Ingrid M. Butler

I took my own advice this morning and removed underperforming plants from my garden. Best decision ever.

✨Just as in life, I’m making room for the new.✨

I started new seeds to fill in the space— they’ve already sprouted. Next month, my beds will be full again.

I’m not sad about what didn’t make it under these harsh summer conditions; I’m excited to nurture what’s thriving and what’s to come.

✨Replenish what’s serving you; let go of what isn’t— intentionally seeking joy in everything you do is a necessary & revolutionary act.✨

Can we have a vent sesh? 😤

Let’s just say what we’re all thinking because the struggle is real– I hate summer gardening right now. 🫠

*Whew* That felt good to say out loud, didn’t it?

Me? I’m feeling triple-digit temps.🥵 These cutworms and army worms are pi***ng me off. 🤬 Rain is preventing me from treating disease. 😩 Most things are looking tired-tired.😞

✨How about you? Sound off in the comments🗣️

Summer conditions are trying to dry up what little joy I usually get walking around my garden every day, and I know I’m not alone.

Guess what? THAT’S OKAY! ☺️ We can love gardening and still question our sanity during the summer– we’re human.

We just gotta make it through the next few months to get to the amazingness that is fall gardening.

✨So how do we get ourselves to the good part?✨

Work WITH your summer conditions, not against them. Don’t make gardening harder for yourself than it needs to be.

Share this post with your plant friends who need a little hope right now.

Happy Saturday!

Minus a few cucumbers & peppers I used to make pickles and a handful of ripe tomatoes in the freezer, here’s this week’s harvest… can’t wait to see how things will look next month in that summer heat 😂🫶🏾

Cue “It’s getting hot in here…” 🔥🥵

With the passing of the summer solstice, we are approaching the hottest time of the year… and the most challenging gardening season.

I’m going to be honest with you– the heat will be unforgiving; the pest & disease pressure will be heavy; you and your garden will be stressed.

✨HOWEVER, this is the season when you will learn the most!✨

Which varieties handle heat better than others?
Which plants require the most water?
When do you need to let certain plants go?
Which plants are thriving?

👩🏾‍🌾My advice: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
✅ Be gentle with yourself as you learn.
✅ Keep an eye on your warm season crops, especially 🍅
✅ Prune damaged leaves and treat for disease.
✅ I know this might sound odd, but roll back on the heavy pesticides– you want some predatory insects to show up now so they can help you with pest control when the pressure is the heaviest

It’s going to get rough for a bit, but if you stay the course, you will be a much stronger gardener— beleaguered as you may be. 🫶🏾

I want to share this because the pests are out here cutting up bad and getting to the fruits of our labor before we can enjoy them.

I usually wait until my tomatoes are fully ripened before harvesting BUT I’ve started pulling them at the first sight of coloring and allowing them to finish ripening in the house.

THIS is when you should pick your tomatoes. This is called the "breaker stage". It's when the tomato starts to turn from green to red, adopting a slightly pinkish hue. The tomato already has everything it needs to ripen off the vine - in fact the the exchange of nutrients and water from the plant to the fruit slows to almost nothing at this stage. This is due to a layer of cells in the stem that grow to slowly separate the fruit from the plant. Picking now reduces the weight on the branches and avoids heat-related issues for your tomatoes. It's a no brainer!

I thought it was time for some garden updates…
* the 7th pic is Pippin’s Golden Honey Pepper*

I’m obsessed with everything, but to see these pepper plants come to life after my disastrous attempt last year blows me away…

Last year, I started my tomato and pepper plants super duper late (May 2023). They caught a bad fungus in June— I pulled up the tomato plants but successfully treated the pepper plants with Bio Fungicide (you can scroll down my profile and see), but then the summer heat took the young plants out the game right after…

This year, I started them in January and prioritized their wellness FROM jump with Arber Bio Protectant & spray my entire garden down after every rain with Arber Bio Fungicide & Bio Protectant.

I’m in a bunch of gardening groups on FB, and I’m watching people’s plants succumb to disease already 😔… I know that feeling so I’m happy that my garden is healthy and thriving 🙌🏾

🚨LIVE WORKSHOP: Growing Okra in Containers!!!🍛

Join me TOMORROW at the Aviation Museum in Patterson from 12-1:30p to learn all about growing okra in containers!

