Just~One~Donna

One of my favorite ways to unwind has nothing to do with cooking. On a warm morning, you'll often find me with a cup of coffee in hand, looking out the window to see who's visiting the bird baths. Some birds stop in for a quick drink. Others seem determined to splash every drop of water over the edge before they leave! Watching them has become one of the simple pleasures of enjoying my backyard. The Biggest Bird Bath Mistakes Homeowners Make (And How to Avoid Them) This post contains affiliate links. Keeping birds happy doesn't require an elaborate garden or expensive equipment. A simple bird bath can provide birds with a dependable source of fresh water for drinking, bathing, and cooling off. But I've learned that a few common mistakes can make a bird bath less inviting, or even shorten its life. I've been enjoying backyard bird baths for years, and I'm still learning new tricks from fellow bird lovers.

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family?  If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time.  You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig.   I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long.   How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Do you have a ficus tree in your home? I've had a ficus tree, also known as a weeping fig, in my home for 35 years.  It's thriving. It's not too big and it makes just the impact that I'm looking for in a room with very high ceilings. If you have a space that you need to fill think about getting yourself a ficus tree.  It will give you many years of beauty and joy. How to Grow and Care for a Ficus Tree in Your Home It really doesn't take a whole lot of care to keep a ficus tree living for 35 years.  To keep it green and pretty and a living and breathing part of your home and decor for all that time takes minimal time and effort. Watch My Ficus Care Video Click Here to Subscribe to My YouTube Channel Key Elements of Ficus Tree Care Be Sure You Have the Right Light My ficus tree is in a room that is south-facing.  West light comes in through a window on the side of the tree. My tree loves it in its southwest position....

To me, daffodils mean spring.  It's not until I see that riotous yellow color bursting out throughout my garden that I believe that at long last winter is behind us. If you've been reading Just One Donna for a while you know that I enjoy having plants in my home.  I prefer easy-care plants both inside and outside.  Daffodils are pretty easy to care for, so they fit nicely into my outside garden in zone 7a. How to Keep Your Daffodil Garden Tidy  Spring Color in the Garden The trouble with daffodils is that their lovely color quickly fades and you are left with just the green leaves.  That wouldn't be too bad except for the fact that they wilt, turn brown and turn your lovely garden into a mess. You have to put up with the fading leaves for about six weeks in the garden.

Are you familiar with the term "hygge"?  It's a Danish term that has caught on in the U.S. because it speaks to the feelings of coziness and relaxation we seek during the winter months.  It emphasizes the simple things in life and the feelings of a life well-lived.   One of the ways I create hygge this time of year is by making sure my collection of African violets and orchids is happy and healthy, How to Care for African Violets and Orchids During Winter This post contains affiliate links.  We receive a small compensation when you shop with these links. Your houseplants are most likely crying out for some attention right now.  If you are like me, you ignored them a bit during the busy holidays.  After all the festive decorations are put away, it's time to give your plants a lovely spa treatment.  Read on for tips on how to care for orchid plants and African violets in winter.

Hydrangeas make an elegant statement when used in your home floral arrangements. If you are lucky, you live in a place where hydrangeas grow in abundance.  New England is one of those places.  Summer in New England is a feast for the eyes with all of the hydrangea bushes in full bloom. Tips for Making Beautiful Hydrangea Arrangements for Your Home Hydrangea Arrangement Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers, so as soon as the blossoms start to open you'll find me cutting them to bring into the house.  

Don't shy away from bringing orchids into your home. Orchids are easy to grow and simple to care for.  Just follow these tips for beautiful orchids that will bloom time and again. Seven Tips for How to Care for Orchids in Your Home A Reblooming Orchid In my opinion, orchids are one of the best values available in flowers and household plants.  You can buy a beautiful orchid full of buds and blooms for less than $20 at grocery stores and garden centers across the United States.  Those flowers will last for about three months of colorful beauty in your home and require minimal care. My Reblooming White Orchid When purchasing your orchid, choose a plant with just a couple of open blooms  and many closed buds. This orchid will give you many months of lovely flowers.  Pass up any orchid that has wilting blossoms or signs that flowers have dropped off the plant. When the blooms fade, don't throw your orchid plant out.  Save th...

