The Blooming Sage: Tips and Tales from Buzzing Timber Lake Bluff

 If you stop by Timber Lake Bluff this season, you’ll find my gardens bursting with kale—Japanese flowering kale, scarlet kale, blue curled vates kale, and dwarf blue curled scotch kale, to be exact! Kale isn’t just another leafy green; it’s a powerhouse of nutrition, versatility, and flavor. Whether you’re a health nut, a foodie, or someone just looking for ways to use up your garden haul, kale has something for everyone. Let me tell you why I absolutely love growing, cooking, and sharing this superfood with you. The Health Benefits of Kale: Why It Deserves Superfood Status Kale is more than just trendy—it’s a nutritional goldmine. Here’s why it’s earned its place as a superfood: Nutrient-Dense : Kale is loaded with Vitamins A, C, and K. Just one cup of raw kale provides: 206% of your daily Vitamin A (goodbye, carrots!), 134% of your daily Vitamin C, 684% of your daily Vitamin K (bone health superstar!). Antioxidant-Rich : Kale is packed with powerful antioxidants like querceti...

 As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing to gather with loved ones and indulge in comforting dishes that symbolize tradition and togetherness. Among these classics, pumpkin pie often takes center stage. But have you ever paused to thank the tiny, hardworking pollinators who make this dessert—and so much of our food—possible? At The Blooming Sage , we celebrate not only the food on our plates but also the intricate ecosystems that bring these traditions to life. This Thanksgiving, let’s explore the role of pollinators in creating our festive feasts, learn how to protect them, and, of course, share a from-scratch recipe for pumpkin pie that honors the bees’ incredible contributions. Pollinators: The Unsung Heroes of the Harvest Pumpkin pie wouldn’t exist without pollinators, as pumpkins depend on bees for pollination. Specifically, pumpkins rely on these species: Squash Bees ( Peponapis spp. ): Specialists that exclusively pollinate gourds like pumpkins, squash, and zu...

 White turnips, a nutrient-packed root vegetable, are an often-overlooked gem in both the garden and the kitchen. At The Blooming Sage , we’re all about making the most of everything we grow, from the roots to the greens and even the scraps that make their way back into the compost pile. Today, let’s explore why white turnips deserve a spot in your garden and on your plate, with a focus on how to use every part of the plant and keep the cycle going with composting. Nutritional Powerhouse 🥗✨ White turnips are a low-calorie, nutrient-dense addition to any diet. Here’s why they’re worth adding to your meal planning: Low in Calories: ~28 kcal per 100 grams Rich in Fiber: Promotes gut health High in Vitamin C: Boosts immunity with 21 mg per 100 grams (23% of your daily value) Packed with Potassium and Calcium: Supports bone and heart health Antioxidants and Phytonutrients: Helps reduce inflammation and protect cells With about 92% water content, white turnips are hydrating and an...

 At The Blooming Sage, we’re always exploring sustainable gardening techniques that enhance productivity and support healthy ecosystems. Today, we’re diving into steep hugel beds —a modern twist on the centuries-old hugelkultur method popularized by permaculturist Sepp Holzer . These beds are ideal for gardeners who want to grow more plants in less space while improving soil health and conserving water. Let’s explore how to create and care for steep hugel beds and discover why they’re such a beneficial addition to your garden. What are Steep Hugel Beds? Hugelkultur involves building raised beds with layers of decaying wood, organic matter, and soil to create a nutrient-rich environment. While traditional hugel beds are typically low and wide, steep hugel beds are taller and narrower, forming a mini-mountain of fertility. The height and slope of these beds maximize planting space, making them perfect for compact gardens. Benefits of Steep Hugel Beds : Soil Compaction Prevention : ...

