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Home Survival Skills: How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden

by Jessica Yonker March 12, 2013 6 Comments

After spending early March enduring not only freezing temperatures but also out-of-the-ordinary snow, Knoxville finally saw its first bit of spring weather this weekend. While it’s still a little chilly out, the sunny skies were just what many of us needed to get started on outdoor projects.

The nice weather inspired me to pick up a couple of seed packets and give my poor roommates a break from all our spring cleaning duties. We started a couple of flowers and spring veggies, but I’m most excited for our soon-to-be kitchen herb garden.

Growing an herb garden indoors isn’t difficult as long as you know what to plant. Herbs like mint and oregano can tolerate low-light conditions and are easily grown from seed, but herbs like basil and thyme require more sunlight and care to thrive.

Ready to get growing? Get full planting instructions right here.

What are you itching to grow this spring?

Share Pics of Your Garden on HGTVGardens.com

by Kayla Kitts March 12, 2013 3 Comments

Believe it or not, we’re almost halfway through the month of March. Can you believe it?! That means spring is right around the corner and beautiful flowers are going to start popping up left and right. I’m constantly intrigued (and a bit jealous) of everyone’s gardens. I mean, I live in an apartment where my “garden” consists of a few houseplants and one unknown container of soil on the patio. As a future gardener, I’m constantly searching for tips and ideas. One of my favorite places to seek advice is from our newest sister site, HGTVGardens.com.

Share photos of your plants, flowers, garden and outdoor spaces by joining the HGTV Gardens community. After you join, you’ll be prompted to add a photo of yourself, write a short bio and set your location (this will help determine your gardening zone). After that, you can start uploading images, creating photo albums and writing captions. You can make your albums public or private. I suggest making them public so we can all gawk over your fabulous garden. Go ahead and get started by creating an HGTV Gardens profile.

In the meantime, check out some garden photos from the HGTV.com editorial team.

Passion Flower on HGTVGardens.com Passion flower in Leanne Potts’ garden

Leanne Potts, vice president of editorial, has uploaded pictures of everything from marigolds to cacti. She even includes some plant finds from a recent trip to Santa Fe, NM.

Explore Leanne’s garden at HGTVGardens.com. >>

Purple Crocuses on HGTVGardens.com Purple crocuses in Liz Gray’s garden

HGTV.com senior editor and Design Happens blogger, Liz Gray, is a self-proclaimed “novice gardener and farmers’ market lover.” If you’ve been following Liz’s series, House Diaries, then you know she recently moved into a home that has provided quite a few surprises, both inside and outside. One of the best things that came with her 1950s home? The daffodils, lilies and crocuses that bloom in the spring.

Explore Liz’s garden at HGTVGardens.com. >>

More Garden Photos From HGTV.com Editors

Daily Delight: Our Favorite Orange Flowers

by Jessica Yonker March 12, 2013 2 Comments

You may already know this, but we’re in love with carrot this month. So in honor of Plant a Flower Day, we rounded up our favorite orange perennials that you can plant right now for vibrant summer blooms.

See our favorite orange flowers and get planting instructions from HGTV.com's blog, Design Happens. Blackberry Lily / Mum / Klondyke Azalea
Dwarf Red Hot Poker / Dahlia / Blanket Flower /Pansy / Juila Child Rose

Happy planting! Visit the links below to get more information on each of these lively varieties:
Blackberry Lily
Mums
Klondyke Azalea
Red Hot Poker Lily
Dahlia
Blanket Flower
Pansy
Rose

Daily Delight: Terrarium Fever

by Jessica Yonker February 28, 2013 5 Comments

We’re expecting a few new little faces at HGTV headquarters, so it’s no surprise the Design Happens crew has caught a severe case of baby fever. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just as baby crazy as everyone else around here, but there is something else I’ve been fawning over lately: terrariums.

We're still loving terrariums at HGTV's Design Happens. Propeller Vine / Butterfly Aquarium
Ornaments / Pear Air Plants / Hanging Score & Solder

I could look at terrariums all day. And with no foreseeable end to winter, thanks to our crazy Tennessee weather, I plan to make a terrarium of my own to put some life back into my home while I wait for spring.

