The Shanty: Our Gardening Blog

These items may be fresh as a spring garden or discovered long after in the center of the Earth, and we think you might find them just as interesting as we did!

What is going on in the gardening world these days? Take a look and discover something new. This week we're looking at garden-themed home decor, not-so-practical gardening tips and a new emerging trend you'll see more of soon!

Garden Style Home Decor

Get inspired! Check out these garden-themed rugs for children's rooms. Of course, I think adults could get away with some of these choices for their spaces as well. Some of the prints are heavily floral and definitely look best suited for the younger set, but there are some rug designs with a more modern feel. Consider placing a garden-themed rug at your patio door as an extension of your garden from inside out. You're bound to find something unique that fits your home or your children's tastes!

City Living Gardening Tips: Yea or Nay? 

This is a sincere post about gardening in a big city, but it doesn't seem entirely practical. In the Pinterest age, this post offers what looks like many great ideas for small-scale gardening, but the artsy factor would probably be harder to reproduce than it looks. For example, creating a potting area in a hanging lamp from your ceiling is definitely cool, and ambitious, but unless you want to buy the advertised product for almost $500, you might want to stick to a more traditional plan. What do you think? Are these selections feasible the any gardener?

Introducing Flower CSAs

Garden/Vegetable CSA have been all the rage the last few years. It's a great way to support local vendors and get seasonal veggies and fruits all at once. You just get them delivered or have to pick up your weekly supply. So why not start doing that for flowers? Apartment Therapy covers a flower CSA in Brooklyn, which runs $200 for an 18-week membership. It might seem pricey at the outset, but if you gorgeous flowers in your home at all times, it seems like a great deal in the long run. In upstate NY, a smaller entrepreneur also recently posted the pick-ups from their flower CSA. If you Google flower CSAs you're likely to find something in your area. If not, get it started! It looks like the trend is catching on!

Corpse Flower

Stop and smell the roses! That phrase is used all the time to encourage people to embrace life and slow down. Whether you take this saying figuratively or literally, we should all stop and take in the beautiful things around us. However, what if that attractive or unique flower you stop to admire isn't quite as lovely as it appears? Here we explore several unusual flowers that come with a surprising aroma – both good and bad!

Mexican Passionflower

The colorful Mexican Passionflower will catch your eye -- but you may also end up catching your breath! This colorful flower opens up with a unique appearance with green coloring surrounded by a yellow circle, along with circles of filaments ranging from pale red to violet. Certain butterfly caterpillars are attracted to eating the leaves of this flower. However, if you get up close and personal with this flower you'll notice a powerful scent of mothballs. If the climate gets particularly humid you can even smell it from farther distances!

Corpse Flower

The common name of this plant may be a pretty clear giveaway that an unusual scent may be found from the 'corpse' flower. Often reaching 10 feet in height, this flower is quite a sight to see. However, with an exotic and attractive appearance, this plant can trick many curious people to move in closer, only to discover the surprisingly terrible scent.

Officially called the Titan Arum, it is considered the worst smelling flower in the world, even above the “corpse lily.” It is a giant structure that conceals thousands of tiny flowers, giving the appearance of a large petal. The odor emitted from this flower, as you may have guessed, is similar to the scent of rotting flesh.

Skunk Cabbage

Skunk cabbage plants actually have several variations, depending on whether you find it in Asia or different regions of North America. Typically found in cool and wet northern climates, this skunk cabbage is usually found near streams or ponds. Depending on the variety, it appears as simply green leaves without flowers or with purple or yellow coloring. As you can imagine, given the name, this cabbage smells rather foul. Although skunks probably feel right at home next to this plant!

Sunflower

Sunflowers are beautiful. Almost anyone can picture walking up a giant sunflower and taking a deep breath. But surprise! Sunflowers actually do not have a scent. While sunflower seeds provide oils for oil seed crops and the flowers’ bright yellow petals attract pollinators, there is no scent involved. The sunflower acts as a food source to many birds and insects. Next time you pass some sunflowers, try and take a whiff! You’ll be surprised at the lack of aroma.

Four-o'clock 

This particular flower is unusual in part due to the many color variations in which it can be found. From yellow to white or even pink coloring, the coloring you find in this flower is unpredictable. Sometimes they will even change color! The white-petaled type of the Four-o’clock flower has a sweet orange-blossom scent. A nice surprise from an unusual flower!

With spring in full-force, it's time to really focus on your gardening efforts. An easy and fun way to show off your green thumb is by creating an outdoor container herb garden. There are many benefits of growing your own little herb garden from the comfort of your backyard or deck, including being able to quickly grab fresh herbs while cooking your favorite meals. They also add a lovely touch to your home's entrance, porch or any other area that needs a little sprucing up. Here are some basic tips for creating your own outdoor container garden with herb seeds.

