Summer Ideas, Tips & Guides

If the thought of summer squash brings to mind images of yellow crooknecks and little else, get ready to make a new discovery – there are so many different types!These include straightnecks, zucchini, pattypans, ro

Outdoor entertaining season has already started to kick off—if you're wondering what types of trends will be big when it comes to hostingal fresco in 2023, read on for insight from a variety of experts.

We have compiled a list of the best Summer Flowers that Won’t Stop Blooming despite the scorching sun, pesky pests, and occasional bouts of neglect. From hardy perennials to heat-tolerant annuals, these flowers are perfect for brightening up your garden and impressing your neighbors.

Summer snapdragon, Angelonia angustifolia, is a member of the Plantaginaceae family, a very large group that includes plantain, penstemon, and foxglove.It is cultivated as a tender perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11

 Our Aberdeen Garden Its not the end of Aberdeen gardening, however this is the last post coming to you from our present garden

Of all the things we love most about summer, the return of outdoor markets and antique fairs ranks high on the list. But even people who love the thrill of the flea market chase can admit that it’s often an overwhelming experience. How do you know if you’re buying something at a fair price? What’s a great find versus a total scam? And where can you find all the best markets to shop 'til you drop?

Hydrangeas are a great way to add summer interest to the home landscape. Ranging in both size and color, hydrangea species available to flower gardeners are sure to delight. Though most of these plants are considered to be easy to grow, some seasonal care will be needed in order to ensure that each continues to produce an abundance of blooms.

Build this simple barbecue pit; it’s a relatively easy job and likely to cost less than a fancy new gas grill. With the right tools, materials, and a little skill, you can put together a basic brick barbecue in a weekend. Visit This Old House to read the full DIY post!

Escape to a world of greenery and serenity with these captivating Summer Balcony Garden Ideas from Instagram. Discover innovative plant arrangements, cozy seating areas, and clever space-saving hacks that will transform your balcony into a picturesque haven!

An entryway is often the gateway to not only your house style but design personality. And what better way to express yourself than with a doormat?

There’s more to your spring garden than daffodils, crocuses and tulips. Yet so embedded are these beautiful flowering bulbs in our gardening psyche that it’soften hard to see beyond them – which is a great shame. At this time of year, garden centres and nurseries are groaning with traditional spring flowering bulbs but also some far more exciting and arguably classier late spring and summer bloomers. Let’s take a look around and let’s get planting. Alliums

A Summer Gardening School in Sweden The wonderful thing about writing about gardens and gardening is that you get to go to some amazing places and meet lots of people who share your interests.  My recent visit to Sweden where I visited the island of Oland to write about the Summer Gardening School at Capellagarden  was just such a  treat.  Capellagarden is a fascinating place – it’s a creative school where international students attend year long courses in cabinet making and furniture design, ceramics, textile craft and design, and ecological gardening. They also run week long summer courses, including one on gardening, which was why I was there.

Summer: the season of endless sunshine, vibrant blooms, and carefree days. It’s a time when we relax, spend more time outdoors, and slow down the pace of life.  As the temperatures rise and the world awakens from its slumber, you might find yourself yearning to embrace the spirit of summer and all the joy it brings. Summer quotes can help you do just that.

While many of the plants in the garden are looking a bit dusty and past their best and are needing a good tidy, or at least a deadheading, the Begonia grandis ssp. evansiana is flourishing and flowering prolifically in dry semi-shade. It is happy enough to be self-seeding, so I’

Collaborative post

Sweet Summer Love The thing about spending more time on the computer instead of working outdoors as I would be when both legs work, is that I keep discovering more plants that I would like to grow. Reading @Graham_Rice’s blog on www.mygarden.rhs.org.uk I’m completely bowled over by his description of Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’ which he describes as “the first fragrant clematis with large colourful flowers” while the Polish breeder describes the scent as “delicate, sweet, with elements of evening stock, Viola and vanilla with a note of almond”.

Prepare frozen watermelon sorbet, make it more refreshing for summer by adding ingredients like squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint. The recipe is here.

Are you ready for some sunshine, laughter and family fun?  This collection of funny summer jokes for kids and summer puns are perfect for sunny days.

