How to Prune Lilacs

12/21/2022 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Young, immature plants rarely need pruning except to deadhead faded flowers or remove dead and broken branches. Once a lilac reaches a mature height, it appreciates rejuvenation pruning. Young bushes with branched under three…

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Lilac Jelly Recipe

12/19/2022 Ken Davis

by Lisa Watters-Lain, Arizona’s Garden Gal Lilacs have such a profusion of blooms in spring they are one of the easiest flowers to make jelly. The heady aroma fills a jelly jar like it does the landscape. Ensure your lilacs…

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Best Hummingbird Feeder Recipe

05/17/2021 Ken Davis

Safe, Natural, Organic Hummingbird Food from Home by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Hummingbirds like various flowers from the gardens, but the most attractive food is this basic hummingbird nectar recipe. The recipe approximates the natural sucrose content of top…

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10 Ways to Use Rosemary from the Home Garden

07/28/2018 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener   Rosemary is a hardy mountain evergreen shrub that’s easy to grow out of doors and even easier to use indoors.  Prized in the culinary world for its flavorful leaves, rosemary also has a…

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10 Great DIY Mint Tea Blends Recipes

05/03/2017 Ken Davis

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Arizona’s famous for our outdoor lifestyle and the season has just begun.  This may surprise you, but we are also famous for the ease of which we have grown our own herbs, right outside,…

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Herb Salt – Fun Recipe

03/20/2017 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

We’ve recently discovered herb salts as savory, mouth-watering additions to recipes, and also as an ingenious way to prolong the life of fresh herbs. Salt preserves the herbs, and the herbs infuse the salts, making a flavor combo you can’t…

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Fresh Dried Garden Tomatoes in Olive Oil

03/20/2017 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Nothing says summer like fresh, sun-ripened tomatoes from the garden! As many of us start our tomato seeds, we can also start thinking about the endless ways to enjoy these garden gems. One of our favorites is drying, for a…

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You Can’t “Beet” These Chips

03/20/2017 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Home-grown beets are delicious root vegetables, and the leaves are considered by some to be the best of all greens!  Roasting and pickling are traditional ways to prepare beets, but we’re marching to a different “beet” with these oven-baked beet…

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