If you’re reading this, you’ve waited until the last minute to find that perfect Mother’s Day gift that says you care, but you also want to get something you know she’ll use. What mom doesn’t love to receive gifts that are practical and stylish all at the same time? We hand selected these gift ideas for their affordability, ease of shipping last minute, and grouped together, they make a great gift basket. Any foodie or gardening mom is sure to appreciate their function and style.

1. Allsop Write + Erase Plant Tags $16.00 — Mom will never forget what she plants this spring, and no matter how stylish they are, the birdies won’t fly off with them either. She can use them year after year. Available in herb and botanical prints.
2. The Locavore Way $12.95 by Amy Cotler — We know, your mom is the best cook, but this book will take her one-dish wonders to a whole new level with tips on sourcing and preparing delicious local foods.
3. Chicobag Produce Collection $11.95 to $15.95 — Help mom eliminate her co-dependency on single-use produce bags with ChicoBag’s washable bags for fruits, veggies, and bulk items like beans and pasta. Available in four different colorful styles.
4. Botanical Interests Seeds $1.59 to $3.99 — It doesn’t get any more local and fresh than growing your own produce. We’ve made it even easier for today’s busy moms by selecting varieties that are easy to direct sow in the soil – no fancy indoor seed starting kits needed. Read more about why we think herbs are the rockstars in the garden.
5. Full Circle’s Ring Veggie Brush $4.99 — Finally, a kitchen gadget mom doesn’t have to hide away because it’s an eye sore. The ring makes hanging over the kitchen faucet convenient for daily use. Made of eco-friendly materials too!
6. Full Circle’s Scrap Happy Compost Bin $14.99 — If you’re mom is the Queen of Clean while she cooks, then she’s gonna love how this compost bin conveniently mounts on a kitchen drawer, making food prep clean up a breeze. The silicon bin is freezable so food scraps awaiting the compost heap can be stored away without stinking up the kitchen. Available in orange and green.

Last day for on-time Mother’s Day delivery is Wednesday, May 9. Does your mom live out of state? No worries, we can gift wrap it for you and include a special message.

Lavender as garnish, image from cocktaildrinkrecipes.com

Have you ever noticed that a simple garnish can take a cocktail from being run-of-the-mill to totally extraordinary? It’s definitely true that we enjoy cocktails with our eyes and our noses, not just our taste buds, so a garnish is an essential element of a well crafted cocktail that should not be overlooked. No need to invest in mini paper umbrellas, though, because just like the best cocktail ingredients, the best garnishes come from your garden.

Savory Cocktail Garnishes

An awesome cocktail garnish will serve three different purposes: (1) it will look pretty when you serve the drink, (2) it will smell nice when you sip it, and (3) it will taste nice on your palate. So you should always add a garnish that will contribute to the flavor and aroma of your drink. Here’s some of our favorites:

Our Favorite Savory Cocktail

We cannot get enough of this Tomato Water Martini, one of Ivette Soler’s signature cocktails. The heirloom tomato and basil leaf garnish is not only colorful and fragrant, but it makes a delicious little munchy, too.

Tomato Water Martini(aka Pomodoro Martini) – makes 2 martinisIngredients: 2 and ½ shots vodka 1/3 shot olive juice 2 shots tomato water (see below) A lot of ice

Directions:

Chill 2 martini glasses with ice water, and let them stand while you mix the drinks. Combine the ingredients in a shaker. Discard the ice water used to chill the martini glasses. Add 2 fresh basil leaves, lightly bruised. Use half of a clove of garlic to rim the glass with. Shake mixture vigorously and pour into chilled glasses. Garnish with heirloom cherry tomatoes and a small basil leaf. You can make a larger batch by pouring 3 or 4 shakers into a pitcher, but the BEST martinis are always served à la minute.

Tomato Water:

4 large extra-ripe homegrown or farmers’ market tomatoes
1/2 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 grinds of fresh pepper

Toss the ingredients into a blender, and pulse until juicy, but still chunky. Line a strainer, sieve, or china cap with cheesecloth, and place over a bowl. Pour in the mixture, and let it drain for an hour. Then press the pulp to get out the last bit of yumminess.

Garnishes for Sweet Cocktails

For sweet drinks, pick a garnish that has subtle floral or herbal notes. One that is super sweet, such as a maraschino cherry, will just overpower the delicate flavors of a well mixed drink. Also, too much lavender will taste like soap. These garnishes play delicately off of and enhance sweet flavors, without being overpowering:

Our Favorite Sweet Cocktail

Tart blackberries lend both flavor and gorgeous color to this drink. Your friends will be impressed by your twist on this classic cocktail.