First, you should research a little about the herbs. Since every herb has different growing requirements, select herbs based upon their similarities. For example, if you are planning on placing different herbs close together, you need to make sure that their growing patterns match up. Different herbs require varying amounts of sunlight and shade, so take that into consideration as well. According to Better Homes and Gardens, some popular herbs that are known to do well in container gardens include basil, chive, cilantro, sage and thyme.

Next, choose your container(s). Figure out how many herbs you plan on planting and how much space you will need in the container. Some herbs can be planted together in the same pot, while others need their own space to grow, so you may need a few separate containers. Each container must provide good drainage. Plastic pots are great options since ceramic containers may crack due to the weather. Wooden pots will rot if placed directly on the ground.

Add soil and arrange seeds. Taller plants should go in the back, with shorter plants placed in the front. Make sure your plants receive ample sunlight and water and are not over-fertilized. Oftentimes, people will choose potting mix over potting soil since it is designed for container plants.

Outdoor container herb gardens are extremely versatile. You can move the plants around to different areas of your yard or porch to create attractive mini-gardens. Planting herbs in smaller, separate containers allows for easy portability, so keep this in mind if you plan on frequently moving them. As the weather turns cooler, you can conveniently transplant your potted plants indoors.

Outdoor container herb gardens are extremely versatile. You can move the plants around to different areas of your yard or porch to create attractive mini-gardens.

Adding wildflowers to your garden or creating a wildflower meadow is a great way to add a large swatch of color around your home. There are numerous benefits to planting wildflowers, as the ones native to your region are the easiest to plant and maintain. When choosing bulk wildflower seeds specific to your region, make sure to note the type of conditions they prefer. It is completely possible to plant native flowers from different regions in your yard, especially if you have compatible conditions related to sunlight or soil richness.

Wildflowers are important to maintain the biodiversity of the ecosystem, which is why it's important to only expand the spread of wildflowers and not disrupt existing plants. Many people think growing wildflowers can be done by taking some and replanting them, but the plant usually can't successful regrow once uprooted. Instead of taking wildflowers, which has a negative environmental impact, choose bulk wildflower seeds to easily plant a large section of your lawn.

Prepare Your Lawn

Spring is a great time to prep your lawn or garden and get started planting wildflower seeds. Wildflowers require little to no fertilizer, which means you want to choose soil that has basic nutrients but isn't fertilized. Create around two inches of "roughed up" or loose soil to spread your wildflower seeds. Do your best to remove all weeds and remnants from the area to reduce their growth once you start planting. However, many people find themselves taking care of weeds the first year or so after planting.

Planting the Seeds

Depending on where you live, wildflowers do best when planted in either the early spring or fall seasons. Make sure to spread the seeds evenly as heavy concentrations in one area can hamper growth. After the seeds are planted, you can use a rake to mix the seed into the top soil. Most importantly, keep the soil moist for at least 2 to 3 weeks after planting. This is critical to the growth your wildflower seeds. Don't forget to read the seed packet instructions for your wildflowers because specific recommendations for varieties may vary.

Overall Maintenance

While wildflowers do not require as much maintenance as other flowers, there are some key points to remember for success. Once your seeds have germinated, usually at three weeks, maintaining the lawn is important. Blooms often won't appear for the first year. Weed control is especially important, both before and after planting. You will find that you need to cut back weeds growing faster than your wildflowers, around 4 to 6 inches high. Once your seeds are in bloom and your weeds have been taken care of, the maintenance required is almost none. Only water if your flowers appear distressed, and enjoy the resulting colorful flowers you planted!

Spring has sprung! And with it often comes the arrival of new bundles of joy. Baby announcements come with a good number of events and gift-giving opportunities. Baby showers give friends and family the opportunity to celebrate a new baby. Read on for some great gift idea as well as ways to share the good news with friends and family.

Bouquet of Cloth Baby Gifts

Gift giving at baby showers often consists of the same, very much needed, items. But you can give it a twist by creating a work of art out of your gift. Create a bouquet that is functional and adorably perfect for a baby shower! Check out this tutorial that shows you how to create a baby shower bouquet of baby socks, washcloths, and bibs.

Turn these cute and practical gifts into faux roses and flowers. All you need are some floral sticks and a basket for delivery, and whatever extra adornments you prefer and you have a great gift. You could even sneak in some real flowers or seed packets too! No matter what you choose, though, you could fold, roll, or wrap your cloth items to create a unique display. It'll feel like unwrapping a gift every time the new parents pull out another piece of the bouquet!

