April is National Gardening Month. Is that perfect timing or what? Right now my yard is a riot of color—the lush rose pink of the redbud, the sunny yellow of the forsythia and daffodils, the little patches of rich blue muscari and light blue starflowers, and the yellow dandelions and purple violets dotting my backyard … Read more
So the first day of “official” spring was March 20, but when is spring really? Well, that depends on who you ask. In the United States, spring begins on the Vernal Equinox (on or about March 20/21) and ends on the Summer Solstice. Meteorologists, on the other hand, consider spring consisting of the months of … Read more
What’s more delicious than a steaming hot potato with melting butter or sour cream and chives? Or mashed potatoes? French-fries? Potato Chips? Potatoes are on many people’s favorite food list. But where did they come from? Whoever came up with the idea for potato chips or French fries? Let’s “Dig” for the Potato Facts Potatoes … Read more
Composting is beneficial for many reasons. It reduces waste in landfills and improves soil quality by providing food for earthworms and beneficial microbes that break it down into nutrients. Part of being an organic gardener is learning to compost. Can you just toss leaves, weeds, and kitchen scraps together? Well, yes — and no. To … Read more
Did you know this past Saturday was National Strawberry Day? A whole day devoted to my very favorite fruit—who knew? Strawberry Legends How did strawberries get their name? No one knows for sure, but the most widely accepted story is, because strawberries spread profusely by runners, after a couple of years, the fields look “strewn” … Read more
Orchids are the largest family of blooming plants in the world with nearly 28,000 naturally occurring species and well over a hundred thousand man-made hybrids. They are also the most highly evolved family of blooming plants. Orchids are native to every continent in the world with the exception of Antarctica. How Orchids Became Popular Orchids … Read more
So many people are buying plants to decorate their indoor environment over the winter and I’ve had so many questions about which ones are toxic to pets. So here is a “partial” list: TOXIC INDOOR PLANTS (FOR PETS) Aloe Amaryllis Asparagus Fern Avocado Anthurium Bird of Paradise Buddhist Pine (Podocarpus) Caladiums Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) Creeping … Read more
This time of year finds me pawing through seed racks and wishing spring was here. I’ve already pulled my favorite varieties of seeds, as well as a few new varieties I want to try. So now I’m ready to sit down with the seed packets. Single Best Source of Information! The seed packet is the single best source … Read more
By mid to late February, I usually begin feeding my indoor plants again—days are getting longer and the sunlight is getting a little brighter, so indoor plants are beginning to wake-up from their winter boredom. I usually stop feeding my indoor plants in November, December, and January. Days are short and the sunlight is weaker … Read more
It’s the end of January and my houseplants have been indoors since October. So should I do anything with them now? Yes! Examine them for insects. All it takes is a missed egg or two and, indoors, with no natural predators, you can have a problem. Here are some of the most common pests: Common … Read more
