Summer is the season for gardening, and it’s also the time to read the best new gardening books. There’s something delightful about finding a comfortable spot outdoors and reading a great book. It’s one of the joys that makes summer special. This year we have a bountiful crop of great new gardening books for summer reading. So, pour a cold glass of lemonade, pull up a chair and get lost in the best new gardening books for summer reading. Editor's Note: Home Garden and Homestead is a proud member of the Amazon Associates Program. We earn a small commission (at no cost to you) when you click on a link and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting our website! The Urban Garden In cities and towns across America (and the world), urban gardeners grow plants of all kinds in whatever space they have available. The Urban Garden is a book for anyone who gardens in limited space. Authors Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight both have roots in the Washington, DC area, and their new book … [Read more...] about Best New Gardening Books for Summer Reading
houseplants
Grow Edible Houseplants and Potted Fruit Trees
When Martha Stewart needs advice about how to grow edible houseplants and potted fruit trees, she visits Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut. The owners of Logee’s, Byron Martin and Laurelynn Martin, are experts on how to grow all kinds of fruiting, tropical, and rare plants. Their latest book, Edible Houseplants, is a guide to growing 46 edible and fruit-bearing plants inside a home, a greenhouse, or on a sunny patio. The plants featured in the book include citrus trees such as lemon, lime, and grapefruit. They also include advice on growing mangos, bananas, figs, guavas, vanilla vine, black pepper plant, and much more. The book contains colorful photos of each type of plant, along with complete guidelines for growing the plants. “Because of the Martins, I now grow my own oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes, carambolas, coffee beans, calamondins, papayas, vanilla, passion fruit, figs, and guavas,” said home maven Martha Stewart. “I rely on them for advice about the … [Read more...] about Grow Edible Houseplants and Potted Fruit Trees
Colorful Foliage Plants for Home and Garden
Here’s how colorful foliage plants can add surprising color and visual interest to your home and garden. When you think of adding color to a garden or a collection of houseplants, flowering plants immediately come to mind. But colorful foliage plants can also be used to brighten indoor spaces and outdoor patios and gardens. “There are thousands of species and varieties of houseplants and they don’t all have plain green leaves,” said Byron Martin, co-owner of Logee’s Plants for Home and Garden, a top online source for all kinds of tropical and fruiting plants. “In fact, many plants have colorful foliage that make them interesting additions to almost any setting.” Here are some of Byron’s favorite colorful foliage plants that anyone can grow. All of these plants are available online from Logee’s. Colorful Foliage Plants: Begonia ‘Autumn’s Delight’ Do you think of “a swirl of intense autumn colors” when you think of houseplants? Probably not. But that’s just what you … [Read more...] about Colorful Foliage Plants for Home and Garden
Popular Houseplants and What They Symbolize
Many popular houseplants have come to symbolize different thoughts, feelings, and deeds. Flowers, plants, and vegetation can also serve as symbols for important life events and milestones. Knowing plant symbolism can help you choose decor and gifts that are more meaningful and personalized. Understanding plant symbolism is also significant when picking plants for one of life's treasured moments, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or other ceremonies. Another thing to remember when choosing popular houseplant plants or floral gifts is that different colors also have meanings. Surrounding yourself with plants that symbolize what you desire or value can create a positive environment. The Symbol of Your Favorite Plant Plant and flower symbolism have been used throughout history in religious texts like the Bible, art, and literature during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including Shakespearean plays and modern culture. There is evidence of plant symbolism in … [Read more...] about Popular Houseplants and What They Symbolize
Create an Eco-Friendly Home Office
Perhaps you have thought about how to create an eco-friendly home office. As more and more people become environmentally conscious, the demand for "green" and eco-friendly home office spaces is increasing. If you're hoping to create a more eco-friendly workplace in your home, there are a number of things you can do. Some of them are easier to implement than others, but all of them will help reduce your office's environmental impact. In this post, we will explain the green office concept to learn what it really means. After that, we will show you nine ways to create an eco-friendly home office environment. There are so many aspects of the topic to discuss, so let's dive straight into the subject! What Makes an Eco-friendly Home Office? A green office is one that is designed to be environmentally friendly. This usually means that the office has features like energy-efficient lighting, low-flow faucets and showerheads, and recycling and composting programs. Some green offices … [Read more...] about Create an Eco-Friendly Home Office
