Terah Tales
Our Blog
What You’ll Find Here:
🌸 Butterfly & Pollinator Spotlights – Learn about native butterflies, their host plants, and how to attract them.
🌿 Edible Plant Profiles – Discover easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants perfect for Florida gardens.
🍽 Garden-to-Table Recipes – Delicious ways to use what you grow!
💡 Permaculture & Sustainability Tips – Practical ways to transform your yard into an abundant ecosystem.
♻️ "Regrow This!" Series – Fun ways to regrow common grocery store items at home.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, we’re here to help you grow your groceries and build a greener future! 🌎✨
Stay connected & happy planting! 🌱😊
Roses: More Than a Valentine’s Gift – Edible & Medicinal Benefits
Valentine’s Day is synonymous with roses—these timeless flowers symbolize love, passion, and beauty. But did you know that roses are more than just a romantic gesture? They are also edible and medicinal, offering a variety of health benefits and culinary uses. At Terah Gardens, we love celebrating plants that are both beautiful and functional, and roses are no exception.
Edible Roses: A Delicate & Flavorful Treat
Ways to Enjoy Edible Roses:
🌿 Rose Tea – Dried rose petals make a soothing, aromatic tea that helps with relaxation.
🍯 Rose Syrup – Infuse petals in honey or simple syrup to drizzle over pancakes, cocktails, or yogurt.
🍰 Rose Petal Jam – A delicate, fragrant spread perfect for toast or pastries.
🥗 Salads & Garnishes – Fresh rose petals add a pop of color and mild floral taste to dishes.
Medicinal Use of Roses
Medicinal Use of Roses
Health Benefits of Roses:
🌸 Calming & Mood-Boosting – Rose tea and essential oil can help reduce stress and anxiety.
💧 Skin Healing – Rose water hydrates and soothes irritated skin, reducing redness.
🩸 Digestive Support – Rose petal infusions aid digestion and relieve bloating.
🦠 Rich in Antioxidants – High in vitamin C, roses help boost immunity and fight free radicals.
Types of Roses & Their Uses
🌹 Rosa damascena (Damask Rose)
Known for its intense fragrance and high essential oil content.
Often used in perfumes, rose water, and herbal remedies.
🌹 Rosa gallica (French Rose)
One of the oldest cultivated rose species.
Used in medicinal teas, skin treatments, and herbal infusions.
🌹 Rosa centifolia (Cabbage Rose)
Named for its full, layered petals.
Commonly used in cosmetics and aromatherapy due to its strong fragrance.
🌹 Rosa rugosa (Japanese Rose)
Produces edible rose hips, which are rich in vitamin C.
Great for making jams, syrups, and herbal teas.
🌹 Wild Roses (Rosa canina, Rosa moschata, etc.)
These species grow naturally and have high medicinal value.
Used in traditional herbal medicine for immune support and skin care.
When choosing roses for edible and medicinal uses, always ensure they are organically grown and free from pesticides.
How to Use Roses at Home
- Make Your Own Rose Water – Steep fresh petals in distilled water for a refreshing facial mist.
- DIY Rose Oil – Infuse petals in a carrier oil for a luxurious, all-natural skin moisturizer.
- Herbal Bath Soak – Add dried petals to bath water for a relaxing, spa-like experience.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Roses That Last
Instead of giving cut roses that wilt, consider gifting a potted rose plant that can be enjoyed year-round. Not only is it sustainable, but it also provides fresh petals for teas, skincare, and more!
At Terah Gardens, we believe in beautiful, functional, and sustainable gardening. This Valentine’s Day, embrace the edible and medicinal magic of roses and make your love bloom in more ways than one!
🌹💚 Happy Valentine’s Day from Terah Gardens! 💚🌹
At Terah Gardens, we love finding simple, sustainable ways to grow fresh food at home. Did you know that many grocery store staples can be planted and regrown, saving you money while reducing waste? With a little care, you can create a thriving edible garden right from your kitchen scraps. Here are some easy-to-grow foods you can buy once and keep regrowing!
1. Green Onions (Scallions)
One of the easiest vegetables to regrow! Simply place the white root ends of your green onions in a glass of water, and within days, you’ll see new growth. Change the water every few days and harvest the greens as needed. For a longer-lasting supply, transfer them to soil in a pot or garden bed.
2. Lettuce, Celery, and Bok Choy
Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, celery, and bok choy can all be regrown from their bases. Place the base in a shallow dish of water with the cut side up. Keep it in a sunny spot, changing the water every couple of days. Once new leaves start sprouting, transplant them into soil for continued growth.
3. Garlic
If you have a garlic clove starting to sprout, don’t toss it—plant it! Bury the clove in well-draining soil with the pointed end up. Over time, it will grow into a whole new garlic bulb. For fresh garlic greens, simply snip off the shoots as they grow.
4. Ginger
That little piece of ginger in your kitchen can grow into a whole new plant. Soak it in water overnight, then plant it in soil with the knobby buds facing up. Keep the soil moist and be patient—ginger takes a few months to establish, but once it does, you’ll have a continuous supply.
5. Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes
If your potatoes start sprouting eyes, plant them! Cut them into chunks, ensuring each piece has at least one eye, and let them dry for a day before planting in soil. Sweet potatoes can be regrown from slips—place the root in water until it sprouts, then plant the sprouts in soil.