Photo: H&M / Image Treatment: The Spruce

Storing Summer Sunshine Despite the blight, I’m still picking tomatoes from the survivors, as well as from the greenhouse crop which remains in good shape.  There are only so many tomato salads and sandwiches we can manage to eat, so every few days I am slow roasting the surplus in olive oil with herbs, garlic and seasoning, to freeze  for winter eating.  They are spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, put into a moderate oven and roasted until they start to char and caramelise.  Then they are left to cool in a bowl before putting them through a mouli mill to remove the skins, seeds and stalks. At this stage I check the flavour and if it is not quite intense enough I will reduce it down a bit before freezing it.  Today’s glut is winter’s delight.

Perennial asters, from the Aster, Stokesia, and Symphyotrichum genera, are members of the Asteraceae or daisy family.They are transition flowers that bloom from late

For Christopher Griffin, plants are about so much more than just adding a bit of green to your home: they're about self-reflection and helping you connect with nature.

Whether you prefer delicate flowers, bold foliage, or a combination of both, there are perennials that can meet your gardening needs. Read on to learn more about Perennials for Shade That Bloom all Summer.

By the time mid-summer rolls around, us gardeners are looking to enjoy the fruits of our labors.We put in those long hours in early s

In summer, especially in warm Mediterranean, tropical or subtropical climate zones those who live in cities and have balconies as the “green oasis,” the plants there get exposed to strong, intense sunlight. But with our 6 balcony garden tips, you can cope the summer heat and grow plants easily.

Flowers don't just make you happy — they can make you healthier, too, says Gwenn Fried, manager of Horticulture Therapy at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation. «Nature has a huge impact on health and wellness,» she says. «We know that people's cortisol levels go down in a calm, green environment.» Our list of gorgeoussummer flowers will help you create the perfect flower garden on a balcony, backyard or front porch. Expect tall delphiniums, vibrant marigolds and various perennial flowers such as asters, daisies, daylilies. Some blooms on the list, like bacopas and salvias, make greatground cover plants for their ability to fill in shady spots (like in between tree roots). Others are eye-catching additions to pots — take sunflowers and peonies, for example. Whether you're a beginner or an expert gardener, you can enjoy the plant care process by following our gardening guide for tips. What's more, we even include the best ways to keep your summer flowers thriving. We share everything from their preferred level of sunlight to the best soil types (many prefer well-drained).

As the growing season winds down in the temperate zones of the US, gardeners have their work cut out for them. Flower and vegetable gardens alike have mature plants that have become scraggly and leggy with brown leaves, an overwhelming array of dead flower heads…the list goes on.How can you begin to tame this jungle and get things back in shape?Pe

Despite the recent heat wave here in Utah, summer is definitely on its way out. (Where has the time gone?!) I did quite a bit of planting, pruning, and general gardening earlier this summer, so for the past several weeks we’ve been able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of all that labor.

The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Amy Sheehan / Hamlin Row Shop

Image Treatment by The Spruce / Etsy

This summer, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and your family from summertime pests like mosquitos. While a mosquito bite may seem like no big deal, mosquitos are notoriously effective at spreading disease, and could easily transfer that disease to you through that little bug bite. This year, there is a lot of concern about the Zika virus. Back in February, the World Health Organization declared the Zika outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” Zika virus disease has fairly mild symptoms for most people, like fever, joint pain, and irritated eyes. However, Zika can cause severe birth defects if contracted by pregnant women, which makes this virus a significant cause for concern. (For additional information about Zika virus disease, visit the CDC’s Zika virus website.)

While perennials add longevity to our gardens, annuals are great for adding a single-season punch of vivid color, interesting form, or a splash of fragrance wherever they’re needed.They’re terrific in beds and borders, and

Summer is the perfect time of year for so many things—dining outdoors, hosting events, and reconnecting with nature. Thanks to longer days and warmer weather, the coming months are also ideal for finding a new activity or rekindling your love for something you haven’t had a chance to do in a while. 

Do you love the bright flavor and aroma of fresh herbs? Then you should really devote some time and garden space to growing summer savory.An annual herb, Satureja hortensis is a low-growing plant tha