Posts By

Melissa Strauss

Melissa is a writer, hobby gardener, beekeeper and homemaker. She can be found working in her extensive pollinator garden, trolling the local nurseries for unique plant specimens, and tending to the many fruit-bearing plants on her property. Melissa hopes to inspire other gardeners to delve into the rich and fulfilling world of pollinator gardening.

Shrubs and trees wrapped in cloth and burlap for frost protection, standing in a snow-covered winter garden.

Trees

How to Wrap Trees and Shrubs for Winter Protection

Wrapping your trees and shrubs can do a lot to protect and preserve them for winter. With a little planning ahead, your garden will survive the winter and come back better than ever in the spring. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss explains how to do it right.

Thyme, chili pepper, and tomato plants with yellow cherry fruits grow from seeds in clay pots, forming a small indoor food forest.

Edible

11 Indoor Food Forest Seeds to Sow in November

Creating an indoor food forest is no simple task, but it has some excellent benefits. Choosing the right plants can make all the difference. Join houseplant enthusiast Melissa Strauss for ideas on what you can add to your indoor food forest.

Ice cubes with frozen basil leaves glisten on a wooden table beside fresh sprigs, showing an easy way to freeze garden herbs for later use.

Herbs

How to Freeze Your Garden Herbs for Holiday Cooking

Are you worried that those wonderful fresh garden herbs you've spent all summer growing won't make it to the holidays? No need for concern, frozen herbs are just as tasty! Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss for tips on freezing them for your holiday cooking.

A potted christmas cactus coffee grounds placed on a widow sill with twinkling lights around the pot, the plant receiving enough sunlight

Cacti & Succulents

How to Fertilize Your Christmas Cactus with Coffee Grounds

Christmas cacti are colorful, festive succulents that always look their best for the holidays. Easy to care for, with a surprisingly showy blooming habit, these are a houseplant favorite. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to learn how you can recycle your coffee grounds as fertilizer for your Christmas Cactus.

The tall deciduous hedge trees display dense clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers along their branches in full bloom.

Trees

12 Deciduous Hedge Trees That Look Amazing in Fall

Hedge trees go beyond mere hedges to create shelter, privacy, and beauty in the garden. This traditional landscape choice melds historical charm with modern, naturalistic architecture. Here are some of our favorite deciduous hedge trees that look amazing in the fall.