6. Basil, Cilantro, and Mint
Many herbs can be regrown from cuttings. Place basil, cilantro, or mint stems in a glass of water and wait for roots to form. Once they have a solid root system, plant them in soil for an endless supply of fresh herbs.
7. Pineapple
Yes, you can grow a pineapple at home! Cut off the leafy crown, remove a few of the lower leaves, and let it dry for a day. Then, place it in a jar of water or plant it directly in soil. It takes patience—up to two years to produce fruit—but the plant itself makes a beautiful tropical addition to your garden.
Tips for Success
- Use organic produce when possible to avoid growth-inhibiting chemicals.
- Keep water fresh when regrowing in jars to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Provide sunlight and good drainage to encourage healthy plant growth.
- Transplant to soil once roots develop for long-term regrowth.
With just a little effort, you can turn your grocery store purchases into an ongoing harvest. At Terah Gardens, we believe that growing your own food should be simple, sustainable, and rewarding. Try regrowing some of these foods and enjoy fresh produce straight from your own home!
Want more tips on sustainable gardening? Follow us for more permaculture-inspired insights!
🌱 Happy growing! 🌱
Ditch the Grass: 3 Beautiful & Low-Maintenance Ground Covers
If you’re tired of mowing, watering, and fertilizing a high-maintenance lawn, it’s time to rethink your ground cover! Instead of traditional turf grass, why not plant something low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-friendly?
At Terah Gardens, we love using perennial ground covers that not only look great but also improve the soil, attract beneficial insects, and require far less work than grass. Three of our favorite options for Florida are:
Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata) Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Let’s dig into why these powerhouse ground covers are perfect for a sustainable landscape! 
Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata) – The Tough & Beautiful Carpet
Why We Love It:
Perennial peanut is a stunning, low-growing ground cover that thrives in Florida’s heat. It’s a legume, which means it fixes nitrogen into the soil, making it an excellent choice for improving soil fertility. It’s often used as a no-mow lawn alternative or as a living mulch under fruit trees.
Benefits:
✔ Drought-tolerant – Once established, it rarely needs watering.
✔ Weed-suppressing – Forms a thick mat, shading out weeds.
✔ Bright yellow blooms – Adds a pop of color year-round.
✔ No mowing required!
How to Grow:
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
- Prefers well-drained soil but is adaptable.
- Can be planted using rhizomes or sod.
🌿 Perfect for: Replacing grass, pathways, and orchard ground cover.
Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) – The Pollinator Magnet
Why We Love It:
This fast-spreading native ground cover features delicate fern-like leaves that fold up when touched (fun for kids and plant lovers alike!). It produces pink, puffball flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Benefits:
✔ Native to Florida – Supports local ecosystems.
✔ Attracts pollinators – A favorite of bees and butterflies.
✔ Fast-growing & low-maintenance – Quickly fills in bare spots.
✔ Soft and walkable – Great for pathways and between pavers.
How to Grow:
- Prefers full sun to partial shade.
- Grows well in sandy or poor soils.
- Propagates easily from cuttings or seeds.
🌿 Perfect for: Pollinator gardens, erosion control, and walkable green spaces.
Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) – The Ultimate Butterfly Host Plant
Why We Love It:
Frogfruit is a Florida-native ground cover that is incredibly tough and wildlife-friendly. It’s a host plant for several butterfly species, including the White Peacock, Phaon Crescent, and Common Buckeye butterflies. This resilient plant spreads quickly and can even handle occasional foot traffic.
Benefits:
Thrives in dry or wet conditions – Extremely adaptable. Butterfly host plant – Essential for native pollinators. Walkable & soft – Works well in garden paths. Grows in full sun or partial shade.
How to Grow:
- Grows in full sun to partial shade.
- Tolerates poor, sandy, or compacted soils.
- Spreads via runners, making it easy to propagate.
🌿 Perfect for: Butterfly gardens, pathways, and erosion control.
Which Ground Cover is Right for You?
| Ground Cover | Best Features | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Perennial Peanut | No mowing, weed-suppressing, drought-tolerant | Lawn replacement, under fruit trees |
| 🌸 Sunshine Mimosa | Fast-growing, pollinator-friendly, soft & walkable | Between pavers, erosion control, pathways |
| 🐝 Frogfruit | Butterfly host plant, tough & adaptable, walkable | Pollinator gardens, ground cover for tough spots |
Why Choose a Living Ground Cover?
Switching to perennial ground covers instead of traditional grass:
✅ Saves water 💧 – No need for constant irrigation.
✅ Reduces mowing ✂ – Less maintenance, more free time!
✅ Improves soil health 🌱 – Natural nitrogen fixers enrich the soil.
✅ Supports wildlife 🦋 – Essential for butterflies, bees, and birds.
🌿 Ready to transform your landscape? Start small—replace a section of your lawn with perennial peanut, sunshine mimosa, or frogfruit and see the magic happen!
Want to learn more about sustainable gardening and permaculture? Follow @TerahGardens on IG, Facebook & TikTok for more tips on growing a beautiful, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly landscape! 🌎💚✨
