Life in The Garden
February 20, 2021
Biologically speaking, tomatoes are fruits but why do we think of them as a vegetable? Let’s have fun with tomato trivia—plus my 10 tips and tricks on growing tomatoes successfully!
Last blog I asked you what edibles you would plant if you were limited to only three. The response was overwhelming, with tomatoes topping everyone’s list.
Whenever I mention that tomatoes are fruits, I also get the response: No, tomatoes are vegetables? In a sense, a tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable but let... more
December 16, 2020
Tulip bulbs are typically planted in the fall, but what happens when you forget to plant them and it’s already December or January? No worries. Here are my tips on how to plant bulbs in winter or late in the season.
What Do You Do With Forgotten Tulips?
Last January, I came across a bag of tulip bulbs that had gotten misplaced in my gardening shed. Evidently, the dozen tulips hid when I planted over 150 other bulbs in October. I was looking forward to seeing this variety’s colors lining my... more
November 20, 2020
How do you take care of your Christmas poinsettia? See our tips on keeping poinsettias alive after Christmas—plus, we’ll address the most common question. Are poinsettias poisonous?
A week or two before Christmas, my Dad always gave my Mom a potted Poinsettia wrapped in shiny foil. And my Aunt Dodo had a nine-foot-tall one growing next to her front door. Bracts on it started turning pinkish around Halloween, then red, and remained ablaze until after Valentine’s Day.
For those unaware, the... more
October 16, 2020
Colorful pumpkins and gourds are signs of autumn to me—and the autumn home and table would not be complete without them. Here are some unusual pumpkin varieties to look out for—warts and all—and ways to use these natural decorations for displays and centerpieces.
Pumpkins: A True American Native
Pumpkins have deep American roots. Our Pilgrim forefathers subsisted on these edibles during their harsh winters, thanks to the Wampanoag, who helped them survive their first year at Plymouth Colony.... more
October 15, 2020
In October, I waved goodbye to the last monarch butterflies that hatched in my garden. They’re about to migrate south. It may take as many as five generations for monarchs to complete this two-way migration—the only butterfly to migrate as birds do! Learn more about this amazing phenomenon.
The monachs are flying south to the border regions of Texas and Mexico, arriving at their roosting sites in November where they’ll hibernate for the winter. Imagine flying over 3,000 miles with the Sun as ... more
October 15, 2020
Have you tried air-drying flowers to brighten those gray days of fall and winter? Here’s how to dry flowers so that they look great—not just old!
How to Dry Flowers Properly
Drying your favorite garden flowers isn’t difficult. Here’s how to do it:
Pick flowers in the morning just before the blooms completely open. When you snip off the flowers from the plant, take 5 to 6 inches of stem, too.
Strip off all foliage from stems.
Secure a bundle of 8 to 10 stems with a rubber band or twist tie.
Hang... more
August 31, 2020
Though some folks say Labor Day is the “end of summer,” that’s certainly not true in temperate North American gardens! We’re harvesting, storing the bounty, saving seeds, dividing plants, fertilizing the lawn and—yes—planting for a “second summer.” Come join us in the garden—and also see 10 fall vegetables to plant now!
Heads up, North Americans! The season will be with us for a few weeks until the autumnal equinox on September 22, and then come the cooler temperatures. Gardening in the fall is... more
August 25, 2020
Every year in the fall, I suffer a bout of mum madness when garden centers and big boxes brim with cheery chrysanthemums. They produce lovely fall colors, but is fall really the best time to plant them? (The answer is no.) Here’s how to keep your mums alive through winter!
When to Really Plant Mums
In autumn, chrysanthemums and asters are everywhere, from six-inch pots to bushel baskets of orange, yellow, pink, and copper mounded behemoths. I want to buy everything and plant!
Then I slap myself... more
June 12, 2020
Roses once had a reputation for being finicky, prima donnas. However, rose breeders have bred the diva qualities out of this garden classic—without sacrificing the beauty and form that makes a rose a rose. Here are three of the easiest roses to grow for any beginner. Put away the sprays. You can plant and forget!
Knock-Out Roses
Shrub roses and those grown on their own roots are also the best choices, especially for cold climates. I’ve lost dozens of hybrid teas to -25ºF winters, no matter how... more
June 9, 2020
For thriving outdoor flower pots and especially vegetable containers, a continuous supply of nutrients and fertilizer is an absolute must. I learned the hard way as a novice gardener. Here’s how to fertilize your containers.
The Importance of Nutrients
My containers filled with petunias, salvia, lettuces, and tomatoes looked awful, especially when compared to those I planted in the ground later. I was starving the container plants, because I didn’t replace nutrients that were leached out of the... more
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A lifelong gardener shares the endless lessons she’s learned from her garden over the years, in hopes of making your own gardening just that much easier! Read along for advice, photos, and more.
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