I’ve written blogs on my two favorite herbs (chives and dill) and the Queen of Herbs (basil). So it’s time to cover some of the rest of the Royal Court of herbs. So Many Herbs – Some Are Annuals and Some Are Perennials There are lots of herbs to choose from—thyme, sage, parsley, marjoram, mints, … Read more
I’ve done blogs on chives and dill—two of my favorite herbs. Well, here is a blog on the “Queen” of herbs—basil. Basil, believe it or not, is a member of the mint family. The name comes from the Greek word basilkon meaning Royal. It is native to the tropics from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. … Read more
This past Friday was the Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year and the first “official” day of summer. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning “sun stands still.” The summer solstice occurs at the point in Earth’s orbit when the sun shines most directly on the northern hemisphere. Astronomers consider this the … Read more
Last week, I wrote a blog on chives—one of my favorite herbs. This week, I’m going to write about dill—another one of my favorite herbs! Dill is a member of the Apiaceae family, which makes it related to carrots, parsley, fennel, cilantro, cumin, caraway, and even celery. All of these have edible and flavorful foliage. … Read more
I love herbs. Many are easy to grow. One of my very favorites is chives. Chives are a member of the onion family, and they will give a delicate version of that onion flavor to dishes. Here’s how to grow it. How to Grow Chives Chives need full sun, but other than that, they’re pretty … Read more
June 20th is the first official day of summer–less than one month away. Now is the time to start thinking about one of our biggest summer aggravations–Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that loves hot humid weather and can be a big problem in our gardens–particularly this time of year when our young vegetable plants … Read more
It’s almost June! You’ve probably planted all your flowers and veggies. Now what? There are still plenty of things to do. Don’t let weeds get ahead of you. Weeds have already begun to pop up—even in my pots! Getting rid of them now ensures that their roots are tiny and NOT beginning to compete with … Read more
This past Friday was Endangered Species Day. Did you know that 16% of vertebrate (like birds and bats) pollinators are in danger of extinction? 40% of invertebrate (bees, butterflies, etc.) pollinators are under threat of extinction! In North America, for example, the population of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly has declined by almost 80% in the … Read more
It’s almost that time again—mosquito season. Here are four natural remedies to help lessen the problem: Eliminate standing water in your yard Remove empty pots and anything that can hold water. If you set your plants in saucers, go outside after every rain and dump any extra water out. Keep water features, like fountains, clear … Read more
A few years ago, the bee population began to die out in a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder. It is estimated that some areas have lost as much as 60% of their bee population! Experts point the finger at commonly used pesticides called neonicotinoids are likely the cause. Unfortunately, we compound the problem when we … Read more
