I use Amaryllis to anchor this planter. Shake off the dirt and and place 2 Amaryllis in the “back” of the planter. I choose one tall amaryllis that’s in bloom and one that is shorter and about to bloom so that this container garden will always have great color blooms.

Remember my 3 T’s for container gardening, use something THICK, something TRAILING, and something TALL.

For my “thick” I’m using a white cyclamen...

To see more and for all the links to purchase materials and planters, click here: https://www.carmenjohnstongardens.com/celebrate/christmas-centerpiece-diy/

www.carmenjohnstongardens.com

Cyclamen are my favorite indoor blooming plants for the cooler temperatures. With incredible upside-down blooms that last for around 8 weeks, cyclamen make a great holiday gift. Also, they thrive in colder weather so they look great in outdoor container gardens like the one I did on my previous blog post linked here.

A few tips and tricks for keeping your cyclamen happy:

For all the materials used in this DIY: Shop my Amazon store here: 

For pictures and a link to my YouTube video of this episode, click here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/carmenjohnstongardens?listId=WL57A5U4K5MY

https://www.carmenjohnstongardens.com/garden/5-minute-cyclamen-container-garden-the-ultimate-hostess-or-teacher-present/

Create a wow moment for front porch visitors this holiday! If you can take just 10 minutes, I’ll show you how to create a festive container garden that lasts well beyond the holidays and can be adapted to your style and local greenhouse finds.

For full details and more great gardening tips click here.

Looking for an easy teacher’s gift? Need a last-minute hostess gift? I’m sharing my 5 favorite plants to give as gifts as well as fun ways to dress them up for a personal and festive touch.

Plants are always a welcome gift, especially if they are easy to care for, and the suggestions below are all “black thumb” friendly:) Instead of bath products and candles, why not give a gift rom the garden!? For links to all of my ribbons, paint, containers and more see my Amazon link and for great pictures/videos of these gifts click here: https://www.carmenjohnstongardens.com/garden/the-best-plants-for-gift-giving/

Recently I shared with you my easiest evergreen wreath, made using a faux wreath and clipped greens. Today, I want to show you how to elevate that wreath to use throughout the holiday season and into Christmas! Again, this is an easy DIY, taking only 10 minutes. You’ll need the wreath made in my previous wreath blog found here, some various shatterproof ornaments, and some paddle wire. For a video and all of the links to purchase supplies click here and thanks for listening.

How to make an easy life Evergreen Wreath for the Holidays? The trick is: It's only "half alive". Listen to how I do this quickly for mailboxes, fireplaces mantles, and wreaths. For all the materials and a step by step video, see here: https://www.carmenjohnstongardens.com/diy/quick-evergreen-wreath-diy/

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and with all the stress the holidays can bring, I want to share a quick 10-minute Thanksgiving Centerpiece that will elevate your dinner table to new heights. The centerpiece as a whole might look complicated but once we break it down, you will have a whole new way to dress up for the holidays! Try using colors that you wouldn’t typically see as “fall” shades, like coral and lime and pair with deep greens and fall reds. Most of the décor can be found at your local grocery story or craft store and you can find a lot of the inspiration on our Amazon list here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/carmenjohnstongardens?listId=1J8U8EDDTCHBX

What you’ll need:

Lots of people ask me about herb gardens and I’m excited to share with you my tips and tricks for growing herbs. I love to use my herbs in the kitchen, in my tea, and in my hair as I’ll reveal in this post!

To begin, I’d like to share my 10 Herb Garden Must-Do’s, in no particular order:

1. Plant each herb individually. A common mistake is to plant all of your herbs in the same pot. Each plant likes their own growing conditions and they don’t do well in the same home.

2. Vary your pots and herb sizes. Variety in shapes and sizes will give your indoor garden that collected feel. I am a self-proclaimed terra cotta pot hoarder! I love to pick up vintage terra cotta pots with that fantastic patina at local antique stores or wherever I can get my hands on them. They make beautiful homes for indoor herbs. Of course don’t bother looking at the terra cotta pot if it doesn’t have the all-important DRAINAGE.

3. Full sun is so important. At least 6 hours of sunlight is what your indoor garden needs so find a sunny spot in your home for your herbs to live.

4. Indoor gardens need some time outdoors. Plants need fresh air every few weeks. If you live in a colder zone, look for a quick “break” in the weather” and give them a few hours outside.

I am so excited to share with you some of my favorite cool weather plants!

My first pick is called free fall pansy. It may look kind of leggy to you, but I love to use in container gardens because it will spill over the edge and really soften the edges. It also comes in a soft violet, but you know how much I love classic white florals! When you come across this plant, don’t let the leggyness dissuade you, it looks phenomenal in a container garden! I love to start my container garden with big plants and I also use these in annual color flower beds, so they spread and trail out.

Another favorite is gorgeous coral queen kale! It is a flowering kale and it just puts off this intense purple color from the inside. It is another beautiful fall accent that we like to use in décor and container gardens.

Grasses also make for wonderful cool weather plants. Chartreuse grasses like everillo carex are a classic favorite that is great in beds or containers. I also love variegated carex as it provides great texture in our flower beds.

Last but not least, we can’t forget about thyme! Specifically, lemon thyme! This is another great one to use in the cool weather. It flowers in the spring, so the fall is the perfect time to go ahead and get it in the ground. This allows the plant to establish its root system before the ground freezes. It has an amazing fragrance!

I hope you enjoy some of my quick and easy cool weather plants that will make great additions to your garden bed or container. Be sure to plant now before the ground hardens for the season and the frost sets in. Happy gardening!

For more information, tips, tricks, DIYs, recipes, and more from Carmen - click HERE.