Why Start a Cocktail Garden?

A cocktail garden is more than just a trend; it's about bringing the freshest flavors right to your glass. Imagine plucking fresh mint or basil from your garden to whip up a refreshing drink on a warm evening. It's about sustainability, reducing waste, and enhancing flavors without any additives—perfect for those delicious mocktails!

Best Plants for Your Cocktail Garden

Here are some must-have plants for your cocktail garden that are perfect for both cocktails and mocktails:

Mint - A staple for classics like mojitos and mint juleps, but it also adds a fresh touch to any mocktail.

Basil - Try sweet basil in a strawberry basil lemonade that's perfect for any summer gathering.

Lavender - Ideal for adding a sophisticated twist to lemonades and teas.

Cilantro - Great for adding a kick to tropical drinks.

Edible Flowers - Such as marigolds and pansies, to beautify your drinks and salads.

Tips for Growing Your Cocktail Garden

• Location - Most cocktail garden plants require plenty of sunlight, so choose a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Soil - Opt for rich, organic soil that drains well to keep your plants healthy.
• Watering - Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Using a mulch can help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

Mocktails: My New Favorite

Cutting back on alcohol doesn't mean cutting back on fun. Mocktails have become my go-to, allowing me to enjoy all the flavors without the spirits. From a zesty virgin sangria to a soothing lavender lemonade, the possibilities are endless when your ingredients are just a few steps away in your garden.

Learn More

Want to dive deeper into creating your own cocktail garden or explore more about mocktails? Check out these resources:

- Plant a Cocktail Garden For the Freshest Drinks
- How to Plant a Cocktail Garden Full of Flavorful Garnishes for All of Your Drinks
- How to Plant a Cocktail Garden to Flavor Your Summer Drinks

Cocktail gardens bring a unique blend of mixology and horticulture to your home. Whether you're a cocktail aficionado or a mocktail enthusiast like me, growing your own cocktail ingredients brings a lot of joy and satisfaction. Let's raise our garden-fresh drinks to a healthier, happier lifestyle!

Hey there, Besties! 🌟

Is your garden begging for more greenery but your wallet saying, "Hold on there!"? Well, I've got some fabulous news for you! Propagating your own herbs isn't just for the green thumbs or expert gardeners. Today, I'm diving into the "lazy gardening" technique of sticking herb cuttings directly into the soil—a simple, cost-effective method to expand your garden.

Why Propagate Herbs?

Propagating herbs is not only economical but also incredibly satisfying. It allows you to multiply your favorite herbs without spending extra bucks at the garden center. Whether you want to enhance your meals with fresh flavors or add some green to your space, this method is a perfect choice.

Herbs That Love to Root in Soil

While many herbs can be propagated by water, here are some that thrive when their cuttings are planted directly in soil:

• Mint: Known for its aggressive growth, mint is a perfect candidate for direct soil propagation. Simply cut, stick it in the dirt, and watch it take off!
  
  
• Rosemary: This fragrant herb roots well in well-draining soil. Ensure it's kept moist, and you'll have new plants in no time.
  
  
• Thyme and Sage: Both herbs root easily when planted directly in light, sandy soil.
  
  
• Oregano: Similar to thyme, oregano cuttings adapt well when planted in moist, fertile soil.

Step-by-Step Guide to Propagating Herbs in Soil

1. Prepare Your Cuttings: Select healthy, non-flowering stems from your existing herb plants. Cut about 4-6 inches from the tip, making sure to cut just below a leaf node.
   
   
2. Prep the Soil: Use a pot with good drainage filled with a mix of potting soil and sand or perlite. This ensures excellent drainage, which is crucial for root development.
   
   
3. Plant Your Cuttings: If you have it on hand, dip the cut end into rooting hormone. This step is optional but can help encourage root growth. Make small holes in the soil with a stick or pencil, place your cuttings inside, and firm the soil around them.
   
   
4. Create the Right Environment: Water the cuttings well and cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a mini-greenhouse effect. This maintains humidity and warmth, speeding up the rooting process.
   
   
5. Care and Patience: Place your new plant babies in a spot with indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist. In a few weeks, check for roots by gently tugging on the cuttings. If you feel resistance, congratulations—you've got roots!

Wrapping Up

With these simple steps, you can turn a single plant into an entire garden of aromatic herbs. It's a sustainable way to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh flavors all year round. Plus, who doesn't love a bit of greenery to brighten up their home?

Happy gardening, and remember, every little leaf is a step towards a more sustainable, lush life!

Hey there, Besties! 🌟

Our Tomato Trellis Adventure is in Full Swing!

Our beloved tomato plants are living their best lives this year, growing so magnificently that they're practically calling out for some extra TLC. Our little green friends are thriving. It's time to step up our support game!

Starting Strong with Tomato Cages and Stakes

Initially, we thought we were set with the tomato cages we had lying around and a bunch of stakes. Oh, how wrong we were! Our tomato family had bigger plans, quickly outgrowing these initial supports. Even our sturdiest cages were no match for these vigorous vines!

DIY Inspiration: Pinterest to the Rescue!

You know me, always on Pinterest looking for that next burst of inspiration. And voila! I stumbled upon a homemade tomato trellis that had me thinking, "This is it!" James and I were on board for this new project, ready to give our tomatoes the royal treatment they deserved.

Gathering Supplies: A Trip to Tractor Supply and More

Our shopping list? Simple but effective. We picked up posts from Tractor Supply and armed ourselves with 17 gauge electric fence wire – almost an entire roll of it! This sturdy setup promised to be the backbone for our ambitious trellis design.

The Great Build: A Saturday with James and Wires

James dedicated a Saturday morning to this project, stringing the trellis with the precision of a craftsman. We initially planned for posts at the ends of our tomato rows, but oh no, we needed more! Mid-row posts joined the party, ensuring our tomatoes had all the support they could dream of.

Designing the Trellis: Weaving Dreams into Reality

James wrapped the wire meticulously, creating a snug home between the plants. Our tomatoes could now rest easy on their wire cradle, growing tall and proud. We even integrated the cages into this design for extra love and support.

Tomato Trellising – A Labor of Love

We're now in the heart of the process, weaving our tomatoes around their new trellis. The scorching heat has made gardening a bit of a challenge, but we're sneaking in those precious early morning and nighttime hours to tend to our green babies. The trellis was our main goal, and now it's all about the gentle art of weaving.

Expect the Unexpected: Our Tomato Jungle!

Who would've thought? This is our fourth gardening season, and we're staring in awe at the most gigantic tomato plants we've ever seen. Little tomatoes are already popping up, promising a bountiful harvest.

Next Time: Early Trellising is Key!

If there's one thing we've learned, it's that building a trellis early on makes life so much easier. But hey, we're all about embracing the unexpected here at On the Creek. For now, our focus is on providing the best support for our overachievers – here's to a tomato-filled year!

Stay tuned for more updates, and don't forget to drop by our blog for all the juicy details! Until next time, keep shining and growing, just like our tomatoes! 🌱🍅