Floral Memories

You know that feeling when a sight, sound, or smell transports you to another time or place-triggering memories from a time gone by? I experience this every spring when the lilacs are in bloom. The sight and smell of lilacs always bring up memories of my grandmother. This is in part because they were one …

Sowing Joy

It’s officially spring! The birds are chirping, and the red-winged blackbirds and robins have returned.  The daffodils, tulips, and garlic are all pushing out of the soil, and the buds on the lilacs are plumping up. I’m waiting patiently for the peeper frogs to start singing, and then, for me, spring will officially be heralded …

Not So Rosy: The Real Cost of Imported Valentine’s Day Roses

Walking into the stores this time of year, you can’t help but notice all the heart-shaped décor, cards, candy, and other gifts in shades of pink and red. Valentine’s Day is here, and it’s the holiday where we profess our affection for our significant others, family, and friends. Chocolates, teddy bears, and bouquets of roses …