www.theflowerbin.net

www.theflowerbin.net

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Supporting the Local Chapter of Women Building America

 

Why Women Building America Exists 




The construction industry is facing a significant demographic shift. With nearly half of the workforce retiring within the next decade, WBA sees an opportunity to:

Introduce young women to stable, high-demand careers

Strengthen local communities by building a more diverse and resilient workforce

Shift industry culture toward greater inclusion and innovation 

Their approach blends practical skill-building with long-term career empowerment.





How Our Donation Fits Their Mission

Our donation supports three pillars of Women Building America’s work:




1. HandsOn Skill Building for Girls

Their construction camps and youth programs thrive on tactile, confidence-building activities. Blooming plants + soil give girls a chance to:

Practice tool use (trowels, measuring, cutting, layout)

Learn site prep, soil handling, and safe lifting

See immediate results — a huge psychological boost for young learners

This aligns perfectly with WBA’s goal of helping girls feel capable, competent, and excited about building things.




2. Community Beautification Projects

Many WBA chapters participate in community service builds. Your donation can be used for:

Entryway planters at a community build

Beautifying a jobsite or learning space

Demonstrating how construction intersects with landscape design, environmental stewardship, and placemaking










How WBA Fits into the Broader Landscape

WBA is part of a growing national movement to support women in construction. While other organizations — such as Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) — focus on business owners and executives, WBA is distinct in its youth-centered, hands-on, workforce pipeline approach.




Monday, July 6, 2026

Tasty Tuesday Herb Spotlight: Basil

 🌿Tasty Tuesday Herb Spotlight: Basil

Common name: Basil 
Botanical name: Ocimum basilicum 
Family: Lamiaceae




Few herbs capture the flavor of summer quite like basil. Fragrant, flavorful, and incredibly versatile; basil is a must-have for kitchen gardens, patio pots, and sunny windowsills. From fresh pesto and caprese salads to cocktails and pasta dishes, basil brings bold flavor and freshness to nearly every summer meal.

Easy to grow and quick to harvest, basil rewards gardeners with abundant leaves all season long when given a little sunshine and regular attention.


🌱 Why Grow Basil?

1. Endless Culinary Uses 
Basil shines in everything from pesto and pasta to pizza, salads, sandwiches, and summer drinks.

2. Fast Growing & Productive 
With regular harvesting, basil continues producing fresh leaves throughout the season.

3. Perfect for Containers 
Basil thrives in pots, raised beds, and sunny patios.

4. Pollinator Friendly 
If allowed to flower, basil blooms attract bees and beneficial pollinators.


🌿 Growing & Care

☀️ Light

  • Prefers full sun

  • Needs at least 6–8 hours of sunlight daily

🌧️ Water

  • Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy

  • Water consistently during hot weather

🌱 Soil

  • Rich, well-draining soil

  • Benefits from compost and occasional feeding

🌿 Growth Habit

  • Fast-growing annual herb

  • Typically grows 12–24 inches tall depending on variety

  • Becomes fuller with regular pruning




✂️ Basil Pruning Tips for Big, Bushy Plants

One of the secrets to beautiful basil plants is harvesting often!

🌿 How to Prune Basil

  • Pinch stems just above a set of leaves

  • Each cut encourages two new stems to form

  • Avoid harvesting single leaves one at a time

🌸 Remove Flower Buds

Once basil flowers, leaf production slows and flavor can become more bitter.

  • Pinch off flower buds as soon as they appear

  • Regular trimming keeps plants leafy and productive

🌞 Midseason Refresh

If plants become tall or leggy:

  • Trim back by one-third

  • Water well and fertilize lightly

  • New growth usually rebounds quickly


🌡️ Climate & Zones

  • Grown as an annual in most USDA zones

  • Loves warm weather and summer heat

  • Extremely sensitive to frost


🌬️ Growing Basil in Zone 5

Basil thrives during Colorado summers once temperatures warm up.

Tips for Success:

  • Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed

  • Wait until nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F

  • Containers warm up faster and help basil grow quickly

  • Harvest regularly for continuous growth


🌿 Harvesting Basil

🌱 What to Harvest

  • Young leaves and tender stem tips

🌞 When to Harvest

  • Begin once plants are well established

  • Morning harvests often provide the best flavor

Frequent harvesting keeps plants healthy and productive.




🍅 Favorite Summer Pairings

Basil plays beautifully with classic summer ingredients.

🍅 Tomatoes

Caprese salads, pasta sauces, bruschetta, salsa

🧄 Garlic

Pesto, marinades, roasted vegetables

🍋 Lemon

Dressings, seafood dishes, herb butters

🍓 Fruit

Strawberries, peaches, watermelon, and citrus

🧀 Fresh Cheeses

Mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, feta

🍹 Summer Drinks

Lemonade, mojitos, mocktails, infused water






🌿 Classic Garden Pesto Recipe

Fresh homemade pesto is one of the best rewards of basil season.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves

  • 2–3 garlic cloves

  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

  • ⅓ cup pine nuts or walnuts

  • ½ cup olive oil

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Optional squeeze of lemon juice



🥣 Directions

  1. Combine basil, garlic, nuts, and parmesan in a food processor.

  1. Pulse until finely chopped.

  1. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending.

  1. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice if desired.

  1. Serve immediately or refrigerate.


Delicious Ways to Use Pesto

  • Toss with pasta

  • Spread on sandwiches

  • Spoon onto grilled vegetables

  • Swirl into soups

  • Drizzle over tomatoes and mozzarella



🌸 Final Thoughts

Basil is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow, bringing unbeatable flavor and fragrance to the summer garden. With regular harvesting, proper pruning, and a sunny spot, your basil plants can stay lush and productive all season long.

Visit The Flower Bin to explore our basil varieties and find everything you need for a delicious summer harvest! 🌿🍅