Category: Gardening & Landscape

How to Grow Vegetables and Flowers in a Container

No space? No problem! You can grow flowers, herbs, and even vegetables in containers. Pots, tubs, and half barrels overflowing with flowers add appeal to any garden, but container gardening can serve a practical purpose too. Container gardening is ideal for those…

Growing Herbs is Easy

Growing herbs are easy to grow; all you need is a windowsill. And, unlike in retail stores, you get to choose from hundreds of different varieties of plants which can be overwhelming.  For example most people love Basil and the…

Survival of the Fittest

Survival of the fittest. You see that every day in the garden, and not only among plants and bugs. Every spring I barely survive my own enthusiasm. This is the time of year when I’m wishing the snow away and…

Confronted by Eggplant

I recall once being confronted by cold eggplant on my plate at the end of the meal when very young. I didn’t like the looks of it and had postponed eating it until last. But my mother had a firm…

Landscape Lighting (Solar vs Low-voltage)

Solar Lighting System vs Low Voltage Landscape Lighting While considering adding a solar lighting system to your home, you have likely done research that has led you towards either solar lights or low voltage lighting. If you have read any…

Gardening in Containers

Well the garden centers are getting ready for spring with all of the lights, ornaments, and containers. As I get older many annuals are going into containers making it easier to take care of plus the added bonus that you…

Starting Vegetables and Flowers Indoors

Growing seeds indoors isn’t hard; it’s keeping them alive that can be challenging. You can save a lot of money by growing seeds depending on how large your planting beds are, but only if they live and turn into robust plants.…

Do What I Say, Not What I Do

It is winter, so I’m constantly reminded of good garden practices that I fail to follow through on. Maybe a public confession here, of what I know I should be doing. “What I should have done” is my garden motto.…

One Tough Shrub

Are you are looking for a shrub that easy to grow, drought tolerant, winter-cold resistant, and mostly insect, rodent, and deer, that comes in a variety of leaf and flower colors?  Sounds impossible, try the ninebark (Phyysocarpus-genus)   Commonly named…

Wild Turkey in Hiding

It happened Sunday morning as I notice the dogs looking out the east windows. I happened to glance through the window that looks over the back yard when, from the corner of my eye, I briefly saw a large brown…

My Dark Side of Gardening

I have a dark side. I’m ruthless when I must. I don’t like admitting this even if it is a character trait that’s admired in some quarters — sport, business, shopping, but in the garden? Sadly, yes. To be a…