The musings and adventures of an enthusiastic grower
Last year we took the plunge and bought kayaks. It was something that we had been thinking about for years and finally brought to fruition. We saw those kayaks as a means to not only get some exercise but also to spend time as a family and connect with nature. It turned out to be …
Some may believe that gardeners and the wildlife inhabiting their yards cannot possibly peacefully coexist. I will concede that gardeners and wildlife can be at odds, especially when the critters that call our yards home decide to sample from our vegetable gardens or dig up our ornamentals. I have had many an epic standoff with …
Continue reading "Certifying Your Landscape as a Wildlife Habitat"
Growing up, I have fond memories of my mother's Lily-of-the-Valley. Whenever it was in bloom, she would pick a small bouquet for the house, and the kitchen filled with the flower's intoxicating scent. In my mind, those flowers and their fragrance will forever have a connection to my mother, and I will always think of …
According to a 2018 study funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, consumers in the United States waste nearly one pound of food per person per day! Globally, the numbers are staggering, with an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food, roughly 30% of global production, lost or wasted annually. Food waste accounts for 19% …
Creating a toad habitat in my garden has been on my "to-do" list for quite some time. I've had an affinity for these creatures ever since reading the Frog and Toad Collection of children's books by Arnold Lobel both as a kid and then again with my child. You can't help but fall in love …
It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, I'm not talking about the holidays, I'm talking about that other magical time of the year when the peonies start to bloom. I anxiously await this event each year, prepared to pull up a chair for the mesmerizing show. I eagerly watch for when they first …
I lay on the couch, unable to get up due to back pain, an unfortunate result of spending the previous afternoon bent over weeding in my garden. Muscles I didn't even know existed are aching, making it difficult to carry out the activities of my day. As I lay there in agony, a question comes …
The phrase 'Variety Is the Spice of Life' implies that interacting with all sorts of people and participating in different activities makes life more enjoyable. William Cowper coined this phrase in 1785 in his poem 'The Task.' He wrote, "Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor." I love his …
When I first started gardening, I quickly developed a voracious desire to learn everything I could about the subject. I poured over every magazine and garden book I could get my hands on, taking careful notes and making sketches, trying to absorb all of the information and then applying it in my gardens. Over the …
I was never much of a houseplant collector, as I didn't have an outstanding track record for keeping them alive. I much preferred caring for perennials outdoors in my flower beds, believing them to be much hardier for my style of gardening. I told myself to stay away from anything in a pot, to focus …
THISTLE BE THE DAY 