The Garden

Why I Use a Garden Auger to Plant Bulbs; And When It’s Not A Great Idea.

By |2022-12-28T21:48:51+00:00December 28th, 2022|

Yes, I know. We could have done with this post about two months ago.  But two months ago I was planting bulbs and didn’t have time to write it.  Still, there’s a good chance there are more than a few of you with boxes of bulbs that haven’t gone in yet, and very little time [...]

Three Insider Tricks to Make a Sophisticated Natural Wreath This Season

By |2022-12-01T19:46:14+00:00December 1st, 2022|

December is upon us, the spirit is in the air, and you have an itch to try the whole wreath-making thing again. Except...you've never really nailed the art of wreath making. 'Spindly' and 'amateurish' are words that figure prominently in the memories you haven't already blocked, followed by 'lop-sided,' and 'award for participation.' Perhaps you'd [...]

#HouseplantVacation is Over For the Season. Here’s What to Do. And When.

By |2022-09-28T20:30:27+00:00September 28th, 2022|

I wrote this article originally for The National Garden Bureau, of which I'm a proud member. However, the info is so important, I asked to reprint it here for the benefit of my readers too .  I hope you enjoy it and find a few tips for making the transition from garden plant to houseplant, [...]

New Trick for an Old Gardener: Planning and Designing EXACTLY what I want.

By |2022-09-22T17:32:41+00:00September 22nd, 2022|

Last weekend I started the process of becoming professionally serious about a small area west of my fenced kitchen garden. It's functioned as a mini-wildflower meadow (and then general eyesore) for the last four or so years.  With the advice and help of the talented horticulturist, designer and author Gregg Tepper, I’m diving into the [...]

Using Grow Lights for Healthier Seedlings Doesn’t Need to Break the Bank

By |2022-04-12T16:39:02+00:00February 18th, 2022|

Inevitably, the time will arrive when many gardeners will consider starting their own seeds indoors.  Perhaps it is the threat of being faced, once again, with only two tomato varieties at the big box retailers, and the shock at paying premium prices for the much greater selection available at a nursery.  Perhaps it is the [...]

FLOODED!

By |2021-07-30T14:49:28+00:00July 30th, 2021|

I have received more than a few emails from readers wondering why I haven’t been more active on this blog over the last three months. And for some reason – guilt perhaps – the latest, thoughtful, “Is everything okay?” once answered, did succeed in provoking a painful but involuntary spasm in somewhat atrophied blogging muscles. [...]

Building Habitat Nests for Wildlife…and For Me

By |2021-04-30T12:49:49+00:00April 30th, 2021|

Over the last two winters, I’ve been engaged in a curious pursuit which has baffled some visitors but thrilled others – precisely the way I love to garden.  I’m building habitat nests – and it’s one of the most satisfying and artistically fulfilling projects I’ve worked on in some time. The newest nest (still [...]

Let Your Garden Help You Decorate for The Holidays

By |2020-12-07T23:07:43+00:00December 11th, 2020|

At this time of year there is much advice floating around to “use natural materials” to create amazing holiday decorations cheaply. Indeed I’ve floated much of it myself.  However, for the average suburban or urban dweller with little land at his or her disposal, it might not be second nature to make the most of [...]

Growing Windflowers for Late Season Color

By |2020-09-20T00:17:26+00:00September 19th, 2020|

Effusive, late-season displays of color become harder to come by as the days become cooler, which is why I enjoy growing the bright, carefree wands of windflower in my garden, and always make room for their clumping foliage between other spring and summer flowering perennials. Paired with berried shrubs, reddening foliage, maturing tropicals, and other [...]

Preserving the Harvest or Preserving Sanity?

By |2020-07-12T22:01:11+00:00July 24th, 2020|

For three days I haven't been fun to live with. Preserving the harvest, fulfilling my writing deadlines, managing my family’s outrageous expectations of motherhood, and doing all of this without losing my ever-living mind. Even the dogs are keeping their distance. Oh, and there’s something else…What was it?….Ah yes.  The garden.  I actually have to [...]

Gardener, Know Thyself

By |2020-05-12T16:00:55+00:00May 11th, 2020|

On the way to the chickens this morning I placed my coffee mug on the ground in order to tidy the fading blooms of a primrose. I can clearly see now that setting down the mug was the point at which I lost control of the situation. A one-handed tidy performed indifferently from the walking [...]

It’s Time to Get Serious About Your Vegetable Garden

By |2020-04-29T21:05:30+00:00April 9th, 2020|

Last week, I glanced at a bronze statue of a pig with wings that sits on my stone steps, and thought, "Well, that pretty much sums it up right now."  Crazy things are happening. Crazy times make us re-examine our dependencies.  Even if we don't change anything, it's good to know where we stand and [...]

Title

Go to Top