If you’re looking for a simple, beautiful, and meaningful holiday gift for a gardener or a foodie, this is it. Mason jar herb holders are charming, budget-friendly, and endlessly customizable. They’re perfect for kitchen counters, windowsills, or that cozy holiday nook where people love to display greenery in December. Plus… they smell amazing. And they look like you spent way more time and money than you actually did. Let’s make some magic with jars, herbs, and a little December creativity! 🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 You don’t need a crafting studio. Just a few simple items: * Mason jars (pint or quart size work best) * Fresh herb plants (rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, mint, your choice!) * Potting mix for indoor herbs * Small stones or coarse gravel (for drainage) * Twine, ribbon, or jute * Chalkboard labels or gift tags Optional extras: * Fairy lights * Mini ornaments * Cinnamon sticks * Burlap strips * Holiday charms 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐲 Mason jars don’t have drainage holes… but that’s an easy fix. Layer the bottom with: ✔ ½–𝟏 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 — this helps prevent root rot ✔ A thin piece of mesh or coffee filter if you want to keep soil from sifting down This setup doesn’t replace proper watering habits, but it gives the herbs a fighting chance in a no-hole container. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐏𝐨𝐭 𝐔𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 Fill the jar with potting mix about halfway, then gently remove the herb from its nursery pot. Loosen the roots lightly, they’re often tight when bought this time of year. Place the herb inside and add soil around it, stopping 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐦. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫: * Rosemary (very festive!) * Thyme * Parsley * Mint * Chives * Oregano * Sage (smells like Christmas dinner!) ✨ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐫 ...𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲! Now the fun part. Here are some December-friendly decorating ideas: 🎄 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 * Wrap the jar with a strip of burlap * Tie a piece of jute or twine around the neck * Add a sprig of pine or a cinnamon stick

When the temperatures dip and frost threatens, container gardeners need to be ready. The right tools and supplies can make all the difference between thriving plants and a frosty disaster. A good cold-weather toolkit helps you protect your plants, extend your growing season, and keep your container garden healthy until spring returns. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🪴 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 Lightweight garden fabric or old sheets work wonders on frosty nights. Keep a few handy for quick cover-ups — and don’t forget clothespins or clips to secure them against the wind. 🧺 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐩 𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩 Wrap larger pots (especially ceramic or terracotta) to protect roots from freezing. Burlap gives a natural look, while bubble wrap traps warmth effectively. 🌾 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰 A thick layer of mulch, straw, or even shredded leaves keeps soil temperatures stable. Add it around the base of plants to help retain heat and moisture. 💡 𝑃𝑟𝑜 𝑇𝑖𝑝: Focus on protecting roots. They’re more vulnerable to cold than leaves. 🧤 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🌡️ 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 A simple temperature gauge helps you know when to act. Set a reminder to cover plants anytime temps drop below 40°F (4°C). 🪣 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐭 Even in winter, your plants need water, just less of it. Use a small watering can to target the soil directly without splashing leaves. 🧤 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 Cold, damp soil can take a toll on your hands. A good pair of insulated gardening gloves keeps you comfortable during chilly morning check-ins. 🌞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 💡 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Winter sunlight isn’t always enough. Compact LED grow lights are a lifesaver for herbs and greens indoors. They mimic daylight and keep growth steady. 🔥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 If you’re overwintering tender plants in a garage or shed, a small seedling heat mat or space heater keeps the chill at bay. 🕯️ 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Twinkle lights strung around outdoor containers aren’t just festive, they can give off a surprising amount of gentle warmth!

