Renee's Blog

Container Gardening

Container Gardening

Even though the company has large outdoor trial gardens, I really enjoy planting a cheerful profusion of flowers and savory herbs in containers of all sizes and shapes on the patio outside my kitchen door. For many urban gardeners, container...

Container Gardening

Even though the company has large outdoor trial gardens, I really enjoy planting a cheerful profusion of flowers and savory herbs in containers of all sizes and shapes on the patio outside my kitchen door. For many urban gardeners, container...

Summer Entertaining in the Garden

Summer Entertaining in the Garden

Sharing my garden with friends and family is one of the most enjoyable parts of summer for me. This year, we've had beautiful warm evenings, so I invited some new friends over to dinner. I planned a simple flavorful meal...

Summer Entertaining in the Garden

Sharing my garden with friends and family is one of the most enjoyable parts of summer for me. This year, we've had beautiful warm evenings, so I invited some new friends over to dinner. I planned a simple flavorful meal...

Easy and Delicious Dried Tomatoes

Easy and Delicious Dried Tomatoes

Rich tasting "sundried" tomatoes are a kitchen gardener's treat, easy to make from your own fresh tomato harvests. Unless you live in a very hot and dry summer climate, it's better and easier to dry them indoors, so the name...

Easy and Delicious Dried Tomatoes

Rich tasting "sundried" tomatoes are a kitchen gardener's treat, easy to make from your own fresh tomato harvests. Unless you live in a very hot and dry summer climate, it's better and easier to dry them indoors, so the name...

Delicious Lavender

Delicious Lavender

I've always felt a special affinity for lavender. Its heady sweet scent is my favorite floral perfume, and the soft color of the blossoms and the gray-green of the foliage are highlights in my garden. I indulged my lavender fantasies...

Delicious Lavender

I've always felt a special affinity for lavender. Its heady sweet scent is my favorite floral perfume, and the soft color of the blossoms and the gray-green of the foliage are highlights in my garden. I indulged my lavender fantasies...

Herbal Teas and Vinegars

Herbal Teas and Vinegars

The end of the summer gardening season is bittersweet, but has its own rewards. This is the month that almost all kitchen herbs are producing in abundance, ready to snip in big bunches whenever you feel like enjoying them in...

Herbal Teas and Vinegars

The end of the summer gardening season is bittersweet, but has its own rewards. This is the month that almost all kitchen herbs are producing in abundance, ready to snip in big bunches whenever you feel like enjoying them in...

Cooking With Fresh Basil

Cooking With Fresh Basil

There are many different kinds of basil you can grow and enjoy from seed. Renee shares some of her fresh basil recipes: Pesto Basil Salad Dressing and Basil Leaf Vinegar. Ā 

Cooking With Fresh Basil

There are many different kinds of basil you can grow and enjoy from seed. Renee shares some of her fresh basil recipes: Pesto Basil Salad Dressing and Basil Leaf Vinegar. Ā 

Lavender and Roses from Seed

Lavender and Roses from Seed

Lavender and roses have been beloved garden plants throughout their long history of cultivation and their timeless beauty is easily adaptable to changing gardening fashions. In the formal gardens of the Romans, who bathed in lavender and rose-scented waters, in...

Lavender and Roses from Seed

Lavender and roses have been beloved garden plants throughout their long history of cultivation and their timeless beauty is easily adaptable to changing gardening fashions. In the formal gardens of the Romans, who bathed in lavender and rose-scented waters, in...

When to Plant in Texas

When to Plant in Texas

Information courtesy of Aggie Horticulture, a service of the Texas A&M University System Horticulture program.

When to Plant in Texas

Information courtesy of Aggie Horticulture, a service of the Texas A&M University System Horticulture program.

Luxury from the Garden: Alpine Strawberries

Luxury from the Garden: Alpine Strawberries

The jewel-like fruits of Alpine strawberries (Fragaria Vesca Sempervirens) are a special delicacy you can enjoy every summer. To me their flavor combines the essence of strawberries, roses and pineapples. Also known by their romantic French name, Fraises des Bois,...

Luxury from the Garden: Alpine Strawberries

The jewel-like fruits of Alpine strawberries (Fragaria Vesca Sempervirens) are a special delicacy you can enjoy every summer. To me their flavor combines the essence of strawberries, roses and pineapples. Also known by their romantic French name, Fraises des Bois,...

Herbal Remedies from the Garden

Herbal Remedies from the Garden

Relaxing with aromatic teas or enjoying body care products from herbs you’ve grown and dried yourself is both therapeutic and satisfying. Preparing herbal remedies is also a wonderful way to become better acquainted with your plants — their fragrances and...

Herbal Remedies from the Garden

Relaxing with aromatic teas or enjoying body care products from herbs you’ve grown and dried yourself is both therapeutic and satisfying. Preparing herbal remedies is also a wonderful way to become better acquainted with your plants — their fragrances and...

Harvesting and Saving Seeds

Harvesting and Saving Seeds

P. Allen Smith and Renee discuss saving seeds so you can enjoy them season after season.

Harvesting and Saving Seeds

P. Allen Smith and Renee discuss saving seeds so you can enjoy them season after season.

Harvest and Prepare Loofah Sponges

Harvest and Prepare Loofah Sponges

Lindsay demonstrates how to harvest and prepare homegrown loofah sponges.

Harvest and Prepare Loofah Sponges

Lindsay demonstrates how to harvest and prepare homegrown loofah sponges.

Grow "Cut and Come Again" Mesclun Lettuce

Grow "Cut and Come Again" Mesclun Lettuce

Renee demonstrates how to plant your bountiful cut-and-come-again lettuce harvest. It's easy to grow your own diverse and delicious salads from seeds.

Grow "Cut and Come Again" Mesclun Lettuce

Renee demonstrates how to plant your bountiful cut-and-come-again lettuce harvest. It's easy to grow your own diverse and delicious salads from seeds.

6 Dos and 1 Don't for a Good Garden

6 Dos and 1 Don't for a Good Garden

#1: Don't Sow Your Seeds or Set out Seedlings Too Early! Be strong: resist the temptation to sow your garden on the first warm spring weekend! Heat- loving summer annuals will not thrive and grow well until the soil has...

6 Dos and 1 Don't for a Good Garden

#1: Don't Sow Your Seeds or Set out Seedlings Too Early! Be strong: resist the temptation to sow your garden on the first warm spring weekend! Heat- loving summer annuals will not thrive and grow well until the soil has...