GARDENING Archives - Keeping With The Times

Popular Succulents: Guest Post by FTD

September 15, 2017 by Barb 2 Comments

Hello everyone, today I have a something a little different for you—a guest post about popular indoor and outdoor succulents.

I rarely (if never!) accept guest posts, but when *Alexandria from FTD contacted me and asked if I’d care to share her article about succulents … well, I was intrigued.

But first, let me disclose this is not a sponsored post. I just found her article so interesting and informative I wanted to share it with you. I had to share it because I hadn’t really thought about whether a particular succulent might do better indoors rather than outdoors.

And after reading her article, I immediately brought my jade plants back inside. It’s almost time anyway … the nights are getting extremely chilly and although I keep my jades in a protected area under an overhang, I’m starting to worry about frost. I will tell you that they do seem to bulk up during the summer when they’re outdoors and getting stronger sunlight, but I may rethink this approach. I’m always willing to try something new ;)

To check out her article and great advice, click on either image or go to 20 Popular Types of Succulents

*Alexandria enjoys writing on a variety of topics including floral design and wedding inspirations for FTD Fresh. When she’s not writing, she can be found at the beach or hiking.

Perennial Parade and What’s Up?

May 16, 2017 by Barb 6 Comments

It’s the middle of May and the Perennial Parade has begun! and I’m going to document the progression from early spring violas, anemones, and marsh marigolds to late autumn sedum, hydrangea, and coneflowers.

I’m hoping you’ll follow along with me on my new series “What’s Up?” to see how fast all this happens. I only hope I can keep up because I’m not limiting my choices to the perennial garden. My choices will also include wildflowers and other people’s gardens (if I get the chance ;)

Even though our temperatures have been very chilly and the rain seems to be never-ending, the perennials (domestic and wild) are popping up at lightning speed. I hardly know where to begin, but today I’ll start with the lovely Marsh Marigold which flowers in May in Alberta.

Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the family Ranunculaceae, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Wikipedia)

These grow wild in an area very near to our home, although many people do use these in their perennial gardens.

This morning I noticed them blooming profusely along a fence in a marshy area, and I had to rush home, get my rubber boots, my shears, and a bucket of water, so I could pick a tiny bouquet.

Note: this plant is rather toxic and contains strong skin irritants that may cause blistering and is also poisonous. I used rubber gloves when handling them.

Perennial Parade What's Up? Keeping With the Times, Marsh Marigold, May 15

Marsh Marigold May 15/2017

Here’s the marshy area where I found them this morning:

What’s Up Next in the Perennial Parade?

My one tulip (which has 3 flowers every single year)
Anemones Sylvestris from my garden

Be back soon :)

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy these:

: Easy Floral Arranging Tips

: Backyard Bouquets

: Trader Joe’s Flowers Deconstructed

My Top 5 Perennials For Partial Shade Gardening

April 10, 2017 by Barb 14 Comments

My top 5 perennials for partial shade gardening may surprise you. In the years since we moved to our home on a lake near Edmonton, Alberta, I’ve learned a lot about partial shade gardening.

More precisely, I’ve learned a lot about partial shade, dappled shade, and shade gardening.

Today I’m sharing my top 5 perennials for a Zone 3a partial shade garden.

So what are the different types of shade? Well, according to a very helpful article I found at Lowes, here are three types:

partial shade is when an area receives two to six hours of direct sun a day
dappled shade happens when sunlight filters through trees (it shifts and changes throughout the day)
shade is when no sunlight is present ever (in our case it’s due to the house)

Partial shade gardening did not come natural to me.

I grew up on a grain farm in the wide open prairies of Saskatchewan. I then spent most of my married life on an acreage in Alberta which was bordered by trees, but consisted of a huge lawn and a gigantic garden “out back.” And what an amazing garden it was! We grew every vegetable imaginable; peas, onions, carrots, beans etc. etc. In the later years I started growing sun-loving flowers such as strawflowers, sunflowers, amaranth, grasses, and grains. Everything grew with abandon! It was quite joyful.

When our children grew up and left home, we decided to build our (retirement) home on a small lake and everything changed. Suddenly we were surrounded by extremely tall trees, and a lot of shrubby undergrowth.

I was not deterred ;)

Before we left our acreage I dug up a few of my precious peonies … there was no way I was leaving them (and no one was the wiser.) I stuck them in a plastic pot and they sat at the construction site from April to July where they actually bloomed!