Blackberry Mint Julep from Martha Stewart Living - makes 4 drinksIngredients: 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves 1 pint blackberries 6 tablespoons sugar 1/2 cup bourbon 4 cups small ice cubes 4  sprigs mint, for garnish

Directions:

Roughly chop the mint leaves. Puree the mint, blackberries, and sugar in a blender. Press through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard seeds. Rinse the blender, then return puree to blender, and add bourbon and small ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Divide mixture among 4 glasses. Garnish each with a mint sprig.

How to grow your own garnishes

It is super easy to grow your own garnishes in your backyard, or in a pot on your balcony. Many garnishes, such as strawberries, can easily be grown in a hanging planter, whereas others, such as mint, grow so quickly that you may need to share your harvest!

Check out our Spacemaster Cucumbers for a garnish that is super space saving and easy to grow in a patio container, and all four of our varieties of basil for an herb that makes a great garnish for both sweet (Sweet Basil and Chocolate Martini) and savory (Spicy Basil Cocktail) drinks.

fresh herb photo by Do It Delicious

Always wanted to start a garden, but never known where to start? This spring, start by planting some Botanical Interests herb seeds. There are countless benefits to having an herb garden, whether it’s in a large plot in your backyard, or just a few pots on your windowsill. In fact, we’d even go as far as to say that herbs are the rock stars of the gardening world. Here are our top reasons why.

Top 8 Reasons Why Herbs Rock

(1) You get a lot of bang for your buck. Pretty much the only expense is the seeds, a watering can if you don’t have one already, and your time. Not exactly a pocketbook buster! Many herbs, such as sage, thyme and mint, are perennials, which means you only have to plant them once and they’ll come back year after year.

(2) They can improve the health of your cooking. If you rely on salt to add zing to your food, it’s time to switch to a healthier alternative. Stir some chopped up herbs into your food instead, and not only are you adding gobs of flavor, but you’re adding extra antioxidants, too. Some herbs, such as basil, are even known to offer protection against heart disease, respiratory problems, cancer, and arthritis.

(3) Herbs don’t need fertile soil. Some plants are super finicky about their soil. Not herbs. Many actually do better in non-fertile soil (just be sure the soil drains well). Valerian, caraway, elderberry, and comfrey all actually improve the health of your soil when you plant them.

(4) They are stellar companion plants. You can integrate herbs into your flower, fruit and vegetable beds to help boost the health of your plants and keep pests away, too. Some pairs that grow well together are basil + tomatoes, borage + strawberries, chives + carrots, oregano + grape vines, parsley + asparagus, and sage + cabbage.

(5) Instant gratification is yours. Many herbs, such as mint, are known for spreading quickly and growing tall and strong. You don’t have to wait several seasons before you can harvest your herbs.

Planting Tip: if you give mint an inch, it will take a mile…or two. Plant mint in containers, whether on a patio or in the ground, to keep the underground runners from speading all over your yard.

(6) Herbs are super duper versatile. We can hardly even count the number of ways that you can use herbs:

• Tossed fresh into salads
• Infused in oils for dressings or in spirits for cocktails
• Dried to make herbal teas and delicious spice blends
• Muddled into garden fresh cocktails
• Integrated into fresh flower arrangements
• Made into gorgeous wedding corsages and boutonnieres

(7) Fresh herbs on hand will save you money. One bunch of dill at the grocery store will cost you more than a packet of dill seeds, and planting even a half pack of seeds will provide multiple dill bunches. Planting and harvesting your own herbs can be a major money saver.

(8) With an herb garden, you always have cool gifts on hand. It is really easy to make your own flavored vodkas and simple syrups using fresh herbs. Simply place your herbal concoction in a pretty glass bottle, and you have an instant handmade gift. Homemade herbal aromatherapy bath salts also make unique and inexpensive gifts.

Easy to Sow Herbs from aHa!

One of the beauties of herbs is that they really don’t take a lot of work at all. They can be direct sown, which means that you can simply drop the seeds into your garden, or into a pot in a sunny place.

Arugula  This herb, which is commonly mistaken as a salad green, has a pleasant crispness and a sharp, peppery flavor that takes great in a variety of dishes.	Italian Basil  This variety is named for Genoa, the pesto capital of the world. Try it in this simple (and freezable!) basil pesto recipe.	Lemon Basil  The fresh lemony flavor and aroma of this variety makes it perfect for seafood dishes.
Lime Basil Just as the bitterness of sea salt can bring out the sweetness of chocolate, the brightness of lime pairs nicely with the freshness of basil. Try this variety in a sweet and savory application, such as these shortbread cookies.	Purple Petra Basil This gorgeous purple variety is a bit sweeter and more mild than Italian Genovese, so it’s great for basil flavor without too much spice.	Catnip Did you know that catnip’s great not just for felines, but humans, too? It has a wide variety of medicinal uses and is more effective than DEET at repelling bugs.
Cilantro A truly versatile herb, cilantro is particularly great with Southwestern and Mexican flavors. Try it in this easy herb butter, which tastes yummy on just about anything.	Dill Dill is a super garden champ. Its yellow blossoms are lovely in bouquets, the plants attract the caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly, and its soft herbal fronds look pretty and taste great in everything from seafood dishes to homemade yogurt cheese.	Lemon Balm When its leaves are crushed, lemon balm gives off a very soft and pleasant minty lemon aroma and taste. It’s awesome in iced tea and lemon cocktails.
Shiso Native to eastern Asia, shiso offers beautiful frilly red and green leaves and a sweet and spicy flavor. Some people say it tastes like curry, and other say it tastes like cinnamon. It’s terrific for flavoring vinegars.	Stevia No need to buy Stevia at the grocery store. Simply dry out your stevia leaves and grind them with a mortar and pestle to make a sugar substitute. Or, use the fresh leaves to make an infusion, which you can use as liquid sweetener.

Why Botanical Interests seeds?

Botanical Interests is a family owned business that was begun because its founders felt that they simply were not getting enough information that they needed on their seed packets. As a result, when you buy Botanical Interests seeds, you also get all of the information you need about when, where and how to plant them. With each seed packet, you’ll receive growing and harvesting tips, plus a delicious free recipe.

What we love even more is that Botanical Interests has taken the Safe Seed Pledge, meaning that they do not knowingly sell any genetically modified (GMO) seeds or plants.

How to get started growing herbs

To make getting started fun, try hosting a seed swapping party. Have each friend bring his or her seed packets, and you can each swap a few. Simply place the seeds in labeled paper envelopes for everyone to bring home. This way, you can try growing many different herbs for practically no cost at all. To make the party even more fun, serve up some great herb garden-inspired cocktails, such as Rosemary and Lavender infused martinis!

Infused vodkas make great gifts (photo by Ashley English)!

There are several different reasons that you may grow herbs to make an infusion. You can infuse herbs in water to make a healing medicinal liquid; or you can infuse herbs in olive oil to make salad dressings. But the most fun way to make an infusion? To infuse herbs in booze, or course!

What is an infusion?

An infusion is the result of steeping botanicals in liquid to extract their flavor, scent, and nutritional or healing properties. Many of us create a simple infusion every day without even thinking about it by brewing herbal tea. Typically, the botanicals used in infusions are leaves, berries, fruits, and/or flowers.

Rosemary, mint, and thyme are common ingredients

We recommend using a good quality vodka for your infusion. Since it is primarily colorless and flavorless, it really takes on the flavors of the infused herbs and spices very well (some people even call it the chameleon of liquors).

To create a vodka infusion, you will need:

• 1 liter of vodka
• an airtight mason jar – 1 liter capacity
• an airtight bottle – 1 liter capacity
• a funnel
• a piece of cheesecloth or a small strainer
• herbs, fruits, or spices to flavor your vodka

The goal of any infusion is to extract the delicious scents and flavors into your vodka. This means that you will allow the herbs, spices and fruits to “steep” in the vodka, then discard the solids. The amount of time that each flavor needs to steep will vary. For example, lemon peels will need to be left in the vodka for a good week or two, whereas strawberries will only take about 24 hours to steep.

Our Favorite Infused Vodka Recipes

Rosemary and Lavender Infused Vodka

This vodka lends a wonderful soft floral note to all of our favorite vodka drinks. Try it in a vodka martini, a vodka tonic, or mixed with lemonade for a fragrant twist.

