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Gardening Advice
Meet Asian pears—among the finest fruits I’ve ever grown. They have the juicy white flesh and lovely bouquet of a pear but they are round and can be eaten crisp off the tree like an apple. Plus, this fruit is low in acidity, stores for many months, and is easy to grow.
Asian Pears Versus European Pears
Unlike the European pears that get a gritty texture inside if left to ripen on the…
A few years ago, we built a pergola. Nothing fancy, just a rugged 10x10-foot cedar frame outside the back door. It gave me four posts that could support climbing vines. There are so many perennial vines to choose from. Here are some favorites!So far, on our pergola, we have a climbing hydrangea that is just starting to climb its post. It seems that it would rather scamper along the…
In many parts of the United States, demand for water has already exceeded the supply, leading to bans on car washing and watering lawns and gardens. The need to conserve water has made xeriscaping a popular concept in gardening. What is it, exactly? Here’s an explanation and some tips for using the principles of xeriscaping in your own garden.What is Xeriscaping?From the Greek word…
Half of the enjoyment of a garden is being able to walk through the landscape and get close to nature. Consider a garden path or walkway as a design element. See some ideas for your yard!In the late fall, once most of the foliage has died back, it is easier to see what has been going on behind the scenes. Often called the “season of simplicity,” this is a good time of year to assess the…
Gardeners curse the ubiquitous dandelion and its pervasive nature; that darn taproot travels deep and far! However, all parts of the plant are edible and rich in vitamins, and that is not a bad thing! Learn more about dandelion’s health benefits.Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial weed with a long, strong taproot. It can make itself at home almost anywhere…
What are you doing in the garden this time of year? I’m weeding asparagus beds, dealing with voles, caring for peonies, and seeing which plants from last season survived!Hopefully, by now, you’ve picked up all the sticks around the yard and freed any spring bulbs from the fall leaves that were still hanging around. Spring soil is often squishy and moist. It’s important not to step on…
It’s winter, the dormant season. Plant and tree growth has slowed to a crawl or stopped completely. This is the perfect time to try out a winter landscaping exercise we’ll call the “Four Directions” or “Four Winds.” In Native American culture (Lakota), people would pray by calling on the spirits of the four cardinal directions—South, West, North, and East. Called the…
The emerald ash borer has hit my area hard and all the ash trees close to our house have been affected. The trunk was too large for our chainsaw, and the 5 other trees, though smaller, were too close to the house for us to safely take down. Time to call in the experts! So, what is an arborist and what do they do that is so special and often very expensive?One of our trees is a…
If this was your first year growing garden fruits and vegetables, you probably have found that much of your homegrown produce does not look like what you see in the store. Don’t be discouraged! It’s what’s on the inside that counts! Learn more about that “ugly” produce.Experienced gardeners know that imperfect produce is actually more normal and natural than the grocery store specimens,…
While 93% of the West is in some level of drought, other regions are being inundated with rain. After a hot dry June in my neck of the woods, we got 3 times our monthly rainfall in the first 2 weeks of July and another 3 inches just yesterday! What’s a wet gardener to do? See 7 tips to manage your garden after too much rain.We were lucky to only get 3 inches of rain this time. Nearby…
One of the most hopeful things we can do is to plant a seed. It’s an act of faith that tomorrow will come. In Hindi, the word for seed is “bija,” which means “containment of life.” Each seed contains an embryo and a starchy food supply—everything needed to make a new plant. Seeds are proof that life goes on. Gardening is one of the oldest healing arts.It gives the kind…
Summer is here and with it come the bugs. What possible reason can there be for their existence other than to bother us? As a gardener and small farmer, let me tell you—we need bugs more than they need us. Really! Discover five reasons we need insects, all that we humans have learned from the way they work, and cool insect facts.Judging by all the different products on store shelves…