Now they reside in the part of the garden that I define as part shade/dappled shade, and are thriving. I must add here that peonies prefer cooler climates with a pronounced winter chill (and that would be an understatement here ;)

I can’t believe I don’t have a better photo of the peonies, but here you can see the garden is surrounded by trees, and note the dappled sunlight at the bottom:

My #1 choice of perennial for a part shade garden is definitely the peony, and I have four different types.

The hot pink variety with fewer petals:

… the dark pink and light pink variety with double petals:

… and then there’s this white peony. It’s the most fragrant and it’s positively intoxicating:

My #2 choice is the amazing and beautiful hosta.

I planted a few in a small triangular bed formed by the house and the garage. It gets lightly touched by the sun, early in the morning, in mid-summer. So basically, they’re growing in shade (obviously I need to get some better photos this year!)

Over the years I’ve added several other different varieties at the back of the house and they’re indispensable in this type of garden. The downside to Hostas are slugs (yuck) but they can be controlled with slug bait and/or by picking them off by hand and squishing them (yes I did just say that!)

My #3 choice is the quirky, hardy, and beautiful echinops.

Echinops is a tall plant which works beautifully at the back of the border. It thrives in dappled sunlight (which has always surprised me) and the thistle-like leaves stay attractive all summer. However, it’s the steel blue spherical flower heads that I absolutely adore. They are a bee magnet when they bloom and when harvested and dried they make the most fabulous winter bouquets! I have a few tips about growing and harvesting echinops coming up in another post.

My #4 choice is the glorious anemone (anemone sylvestris). It’s an early bloomer, can run a bit rampant (eventually) and is not bothered by pests or disease.

My #5 choice is the stately delphinium. It tends to need staking to keep it from flopping over, but aside from that one little annoyance, it’s absolutely unbeatable as a background player in the perennial garden.

I have to tell you it was extremely hard to pick only five perennials … argh. I have at least a dozen others that are feeling pretty left out at the moment, but I’ll feature them later … perhaps as my favourite perennials “at this moment” which is when they are blooming :)

So to recap:

My Top 5 Perennials For Partial Shade Gardening

Peonies
Hosta
Echinops
Anemone
Delphinium

Who else is dreaming of gardening?

Hope Springs Eternal

March 20, 2017 by Barb 2 Comments

Here’s a perfect example that hope springs eternal. These anemone bulbs look like dried prunes and are hard as rock, but in a few weeks I’ll be soaking them for 24 hours, then planting them indoors to be put out in the garden later (usually around the 24th of May) which btw seems like forever …

I’m not really sure it’s going to work, but I can hope. I’ll be posting my process and their progress in the coming weeks. Fingers crossed my friends (but it could take all year ;)

I already have Anemone sylvestris or snowdrop anemone which run rampant in my garden throughout May and June. They’re a hardier type native to meadows and dry deciduous woodlands of central and western Europe and they spread rapidly by root suckers.

Although they can be invasive, they’re one of my favourite flowers; delicate-looking and unassuming.

So what about you … are you dreaming of gardens and all things green?

5 Great Ideas for Succulent Containers

February 19, 2017 by Barb 21 Comments

Today I have 5 great ideas for succulent containers.

Seriously, I’m addicted to succulents (in case you hadn’t noticed!) and when I was in Arizona I purchased a few tiny specimens to play with. I’d rather have succulents than roses (although I did have roses too ;)

I love the textures, the shapes, the colours, and the fact that they look beautiful in pots ranging from concrete, to clay, to glass … happy little sigh.

I found several of these containers at garage sales. Note the tiny little G. Wolff & Co pot. It’s such a treasure, and was a steal at .25 cents! I’ve since done a little research on that pot and found the maker. You can check him out here. Unfortunately this little gem may end up costing me, because I won’t be able to hold back if I ever run across any more (I think I’m in love ;)As I mentioned, succulents look good in just about any pot and I especially love them in glass containers filled with rocks or pebbles.

I simply placed a few rocks and a little soil in the bottom of the glass container, set the tiny succulent in and filled the sides with pebbles. It will need repotting sooner rather than later, but it works for quite a while. Just be sure to not over water it because there is no drainage. Drainage is key people! (See my link at the bottom of this post.)

For the larger concrete pots, I like to put the succulents in a plastic liner first.

