Grow it all.
Feed your body; feed your soul—vegetables & cut flowers in one backyard
What Do You want to Do?
Welcome to My Garden
Hey! I’m Karen, a backyard gardener in the heart of Indiana. I grow vegetables and cut flowers in a suburban backyard, and I’m sharing what actually works in my garden.
You don’t need a farm or acreage to have a garden you love. Just some good soil and and a few seeds. Learn more here.
Spring on Not quite a homestead
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Best Companion Plants for Zucchini and Squash (Deter Squash Vine Borers Naturally)
The best companion plants for zucchini and squash—nasturtiums, radishes, and more—help deter pests, improve pollination, and grow healthier plants naturally. We’ll also discuss what to avoid planting nearby and how to manage squash bugs and borers.
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Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardening: How to Choose the Best Option
Deciding between raised beds or in-ground gardening? Let’s break down both styles and choose the garden setup that fits your space and goals. Includes a flow chart.
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21 Best Perennial Flowers and Shrubs for Cut Flower Gardens
Discover 21 perennial cut flowers that bridge the gaps between seasons, keeping your garden and vases full when annuals aren’t blooming.
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Container Gardening Layouts for Small-Space Gardens
Grab ideas for a container garden layout that’s potager-inspired and renter-friendly. Includes a free guide to container potager layouts.
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10 Perennial Herbs for a Beautiful Potager Garden
These 10 perennial herbs belong in every potager garden. Learn to design a cottage vegetable garden with perennial herbs.
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How to Plant a Low-Maintenance Vegetable Garden
Learn how to grow a productive, low-maintenance vegetable garden with easy-care plants, smart watering tips, and time-saving strategies.
Your cut flower plan is here.
Designed for beginners, The Magic 7 Cut Flower Garden Plan shows you what to grow, when to harvest, and how to arrange seven flowers for color-coordinated bouquets all summer long.
You don’t need to become a flower farmer to have fresh cut bouquets every week.
All you need is the right plan.
The Cottage Vegetable Garden
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The Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes (& What NOT to Plant Nearby)
Plant these companion plants for tomatoes and watch your harvest explode. My favorite companion flowers and vegetables for tomatoes and how each helps tomato plants thrive.
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Growing Vegetables in the Shade: What to Plant & How to Make It Work
Yes, vegetables can grow in the shade. You just need the right ones. Here’s a complete list of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for part-shade and partial-sun gardens, plus 6 tips for success.
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10 Companion Planting Combinations for a Beautiful Cottage Vegetable Garden
Can a vegetable garden be the prettiest thing in the yard? These 10 companion planting combinations grow food, flowers, and herbs, all by design, not by accident.
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9 Herbs for Flower Arrangements to Add Fragrance and Texture
Find my top 9 culinary herbs to use in cut flower arrangements to add long-lasting texture, scent, and beauty.
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18 Great Companion Flowers for Vegetables (Complete Guide)
Struggling with poor pollination or pest problems? Plant these beautiful companion flowers to have a healthier and more productive vegetable garden.
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How to Design a Cottage Vegetable Garden: 8 Elements for a Space You’ll Never Want to Leave
Transform your backyard into a cottage vegetable garden you’re proud of. These 8 essential elements pulled from potager garden designs will help you create a backyard garden you’ll never want to leave.
My Favorite Things
Latest Posts
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How to Plant and Grow Dahlia Tubers (Tips for Earlier Blooms)
Learn how to plant and grow dahlia tubers in your cut flower garden. I’m also sharing simple tricks to get dahlias blooming weeks sooner.
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Companion Planting Cucumbers: The Best Plants to Grow Together
Find the best plants to grow with cucumbers. Growing cucumbers with their favorite friends does three things: manages pests, attracts pollinators, and improves yields.
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How to Grow Cucumbers from Seed to Harvest (Plus My Favorite Varieties)
Sharing how I grow cucumbers from seed every year. This guide covers everything from choosing varieties to dealing with pests and what really matters for growing these crisp vegetables.
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2026 Garden Notes: What I’m Sowing, Skipping, and Anticipating in February
February garden notes from a Midwestern garden: what I’m planting indoors, direct sowing (even though it’s False Spring), pruning, and what I’m waiting on.
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How to Grow the Best-Tasting Tomatoes from Seed
If you’ve never grown tomatoes from seed before, you’re missing out on hundreds of varieties and flavors that will ruin you for grocery store tomatoes forever. This guide is an overview on when to start seeds, how to keep seedlings alive and thriving, and tips for growing the best-tasting tomatoes of your life.
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2026 Garden Notes: Seeds I’m Starting This Year (and Why)
A realistic garden planning post sharing the seeds I’m starting for 2026, what I’m skipping on purpose, and how I’m simplifying this season.
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