Learn how to make your own terrarium in less than 20 minutes >>

Dig Into HGTVGardens.com

by Farima Alavi February 26, 2013 No Comments

Have you seen the new HGTVGardens site? It’s a proud new addition to our family — and let me tell you — it’s pretty amazing. It has all you need to know about getting started with gardening and goes way beyond that.

Spring Gardening

I like to start out with the user-friendly plant finder, which has a list of thousands of varieties. The plants are conveniently organized alphabetically, but not sure which plant you want? No problem — you can search by zone and type, and each plant is listed with recommended light and moisture levels.

HGTV Gardens Plant Finder Tool

Explore More of HGTVGardens.com

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Daily Delight: Rainbow-Pour Painted Pots

by Grant Dudley February 21, 2013 7 Comments

Either I’ve been inspired by the new HGTV Gardens website, or I know that spring is just around the corner (March 20!), or maybe it’s both — but, I can’t get enough of outdoorsy talk. Plants, flowers, gardens, warmer temps, beach vacations, whatever — bring it!

I noticed this week while perusing Pinterest that my fellow blogger Jessica pinned this photo below. This is a craft project from Dilly-Dali Art that you can do with your kiddos that will be fun for them and you, and the end result will be a stunning pot to use for your spring flowers.

From Dilly-Dali Art

Do you have spring fever, yet?

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Daily Delight: Enchanting Treehouse in the City

by Grant Dudley February 20, 2013 7 Comments

If you haven’t heard (where have you been?), HGTV Gardens launched yesterday with a new website. It’s all anyone in the office can talk about (it’s that good!). And so, I’ve been flipping through the site all morning — and look what I’ve come across. This three-room treehouse strung together with wooden bridges is a secret hideaway in the middle of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Fascinating, right?

It sort of reminds me of the hugely popular Hobbit Houses post I did back in December.

A House on High: Image courtesy of Ben Rollins

Treehouse Inside: Look at the Stunning Interiors >>

Home Survival Skills: 15 Amazing Uses for Spices and Herbs

by Jessica Yonker February 5, 2013 9 Comments

The spice cabinet is by far my favorite part of the kitchen. The aroma of cinnamon and red peppers, the endless flavor combinations waiting to be discovered . . . I could go on for days.

Perhaps you remember all the great ways you can use vinegar around your home. You’ll quickly find that herbs and spices are no different, offering natural solutions for both you and your home. Plus, it’s likely you already have several of these super-spices at home – probably more than you know what to do with – making them a practically free cure-all.

The Spices

Cayenne Pepper: An easy to grow hot pepper great for adding a kick to any dish, cayenne pepper is a powerful sinus-cleanser (as many hot-sauce aficionados may know) and also great for getting rid of pests.

Cinnamon: One of the most commonly used spices, cinnamon smells good and is good for you.

Garlic: Garlic isn’t actually an herb or a spice, but a member of the lily family – making it kin to other bulbs like onions, shallots and chives. Besides its numerous uses in the kitchen, garlic can do everything from clear up acne to protect your pet from parasites.

Ginger: Ginger root has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes such as treating digestive problems or a nasty cold.

Ginseng: Like ginger, ginseng is harvested for its healing properties and can also help you feel more energetic.

Mint: The mint family actually covers a wide range of plants that includes basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage. Mint is versatile and used in cleansers, can deter pests and can also soothe a tooth or tummy ache.

Other beneficial spices include – but certainly aren’t limited to – turmeric, parsley, saffron, nutmeg, cloves and countless others.

Tricks to Try

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Daily Delight: Fall Color

by Grant Dudley October 25, 2012 6 Comments

Are you experiencing stunning fall color in your neck of the woods? Beauty is all around us this time of year — get out there and enjoy it!

From paperbowlsnlemons.tumblr.com

So tell me, where have you spotted amazing fall color?

Flowers + Foliage Photos From HGTV’s Garden Galleries

Featured

Daily Delight: Vintage Storefront Greenhouse

by Grant Dudley October 2, 2012 4 Comments

This vintage storefront greenhouse comes complete with reclaimed windows, wood flooring and a wood back wall. Each window is latched with a barrel bolt and the windows all have box supports to hold them open for ventilation.

Etsy User :: Schuan Carpenter

Each greenhouse is unique. Designs are not finalized until materials have been procured. The final design is based on what materials are available at the time of purchase.