Rooted with Love

Deadheading means pinching or cutting off faded, wilted flowers.
It might feel a bit tedious, but it completely changes how a plant behaves. Here is why it is so important:
1. It Redirects the Plant's Energy
A plant's main goal in life is to reproduce. To do that, it grows a flower, lets it get pollinated, and then spends a massive amount of energy turning that flower into seeds.
* Without deadheading: The plant pours all its sugars and nutrients into seed production.
* With deadheading: You trick the plant. By removing the dying flower before it can make seeds, you force it to redirect that energy back into growing stronger roots, healthier leaves, this is great for a medicinal gardener like myself. More flowers, healthier leaves for harvesting.
2. It Extends the Blooming Season
For many annuals and perennials (like calendulas, petunias, roses, and coneflowers), deadheading triggers a second (or even third) wave of blossoms.
3. It Prevents Self-Seeding
Some plants are aggressive self seeders. Trust me, I never dead head as much as I should and my garden is covered self seeders like foxglove ( which I absolutely adore so no big deal)
The Quick How-To: Don't just yank the petals off. Follow the flower stem down to the first set of healthy, full-sized leaves and make a clean snip right above them. That’s exactly where the plant will want to push out new growth!
My personal method but it will be different for everyone
* In Spring & Summer: Deadhead aggressively. This forces the plants to focus entirely on visual impact, root growth, and constant flower production while the weather is warm.
* In Late Summer & Fall Put the shears away. Let the final flush of flowers naturally turn to seed. This gives your garden beautiful winter texture, feeds the local wildlife, and lets your favorite plants self-sow

Whether you choose a dehydrator or the traditional method of hanging herbs, the goal is the same: gently remove moisture while protecting the plant’s colour, aroma, and natural qualities. I own an Excalibur dehydrator
🌱 Before drying:
• Harvest herbs when they are dry (after dew has evaporated is ideal)
• Avoid dehydrating wet herbs excess moisture can increase drying time, cause browning, uneven drying, and create a risk of mould
🌱 Dehydrator tips:
• Use a low temperature 95-115F and a slower drying process, herbs are delicate and gentle drying helps preserve their colour, nutrients and aromatic oils
• Spread herbs in a single layer with good airflow
• Avoid overcrowding trays
• Remove thick stems when needed, or split them so moisture can escape
• Herbs should be fully dry before storing leaves should crumble and stems should snap
🌱 Storage matters:
• Cool herbs completely before sealing in jars
• Store in airtight containers away from heat and light
• Light and oxygen can slowly degrade colour, aroma, and quality over time
• Label your jars with the plant name and date
What about hanging herbs?
This ancient method has been used for generations and for good reason. Slow air drying works beautifully when conditions are right.
Rules for successful hanging:
• Hang small bundles, not large bunches
• Choose a dry, dark, well-ventilated space
• Keep herbs out of direct sunlight/as mentioned above light can degrade colour, aroma, and quality
• Allow air to move around the plants
• Avoid humid areas where moisture can linger

Ditch the Gatorade and pop this hydration blend in your bag instead. Summer hydration, made simple 🍋
Fresh lemon + lime, water ( or coconut water) honey and a little intention.
No artificial flavours. No colours. Just real, wholesome, water rich ingredients. Citrus brings a burst of vitamin C, and naturally occurring bitter compounds from the pith and peel.
A small amount of salt provides sodium, an important electrolyte that helps support fluid balance in the body and a touch of honey for natural sweetness and energy
*OPTION-to add naturally occurring electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, switch up the plain water for coconut water.
Simple ingredients. Fresh flavour. Nature provides exactly what we need, especially on these hot summer days.

What to do with those garlic scapes?! 🌿
Pesto doesn’t have to be just basil -it’s a place to get creative, use what’s growing, and play with flavours.
This batch is packed with garlic scapes (plus a little extra garlic 😉), kale, carrot tops, and beet greens, turning beautiful garden greens into something vibrant and delicious.
Some other greens to experiment with:
🌱 arugula
🌱 basil
🌱 dandelion greens
🌱 parsley
🌱 whatever you have growing
Fresh ingredients, simple combinations, and endless ways to make it your own.
Would you give garlic scape pesto a try?

JUICING! I’ve never tried juicing rhubarb before but I’m pleasantly surprised! Rhubarb contains Vit.c, vit k, antioxidants and minerals- a beautiful profile of nourishment! A little garden experiment turned into the most refreshing wholesome summer drink…Fresh rhubarb, a whole orange 🍊 and a piece of ginger juiced together, then topped with sparkling soda water and maple syrup for a bright, tangy, naturally refreshing sip. Rhubarb has such a unique flavour, tart, crisp, and perfect for pairing with sweeter citrus and a little warming ginger. Sometimes the best recipes come from simply playing with what’s growing around you 🤍Have you ever used rhubarb this way?

Creating herbal wands is one of my favourite ways to connect with nature. Choosing each stem, taking in the scent, gently gathering flowers and herbs, and wrapping them together with twine, capturing a little moment of the season before it passes. These herbal wands are more than just a bundle of plants… they are a reminder to pause, notice, and appreciate the simple beauty growing around us.
A little piece of the garden, wrapped by hand and a beautiful reminder of the nourishment- mind, body and soul that nature has to offer.

What are you choosing to put on your skin… and the skin of the ones you love? Have you ever felt called to make your own skincare?
Creating nourishing skincare can be simple, fun, creative, and deeply intentional. There is something so special about choosing ingredients you feel connected to- ones you recognize, trust, and feel inspired to work with.
To me, this is self care at its finest… a beautiful way to slow down, create with your hands, and infuse a little love into something you use every day.
I love incorporating herbs and flowers of all kinds into my skincare creations. Calendula is one of my favourites,a golden little flower with so much traditional love behind it. 🌼 Feeling inspired to try making your own? Make sure to screenshot the recipe at the end- just a simple recipe to get you started.

What do you do with all those peonies? 🌸
You turn them into a little garden ritual… A basket full of fresh blooms, the sound of the snips, petals gently dried and saved for slow moments later.
✨ A handful of petals and salts layered into a muslin bag bath soak
✨ A warm cup of peony tea to sip while soaking
✨ A reminder to slow down and enjoy the beauty and incredible scent that blooms for such a short time
A little flower magic, a little selfcare, and a whole lot of gratitude 🌸
Only use flowers grown organically and free from sprays.

The best natural fertilizer for your garden- Comfrey tea fertilizer!
Comfrey’s tap roots reach deep into the soil, bringing up minerals and nutrients that get stored in its lush leaves. When those leaves break down in water, they create a beautiful natural plant feed to give back to the garden.
✅harvest comfrey once it is done blooming
✅chop it down right to the base evenly so it grows back lush and abundant
✅chop it up or add it whole directly to a large bucket
✅top with water
Let comfrey sit outdoors in water for 4-10 days stir with a stick daily. You’ll be able to smell when it’s done 😷a distinctive earthy, sludgy smell.
It is common to use a brick to hold down the leaves rather than mixing daily- the choice is yours.
No need to dilute in my personal experience
A little comfrey harvesting tip 🌸
Be sure to wear long sleeves while harvesting… those leaves can get a little prickly! 🌿
Other plants besides comfrey that I like to use are: nettle (before it goes to seed), yarrow, and common weeds
The garden provides… and we return the love 💚