Getting ahead on spring garden to-do list
After a slow start, spring is now coming on like a freight train. Every day new plants are pushing up out of the ground in my garden, tree buds are...
All Stories
Key to garden success: Work on nature’s schedule, not your own
Among my friends and family, I am known as a bit of a perfectionist. My wife, much more easy going, gently reminds me to pick my battles, especially when it...
Picking up pieces after winter’s fury
By all accounts this winter was shaping up to be a mild one. Notice I said "was." Amazingly, in mid-January I still had lettuce plants in my garden. Granted, they...
Fragrant blooms and cool-loving nature make pink jasmine the perfect winter houseplant
My office is warm and sunny, with windows facing towards the south, west, and north. