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Cooler Nights Are Coming: Preparing your Oklahoma Garden & Houseplants for fall.
If you garden in Oklahoma, you already know that fall doesn't always arrive politely. We can have an afternoon that feels suspiciously like July followed by a nighttime temperature that has you standing on the porch thinking, Wait… do I need to bring all these plants inside tonight? Welcome to fall gardening in Oklahoma! The transition into cooler weather doesn't mean gardening season is over. In fact, this is one of my favorite times to reset, clean up, harvest and prepare p
Angela Mondragon
Sep 246 min read
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From Crispy Summer Beds to a Fresh Fall Garden 🌱🍂
With Oklahoma temperatures staying in the triple digits for what feels like forever, it's hard to imagine that another season is actually coming. But fall will be here before we know it, and in Oklahoma, our window between scorching summer temperatures and that first hard freeze can feel pretty short. If you want a successful fall garden, you've gotta start planning now! đź’Ż And if your vegetable beds look anything like mine, you probably have at least one summer crop that is
Angela Mondragon
Aug 256 min read
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Sugar Cravings: The Beast and the Beauty
I wish I could tell you there was one magic trick that would make sugar cravings disappear overnight. Unfortunately, it usually isn't that simple. The truth is, everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. For me, the first step was figuring out why I was craving sugar in the first place. Sugar cravings can be triggered by a combination of physical, emotional, and environmental factors. Eating sugar releases dopamine in the brain, creating a
Angela Mondragon
Jul 313 min read
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Brewing better health.
Herbal Teas for Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes When we think about improving our health, it's often the small, consistent choices that make the biggest difference. One simple habit that can become part of a healthy lifestyle is enjoying a daily cup of herbal tea. While no tea is a cure for insulin resistance or prediabetes, many herbs have been studied for their naturally occurring compounds that may help support healthy blood sugar metabolism, reduce inflammation, and prom
Angela Mondragon
Jun 243 min read
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It's HOTT Outside 🔥🌱
Oklahoma summers don't mess around, do they? After all the hard work you've put into your garden this spring, don't let a stretch of triple-digit temperatures undo your efforts. A few simple adjustments can help your plants survive—and even thrive—through the worst of our summer heat. Wait... Shade My Tomatoes? Yep! You read that right. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and other sun-loving vegetables still need protection when temperatures start climbing into the upper 90s and b
Angela Mondragon
Jun 122 min read
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How to Protect Budding Plants from a spring freeze.
One of the most exciting signs of spring in the garden is seeing plants begin to bud and leaf out. Fruit trees bloom, herbs begin to wake up, and tender vegetable starts start reaching toward the sun. Unfortunately, early spring warmth can sometimes be followed by a sudden cold snap or late frost. When temperatures drop below freezing, tender buds and new growth are especially vulnerable. The good news is that with a little preparation, many plants can be protected from freez
Angela Mondragon
Mar 153 min read
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Permaculture in Practice: Living the Three Core Ethics in Your Family Garden.
In our introduction to permaculture, we talked about designing gardens that work with nature instead of against it. Today, we’re going deeper — into the heart of permaculture: the three core ethics. These ethics aren’t abstract ideas reserved for homesteads or large farms. They are simple guiding principles that can transform even the smallest backyard or raised bed into a regenerative, resilient system. The three ethics are: Earth Care People Care Fair Share (also called Ret
Angela Mondragon
Feb 153 min read
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Growing Things & Growing Faith: What Gardening is Teaching Me About My Walk With God
On Wednesday evening, I got to learn a new seed starting technique at church during our Wednesday night class, Grounded, Grow and Gather. So first — shoutout to my Crossroads family! 🎉 There is something so special about learning and growing together in community. ♥️🌱 But today, something has stayed with me. I’ve been reflecting on how deeply gardening mirrors our spiritual journey. Learning How to Grow : When you first start gardening, everything feels new. You’re lea
Angela Mondragon
Feb 123 min read
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Grow More With Less: In-bed worm composting for raised & container gardens.
Healthy soil doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. One of the simplest ways to feed your garden—right where plants grow—is by adding a small worm composting system directly into your raised bed or large container. This low-cost method turns everyday kitchen scraps into rich, living soil while saving space, money, and time. We call it in-bed vermiculture—and it’s one of the most efficient tools for small gardens. What Is In-Bed Worm Composting? In-bed composting uses Re
Angela Mondragon
Feb 112 min read
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Permaculture: Designing Gardens That Work With Nature
At Ella-Ang Plants & Wellness, we believe the most resilient gardens — and the healthiest communities — are built by working with nature, not against it. Permaculture offers a thoughtful, hope-filled framework for doing just that. Rooted in the words permanent agriculture and permanent culture, permaculture is a holistic design system for creating sustainable, regenerative, and resilient human habitats. It looks to the natural world as teacher, observing how ecosystems functi
Angela Mondragon
Feb 53 min read
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Spiritual Wellness: Nurturing the Soul
Spiritual wellness begins with relationship. As Christians, it is the intentional, growing connection we cultivate with God through Jesus Christ—one that brings peace, clarity, and alignment to our lives. Jesus reminds us of this foundation in John 15:4–5: “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you… If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” When we stay rooted in Him, spiritual wellness becomes the source from which everything else flows. This wellness is nurtu
Angela Mondragon
Feb 22 min read
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Growing More Green: How to Propagate Pothos (and Why It’s So Easy)
Pothos ivy (Epipremnum aureum) is often called the gateway houseplant—for good reason. It’s forgiving, adaptable, and incredibly generous. With just one healthy vine, you can grow many new plants to share, gift, or expand your own indoor jungle. Propagation isn’t just about making more plants—it’s about learning to read them. Once you understand nodes, aerial roots, and light needs, you’ll unlock this skill for many other houseplants too. Let’s dig in 🌿 Understanding Pothos
Angela Mondragon
Feb 12 min read
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What Is Cold Stratification?
Cold stratification is a simple gardening technique that helps certain seeds sprout. It works by mimicking winter—giving seeds a period of cold, moist conditions before planting. This “winter nap” signals to the seed that it’s safe to grow once spring arrives. Many perennials, trees, and shrubs—such as milkweed and coneflower—need this process to germinate successfully. Why Cold Stratification Is Needed? Breaks seed dormancy Some seeds won’t sprout until they’ve experienced c
Angela Mondragon
Jan 251 min read
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Moving Your Body During your period.
Your body is doing important work during your cycle. This is a time to slow down, listen in, and move with care—not push through. Adjust Your Workout Listen to your body: Energy may feel lower, and that’s okay. Shorten your workout or lower the intensity as needed. Choose light cardio: Gentle movement like walking, swimming, or easy cycling keeps blood flowing without draining you. Gentle strength: Use lighter weights or bodyweight exercises with higher reps to stay strong wi
Angela Mondragon
Jan 221 min read
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Is It a Magic Potion? Nope… it’s just a tincture.
Tinctures may look mysterious, but they’re actually one of the oldest and simplest ways people have worked with herbs. They’ve been used for generations to preserve plants and make their natural properties easy to use—no spell book required So, What Exactly Is a Tincture? A tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract. Herbs such as leaves, roots, berries, or bark are soaked in a liquid—called a menstruum—to gently draw out beneficial plant compounds. Most commonly, the l
Angela Mondragon
Jan 61 min read
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