The burst of color from African violet flowers can really brighten up your home and perk up your spirits.  Is your thumb more brown than green?  Not to worry, African violet care is very easy. Read on to learn the best tips to care for African violets. How to Grow Beautiful African Violets (This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase using these links.) My African Violet Pin This Post For Later:   Seven Tips for African Violet Care Here's a nine-minute video that will show you how I care for my African violets. Watch My African Violet Care Video Seven Tips for African Violet Care African violets like diffused, bright light.   I have them in rooms with either a southern or a western exposure.  That's not to say that you can't grow them in other sunlight exposures, but these work beautifully for me.  It's best not to put your plants on a window sill.  Try ta...

During the month of April, garden activities begin in earnest in the Northeast.  If you are thinking about starting a garden you'll want to have that project well underway by now.  My post, Five Steps to Starting a Garden  will help you get started. Seven April Gardening To-Dos Some other gardening activities to think about adding to your to-do list this month in the Northeast garden are: Check that your garden tools are in working order:  Check the handles on your spades, hoes, and rakes. Can you find your pruners?  Check your hoses and nozzles to ensure there are no leaks and the water flows freely through the nozzle.  The spray nozzle on my hose gives me a shower every time I use it.  I really need to replace the nozzle that worked fine last year. Clean up debris from your garden beds:  You probably have some accumulation of debris from the winter. Remove all fallen leaves, sticks, and any remains from last year’s ...

Starting a vegetable garden in your backyard can be good for both your mind and your body.  I've had my own backyard vegetable garden for a few years. There's nothing better than going out my back door in the morning to pick my vegetables for dinner. Don't start your backyard garden thinking it will save you a lot of money.  It's best to view your garden project as a hobby that will help you to: Salad Greens from My Garden Make better choices about the food you eat. Control the chemicals and potential contaminants you might ingest from your fresh vegetables. Get more regular exercise. Relax and de-stress in a natural setting. Feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in your results. Boost your mood. If this will be your first vegetable garden you'll want to keep a few tips in mind. Five Tips For Starting Your Garden Start small.  You may want to start with a few pots on your deck or patio.  You can have great success planting herb...

After about a week of daily temperatures in the mid-40s here in southern New England we can finally see the ground.  The snow is not completely melted, but for the most part it is starting to feel like spring may actually come again this year. Still Some Snow in the Garden This past weekend Hubby, Sadie and I got out in the yard to see what we needed to get started on for our March gardening to do list.  This year we are faced with much more clean up than usual due to harsh winter weather, including the blizzard.  We've lost several trees in our yard. Cutting Down A Badly Damaged Tree That means task #1 on our March To Do List: Cut down the damaged trees .  Two trees in our front yard were so badly damaged by the snow and winds we had no choice but to cut them down.  They used to screen us from having to look at an unsightly utility pole.  Truth be told, we'd rather look at the unsightly utility pole than be without power.  They had to...

March has rolled in.  Yes, in some parts of our country March has greeted us like a ferocious lion bringing blizzards and tornadoes.  Here in the Northeast our March days have been gray, cool and gloomy, but you won't hear anyone complaining.  Are you contemplating your garden plans for 2012?  One of the online resources you might want to check out is the USDA's 2012 Hardiness Map .  This map should be your guide in choosing the plants that will thrive where you live, especially as you choose expensive ornamental trees and bushes. The map is easy to use.  Just click your state and a close up view will pop up, like the example you see above, allowing you to key in on the appropriate zone for where you live.  This will help you as you shop for your plants, choosing those that are best suited for your zone.  Remember, though, that this map is a guide.  Talk with your neighbors and your local garden center professionals as you make decisions....

If you are like me, the month of November is not one where you are spending a lot of time thinking about the outdoors,but don't give up completely.  Our yards and gardens still require some attention in the Northeast, and if we spend a little time keeping up now, we will be rewarded next spring and summer.  With that in mind, I have carved out some time this month for garden activities before the snow starts to fall. Holly Clippings to Use for Christmas Decorations Last week I took a look at my holly bushes and decided a little trimming was in order.  To be perfectly honest, the trimming was far past due.  My holly bushes were looking a little straggly (is straggly a word?), so out came my trusty clippers.  I decided the time was right to collect the clippings and hold them in a bucket for some holiday decorations.  Have you thought about doing the same? I also added to my vegetable garden real estate this month.  Yes,...