OH YEAH! We got a winner! Everyone join me in congratulating Sue Palmer for winning this month's giveaway. Sue will be quite busy figuring out where she's going to plant these 50 bulbs to create a colorful, gorgeous flower garden. Sue, we will all be waiting patiently for those pictures once these beauties bloom. 💮 Everyone else, don't hesitate to enter each month for our giveaway drawings. You just never know when your entry will bring you a delightful garden goodie. 🙂

The first frost is sneaky. One chilly night can turn a lush container herb garden into a drooping mess by morning. But with a little prep, you can rescue your herbs before frost hits and enjoy their flavor (and fragrance!) all winter long. Whether you’re growing culinary staples like thyme and oregano or soothing teas like mint and chamomile, here’s how to harvest, dry, and store your herbs before cold weather claims them. 🌿 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 Timing is everything. The best moment to harvest herbs is right before frost is expected—when daytime temps are still mild and plants are at their most flavorful. 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 * Watch the weather: Plan to harvest 1–2 days before your area’s first frost date. * Go for morning: Snip herbs after the dew dries but before midday sun. * Pick young, tender growth: Older stems can turn woody and lose flavor. ✂️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 Even if your herbs are near the end of their season, harvest gently. * Use 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 or pruners to prevent tearing. * Cut stems just above a leaf node to encourage possible regrowth if temps stay mild. * Leave about 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 so it can recover if you get a few more warm weeks. 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Don’t wash herbs before drying unless they’re dirty. If you must rinse, pat them completely dry with paper towels. 🌬️ 𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 You don’t need fancy equipment—just a dry, airy spot. Here are easy options that work great for small harvests: 🌾 𝟏. 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 Perfect for sturdy herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, and lavender. 𝟏. Tie small bundles with twine. 𝟐. Hang upside down in a warm, ventilated room. 𝟑. Cover loosely with a paper bag to block dust. 𝟒. Dry 1–2 weeks until crisp. 🍃 𝟐. 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 Ideal for leaves like mint, basil, lemon balm, and parsley. * Spread herbs in a single layer on a cooling rack or mesh screen. * Turn daily for even drying. ⚡ 𝟑. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 Best when humidity is high or you’re short on time.

Your plants breathe through their leaves — but when dust builds up, it’s like trying to breathe through a dirty window! Regular cleaning keeps them healthy, shiny, and photosynthesizing at their best. 🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 Dust blocks sunlight and clogs pores (stomata), making it harder for plants to absorb light and release oxygen. Clean leaves = happier, healthier plants. 🧽 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩 Before cleaning, check for pests like spider mites or aphids. If you spot any, treat those first. Then gently support the leaves with your hand to avoid breakage. 💦 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞 * For sturdy plants like palms, ferns, and philodendrons: * Place in the sink or shower. * Rinse gently with lukewarm water. * Let drain and air-dry out of direct sun. 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐖𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 * For delicate or fuzzy-leaved plants (like African violets): * Use a soft cloth or paintbrush to gently remove dust. * For smooth leaves, wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. . 🍋 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 * Skip harsh leaf-shine products! Instead, use a natural solution: * Mix 1 part milk or vinegar with 10 parts water. * Wipe lightly for a soft, natural glow. 🌬️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 Dust every 2–3 weeks, especially during winter when indoor air is dry. It’s self-care for your plants — and your home!

When those crisp fall evenings sneak up on you, your container plants can feel the chill long before you do! Prepping your containers for colder nights helps protect tender roots and keeps your plants thriving a little longer into the season. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 Keep an eye out for nighttime temps below 45°F—that’s your cue to take action. Most container plants are more exposed than in-ground gardens, so they cool off faster. 🧺 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 Relocate smaller pots closer to your home, under a covered porch, or inside a garage overnight. The extra warmth radiating from walls can make a big difference. 🧣 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 For containers that are too heavy to move, wrap the outside with: Burlap, old blankets, or frost cloth Bubble wrap or layers of newspaper for insulation Just make sure the top of the soil remains uncovered to allow airflow. 🕯️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥 Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil. Give your plants a drink before the temperature drops—but don’t overdo it if frost is expected. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 Use an old sheet, light blanket, or frost cloth to create a mini shield overnight. Remove it in the morning to let sunlight back in. 🔥 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Group containers together. The combined warmth helps protect roots—and it makes covering them up faster and easier!

A little added information about myself. I am a bilateral hand amputee and this is a picture of me planting my first container using my prosthetics.