I've been busy adding more Maine Wildflowers to the site. If you haven't already, please take a moment to visit my Maine Wildflowers page and explore the links to articles about common wildflowers in Maine.

You'll find a description of each wildflower and where to find it, along with tips for adding them to your woodland or wildflower gardens. 

Thanks to some amazing photographers willing to share their work, each wildflower has a delightful picture to help you identify it. I hope you find these useful and educational.

               Thanks for stopping by and until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!

I ran across these adorable heart-shaped molds for growing shaped vegetables on Burpee Seed this morning.  You can purchase a set of 4 molds for $14.99 and grow your own heart- or star-shaped veggies. 

I'll admit that I am a little partial to the heart-shaped cucumbers or zucchini, but I'm not so sure I like the shaped tomato slices.

If you are into the novelty of heart- or star-shaped fruits, this is a great deal on the molds. Until now, they have been very expensive and typically need to be imported from China.

Although I am tempted and would enjoy the novelty of a salad adorned with these delightful shapes, I'm not sure I will invest in ordering the molds - but you never know, the mood might strike when it gets nearer to gardening season here in Maine.

                                                      Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!

I woke up this morning thinking about fairy houses and fairy gardens. These delightful little houses brighten the garden and add a touch of whimsy. Whether you go natural with fairy houses made from wood and stone or go the fairy tale route and add twining vines and delicate flowers leading to a tower window is up to you.

If you are new to fairy houses, one of the easiest way to build one is to use a pre-made birdhouse as the base and add the finishing touches yourself. I have provided directions and tips for using a birdhouse to make a fairy house in How to Make a Fairy House to get you started.

You can also find more ideas on fairy houses and fairy gardens on my All About Fairies page.

                                                                             Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!

Every year when it comes time to  begin starting seeds I find myself scurrying through the house in search of containers to start my seeds in. It's not like I can't afford to buy peat pots or peat pellets for seed starting - it's just that when you live in rural Maine, sometimes you make due with what you have instead of trucking 20 miles to the nearest store.

Seed starting is one of those times for me. This winter I ran across these delightful little pots made from - you guessed it - toilet paper rolls. By cutting a toilet paper roll in half and clipping 4 slits on the bottom, you can fold them into a seed starting pot. You will need a piece of tape to hold the bottom flaps closed.

Not only are they absolutely free, they are biodegradable too, which means you can plant your seedlings 'pot and all' when the weather warms and it's time to put them in the ground.

Paper towel rolls or those leftover rolls from wrapping paper work great too. Just cut them down to size before you begin snipping and folding your seed starting pots. 

• Place the pots in a shallow container - I use the bottom tray on an old planter for mine, but you can use a baking old baking sheet or plastic container.  
  
• Fill them with seed starter. 
  
• Plant your seeds to the recommended depth.
  
• Water to moisten the soil. 
  
• Keep the soil moist until your seedlings emerge.
  

I've been working this week to create a Maine Wildflower page with a few of my favorite wildflowers. Although it isn't quite finished, yet, I couldn't wait to unveil it. 

You can see it at Maine Wildflowers

If you have a moment I'd love to hear your feedback on ways to improve this site and new topics you would like to see more information about. You can leave your thoughts in the comments or if you prefer a more personal response, fill out the form on Ask A Gardener 

Understanding your needs and interests helps me to build a better site that will be beneficial for both new and experienced gardeners.

                                                          Until next time  . . . HAPPY GARDENING!