With the warmer temperatures, let’s get outside and make the most of it with some great backyard oasis ideas. Whether you want ideas for a small backyard oasis, a private backyard oasis or a backyard oasis on a budget, here are some ideas on how to create a perfect backyard oasis and make your backyard awesome.
On my blog here at Rachel Home and Life, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you make a purchase via the link. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.
I love kitchen gardens! The first time I saw one I was captivated! Here you’ll find beautiful kitchen garden ideas and garden tips for creating a kitchen garden oasis. What is a kitchen Garden? And what is the difference between a kitchen garden and a regular vegetable garden?
A kitchen garden is an outdoor garden that is conveniently located as close to the kitchen as possible, so that it’s easy for you to grab what you need from it to prepare your meals. It’s usually smaller than a regular vegetable garden, but not always. A regular vegetable garden is more for harvesting large amounts of vegetables in the future for preserving. A kitchen garden is for smaller amounts and is more for using in the present and using things while the produce is fresh. Since a regular garden is for bigger production, vegetables are often lined up in rows, whereas a kitchen garden is more aesthetically pleasing and adds beauty to your home and yard.
Kitchen gardens, also called Potager gardens(a French term) were invented in France and are made up of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers to bring beauty and functionality to a space. When one type of plant is done producing, it is replaced with a different crop.
Raised beds are often preferred because of the warmer soil temperatures in them, easier on your body to tend to, and you can fill them up with good quality soil.
Herbs de Provence~ Thyme, rosemary, lavender, and others to grow in a kitchen garden
You can grow anything you like in your kitchen garden but it’s a great idea to choose crops that you can use sooner rather than at the end of summer. The main idea is to have early producing crops that you can use fresh. You also don’t want to plant things that spread out and take a lot of space, such as pumpkins.
Some suggested flowers to grow in a kitchen garden: sweet peas and alyssum for their scent; edible flowers such as roses, and nasturtiums; and Dahlias, sunflowers and zinnias for their beauty and pollinator attraction.
Some suggested vegetables would be lettuce, onions, spinach, bush beans, pole beans, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, beets, peas, and I’m sure you can think of others.
Delicious fruits to add to a kitchen garden could be strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, and depending on your location, smaller dwarf fruit trees. You don’t want to grow big fruit trees that will cast shade over your kitchen garden.
A kitchen garden is a beautiful garden idea that will add beauty, functionality and pleasure to your home for years to come. Visit my Pinterest Kitchen Garden board to see a lot more kitchen garden inspiration, tips and ideas.
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Thanks so much for stopping by!
Warmly,
Rachel
On my blog here at Rachel Home and Life, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you make a purchase via the link. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.
This seriously good Greek salad recipe is super easy to throw together. Crunchy cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, flavorful cherry tomatoes, crisp red onion, kalamata olives, and tangy feta cheese all combined in a homemade lemony garlic dressing. You really just dump everything into a bowl , add the dressing, and toss.
Because the ingredients are sturdy, this Greek salad is one of those great make ahead dishes. There is no lettuce in it that will get soggy, and you can adjust the amounts according to your taste. If you don’t like red onion, don’t add as much. If you don’t like olives, skip them.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup red onion, sliced or chopped
4 cups bell peppers; your choice of color(I used red and orange)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups cucumbers, cut into chunks
1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled (I buy the Feta in brine- more flavourful)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
Add prepared vegetables and crumbled cheese(reserving 1/4 cup cheese to sprinkle on top) to a bowl. Mix dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Dressing:
*6 Tbsp olive oil
*2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
*1 tsp coarsely ground oregano. If using finely ground, use only 1/4 tsp or more to taste.
*1 garlic clove, minced
*Salt and pepper to taste
Pour dressing over top and toss to combine. Add reserved crumbled cheese on top. Enjoy!
A porch is a welcome and relaxing place to unwind and gather with friends and family on those lovely warm spring and summer days. To me, having a porch is almost like a having a certain lifestyle. One where life is lived more slowly. Where neighbours visit more freely. It’s creating a space that engages with the neighborhood and helps build community. Here are some inspirational and inviting front porch ideas including porch decorating, porch swing ideas, porch signs, porch quotes, front porch design, and farmhouse front porch ideas to enjoy and extend your outdoor time. Life is better on the porch!
On my blog here at Rachel Home and Life, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you make a purchase via the link. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.
Photo by Nicolashome.com
Love the warm earth tones with the white, the wicker and rattan, and the hanging chair.
Love the splashes of color and all the elements that went into making this such an inviting space: drapes, hanging baskets, bed swing, pillows, lantern, stools, chairs, flowers, rug, ceiling paint, side table.
