This past Friday was Groundhog’s Day. Were you one of the 30,000 people who traveled to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for Groundhog Day to see what Punxsutawney Phil had to offer? Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year and predicted an early spring. So what the heck is a Groundhog, anyway? How often is he … Read more
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
KEEPING ACTIVE Last week I did a blog on ways to stay fit during these winter months. I want to give you all some thoughts on what we can do this winter to help us stay active and, at the same time, reduce our chore list come spring. One thing to do is to take … 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
PLAYING WITH PLANTS TO SHAKE OFF THE WINTER BLUES This time of year can be a challenging time for avid gardeners. We must find ways to “play” with plants, even if it means playing with our tropical indoor plants. Making a terrarium is a perfect indoor winter project. Miniature gardens or landscapes can be created … 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
GARDENING IS GREAT EXERCISE Gardening is excellent exercise, but it’s winter, which leads to spending more time indoors on the couch watching TV. I think I just described myself. If you are like me, you are already looking ahead to the start of the 2024 gardening season. Now is an excellent time to plan your … 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
FIRST, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!! I want to start by looking back on December. We were concerned about how dry we had become at the beginning of December. We were abnormally dry. But, on December 10th, we got a great soaking of rain that amounted to over 3 inches of rainfall. Great … Read more