Directions:

1. Pluck 1 large sprig of rosemary and 2 sprigs of lavender from your garden. Rinse them well, and add them to your clean mason jar.
2. Pour 1 liter of vodka into the jar. Give the jar a few gentle shakes.
3. Seal the jar of the lid tightly, then store it in a cool, dry place for 3 days.
4. After 3 days, open the jar and give the vodka a taste test. If the flavors are as strong as you would like, it’s time to remove the vodka from the jar. If not, store the vodka in the jar for 1-2 more days.
5. When ready, hold a strainer or piece of cheesecloth over a pitcher, and pour the vodka from the jar into the pitcher. This will strain out any lavender blossoms and rosemary needles.
6. Place the funnel on the top of the bottle, and pour the vodka from the pitcher into the bottle.

Garlic and Basil Infused Vodka

If you want to really pep up your next Bloody Mary, add this vodka. Or, for an excellent savory sip, try it on the rocks with a sprig of basil or an olive as garnish.

Directions:

1. Pick two large sprigs of basil (for a fresh twist try lemon basil or lime basil) from your garden. Rinse them well, and add them to your mason jar.
2. Peel and separate the cloves of one bulb of garlic, add these to your mason jar.
3. Fill the jar with vodka, seal it and store it in a cool, dry place for 4 days.
4. Follow the above steps for straining and storing your flavor infused vodka.

For more delicious flavor combination ideas, check out Small Measures With Ashley. Ashley English, a Design Sponge regular, will surprise you with some unexpected pairings. For example, lemon balm pairs well with fennel bulb, honeydew melon, black tea, nectarines, and/or blackberries. Delicious!

The many uses for infused vodkas

Infused vodkas are not just a bangin’ way to impress all your friends at your next party. Homemade flavored vodka in a decorative glass bottle makes a beautiful gift. Try pouring your finished infused vodka into a Roost Copenhagen Carafe and Terrarium for a perfect presentation. You can also try cooking with your infused vodkas – both sweet and savory flavors.

What is a simple syrup?

Once you have a nice selection of infused vodkas and start to get adventurous with cocktail recipes, you will notice that many recipes call for simple syrup. Simple syrup is a bar essential that is made by mixing equal parts of sugar and water, then heating it until the sugar is dissolved. The sweet liquid can then be blended seamlessly into cold drinks. Because of the heating process, subtle flavors may easily be added into simple syrup. Then, all you need is a little dash to add your desired flavor to any drink.

How to make flavored simple syrup

The process really is simple! All you need is:

Our favorite simple syrup recipes

Dill Simple Syrup

What would you use dill simple syrup in, you ask? We discovered the recipe at the Russian food and drink blog called The Troika Table, where they recommend adding it to a mighty tasty drink called the Slippery Russian.It combines 1 shot of lemon infused vodka, 1 shot of pepper infused vodka, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 tablespoon of dill simple syrup. Shake it up, then top it with seltzer. Easy and impressive!

Directions:

1. Combine equal 1 cup of water and and 1 cup of granulated sugar in the pot and bring it to a boil.
2. Let it boil hard while constantly stirring it for one minute.
3. Remove the pot from the burner, set it aside, and add in a few sprigs of dill.
4. Let this steep, uncovered, for 2 hours.
5. Strain out the solids and pour the syrup into a glass storage bottle.
6. Store the cooled syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Rosemary Simple Syrup For an herbal simple syrup, you toss in a few sprigs of just about anything that you have growing on your windowsill. Follow these directions to create your own herb infused simple syrup, and don’t be afraid to try unique flavors! Think about the flavors that you like in your food and drinks, and play off of these in your simple syrups.

Some flavor combinations we like are:

The many uses for simple syrup

Lavender-orange Limoncello Sorbet

Your homemade simple syrup will taste great mixed up in your favorite cocktail. But its uses sure don’t end there– oh, no. You can drizzle simple syrup over pound cake, toss fruit salad in it, or include a splash in your iced tea. For the easiest and prettiest dessert ever, place a scoop of fruit sorbet in a martini glass, drizzle it with simple syrup, and add an herb sprig for garnish. Voila!

Are you on Twitter?

Follow the hashtags #gartender and #gartending for more cocktail garden resources.

Hemingway Muddlers

We may not all be Tom Cruise in “Cocktail,” with sexy bottle flipping moves, but if you do want to impress people with a delicious signature drink at your next garden gathering or party, a muddler is an essential tool for you. Muddling allows you to add fresh home-grown flavor to any beverage of your choice.

What is a Muddler?