There’s nothing quite like pulling up a handful of bright orange carrots from your own containers right before the holidays. Their sweet, earthy crunch tastes better than anything from the store. But proper storage is key if you want that just-dug freshness to last through Thanksgiving and beyond. With the right care, your homegrown carrots can stay crisp and flavorful well into the winter season. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 Container carrots are ready to harvest once they’ve reached a mature size (usually 1/2–1 inch thick at the top). For holiday use, timing matters. Harvest a few days before you plan to cook or serve them so they have time to settle and sweeten. 💡 𝑃𝑟𝑜 𝑇𝑖𝑝: Cooler weather naturally enhances carrot flavor! A light frost before harvesting can make them even sweeter. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 Skip the hose and scrub brush for now. Instead: 𝟏.. Gently brush off excess soil with your hands. 𝟐. Do not wash them yet, moisture shortens storage life. 𝟑. Trim the green tops to about ½ inch above the root, leaving a small stem to prevent moisture loss. If you wash carrots before storage, they’ll soften much faster. Keep them “field fresh” until just before cooking. 🧊 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 Depending on your space and how long you plan to store them, here are your best options: 🥕 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 For short-term storage (up to a month): * Place unwashed carrots in a 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 with a slightly damp paper towel. * Keep them in the 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐫, where humidity stays high. 🌾 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 For long-term storage (1–3 months): * Layer carrots in a box or bin filled with 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐬𝐚𝐰𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐬. * Ensure they don’t touch each other to prevent rot. * Store in a cool, dark place, ideally 𝟑𝟐–𝟒𝟎°𝐅 (𝟎–𝟒°𝐂) like a basement or unheated garage. This old-fashioned method keeps carrots crisp, earthy, and ready to pull from your “indoor root cellar” whenever you need them.

I have a Meyers Lemon tree that I purchased about 11/2 years ago. I keep it on the house during the winter and put on the deck late Spring to lare Fall. I brought it into the house several weeks ago when we started seeing frost. It is not happy at this time and has been dropping leaves like crazy. All the while blooming like it never has before. I've attached some pics of leaves that fell this morning. I also took it out on the deck and gave it a good spray with diluted Neem oil. I thought I saw evidence of spider mites yesterday and thought this maybe why it's dropping leaves like crazy. Last winter it did great inside. It doubled in size, so I reported it when I moved it outside. It even gad a couple of blooms and some tiny lemons that didn't last. But it tried. Anyone else here growing Meyers Lemon trees? Or have in the past? If so, have you had an issue like this with yours? If so, did you figure out what was happening? Did you find a solution? Any advice is appreciated. This is my first time growing one and I am still learning about it. Thanks for your thoughts and ideas!

Before you stash away those well-used pots and planters for winter, give them one more moment to shine! With a little imagination, your old containers can become the heart of a cozy fall centerpiece. Perfect for Thanksgiving tables, front porch displays, or mantel arrangements. It’s sustainable, creative, and a wonderful way to celebrate the season’s beauty. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 “𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬” Look around your garden shed or porch — odds are, you already have what you need! 𝐓𝐫𝐲: * 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 for individual table centerpieces * 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭s for rustic charm * 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 for farmhouse-style arrangements * 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐠𝐬 for a quirky, personal touch The more character the container has, the more charming your centerpiece will feel. 🍂 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 Start with something to fill the bottom and give your display structure: * Crumpled brown paper or burlap * Moss, straw, or dried leaves for texture * Small stones or pinecones for weight and balance These natural materials set the tone for a warm, autumnal look. 🌻 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Now for the fun part — the layering! Mix and match colors and textures to create depth and interest. Try combinations like: * 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐬 * 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐬, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 * 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 * 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 for a fragrant touch * 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 for cozy evening glow Keep things low and full for table displays or go vertical with branches or ornamental grasses for porch or entryway décor. 🌾 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 Tuck in something that reflects you: * A small garden tool or seed packet * A tiny chalkboard tag with a festive word (“Gather,” “Grateful,” “Blessed”) * A ribbon or piece of twine wrapped around the pot These details transform a simple arrangement into something heartfelt and memorable. ✨𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Group a few repurposed containers of different sizes together down the center of your table, or feature one large piece as a statement centerpiece. Mix natural elements like pinecones and candles around them to complete the look.