Here I recycled a food container. I punched holes in the bottom with scissors, placed rocks on the bottom, added a bit of soil, inserted the succulents and filled the sides with soil.

After a good watering and draining, I put it in the pot.

5 Great Ideas for Succulent Containers

Concrete pots. I used a liner, but if the concrete has holes for drainage, you don’t need to.
Rock-filled glass containers. You can find tons of glass containers at garages sales and thrift stores.
An old toolbox
Cake pans, muffin tins
A ladle … basically any kind of junk!

For even more container ideas, and if you’d like more information on caring for succulents and to find out my “dirty” little secret, check my post Tips for Overwintering Succulents Indoors

Tips for Overwintering Succulents Indoors

November 2, 2016 by Barb 4 Comments

Today I have a few tips for overwintering succulents indoors. I’m not an expert here, it’s just that me and succulents? well we get along!

When people tell me they can’t grow succulents, and ask how I keep them alive, I’m like… well how do you kill them?

;)

I’ve had this jade plant for at least 6 years. It lives outside from early spring to late autumn when I have to bring it in. It’s been beaten by summer sun, hailed on, and endured several light frosts. I have to admit it’s becoming too big to handle, and I’m contemplating what to do with it.

Everyone who sees this giant says it looks like a bonsai tree, and perhaps I could trim it and encourage it to take on more of that form. Well, I’m thinking that may be fun and I might give it a go (a secret tip to follow.)

And then there’s this strange fellow (in a spittoon no less:) I believe a quirky plant deserves a quirky container, don’t you?

Near the end of season, a lot of succulents will put out shoots with flowers on top. Here are two lovelies, one in a thrift-store pottery find, and one in a beaten up rusty enamel cup. I adore enamel, especially the blue.

I was carrying a bit too many items, and unfortunately my lovely set of four teeny tiny terra cotta pots is now three. Argh. But as luck would have it, I recently found two other utterly gorgeous terra cotta pots that might help ease the pain.

OK! lets get to the tips for overwintering succulents, shall we?

Tips for Overwintering Succulents Indoors

Loosen up! Not the plant … you. Take a “we’ll see what happens” approach. If it doesn’t work, so what? Toss the dang thing! (this was the secret tip ;)
But yes, when digging a succulent out of the garden or a large outdoor arrangement, loosen the soil around it completely with a trowel. Succulents do not have a deep root system and are quite easily lifted.
Lift it out of the soil and inspect the root ball. How big is it? With that in mind, gently lower it back into the ground/container and go find a pot to put it in. It should be large enough to hold the root ball plus 1/2 inch of drainage material such as rocks or broken clay pots (see my last photo :( and on top of that, several inches of soil. It should also have holes in the bottom.
You can purchase special potting soil for cacti and succulents and I’m sure it works perfectly and is probably what you should use. But I use what I have on hand; which is any kind of potting mix I’ve picked up during the summer, or dug out from our compost pile, or stolen from dumped pots!! eek. yes. I did say that. ahem.
The key thing is good drainage. I can’t say that enough. Your pot has to have holes in the bottom and it has to have good drainage.
Choose your pot, and then:
- Place rocks or broken clay pieces in the bottom.
- Add enough soil so that when you put the succulent in the pot, the top of the root ball sits about 3/4″ from the top of the pot.
- Carefully lift the succulent out of the ground being careful to not touch it’s leaves and set it in the pot.
- Fill in the sides with soil, gently packing it in until the plant sits firmly upright.
- Pour water over the whole shebang, giving it a really good drink and a good bath at the same time. Set it somewhere safe to drain and dry off.
Bring it indoors and set it in the sunniest window you have. Water when it feels dry to the touch, but there’s a fine line; I never let mine dry out completely, giving it a good drink and then making sure the excess has drained away.

I should mention that if your succulent has one of those shoots with a bloom forming, you must watch it closely. Sooner or later, teensy tiny black bugs will appear on the buds. I immediately take it out to the garage and shoot it with Raid. I’m not one to play nice with these bugs. After a day or two, spray the dead bugs away with a sprayer filled with water and keep your eye on it in case there are more.

So there you go! Just have fun and enjoy your quirky friend. If it doesn’t make it through the winter, so what … you’ve enjoyed it as long as possible.