A muddler is a wooden tool, shaped sort of like a miniature club, that is used to mash aromatics at the bottom of a cocktail glass. Muddlers have a specially designed tip in order to crush, or gently bruise, the item in the bottom of your glass without pulverizing it. Some muddlers have a flat tip, while others are rounded or pointed. Each one serves a different purpose. The Roost Hemingway Muddlers are sold as a set of three, which equips you with a muddler for every application, from mint leaves to delicate berries to pink peppercorns.

How to Use a Muddler

A muddler is intended to be used with a gentle wrist twisting action, rather than an up-and-down plunger action. Simply place the item you wish to muddle in the bottom of your glass of choice, then gently press with the muddler, softly grinding and mashing the item along the bottom and sides of the glass. Continue with a gentle pressing and turning action for about a count of 10. If you are muddling both herbs and fruit, muddle the herbs in the glass first, then add the fruit. Or if you are muddling herbs alone, try adding a sprinkle of salt, sugar, or brown sugar. The coarseness will help to abrade the surface of the leaves without complete shredding them.

What To Muddle

Get creative! You can muddle all sorts of things into your cocktails, and you can muddle several different items in layers to create a unique combination of flavors. Here are some combos that we love:

Recommended Muddled Cocktail Recipes

We’ve been very busy testing out cocktails with muddled fresh herbs and fruits lately. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. Our favorite recipes are those with just a few simple ingredients, and fresh flavors that we can pluck right out of the yard.

Shisho-Yuzu Mojito

Recipe from theKitchn - makes one mojito1 1/2 ounces Stoli Citros vodka 1 tablespoon brown sugar 4 or 5 fresh shiso leaves 1 teaspoon of zested yuzu rind juice of 1/4 lime club soda

Tear the shiso leaves into large pieces (reserving one whole leaf for a garnish) and muddle with the brown sugar and yuzu rind in a mixing glass. Add the vodka, lime juice, and a few ice cubes and stir. Pour into an old-fashioned glass and top up with club soda and more ice as necessary. Garnish with a shiso leaf.

Cucumber Mint Gin & Tonic

Recipe from Dirt and Martinis - makes one gin & tonic2 slices cucumber 3 mint sprigs 3 ounces gin 4 ounces Q organic tonic water 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

Muddle the slice of cucumber and 2 sprigs of mint in a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice. Add 3 ounces gin, 4 ounces tonic and 1/2 ounce of lime juice. Stir and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Vanilla Bean Old Fashioned

Recipe from Tasting Table - makes one old fashioned1 tablespoon vanilla-bean sugar 3 dashes orange bitters 1 orange peel Water 1 large ice cube 2 ounces high-quality bourbon Vanilla bean for garnish (optional)

Combine the vanilla sugar, orange bitters, orange peel and a splash of water in the bottom of a glass. Use a muddler to crush the sugar into the rest of the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Add one large ice cube and pour the bourbon over the ice. Stir for 15 seconds, then garnish with vanilla bean, if desired. Serve immediately.

Raspberry-Herb Cocktail

Recipe from Martha Stewart Living - makes 8 cocktails1 1/2 pints fresh raspberries (about 4 cups) 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar 6 large sprigs (about 2 ounces) fresh mint, basil, or both, plus more for garnish 1/2 cup vodka Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons) 1 bottle (750 mL) Prosecco or Lambrusco

Reserve 16 berries. Muddle the remaining berries, the sugar, and herbs in a large glass bowl. Stir in vodka, lemon juice, and Prosecco. Pour mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, pressing through; discard solids. Serve over ice. Squeeze 2 berries into each drink. Garnish with herb sprigs.

For More Inspiration

For more great fruit and herb muddled cocktail ideas, check out Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist. You’ll find all kinds of awesome ways to take ingredients right from the herb garden to the cocktail glass.

Want to grow your own herbs, but not sure where to start?

Check out this blog post, Grow Your Own Cocktail Garden, for tips on how to grow an easy cocktail themed garden, plus additional great recipes. Remember, you don’t need a huge plot of land to grow a garden. Even a small pot or a recycled coffee can is a prime spot for planting an easy herb, such as mint, basil, or cilantro.

Children of all ages are great learners and willing participants when it comes to spring gardening. If it’s still a little cool in your neck of the woods, begin by starting seeds indoors. This way, your child can plant seeds in small pots inside, then can transplant the seedlings outdoors once the temperatures grow a bit higher, and the days longer.

Get Growing!

