As I was going through the seed racks here to pick out a few favorites to start indoors in a couple of weeks, I decided to do a blog on my favorite varieties. Two words you need to know first—determinate and indeterminate. A determinate tomato is a BUSH—it produces a large crop in a shorter … Read more
Paperwhites are members of the daffodil family, believe it or not. They’re native to the Mediterranean, however, so we can’t grow them in our yards. They do force easily and quickly inside, though. All you need are a few pebbles and a watertight container. You can get inventive and use almost any container that will … Read more
Now that your houseplants have been inside for a few weeks, here are a few things to look for: Yellow Leaves Yellow leaves can be a sign of two very different problems. They are often a sign that light-craving plants are not getting enough light—weeping figs and citrus are famous for this. Moving to a … Read more
This past Saturday, October 29th, was National Cat Day. National Cat Day was established in 2005 and is sponsored by The Animal Miracle Foundation. I’m lucky enough to have several cats. I’m also someone who has had many cats since I adopted my first when I was 15. I also adopted my first plant when … Read more
Everyone thinks of tulips and the Netherlands, but did you know tulips are actually native to the mountainous regions of Turkey and Russia? In the late 1500s, the Dutch got their first taste of tulips when the ambassador to Suleiman the Magnificent sent bulbs to a friend in Leiden, Holland. Europe, fresh out of the … Read more
In the spring, I sit on my deck and admire the peonies in the back of my yard. In the morning I watch the occasional bunny hop around, but they leave the peonies alone. So do the deer! And the fragrance of the peonies is wonderful. I appreciate the beauty that they have brought to … Read more
Seeds for cool-season veggies are in, and I’ve already picked out my favorites. I always plant spinach and kale—they even make it over the winter here. I always plant Little Finger carrots—in a window box, no less. They’re a crunchy, sweet mini-carrot that does particularly well in containers. My Favorite Cool-Season Vegetables I always do … Read more
It is midsummer, and insects are out, setting their sights on your garden. Here’s what you need to know. As much as I love my vegetable garden, there are nasty little pests who like it just as much. Here is a list of some of the more common vegetable pests and some suggestions as to … Read more
When I was a child, I was terrified of praying mantises. I thought they looked like little mini-space aliens. And I really didn’t like the way they’d turn their head to look right at you. As an adult, I developed a respect for these hungry little predators. What Are Praying Mantises? Praying mantises are related … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, I did a blog on repelling mosquitoes. I had a customer come in and say her biggest problem was not mosquitoes—it was squirrels. So here’s how to live with them. First, Some Interesting Squirrel Facts The word “squirrel” comes from the Anglo-Norman esquirel, meaning “shadow-tailed,” with roots in Greek skiouros. … Read more