PIN IT

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#NaBloPoMo

Garden Cleanup (it’s not pretty)

November 5, 2015 by Barb 5 Comments

I’m always showing you the “pretty” in my garden … today I thought you might enjoy seeing the garden cleanup … aackk … it’s not pretty … .

The truth is we live in a rather untamed area, surrounded by boreal forest which is constantly pushing against any attempts to keep it back … roots invade the lawn, leaves cover it, branches fall all over it.

The hubs goes around cutting down foliage with a hedge trimmer/chain saw, then I pick it up, put it in a wheel barrow, and dump it in a makeshift compost behind the fir trees; stringy stuff in one pile, composted matter in another.

Hostas need to be cut off and the leaves removed to discourage slugs … ugh …

I adore daylilies but they are the stringiest things to clean up.

Gah! I don’t even have an “after” shot to show you. I’ll wait ’til the snow falls and makes everything look perfect.

This post would likely never have seen the light of day if not for #nablopomo (Day 5)

Succulent Celebration

August 21, 2015 by Barb 6 Comments

All summer it’s been a succulent celebration around here … and now I’m potting up the babies …… into muffin pans …… clay pots …
… and cake pans …
… but sometimes it all just wants to fall apart …
All these new babies already had roots, so I simply pulled them off the main plant and stuck them right into the soil. I don’t know how they’ll do … but I’m guessing they’re going to flourish!

Last year I found some cute little ceramic pumpkins at Home Sense and I thought they would make great plant pots. They look great in a simple display, but also fit nicely with a Thanksgiving tablescape. I think its time to dig those out of storage.

For more beautiful images and information on succulents, check out My Succulent Obsession on Pinterest

Preserving Fresh Peonies

June 18, 2015 by Barb 9 Comments

The parade of flowers continues here in Alberta, and I want to share a tip about preserving fresh peonies for later use … later as in a couple weeks, or even a couple months!

This year I have a bumper crop of these beauties ready to pop … I know I’m going to be overwhelmed with possibilities … and quite likely I’ll feel paralyzed. It’s a common occurrence when we’re faced with overabundance. But luckily, I have an a amazing tip on how to preserve these beauties while still in the bud stage.

Our peonies bloom in June, but with this tip, I was able to extend fresh bouquets for weeks!

Tip for Preserving Fresh Peonies for Weeks

Snip a few peony stems while still in the bud stage, making sure there is some colour showing (as in the following image)
Slip them into a plastic bag and tie it closed (no water necessary.) Again no water, no paper towels nothing … nada!
Place the bag in the vegetable crisper in the refrigerator and forget about it for a while

When you’re ready for a fresh bouquet:

remove from fridge
snip end of stem
place in water

The blooms will open within a day! I’ll warn you that they don’t last long, perhaps a day or two depending on how long you stored them, but they are still beautiful.

When I finally removed mine from the fridge, it was near the end of August (and I had picked them in June!) I was quite doubtful it would work … but … here’s the proof:

Preserving Fresh Peonies, Keeping With the Times

Peonies in August

Peonies in October

Peonies in October

I’d love to know if you try this, and how it works for you! and please pin my image if you like :)Thanks for stopping by!

If you enjoyed this post, you make enjoy these:

: Top 5 Perennials for Partial Shade

: Backyard Bouquets

: Easy Floral Arranging Tips

: A Different Kind of Power

: 30 Ideas to Make June Magical

Upcycled Toolbox Planter

June 11, 2015 by Barb 12 Comments

About two years ago I purchased a rusty old toolbox for $5.00 at a garage sale, thinking I would use it as an upcycled toolbox planter. I felt a little sheepish when I got home (especially when the hubs told me he thought it should have been free … haha … I thought so too.) But at the time I had a plan … a plan that did not materialize for two years … in fact, this spring the toolbox almost went to the dump because I couldn’t figure out how to fit any plants into the shallow trays.

But, miracle of miracles, something happened to stop me in my tracks!

I was at the garden centre at Home Depot when I spied a sedum mat … I’d never seen such a thing and was quite intrigued … it hit me right away how perfect it would be for the old toolbox …

I basically cut off chunks and stuffed them into the partitions … and quite unceremoniously too …

So my junky toolbox …

was saved from the dump!

… at least for another year.

