I’ve been gardening for most of my life. Yes, I took horticulture, but the real education came not in a classroom but in my backyard’s red Virginia clay soil. The wisest gardeners, I believe, are simply those who made the most mistakes—and learned something. Golly, I must be a genius by now. My Early Gardening … Read more
en It’s the time of year to begin thinking about seeds for your spring/summer garden. Let’s talk about the difference between heirlooms, hybrids, and GMOs. What is An Heirloom? An heirloom seed is one with history. An heirloom has been passed down for several generations. Many heirlooms have been passed down for more than a … Read more
What’s better in the winter than a windowsill project that not only gives you something to do, but makes your food taste better? Try growing herbs indoors! And the fragrance in great, too…. How to Start Herbs From Seeds or Cuttings Many herbs start well from seeds–particularly basil, chives, parsley, dill, and cilantro. For a few herbs, like … Read more
The days are short, and the sunlight is weak. So, what can I do with my houseplants this time of year? Remember that humidity is almost non-existent indoors, and lighting is much less than these tropical plants are used to. So here are some things to keep in mind. Because the light and day length … Read more
So many people make New Year’s Resolutions, but how many of us keep them? I go to the gym in January, and people are waiting everywhere. Go in March, however, and there’s not nearly as long a wait. I’m going to make a few resolutions for my garden. We’ll see how I do. My 2024 … Read more
This coming Thursday, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice—the shortest day/longest night of the year. At this point, our north pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun. They’ll celebrate the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Christmas Day cookouts are relatively common—in Australia! From then on, the days will get a … Read more
The single most popular Holiday plant sold in America is—you guessed it—the poinsettia—with over 40 million sold annually! Chances are you’ve bought one already to decorate your house or been given one as a gift. So here are some things to know: Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico. The first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel … Read more
It’s the time of year for Paperwhite Narcissus, so here’s what you need to know. Paperwhites are members of the Amaryllidaceae family. This makes them related to amaryllis, snowdrops, daffodils, etc. Facts About Paperwhites They are native to the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, from Greece to Portugal. This means that we cannot grow them … Read more
With Thanksgiving this past Thursday, I started thinking about what I’m thankful for this year in my garden. Veggie Goodness Even though we had a rainy patch mid-summer, I’m grateful I did not get blight on my tomatoes. Spacing plants a little further apart for more air circulation does help. And even though I did … Read more
Is anything more Christmas-y than an amaryllis in bloom? They’re dramatic, gorgeous, and easy! What we call amaryllis are members of the amaryllis family called Hippeastrum. True amaryllis, believe it or not, are pretty little pale-pink flowers—Amaryllis Belladonna. The word Amaryllis, in Greek, means “sparkle.” However, “Hippeastrum” has been called amaryllis for so long that … Read more
