This year, bring all the bees to the yard (and the butterflies and birds!) with a pollinator-friendly garden! Skip the chemical pesticides and use safe, organic options like insecticidal soap spray, neem oil, and beneficial insects like ladybugs. This way, you can tackle pest problems like aphids and spider mites without threatening pollinator populations.

To make your garden extra-attractive to pollinators, plant native flowers that naturally occur in your area! These plants are more familiar to local wildlife, and they like the familiarity. Kaw Valley is committed to protecting our pollinators, so all plants sold in-store are guaranteed free of any neonicotinoids. Pick some up today, and those lovely winged creatures will come fluttering in!

You’re a DIY dynamo who loves to plan, design, and create amazing things with your hands! A vertical wall garden is a perfect challenge that combines all your favorite things: ergonomic design, the wise use of space and resources, and cutting-edge style that’s impressive without being ostentatious.

Even if you don’t have a ton of free space, it’s easy to make your own vertical wall garden to suit your needs. You can even install a self-watering irrigation system to conserve water and reduce the amount of time spent maintaining your plants! Browse online to find some tutorials, and see if you can find opportunities to repurpose and recycle materials instead of buying new stuff.

No doubt about it, you’re a total foodie, and growing your own food in the garden is one of the most rewarding hobbies ever! While your flower garden and food garden are typically two separate entities, we challenge you to grow all things edible this year. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on the flowers—you can just stick to planting edible ones!

Pansies, nasturtiums, amaranthus, lavender, and chamomile are some of our favorite edible flowers to plant. You can add them into salads, press their colorful blossoms into cookies and pastries, or use them as a garnish for glamorous cocktails. Don’t forget to plant some delicious, fragrant herbs to season all your favorite home-cooked meals!

We could all use a little more serenity in our lives, and starting a wellness garden is the perfect way to create a space devoted to your health and relaxation. Plant aromatherapy herbs like lavender and lemongrass to brew into calming teas or mix into luxurious potpourris. Medicinal plants like echinacea and chamomile are excellent ingredients for home remedies, especially if you’re a parent, teacher, or healthcare professional, and tend to catch colds frequently.

To really get the zen vibes flowing, install a water fountain or a pond with a little waterfall, so you can enjoy the soothing sound of rushing water. Ornamental grasses are lovely, too, because they dance and sway in the wind, creating a sense of movement that’s calming and tranquil.

2020 was the first year a lot of families took on remote learning at home with their kids, and while that brought some challenges, it was an awesome opportunity to re-evaluate how we approach teaching our kids. It doesn’t have to be all books and pens—sometimes the best learning experiences are out in the field...literally!

Gardening can provide kids with a crash course in biology, chemistry, environmental science, and even the culinary arts! Learning where their food comes from and the time and effort it takes to cultivate will give your kids a whole new appreciation for their vegetables. Plus, any excuse to get the kids outside in the sunshine and away from the Nintendo Switch is well worth the effort!