I know fall is on the horizon when the bearded iris rhizomes arrive in the store. We just got ours in so fall can’t be far behind (exactly one month from this coming Thursday, to be exact.) History Irises are a genus of over 250 flowering plants. The word “iris” is from the Greek word … Read more
This time of year is a perfect time to think about your fall garden. What are you going to do when the tomatoes, squash and green beans finally give their last? Do you let your garden lie fallow over the winter or do you want to grow broccoli, peas, kale, etc.? If you’re going to … Read more
This Wednesday, August 8th, is National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. Yes, really. Zucchini does seem to be the one vegetable of which I often do have an over-abundance. So what can I do with it? While I don’t “sneak” it onto my neighbor’s porch, I do offer them bags of zucchini, … Read more
Today is National Avocado Day. Have you ever thought about growing your own avocado? It’s not hard. Yes, I’ve done it. The up-side—they’re easy, fun, and make a beautiful dramatic houseplant. The down-side—they get HUGE over time and the chances of them ever fruiting are slim to none. But for lush tropical foliage, they can’t … Read more
July 16th is World Snake Day. I can already hear some people go “Oh, Gross!” I used to be one of them, but as a devout gardener, I’ve developed a healthy respect for them. Still, every summer, I get a lot of questions about how to kill or otherwise get rid of snakes. So maybe … Read more
July is National Blueberry Month. Nice to have a whole month dedicated to one of my favorite things. So here are a few interesting tidbits about these delicious berries. Blueberries belong to the family Ericales. This makes them related to cranberries, Brazil nuts, persimmons, camellias, azaleas, and rhododendron! They are native to North American where … Read more
I’m getting so many people these days looking for plants that repel mosquitoes, that I thought it was time to repeat this blog. Swirling cloaks, spooky music, and a voice with a Hungarian accent saying “Good E-e-e-vening.” Or incredibly annoying little insects buzzing around your face and feasting on every square inch of exposed flesh. … Read more
My houseplants are all outside for the summer. Does this mean I can forget about them? Well—no! Here are somethings you should be doing for your houseplants now—either inside or out. The days are longer and the sunlight stronger so our plants are actually growing—not just “maintaining” like they do all winter. A little fertilizer would … Read more
This coming Thursday is the Summer Solstice—the first official day of astronomical Summer. South of the equator, it is the first official day of Winter. On the other hand, meteorologists consider summer as beginning the first day of June and ending the last day of August. Solstice comes from the Greek words “sol” meaning “sun” … Read more
June—fresh local strawberries are here—in your own backyard—or at a local Farmers Market. Fresh peas, spring onions, fresh beets, the first of the summer’s cucumbers and squash—they’re all in season! Perfect timing for National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, isn’t it? I’m a huge fan of eating fresh—whether it’s from my garden, a generous neighbor … Read more
