Blogs

There was a time when I had hours to devote to my gardens. I fought the pesky bugs, creepy pests, and cheeky squirrels (little buggers brave enough to steal my tulip bulbs while I was planting!). I pruned, fertilized, and watered my plants regularly, and they rewarded me with spectacular color and growth. Neighbors would of...

I love wildlife, but I don’t see as much now that I’ve moved from the country to a small town. So, you can imagine my glee (and my cat’s chagrin) when I saw a red fox trot into my back yard one morning. He had a pale reddish coat with blackish legs and a very dapper, bushy tail. A few weeks later, I saw hi...

Summer Trip Ideas Between emails, page proofs, phone calls, and meetings, I am daydreaming about taking a few days off this summer. What to do? When? Where? Whoa—why not check the Almanac?! I randomly (really!) picked a week in mid-July (approximately July 9 to 16) and, it seems, I hit a bonanza. This vacation practic...

Heard about the end of the world predictions for May 21, 2011? A U.S. radio preacher says Judgment Day is arriving at 6 P.M. Saturday.

I was going to mow the grass last night and noticed all the dandelions growing in the grass. I had read somewhere that you can eat the young leaves in salads or sauté them. I quickly picked a plastic grocery bag full.

Springtime Tea Yellow and pink blossoms, warm rain, and birds chirping often denote the season of spring. An itchy, scratchy throat can also come along with the beauty of spring. Make herbal tea to calm and soothe those allergy symptoms that can keep you away from the outdoors during this lovely season of budding! Why not t...

As a kid, I loved dyeing Easter eggs. (When is Easter this year? Click here.) It was great fun putting the store-bought color tablets in vinegar and watching them fizz, and then deciding which part of an egg to dip in which color and for how long. Sometimes, I used a crayon to draw a pattern on the shell so that when t...

Have you ever wondered about experimenting with different herbs to make the perfect cup of tea? If so, you’ll be glad to know that it is extremely simple to infuse tea—and absolutely refreshing.

I recently attended an interesting lecture on outdoor container gardening at The Boston Flower and Garden Show. I thought I’d post some of the tips on how to create a basic planter.

When numbers on a thermometer dip, it’s a good idea to check for frostbite—and be aware of the symptoms and prevention. If you live in a colder climate and are hardy enough to weather the elements, the temperature outdoors should not keep you indoors, within reason. However, when it is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or l...