Compost on Your Balcony?

No yard? No problem. Learn how to compost in small batches—without bins, gimmicks, or a huge pile. If you’ve ever thought composting required a giant backyard, a spinning bin, or a complex system of layers and thermometers—you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: composting can be simple, small-scale, and surprisingly effective… even on a … Read more

July Seed Saving Challenge!

Turn Today’s Harvest Into Tomorrow’s Garden July in Florida may be hot, humid, and full of mosquitoes—but it’s also the perfect time to look around your garden (or even your fridge!) and start saving seeds. This month, I’m challenging you to take the July Seed Saving Challenge:Can you harvest and store seeds from at least … Read more

July Trees & Shrubs in Bloom

When we think of herbal medicine, we often picture tender garden herbs or wildflowers peeking up from the ground. But some of Florida’s most powerful plant allies are taller than you’d expect—rooted deep, blooming quietly, or offering fruit high above our heads. Here are a few medicinal shrubs and trees that are either blooming, fruiting, … Read more

July “Weeds” in Bloom

Central Florida summers can be intense—thick with humidity, surprise thunderstorms, and blazing sun. But even in the swelter, some of the most powerful healing plants quietly flourish in backyards, ditches, and garden beds. These are the unsung heroes of July: the blooming weeds and herbs offering everything from skin relief to stress support. It doesn’t … Read more

Garden Revival Tonic

Introducing a Deep Reset for Tired Soil. Today’s gardens are facing more than just pests and drought. They’re struggling in soil that’s been depleted of life. Years of chemical treatments, overwatering, intense rainfall, and synthetic fertilizers have left many garden beds running on empty. That’s where my Garden Revival Tonic steps in. Handcrafted in small … Read more

Gardening Newsletter | July 2025

July in the Florida Garden Surviving the Swelter & Savoring the Sunshine Welcome to the heart of summer! July in Central Florida is bold, bright, and brimming with life—and humidity. While we may be tempted to retreat into air conditioning, our gardens are thriving (and thirsty!). This month is all about smart maintenance, summer-hardy crops, … Read more

Meet the Giant Grasshopper Wreaking Havoc

It’s big. It’s bold. And it’s bad news for your garden. If you’ve been in Central Florida during the warmer months, chances are you’ve crossed paths with the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera). These vibrant yellow, orange, and black grasshoppers can grow up to 3 inches long, making them one of the largest grasshopper species … Read more

Cool Tricks for Hot Gardens

Mid-June in Florida brings heatwaves and wilting leaves, but you don’t need to suffer—and neither do your plants. Try these offbeat but surprisingly effective garden cooling tricks. Watering with Frozen Herbs Chop up mint, basil, or lemon balm, and freeze them in ice cube trays. Pop one near the base of container plants or herbs … Read more

Who’s Buzzing? A Mid-June Pollinator Roll Call 

June is buzzing with life—literally. In the heart of the month, pollinators are hard at work, and your garden is a living runway of wings, antennae, and the hum of activity. Here’s who to look for this time of year in Florida and how you can roll out the green carpet for them. Native Pollinators … Read more

Plant Once, Harvest Forever

In a climate where seasons blur and the growing never truly stops, Central Florida gardeners have a unique gift: the ability to cultivate abundance year-round. But what if you could build a garden that gives and gives—without replanting every season? Perennial herbs and vegetables are the quiet heroes of a Florida edible landscape. They thrive … Read more