Check out the Green Toys Indoor Planting Kit, which includes 3 planting pots, a pea pod shaped pot tray, a trowel, soil, and 3 packets of organic seeds. The pots and trowel are sized just right for mini hands, and even made of 100% post consumer recycled plastic (milk jugs!), too.

Once your kiddo has planted the seeds, all he or she needs to do is water them. You can even make this task fun with a cute elephant watering can and the Greenbo Frog Water Meter. Over watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death, so prevent it with this adorable and super easy to read meter, which clearly indicates whether the plant’s soil is dry, moist, or wet.

Indoor Planting Kit

Green Toys Planter

Frog Water Meter

Why bother teaching your kids how to garden?

Well, beyond the sheer entertainment factor, (watching a tiny seed sprout into a towering plant can seem like magic!) gardening teaches children responsibility and patience. A garden provides the opportunity to show children where their favorite fruits and veggies come from before they end up on the supermarket shelves.

So many children today have no understanding of the value of food and the work that must occur for it to reach our plates. Gardening with with your children (or nieces and nephews, or grandchildren) is not only educational and fun, but also a way to guide them towards making healthy lifestyle choices.

Don’t take our word for it.

Teresa Loe, an award winning Co-Executive Producer and Canning Expert on Growing a Greener World TV, says that she has two sons who are really into Star Wars. But they are also young organic gardeners as well. As she points out at her blog Living Homegrown, gardening with children can be “an  exciting, scientific adventure.” It is not only an effective way to entice kids away from the tv, but also an opportunity to make the connection between organic gardening and organic eating, and the responsibility we have therein. What we put onto our plants goes into our bodies.

So go ahead and let ‘em get a little dirty. Start a kid garden this year, and sow its many benefits.

Signs of spring are popping up in masses under trees, along walkways, or maybe even scattered throughout your lawn. Early spring flowering bulbs, like snowdrops, crocuses, and tulips, offer flower lovers the season’s first cut flowers for indoor bud vases.

We’ve discovered another perfect pairing for our Roost Glass Bird Vases. Snowdrops. You may not think of Snowdrops – or galanthus – as a cut flower, but their dainty, honey-scented flowers are natural companions for small vases with narrow openings.

What are Snowdrops?

Snowdrops are an early spring blooming bulb from the amaryllidaceae family, with over 20 different varieties to choose from. Look for Galanthus nivalis, or common snowdrop, it’s the most widely known variety and can be found in most garden centers. Galanthus elwesii, or giant snowdrop, have larger flowers and wider leaves than it’s more common cousin. Both varieties grow up to about 4-6″ tall.

You can buy the potted plants nurseries now, or wait until fall to plant the bulbs. Since snowdrops are one of the first flowering bulbs, often blooming while the ground is still covered in snow, plant them along walkways, around your mailbox, or in containers by the front door. Click for more growing information.

Where to place in your home

Snip a few blooms at varying heights and place them in the chickadee (front) or dove vases. Consider placing a couple Crocus vernus ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ in the chickadee vase to add a contrasting flower shape. Place the vases in pairs, or by themselves, around the house where you need a little spring pick-me-up (e.g., a nightstand, kitchen windowsill, front door table, or on your office desk). Click if you’re interested in our Roost Glass Bird Vases.

Thanks Dee Nash for allowing me to use your snowdrops photo for this AML blog post. Check out Dee’s blog Red Dirt Ramblings if you live in Oklahoma. She knows how to grow stuff in one the country’s toughest climates!

If you’ve never been to a garden show like the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, then you’re missing out. National shows like these will blow your county’s local home and garden shows out of the water! And the timing couldn’t be better. Scheduling the show in early February offers us Northwesterners a source of winter inspiration and relief knowing that spring is right around the corner. Wait until you smell the flowers!

Garden Inspiration Galore

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show has been offering spectacular show gardens, container gardening ideas for small spaces, educational seminars from well-known experts, and rows and rows of cool garden-y merchandise since 1989. Every year the show keeps getting better and better!

Meet the authors in person after their presentations – there’s over 100 free seminars! Check out the featured speakers line-up. Recognize anyone? Hint: garden hunk Jamie Durie – and many more!

From left: me, Andrea Bellamy, Ivette Soler, and Teresa O'Connor

No space? No problem! Container gardening ideas for urban dwellers.

Small space gardening ideas at the Container Show

Have that camera ready! There’s a gazillion different plant combinations you’ve never thought of.

