard, but a low of 26° was predicted for Monday morning. We’ve had one light frost, but this was going to be a real freeze—the kind that can damage tender herbs overnight. As I went out to my shed to gather what I would need to cover…
Herbal Infused Water Recipes to Beat the Heat
When it’s blazing hot outside, staying hydrated is key. Herbal-infused waters are a refreshing way to cool down, and you can use herbs straight from your garden. Here are 3 great recipes to try. Recipe 1: Cucumber, Mint & Lemon 1 small cucumber, sliced A handful of fresh mint leaves 2–3 lemon slices Let sit…
Cool Down with Lavender Lemonade: A Garden-Fresh Summer Sip
After a long, humid day in the garden, there’s nothing like a cool glass of something refreshing to bring you back to life — and this lavender lemonade is exactly that. It’s floral, tangy, and just the right amount of sweet. Lavender isn’t just pretty in the garden. When steeped into a simple lemonade, it…
How to Grow a Simple Herb Tea Garden
Have you ever brewed your own tea straight from the garden? If not, this might be the year to start. I’ve been growing herbs for years—most often to help repel garden pests and attract beneficial insects to my vegetables. It’s something I talk about often in my blog and include in my No Fuss Garden…
Chamomile: How to Grow and Brew This Soothing Tea Herb
Remember Peter Rabbit? After his wild adventure in Mr. McGregor’s garden, his mother tucked him into bed with a soothing cup of chamomile tea—a timeless remedy for frazzled nerves and upset tummies. If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow herb that brings calm in a cup, chamomile is it. With its gentle apple-like scent and relaxing…
Creamy Herb Garden Dip: A Fresh and Flavorful Holiday Appetizer
With the holiday season in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about holiday meals and get togethers. While traditional holiday meals are always a hit, why not add a fresh and flavorful twist by incorporating herbs from your own garden? Imagine the smell of freshly picked herbs drifting through your kitchen as you prepare…
Christmas Herbs: Rosemary
Herbs have been valued for thousands of years, with depictions even found in prehistoric cave paintings. It’s no surprise they were commonly used during the time of Jesus, as they were common in Mediterranean landscapes. While reading about the significance of rosemary at Christmas, I was fascinated to learn about its connection to the Nativity…
Lemon Balm
Citronella Lemon Balm We have had unseasonably warm weather and a lot of rain over the last couple of weeks. I was in my garden a few days ago enjoying the 74 degree weather. I’m not fooled into thinking we won’t have another frost but I was using this pretty weather to add compost and…