It's a Girl/Boy! Seed Packets

A new child brings new life into the world, and seed packets are a great way to share that announcement. Whether you choose the traditional baby's breath seeds or something else special to you, giving away seed packets to announce the birth of your child is also a gift a growth to your friends and family. If you're hosting a baby shower, seed packets designed specifically for your guests is another way to say thank you for attending and giving them something beautiful to grow in return.

Seed packets can be used in a variety of ways for birth announcements and party favors. Provide them to guests as a thank you for attending your baby shower. Give them to the guest of honor with personalized details. With seed packets as baby shower gifts, you could choose any kind of styling and text you want. Commemorate the day and time of birth, or use an inspirational quote on a seed packet to share your excitement with all your friends and family.

Washcloth Hand Puppets

This is an incredibly creative idea that's great if you're crafty, which is to make washcloth hand puppets. Any child would be delighted to play with one of these, and they'd be a great introduction to bathing for a new baby. This post at So You Think You're Crafty has a great step-by-step guide that even a novice sewer could follow. She includes printable patterns to make getting started easy. You have a great way to re-purpose older rags and extra fabric scraps around your house, and the result is a fun and functional toy for your child. Make a real splash with this environmentally friendly DIY craft!

Probably the most hotly debated topic in the seed industry over the last few years has been the argument for or against what are commonly called "GMO" seeds, or genetically modified seeds. My intent here is not to take one side or the other of this debate but rather to clear up what is probably the number one question we get asked here at Bentley Seeds, which is, "Are any of your seeds GMO’s?"

None of the seeds that we package are laboratory created, genetically modified seeds.  As a matter of fact, most of the varieties that we package are considered "heirloom" varieties because they have been in existence as established named varieties for over 50 years.  All of our seeds are "open pollinated," which means that they are naturally pollinated as they grow by the wind or by insects that transfer the pollen from plant to plant.  The seeds produced by these varieties will grow the same plant the following season. With open pollinated varieties, naturally occurring hybridization can occur sometimes, especially in the squash family (more on that in a future post).

The reason that we use heirloom varieties is really quite simple. The primary reason is that heirloom seeds work well for most home gardeners. These seeds have stood the test of time and in most cases they perform in a wide range of growing conditions. While there are many other named varieties in any given type of plant, they often have been bred or selected to perform in specific growing conditions. For example, there are many onions that are specifically designed to grow in the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. If you planted the same types of onions farther north, you would more than likely be disappointed with the results. The onion seeds we sell at Bentley Seeds are Spanish types that perform in a broader climate range.

The seeds that we package are produced primarily in the western United States, mainly on family farms.  Most of these seed farmers are second or third generation growers who have refined their expertise in growing specific varieties. Because they own the land and want to preserve their livelihood, they use good land management practices, as well as minimizing the use of chemicals and fertilizers. We are proud to work with these growers who are preserving the legacy of these heirloom varieties.

It's seed planting and garden planning season, and what better way to encourage more business than to show off a great seed rack display in your store! Seed racks are a great way for businesses to attract customers with a variety of seed types in one place. The benefits of adding a seed rack display to your store are numerous, including increasing profits, generating more foot traffic throughout your store, and improving customer satisfaction through more options and accessibility of seed packets.

Most gardening enthusiasts can't help but stop at a big, eye-catching display of seeds. Seed racks come with colorful adornments and a sign to entice customers to explore. Whether you choose a seed rack that contains a variety of vegetables, flowers, or a combination of the two, the organized and colorful layout makes it easy for your customers to browse and find what they need. Seed packets offer bright and unique designs and when organized in a seed rack they are easy to view. Whether it's the yellow of corn or squash, the rich greens of green beans or cucumbers, or a colorful rainbow of flower varieties, seed rack displays are captivating.

Creating an inviting space in your store is important, and it's also easy to design a flow to direct customers to your more profitable areas around a seed rack. Start with the seed rack display as your centerpiece and build out from it to encourage more foot traffic. Seed racks are typically very profitable to store owners because the seeds purchased with the seed rack display come at an appealing wholesale price compared to the retail price. Store owners will see their profits increase steadily the more they focus on their seed racks sales. Easy to assemble and place around your store, you can test different locations to ensure your seed rack display is providing the best results and more sales for your business.

Continue Reading...