Planting ideas for all kinds of spaces

Don’t put the camera away just yet. DIYers will be in all their glory with tons of crafty ideas.

Oversized letters are easy to find at craft stores - decoupage and add a water proof finish.

Salvage feigns will have a heyday at the display gardens.

Re-used objects add unexpected style (yes, that's a name badge used as plant tag!)

Get the Behind-the-Scenes Scoop

Teresa O’Connor, from Seasonal Wisdom, and I joined together for a special report about the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Our special guest Janet Endsley, seminar and social media manager, shares a brief history of the show and why it was created 24 years ago, and gives a rundown of all the creativity and coordination that goes into making the NW Flower & Garden Show the 2nd largest garden show in the country – 3rd largest in the world.

Listen to our special report and Janet’s interview {link will open in a new browser window}.

Learn about Edibles from Seasonal Wisdom

• Thursday, Feb. 9, 9:30 AM (Hood Room): The Allure of Edible Flowers: How to Grow, Harvest, Cook and Enjoy Edible Flowers
• Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30 PM (Rainier Room) : Growing Food in Small Spaces: Tips & Techniques to Maximize Your Garden Harvest

Catch Me at the DIY Stage!

This will be my 6th year attending the Seattle show, and my second year presenting. I’m so in my element at the DIY stage.

• Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5:15 PM (DIY Stage): Edibles Cubed: Create a Living, Edible Cocktail Table
• Thurs, Feb. 9, 5:15 PM (DIY Stage): No Space. No Problem: Grow a Gutter Garden With Function & Style

Hope to see you there!

Enter to win! 2012 Buy Local Tea Towel + Roost Farmers' Market Basket

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Shelley Crist!

In this week’s December Giveaway, we’re celebrating the Buy Local movement. The idea of keeping it local appeals to many people, not just gardeners and farmers. When it comes to buying your food locally, it’s not just about supporting your local economy. You are buying produce that tastes better and is more nutritious; transportation uses less fossil fuel; and you can enjoy guilt-free dinners knowing your meat came from a cow, chicken, or pig that grazed freely in an open pasture.

This week is a two-part question: (1) Currently, how do you keep it local, and (2) what is one way you plan to become a better locavore in 2012?

One randomly selected winner will receive one 2012 Buy Local Calendar Tea Towel + one Roost Raspberry Farmers’ Market Basket {raspberry}.

How to Enter

Click image to see more detail

• Answer the question in each blog post by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
• Answer the same on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Yep, that’s right, you can enter your name twice for a chance to win our FREE gift idea. Keep ‘em for yourself or find some special to gift them to.

Week 3′s contest ends Sunday, December 18, 12:00 PST. The winner will be announced the following week.

Congratulations to Christina and Janis for winning last week’s December Giveaway!

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Christina for winning the first prize {terrarium + book} and to Janis for winning the second prize {book}.

Terrariums are the perfect gift for plant lovers, design junkies, DIYers, and crafty minds. And when you pair our Roost Recycled Glass Wall Terrarium with Timber Press’s Terrarium Craft book by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant, it makes the perfect giveaway! One lucky winner will win both the wall terrarium + the terrarium book, and a second place winner will win a copy of the book {pictured below}.

QUESTION: Terrariums are little scenes of nature in glass containers. What’s your favorite way to connect with nature indoors?

We're giving away 2 free copies of Terrarium Craft

Week 2 Giveaway: How to Enter

• Answer the question above by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
• Answer the same, or similar question, on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Week 2′s contest ends Sunday, December 11, 12:00 PST. Two randomly selected winners will be announced the following week.

Congratulations Julie Lanier for winning last week’s December Giveaway!

Create the Perfect Terrarium Gift

Want to make a big impression this holiday? Think about grouping terrarium related items your gift recipient will need to create their first or 100th terrarium.

• Terrarium Tools make fiddling with plants and dirt easier in tight spaces
• Idea Books like Timber Press’s Terrarium Craft
• Organic Potting Soil
• Small bag of Crushed River Gravel for drainage
• Small bag of Charcoal to keep mold and bacteria at bay
• Water bottle for spritzing the plants
• Plant material ranging from succulents and cacti, ferns, moss, and air plants.
• Accent pieces add a nice personal touch and fill empty spaces. Look for crystals, feathers, bones, seashells, bits of wood, porcelain trinkets

WEEK 3 Giveaway: one 2012 Buy Local Tea Towel + one Roost Farmer’s Market Basket {raspberry}