Showing posts with label outside. Show all posts

thinning peaches * editing life

23 September 2021

Every spring our peaches need thinning. If there are too many peaches on a branch they will be small and not as sweet. By removing all of the peaches but one every hand or so down the branch you allow the peaches that are left to have more air, sunlight, and nutrients.

It seems counter-intuitive to pluck all of these off but

the reward comes in the summer when the peaches are beautiful and juicy!

It is the same in life don't you think? When we take time to edit, re-evaluate, take out, and remove things that are crowding our lives we give ourselves more light, air, and focus. Brooke Romney shared a list I loved called "12 Ways to Protect Your Peace" that goes right along with this.

We had so many peaches this year! Too many -- we couldn't give them away fast enough and had to hurry and bottle and then make jam.

Our favorite tutorial for bottling peaches is here.

And our favorite easy peach jam recipe is here.

Here's to thinning peaches and life!

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thinning peaches * editing life

a favorite perrenial : black eyed susan * rudbeckia hirta

18 September 2021

Hello! Welcome to Day 4 of Every Day September! I wanted to share a favorite perennial that has consistently thrived in the heat, is super low maintenance, and done well year after year. The black eyed susan! (rudbeckia hirta)

I believe this variety is called the "Indian Summer" but they are beautiful cut as well to bring some cheer inside. We are in planting zone 6-7 but it looks like these thrive in zones 3-7. As we walk around our neighborhood and drive kids around town I see it doing well all over. I have probably only fertilized in a handful of times over the past 5 years. We love low maintenance, high impact!

I shared a video on Instagram showing how it compared in the July/August heat to some other perennials if that would be helpful.

What is your go-to, never fail perennial in your area?

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a favorite perrenial : black eyed susan * rudbeckia hirta

an easy DIY fall outdoor berry wreath

01 September 2021

All of my patriotic decor is still up on my porch and it looks like summer but I was in Michael's and saw these great autumn berry picks and so I bought a couple (around $4 each). They are bigger in person than they look online and I think the color is perfect. Simply take them apart (I only ended up using 2)

and tucked them in my wreath from Hearth & Hand at Target. This is the BEST wreath and they are back in stock! You can leave it up year round and add some seasonal touches or change up the ribbon when the mood strikes. Or it is beautiful as is! If you can find this one in your area it also looked great in person. It's an easy fall upgrade for around $8. I did the same thing 2 years ago with white pumpkins if you prefer that look.

Happy September 1! I'm ready for a change in season! (Can you tell?)

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an easy DIY fall outdoor berry wreath

favorite spring flowering groundcover perennials for a rock wall or landscape

05 May 2021

You are probably sick of me saying how glorious May is in Utah. It is green and colorful everywhere and smells so wonderful and I can't get enough of it. It is also such a busy month! I feel like I should be in the yard all day working outside in the perfect temps though and wish I could.

This is what we began with. I do wish we had done natural rock steps but we had never really discussed with the builder and we came over one day and the steps and railing were there. I also think it had to do something with code. Anyway, we wanted to add some color and variety to the plain brown so these are the ones we've had success with. They have all spread niceley but aren't invasive since they will stay put if cut back and are like zero maintenance. We make sure they get some water in the summer that's about it but these also seem pretty drought tolerant.

I just asked neighbors when I was on walks in the neighborhood if I saw something I liked and then went to the nursery to see if they had it. I don't know if these do well in all areas but they have been wonderful in garden zone 6a in Utah.

The yellow is basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxtilis)

These white flowers are candytuft plant (Iberis sempervirens)

The purple and pink are creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)

And the sedum sod was a pack from Costco years back that has also spread nicely.

Rock Cress is also a great one -- this is on the side of the house.

Now I also planted vinca vine along the stairs and I don't know if I would so that again -- it spreads like crazy and is more invasive but I'll let you know.