I’m sharing my most frequented and beloved plant shops, greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries in the Twin Cities. As we approach the gardening season, it’s the perfect time to start planning your visits to your favorite garden stops. Each place has its unique charm and is a must-see for any gardening enthusiast, or local plant lover whether you’re a Minnesota resident or a visitor.

My must-grow plants for the home garden. Over the years of vegetable gardening in Minnesota, I’ve grown and experimented with many different plants. I’ve compiled a list of my all-time favorite vegetable and flower varieties from my backyard garden. These are the plants I love and grow season after season because of their flavor, productivity, disease resilience, and, of course, beauty and charm in the garden. My kitchen garden wouldn’t be complete without these staple plants.

If I were starting a vegetable garden all over again, either with a few raised beds or a patio pot, these are the things I would use and the garden stuff I would skip. My advice is to start simple; less is more.

A garden scrapbook as we close out 2023: the vegetable harvests, best views, beautiful flowers, and DIY garden projects recapping this year’s garden season. I can’t wait for next year and all the harvests to come.

Ok, so you don’t have a backyard… but what do you have access to? A Patio maybe? Or a balcony, deck, or community garden space? It's totally possible to still create that dreamy, cozy cottage garden vibe even in small spaces. All you need is a little creativity, inspiration, and most of all a LOVE for gardening.

The restlessness for spring to arrive has begun. Here are my most watched and read; what I go to when I’m feeling the effects of winter and need a creative boost for the spring garden. Three books, three podcasts, three online classes, and three youtube channels I've been obsessed with, are fueling my life right now.

This GreenStalk Vertical Planter guide shares easy tips for starting your first small space garden for a successful harvest. I lay out three simple planting plans to get you prepared for the spring gardening season. Learn why vertical container gardening is a fantastic solution to your small-space vegetable gardening woes.

This is a round-up of some of my favorite garden lighting ideas. Hopefully, you get inspired and start dreaming up ways to incorporate lighting into your outdoor spaces for that cozy, cottage garden vibe.

The first DIY garden project I tackled this season is done! Here is the step-by-step process I went through to make my wood garden gate, including all the tools, and equipment I used. If you love getting crafty and tackling DIY projects you too can create your own beautiful garden entrance.

No longer a boring forgotten vegetable, radishes bring spice, crunch, and color to everything you put them in. Radishes can be tricky for some people who aren’t big veggie eaters, but they might just surprise you with their sweet, crunchy texture. This complete garden to table guide goes through growing, harvesting and cooking tasty radishes for your garden fresh meals.

My garden design plans are done and I want to share them with you! I’ve redesigned this layout about 10 times now but, here’s what I landed on. Oh, and it includes a sunflower patch, a DIY wood garden gate, and lots of inspiration pinning!

Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers to grow because of their adaptability to different growing situations. If you are growing in raised garden beds or just have some pots on a deck, there is a sunflower for you to enjoy. Here are 5 growing tips to ensure your sunflowers are happy and flourishing in your space.

Spring is almost here! My 2022 garden has finally begun inside and seed starting is off to a strong start. Here’s a March garden update for everything I’ve started so far for the spring and summer garden and what’s left to do. Plus I fill you in on new garden plans, I’m expanding the garden!

Shopping for seeds can quickly get overwhelming for a beginner gardener. There are so many varieties available, so what seeds should you buy for the best success in the space that you have? Learn how to master buying seeds for your spring garden by asking yourself these 5 questions.

An easy-to-understand list to expand your gardening vocabulary. This glossary breaks down common terms with real examples from my garden, tips, and helpful resources for further reading.

Welcome to my food and garden blog!