All participant are going to:
— start an okra plant to take home
— receive a FREE digital guide & shopping list that walks you through planting your okra transplant and maintaining it to harvest
— a surprise gift from me

Hope to see you there! 🫶🏾🌱

Really excited about this!!

On June 20th, our newest exhibit, Botanica: Gardens, Landscapes & Plant Medicines in South Louisiana, will be open to the public in the Cabildo! 🌸🌿🌼

The exhibit explores the cultural meaning of Louisiana medicinal plants and how historically based understandings of them are evolving under the threat of climate change and land loss. Guest curators Rachel Breunlin and Monique Verdin are collaborating with herbalists, artists, gardeners and scholars to place into context stories of historical and contemporary gardens and natural environments!

Friends of the Cabildo

Listen— these leaf-footed bugs are not playing this year because we didn’t have a true winter.

BUT, I’ve also seen a ton of Assassin bugs— they’re the good guys. They’re doing the heavy lifting with pest control in my garden this year.

You don’t want to harm them trying to get to other pests, so be in the look out.

An assassin bug is a beneficial garden insect. A leaf-footed bug is a destructive pest in the garden, particularly to tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and fruit trees.

LSU AgCenter horticulturist Anna Timmerman has developed a guide for determining the difference between an assassin bug and a leaf-footed bug.

Mark your calendar— June 8th!!

Get ready for a special event featuring Master Gardener and Franklin Native, Ingrid Butler!

Join us on Saturday, June 8th at 9:30 AM for a session focused on successful okra cultivation. Ingrid will share valuable tips and tricks for cultivating and maintaining healthy okra plants.

This event is free to attend, though donations to support a fall workshop are appreciated. To ensure seating, please pre-register by contacting the Bayou Bend Fitness Center front desk at (337) 413-5104 or by visiting us in person at 1029 Northwest Blvd. in Franklin.

🍈Live Workshop: Growing Melons in Containers!!!🍈

Join me THIS SATURDAY at the Jean-Lafitte Historical Patk from 2-3p to learn all about growing melons in containers!

All participant are going to:
- start a melon plant to take home
- receive a FREE digital guide & shopping list that walks you through planting your melon transplant and maintaining it to harvest

Hope to see you there! 🍈🫶🏾🌱🍈

I was just talking about this is my stories today…

I want me some fluffy furry cows so bad!!!!!! 😩🤣

VERY. clear signs.






*images from Pinterest

I need to find a tree!! I want to try this so bad!

Happy First Friday of Spring— the season of rebirth, new beginnings 🌸

PS: Definitely going to look into growing more dahlias in my garden because they are magical 🤩

We should be good in St. Mary Parish, but I just wanted to give y’all a heads-up because this weather is crazy lol…

If you’ve started seedlings, bring them in if nighttime temps drop below 45°F to avoid risk of stunted growth.

If you’ve planted any warm season crops, cover with frost protection if nighttime temps drop to or below 36°F.

Not so fast spring, next week showing a nice blast of cold. Of course at this time of year, it moderates quickly and isn’t winter frigid. We may need to watch for a frost though!

🍅Wanted to pop this in your feed!🍅

SMP! Come learn how to grow tomatoes in containers with me at my FREE workshop!

This Friday from 12-1:30p at the Aviation Museum in Patterson!

We’re going to start tomato seeds you get to take home, along with a goodie from Arber 🫶🏾🌱

AND youI’ll get a FREE digital guide to get you to your first harvest.

Hope to see you there! 🍅

Ooooooo! I wanna try this!

How to Grow Your Own Spiral Herb Garden
Full guide in the first comment 💬👀

Hey hey hey!!!

I’m teaching a free workshop on growing tomatoes in containers on Friday, January 26 from 12-1:30p at the Wedell-Williams Aviation Museum!!

Also, the wonderful folks at Arber sent some goodies for workshop participants to try in their own garden.

If you have any questions, you can call the museum at 985-399-1268.

I’m so excited!! 🍅🍅🍅

Workshop: Growing Tomatoes in Containers | Louisiana State Museums In this first interactive workshop, Louisiana Master Gardener Ingrid M. Butler will teach her seed-starting method using everyone’s favorite warm-season crop—the tomato. Participants will also learn how to properly plant their seedlings in a container and maintain it to harvest. All supplies wil...