An Upcyled Link Party at Funky Junk Interiors

Featured at Rodale’s Organic Life

Pretty funky …

Potting Bench for Friday Finds

May 8, 2015 by Barb 15 Comments

Of course you knew you were going to get more of the potting bench for Friday Finds … right? And about Friday Finds …I can hardly believe it … where did that week GO? It’s just … gone …

kk_MatterFact

It was a crazy, chaotic, and creative week—I had messes all over the house; from the basement, to the deck, and everywhere in-between …

kk_still

Parts of it were a bit more organized, like when I went to town to get a hair cut, and then groceries. Of course I had to visit every greenhouse in the area (just to look, I told myself).

However, I did bring home a few pretties … such a miracle after a long, cold, colourless season …

kk_litely

Oh yeah … we did have a bit of this … aaacckk …

… and I fell down some icy stairs (ouch), but other than that, it was all good …

Potting Bench, Friday Finds, Pansies, Keeping With the Times

kk_Midnight

Thank you so much for dropping by today!

Succulent Propagation

September 28, 2014 by Barb 4 Comments

Succulent propagation is so easy to do! Snip off a few shoots and sprouts, let the ends dry for a couple days, then place them on top of some damp soil.

You really don’t have to hang them, but I happened to have an old rake head that seemed to me to be the perfect tool, and it looks cute too. For some reason I love old, rusty tools. Rakes, hammers, spades …

Succulent propagation is so easy to do! Snip off a few shoots and sprouts, let the ends dry for a couple days, then place them on top of some damp soil.

You can see there are already a few roots which had formed even before I snipped them from the main plant. Oh, and make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight.

Succulent propagation is so easy to do! Snip off a few shoots and sprouts, let the ends dry for a couple days, then place them on top of some damp soil.

Succulent propagation is so easy to do! Snip off a few shoots and sprouts, let the ends dry for a couple days, then place them on top of some damp soil. The next step is to place them on damp soil, and I’ll keep you updated on their progress.

Will they root or rot?

Succulent Garden

September 11, 2014 by Barb

This summer, my succulent garden was so beautiful! The problem is, how am I going to save parts of it? In photos only? I think not! I have to start formulating plan.

Do I bring the container into the house, or do I try to propagate instead? Some will be easier than others. I’d really hate to chop this little beauty into pieces.

succulent garden

This one either …

succulent garden

I could probably root some stems of this one since most have tiny root hairs showing already.

Succulent

Propagating is really quite easy. I found a great page on Pinterest on exactly this subject. These plants want to multiply, there is no doubt about it!

Succulent

I’m definitely going to be saving this gorgeous rosette.

Succulent

I love the colour of this one and the sharp bright tips. I don’t know the names of most but once I start propagating, I’m going to try to identify them.

Succulent

Succulent I watched this cute little pot all summer … you can check out the post here.

succulent

We had a hard frost last night but I was prepared. I either brought in the house, or covered, all the plants that I want to save and I’m very glad that I did since the coverings are all white and crispy this morning. Today I must get busy and start my plan of attack.

I found a real treasure this week but I couldn’t get a post together in time. I want to do it right so it will have to wait.

I’m going to be sending out weekly newsletters and if you are interested check out this post here. The signup box is on the sidebar … I’d love to have you join me!

Have a wonderful Friday and thank you for stopping by!

Welcome to My Garden! and TGIF!

July 11, 2014 by Barb 17 Comments

Garden Tour, Keeping With the Times

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Garden Tour, Keeping With the Times

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Garden Tour, Keeping With the Times

... my garden is a dream.

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Garden Tour,Keeping With the Times

And of course, here are a couple iPhone shots edited in Camera+

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… my garden is a dream.

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Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Friday Finds: More Barn Wood Inspiration

June 13, 2014 by Barb

I simply cannot explain how lovely it is to have a little barn wood-inspired garden right on my deck!
Barn Wood Inspired Garden, Deck Gardening, Gardening in Small Spaces, Keeping With the Times

After I finished all the hard work of setting it up, here’s the view as I sit and sip my tea …
calm, friday finds, keeping with the times, barn wood

calm, friday finds, keeping with the times, barn wood

Meet my new side table. My perfect little garden on the deck.

calm, friday finds, keeping with the times. barn wood

I mean, a girl cannot have too many places to put her plants, can she?

calm, friday finds, keeping with the times, barn wood

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Barn wood. I simply cannot resist it. I won’t even tell you how many pieces I’ve collected, but I’ve put each and every one of them to good use.