At 26, I'm at the stage where more friends continue to get engaged and the slow trickle of wedding invites become a bit more powerful. One of the more common themes I've noticed in terms of the "Save the Date" announcements is the ubiquity of the picture magnet. It's a great informational piece that you can slap on your fridge as a constant reminder. It can also be a commemorative item. Then again, like many items in your home, these magnets get overlooked and forgotten long after the initial excitement wanes.

Wedding planning these days requires a lot of work and accessibility. Most people decide to create an informative website for your guests, but now more than ever things are getting interactive. Several iPhone apps exists now for guests to upload pictures from your wedding as they happen -- they were all going to be posted on Facebook and Instagram anyway, and now you don't have to go looking for your favorites!

Inventive Ideas

Instead of printing out magnets of shoddy quality (some of mine curled at the edges after a few days), you can print a custom seed packet to send out. Not only will you be able to create a unique design, you can print an inspiration quote or one relating to your wedding, along with your wedding app or website information. Giving your guests a colorful seed packet that they can save and use to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers while thinking about your wedding is a great way to let them feel connected to your event.

Sending your guests a custom seed packet as part of your "Save the Date" announcement is a great way to give them a unique gift that also directs them through the steps to your wedding website and mobile app. These easy app creations and uploads are going to grow in popularity very quickly. While some may bemoan the inundation of pictures from everyone's cell phones, having one central place for everyone to send and view pictures from your wedding day will be a great way to share memories quickly and easily. Continue Reading...

These items may be fresh as a spring garden or discovered long after in the center of the Earth, and we think you might find them just as interesting as we did!

In this round up of gardening world finds, there is some great beauty to explore. From seemingly unnatural creations in Alaska to wearing nature on your neck, you'll find some random facts to entertain your friends at happy hour.

Plant Inspired Jewelry

The saying "if you can dream it, you can do it" is true in many senses, including combining gardening and jewelry. Thanks to Pinterest and other trend-setting websites, there exists a great selection of truly unique garden jewelry designs. Fab.com is on the rise and they offer a dwarf pine necklace that is a living ecosystem encased in recycled plastic. Think even bigger: check out this research project that explores the idea of wearing a real-life planter around your neck. These green-focused creations could be great conversation starters as well as a way to show your love for gardening.

Juneau Alaska: Upside Down Flower Trees

In the category of "new to me" is the majestic and unreal-looking upside down trees in Juneau, Alaska. My parents recently went on a cruise and saw this first hand. When they described these upside down trees-turned-flower-pots to me it seemed hard to envision. Once I looked up images online, I was floored. Nature can be bent, it appears. The trees located in Mendenhall Gardens have been uprooted, replanted, and then flowers are planted thanks to the open expanse of roots now facing skyward. Continue Reading...

From the desk of Jeff Bentley, Chief Marketing Officer at Bentley Seeds...

First of all I would like to say "thank you!" to all our gardeners, brides to-be, new mothers, Facebook followers, and Shanty fans! Over the last two years Bentley Seeds has been going through some major changes. We are very happy to "grow" our brand and move in new and exciting directions through our website finally have a chance to interface directly with YOU our customers! We say 'Think Spring' a lot around here and we hope you do too, being in the Northeast it has a separate meaning altogether, however everyone I talk to nationwide recognizes Spring as a time of new beginnings. New beginnings are what we are all about!

Spring represents renewal and life starting again, and we are lucky to have the opportunity to be in a business so closely connected to that sentiment. Bentley Seeds is a third generation family business, and as a lot of you know we make affordable seed packets that are Guaranteed to Grow! What is so fun about that? Well it has always been very rewarding to come to work every day, knowing you get to create something that will help others in its own small way. What's really fun now is creating and selling exciting custom packets!

Customized seed packets, with your name or business logo on them, announce to all that you are "growing" yourself and it gets the message to stick. The gift of seeds is great because people will plant them and think of you when they seed their gardens, watching them blossom because of you. Create a full line of special event and holiday packets! Spring offers several cool holidays celebrating life and renewal. I really enjoy creating new packets with unique ideas behind them. I will say I felt that much more proud when I saw the happy sparkle in my mother's eyes when I showed her our Mother's Day packets, and it made my heart skip a beat when my wife and daughters gave me a hug and told me how cool they thought they were too!

Earth Day is of course a wonderful day to celebrate our community, families, and future together on this planet. Many gardeners have told us how great and lasting that celebratory feeling is when they watch their sunflowers reach to the sky thanks to our Earth Day packets they received in the spring!

Again I would like to say thank you to all of you reading this and following our company and enjoying our seed packets. We are "growing" because of you! We are think about spring, and we look forward to continuing our mission of providing affordable, fun, guaranteed to grow packets for your gardens, baby showers, weddings, promotions, and holidays!