During Earth Day last week. experts told us one way we can help is by composting. Did you know that the U.S. wastes over 60 million tons of food a year? That’s more than any other country in the world! Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxides, all … Read more
Last Wednesday was Earth Day. So how did Earth Day get started? How Rachel Carson’s Book, “Silent Spring” Led to Change Senator Gaylord Nelson was a senator from Wisconsin who was interested in conservation. He was inspired by Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring.: He was also inspired by an oil spill on the Santa Barbara River in January, … Read more
Now is the time to begin thinking about moving your houseplants outside for the summer. Here in Central Virginia, I usually aim for the first week of May, but now I always check the long-range forecast first. May Freeze, Really? Six years ago, we had a frost on May 10th. I had forgotten to check … Read more
Hasn’t the weather been great the past few days? And now is a great time to plant your root vegetables — beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and even radishes. You can also plant peas, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and collards. Wait On These Veggies I’d wait another 3 weeks (in the … Read more
Did you know that in art dating back to the 14th century, the Archangel Gabriel was depicted giving the Virgin Mary a lily when telling her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit? Thus, the flower became associated with rebirth. Biblical Reference to Lilies We also have an excerpt … Read more
This past Friday was the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. Vernal equinox means “equal night.” On the day of the Spring Equinox, they hoours of daylight and the hours of darkness are of equal length. Now, until the Summer Solstice on June 21, each day will be a minute or two longer than the … Read more
Tuesday, March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day. It is said that St. Patrick used the three leaves of shamrocks to teach about the Trinity. Did you get a shamrock in honor of the occasion? Here’s a little bit about them. There’s No What? Believe it or not, technically, there is no such thing as a … Read more
I used to believe a few garden pest myths, but no longer do. Ants How many times have I stepped on ants on the sidewalk? How many times did I try to get rid of them in the yard? I believed they were pests. Now, I know differently. Yes, it’s a bit annoying when I … Read more
Do you know there are over 300 species of roses? If you have roses in your garden, they need your attention to thrive. Among the gardening tasks for late winter/early spring, pruning your roses is near the top of the list. The first thing I do is put on my gardening gloves. Do you really … Read more
