Featured Handmade Artist / Flowers That Bloom All Summer

• Today is also a very special day for me, I have been chosen as the featured artist on the Pure Handmade website, please take a look! I`m very honored. I have provided the link;
  
  
  

  http://www.purehandmade.com/

  
  
  
  
  Annual flowers bloom every year during a certain time. Summer-growing annuals typically need lots of sunlight and warmth and are very colorful plants with blooms to enjoy for a long time. Picking the blooms of annual flowers encourages more blossoms. Also, many varieties of these flowers continue blooming into fall and winter.

Dahlia

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  The dahlia is a flower that comes in many different colors and blooms during summer. Pick the blooms as they begin to die. This enables the flowers to produce more blooms. Grow dahlias where there is plenty of sunlight, and keep the soil damp. When planting, choose the dwarf dahlias because this variety blooms all summer.

Geranium

• Plant geraniums indoors or outdoors. They bloom all through the summer, and sometimes through the beginning of winter. To grow these indoors, put them in a cool spot, somewhere that is under 70 degrees F, but still very sunny. If they are grown outdoors, put them in a shaded area where they can still get sunlight, but will not get too hot. These plants thrive in just about all soil types.

  

  
  

Marigold

• Several types of marigolds exist, but each type grows all summer long. Sometimes they bloom in the winter as well. These plants grow from 8 to 40 inches depending on the kind you purchase (African Marigolds are the tallest). Plant marigolds somewhere with lots of sunlight and make sure they get plenty of water as well, but do not over water, just keep the soil moist.

  
  

  

  
  

Snapdragon

• Expect to see brightly colored snapdragons in your garden all summer long. They grow in direct or partial sunlight and reach to about 2 feet tall. Pick snapdragons when they are about 4 inches tall so they produce more blooms. As they continue to grow, pick the blooms and more will grow back.

  
  

  

  
  

Victoria Salvia

• This blue, sage-like flower is very dynamic and grows in many different climates and soils. It grows in sandy, dry soil or good, moist soil. It lives in either sunny or shady areas. Also, it blooms all summer long. These plants grow to about 3 feet tall so use them to border your garden or grow in other areas where the soil is not as desirable.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  I hope you find this information helpful and you have a beautiful flower garden with blooms all summer long.

  
  

  My herb for today is Basil. 

  • Basil is an essential and indispensable herb within a summer garden, yet it can be grown and cultivated in all temperate climates throughout the world, making it available year round. 

  
  Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow but there are some simple tricks that should be noted to produce healthier and productive plants. Basil should be pinched back early and often to encourage bushing and to avoid bolting. Once the plant is left to flower, it soon seeds, compromising or even destroying the flavor and shortening the lifespan of the plant.

  
  

  
  

  • Basil is a sensitive and delicate herb that should only be used fresh as once it is dried, it loses its aromatics properties. It should be used raw, either whole, chopped or crushed in a paste as it is fragile and cooking it changes its value in flavor and color. Add chopped basil to diced onions and fresh tomatoes, then cook into sauce and serve over pasta. Puree fresh basil into pesto with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and parmesan, the serve with grilled vegetables or toss with pasta. Mix ricotta with chopped basil and garlic, then stuff in squash blossoms, batter and fry until crisp. Toss fresh corn kernels, chopped tomatoes and onions with thin ribbons of basil for a side salad. Basil will keep, dry and refrigerated, for up to a week but is best when used immediately.
    
    
    Basil Vinagrette

  
  

  Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup roasted garlic
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3 cups olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

  Directions

  1. In a blender, combine the basil, garlic, cheese and vinegar. Slowly blend in the oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  
  

  
  

  Thats All For Today! Be watching for Etsy shop finds tomorrow.

  Until then, have a good night!

  And Keep It Clean!

  JoAnn~