But really, all you need is just one piece, with two shelves if possible … and it doesn’t even have to be barn wood. I’ve found that having a little garden right on my deck has inspired me in so many ways. Not only do I have my herbs close at hand, but it also saves them from the (cute), but hungry little bunnies that are constantly nibbling away in my big garden.

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… safe …

Gardening on the deck

herbs_1

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Marsh Marigolds

June 3, 2014 by Barb 18 Comments

Marsh Marigolds [caltha palustris] are one of the first (if not the first) wildflower that pops up around here. Every spring these wonderful flowers light up dark boggy areas with their bright buttercup-like flowers and are a welcome sight to us winter-weary Albertans!

I braved a swamp and an army of mosquitoes to get these photos (and a small handful of marigolds). Marsh Marigolds, Keeping With the Times

Caltha palustris is more commonly called marsh marigold or kingcup. It’s rather toxic and requires careful handling as it can cause blistering. I used rubber gloves to pick and arrange these little beauties. marsh marigolds, Keeping With the Times Truly a welcome sight in these here parts! Thank you for stopping by!

Ladle up Some Succulents!

May 16, 2014 by Barb 21 Comments

Yesterday I spent the day potting up all the flowers and plants I had so recklessly purchased, knowing full well that frost is lurking at every corner until June 1st.

But we had sunshine, warm temps, tinges of green in the trees, it was spring at last! I was supposed to be grocery shopping but those people are smart … setting up little greenhouses right in front of the store … .

As I scooped up pot after pot I could hear the little voice in my head telling me to go ahead! buy it! buy it all! just be prepared to cart it all indoors every night for the next two weeks …

Well, it’s not like I haven’t done it before and this weekend is our May long weekend here in Canada. We have company coming and I want it to be summery! So I did go ahead and do it.

Here’s a cute little Echeveria Shaviana potted up into a rustic old ladle that I found at my local Junque Store.

ladle succulent pot, keeping with the times

So fun!

ladle succulent pot, keeping with the times

My potting bench. This is my space. This is where I go to play.

Ladle up some succulents

Love.

ladle succulent pot, keeping with the times

Some of our family is coming to spend the weekend with us. I feel a bonfire and s’mores in our future!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

The Signs are Everywhere – Friday Finds

May 9, 2014 by Barb 28 Comments

Spring is here as evidenced by my newly potted baby succulents #fromthepottingbench! Don’t you just love what a simple glass container and rocks can do?

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

I love this so much, I think I’m going to make a larger version.

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

It’s about thyme, wouldn’t you say? My garden is stirring…

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

Pink tips of a purple globe onion (allium).

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

The promise of peonies to come.

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

Sweet spring light.

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The pussy willows are bursting at the seams.

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Something needs to be straightened out and painted (arghhh)…

spring, friday finds, keeping with the times

I found the inspiration of spring everywhere.

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How to Care for a Fresh Rosemary Plant

November 29, 2013 by Barb 36 Comments

Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs, and while it’s quite easy to grow, I have a few tips on how to care for a fresh rosemary plant.

When I first bring a rosemary plant home from the greenhouse, I like to transplant it into a slightly larger pot that has good drainage holes. That way it has plenty of room to put down a sturdy root system during the summer. When I bring it in for the winter, I may repot once again, as hopefully it will have grown quite a bit.

Rosemary is a tender evergreen perennial grown as an annual in most areas of Canada. It loves full sun, tolerates shade and does very well in containers. It prefers light, well-drained soil.

So here’s the “down and dirty” part. If you want to keep your plant as healthy as possible for as long as possible, this is what I would recommend.

How to Care for a Fresh Rosemary Plant*

Remove your new rosemary plant from pot and if it seems potbound, pinch the roots to loosen, and stimulate growth
Choose a new, larger pot, with good drainage
Rosemary does not like to dry out, but it does not like to stand in water either, so place something on the bottom to help increase drainage even more—I used a plastic liner from one of my summer pots
Put soil in the bottom of the pot
Place the plant inside, then pour more soil down the sides, pressing down as you go until the soil reaches the top, making sure you don’t cover the top of the root ball
Water rosemary when the soil at the top feels dry
I like to either mist or spray the top of the plant quite regularly. It keeps spider mites at bay, and also revitalizes it
Having said this – most experts will tell you powdery mildew is a problem with rosemary, so make sure there is lots of airflow around the plant

This also works well on the large topiary plants available around Christmas-time.