Flowers

DIY gardening is a great way to get creative and have fun while making something beautiful. Just about everyone enjoys the sight of greenery and blooming flowers and plants. Whether it be throughout your front yard or right in the living room, plants are great decoration. Plus there are so many different ways to decorate with plants! If you want to do it yourself, you may not know where to start. But DIY gardening can be easy and enjoyable both indoors and outdoors. It just takes a little bit of learning and planning to make a beautiful garden.

DIY Gardening

If you want to get started with your own DIY gardening, you’ll need a couple things to get going. Tools like gloves, shears, small and large shovels, and rakes are essential. You’ll also need a watering can or hose with a nozzle. When you’re ready to start planting, Tacoma Boys has all the potting soil, pots, and plants you’ll need! This includes plants that are suitable indoors, outdoors, and both. Some plants are conventionally potted up and ready to go for your DIY gardening project. Or, you can choose your own pot to go with your plants. Some people go all out with their DIY gardening with yard decorations and a thought-out landscape design- But it can also be as easy and simple as you want it. If you want to go all out and completely refresh your outdoor space, you may want to consider the services such as those offered by professionals at Red Shovel Landscaping. This way you can make use of landscape design, grounds keeping, and lawn care to give your garden a new lease of life.

PNW Plants

Here in Washington, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by abundant PNW plants. The Pacific Northwest is known for its beautiful greenery and forests. Everywhere you look is another evergreen or batch of climbing ivy! That’s why so many people like to decorate with PNW plants at home. There are an incredible number of different native plants that do great outdoors. Some of these plants can be transferred indoors, too. One example is sage, which thrives outdoors as well as indoors. Several kinds of outdoor plants do really well here and thrive year-round, while others grow tall and bloom seasonally.

Indoor Plants

When shopping for indoor plants at Tacoma Boys, there is a lot to choose from! You can even find the perfect trendy standing pot to go alongside. If you have pets, do a little research ahead of time to ensure the plants you purchase are nontoxic. Check out this list of nontoxic plants by the ASPCA if you have pets. In general, houseplants can be considered tropical, desert, trailing, flowering, and more. Some common houseplants you’ll see indoors or at Tacoma Boys include:

• Spider plants
• Succulents, cacti, and aloe vera
• Peace lily
• Snake plant
• Pothos
• Monstera
• Fiddle leaf fig

Outdoor Plants

Tacoma Boys offers a variety of plants suitable for your outdoor garden. In the summer, it’s easy to be drawn to flowering plants. Some of these are considered perennials and have blooms that die each winter. There are plenty of plants and foliage that do well outdoors year-round, though. Hanging baskets are great for outdoor plants because they’re beautiful and perfect for summer! For some tips on how to use hanging baskets, check out our blog all about it. Some common outdoor plants you’ll see around the Pacific Northwest or at Tacoma Boys include:

• Plantain lily
• Ferns
• Geranium
• White sage
• Begonias
• Dahlias

Gardening Tips and Tricks

If you’re just starting out, some basic gardening tips can be helpful in guiding you through the process. Anyone can grow plants and produce at home! It just takes a little learning and practice to care for a garden. These gardening tips and tricks might help you get started.

Start Slow

Resist the urge to plant dozens of different plants. Rather, start with just a couple. Take the time to care for the plants and grow your garden from there. This allows you to slow down and get to know your plants.

Keep Safe

If you have fuel for your lawnmower and strimmer, you’re going to need to keep it out of reach of children and pets. Similarly, if you have any fertilisers (try to stick to organic and peat-free) that you keep in the garden, these should also be kept safely. You can visit website for cabinets to store your dangerous goods in, helping to keep you and your family safe.

Know The Sun

It’s important to keep in mind that the sun and shade varies throughout your home and yard. Where one plant thrives, another may struggle. You should know how much direct and indirect sunlight shines in an area before you plant there.

Keep Tools Nearby

Try a gardening belt or grab a basket for your tools. It’s certainly easier to grab them from a handy spot nearby than take breaks to run to the shed for tools. This can help you remember to weed or prune when you spot something amiss in your garden, too.

Plant Conveniently

Plant your garden where you can easily access it. This makes it easy to water your plants regularly- and harvest when it’s time, too. While you’re at it, build an herb garden in your kitchen! The convenient location means you can grab fresh herbs whenever you’re cooking.