 At The Blooming Sage and Buzzing Blooms Nursery at Timber Lake Bluff , we love promoting sustainable gardening practices that are not only beautiful but also benefit local ecosystems. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using layered native plant gardening , which mimics natural plant communities to create resilient, low-maintenance gardens that support wildlife and reduce the need for weeding and mulching. This approach takes inspiration from natural landscapes where different species of plants grow together in layers, offering structure, support, and biodiversity. This method is particularly beneficial for creating gardens filled with native plants , which help foster healthy pollinator populations and improve soil health. Here’s everything you need to know about creating a layered native garden to support your local ecosystem, with tips on how to get started at Buzzing Blooms Nursery . What is Layered Native Plant Gardening? Layered native plant gardening is ...

 Welcome to The Blooming Sage! I’m thrilled to share an exciting project we're working on at Buzzing Blooms Nursery—planting solidago, also known as goldenrod, to create a breathtaking garden space that’s both beautiful and beneficial for pollinators. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this post will inspire you to bring a touch of golden magic to your garden. Why Solidago? 🌟 Solidago isn’t just a pretty plant; it’s a powerhouse in the garden. Native to Oklahoma, this hardy perennial is a favorite among bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a must-have for anyone looking to support local wildlife. Plus, its vibrant yellow blooms add a burst of color that lasts from late summer into fall, brightening up any garden. Pollinator Magnet: Bees Love It: The dense clusters of bright yellow flowers provide ample nectar and pollen for bees, especially during late summer when other flowers may be fading. Butterfly Haven: Butterflies are also drawn to solidag...

 There's something deeply satisfying about working with beeswax, a natural byproduct of beekeeping that has been cherished for centuries. Whether you're extracting honey, managing your hives, or even rescuing bees, beeswax is a versatile resource that should never go to waste. Today, we’ll take you on a journey from the moment honey is extracted from the comb, all the way to crafting beautiful and functional beeswax products. Along the way, we’ll get creative with some unique project ideas and recommend the top five books on the subject to ensure your beekeeping and crafting journey is as smooth as beeswax! 1. Extracting Honey: The First Step in the Beeswax Journey 🍯 Before we dive into processing beeswax, it all starts with extracting the honey. As a beekeeper, or if you’re running a bee rescue business like ours, you know that every harvest presents opportunities not only for honey but also for beeswax. Uncapping the Honeycomb: The first step is to remove the wax cappings t...

 As August rolls in, gardeners everywhere know that the summer’s peak harvest is upon us. But this time of year is about more than just enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of our labor—it's also the perfect moment to start planning for the fall and beyond. Whether you're eager to extend your harvest, get a jump on fall planting, or prepare your garden beds for the winter, this guide has got you covered! Let’s dig in and make the most of this transitional season, so you can enjoy a bountiful harvest now and set yourself up for gardening success in the months to come. 1. Maximizing Your Late Summer Harvests 🌽🍅 August is prime time for those late summer crops, and with a little extra care, you can maximize your harvest before the first frost hits. Harvest Regularly: Regular picking encourages plants like tomatoes, peppers, and beans to produce more. Keep an eye on your garden daily and harvest fruits and veggies at their peak ripeness. Pruning and Pinching: For tomatoes, conside...

 As the gardening season winds down, many of us are thinking about how to preserve the best of our gardens for next year. Seed saving is a time-honored practice that allows you to harvest and store seeds from your favorite plants, ensuring that your garden will be full of tried-and-true varieties that thrive in your specific climate. For gardeners in Oklahoma and Kansas, this is especially important given our unique weather challenges. In this guide, we’ll share expert tips and tricks for successful seed saving in Oklahoma and Kansas, helping you become a more sustainable gardener while saving money on seeds. Plus, we’ll highlight some must-have tools to make the process easier—perfect for adding to your garden toolkit. Why Seed Saving Matters 🌾 Seed saving is more than just a cost-effective way to prepare for next season—it’s a powerful practice for preserving biodiversity, maintaining heirloom varieties, and ensuring your garden is well-adapted to your local environment. By savi...