When you’re ready, start your DIY garden at Tacoma Boys! You’ll find all the potting soil, plants, and ceramic and concrete pots that you need to get started gardening. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

What better way to spend Mother’s Day than outside? By now, it’s clear that spring has arrived: Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the sun is shining. This year’s Mother’s Day still might look a little different than many families are used to. So if you’re looking for something creative to do to celebrate and honor the moms in your life, consider taking things outside for a spectacular dinner in the fresh air! Al fresco dining is great for casual everyday meals, but can be made even more special for such an occasion like Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day Is Almost Here!

This year’s Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 9. To make a special celebration for the mothers in your life, try planning an outdoor dinner at home! It’s a great opportunity to show them your love and appreciation. Though an at-home outdoor dinner is simple, there are some things you can do to make things extraordinary for mom.

• Set the scene! Dress up the dinner table with mom’s favorite spring flowers, like Tacoma Boys fresh bouquets, tulips, and primroses. Outdoor lights strung above the table are an easy way to elevate the atmosphere of your backyard patio setting. Consider placing lights elsewhere too. Lights can add depth to a garden when night falls, and they’re good for safety as well. Don’t worry about not having any outlets to plug lights into – solar lights are easy to get hold of these days, like these solar lights for flag poles that will help to light up your front yard flag.
• Make her favorite. Mother’s Day is certainly a great time to make mom’s favorite appetizer, dinner, or dessert. Challenge yourself to make a full multi-course meal with all of her favorite foods!
• Treat her to a tipple. Your mom works hard every day of the year to look after you, so she deserves a treat at least once a year! Look for a liquor store open in your area and buy her favourite drink, then get her to put her feet up and just relax with a wine glass in hand.
• Include friends and family. Coordinate with the rest of mom’s family or her close friends for a video call or gifts. She will appreciate the extra thought of including others.

Celebrate with Mother’s Day Activities

When planning Mother’s Day activities for mom and the family, simply think of everything she loves to do. First, take the party outside for a beautiful dinner that will blow mom away and highlight the flavors of the season. If mom likes to cook, ask her to join in when preparing dinner. Cooking together is such a great bonding experience!

For an extraordinary outdoor dining experience at home, consider lawn games or other creative Mother’s Day activities. While munching on appetizers, mom can enjoy the outdoors while basking in the late-afternoon sun or even cuddled in front of a backyard campfire. Take this time to bring up your favorite childhood memories or talk about what you or others have learned from mom. Then, try to plan to spend that sunset hour outdoors so mom can appreciate the pretty colors of the setting sun in the sky. You could even venture out for a sunset-backed walk!

If you don’t have the space for outdoor dinner at home, opt for an afternoon picnic instead. It’s the perfect time of year for lunch al fresco at a local park or beach. For some guidance on how to prepare for an awesome spring picnic experience, check out our blog filled with spring picnic tips here.

What’s Cooking For Mother’s Day Dinner?

Prepare for the special day ahead of time by planning what to cook for Mother’s Day dinner. You could ask her directly what she wants to eat, or surprise her with something yummy you just know will make her feel extra special. The options are endless – but here are just a few potential ideas to get your Mother’s Day dinner menu started.

• Parmesan crusted chicken breast with cheese and marinara: Mom doesn’t have to know you picked it right from Tacoma Boys deli counter! Tacoma Boys makes it just that much easier to get started on a spectacular dinner with such pre-prepared chicken breast and other meat and seafood. Pair it with some Roasted Potatoes with Herbed Olive Oil and Goat Cheese for a tasty, elevated meal.
• Parmesan polenta made with P.A.N. White Corn Meal with roasted seasonal vegetables, fresh rosemary, and Alessi’s Balsamic Reduction: This recipe by Family Style Food is just right for the special occasion. All you need is a simple tossed salad on the side for a complete dinner!
• It’s just about time for the grilling season: You find all the ingredients for Grilled Flank Steak with Dark Cherry Chipotle Sauce at Tacoma Boys.
• For dessert, a creamy cheesecake can be made ahead of time and is sure to be enjoyed by everyone: This recipe for Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes is sure to impress!

Prepare for Dinner with Tacoma Boys

Stop in to your local Tacoma Boys to get just about everything you need for a spectacular outdoor Mother’s Day dinner at home! This includes beautiful flowers, local produce, mom’s favorite beer and wine, and tons of speciality food ingredients. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!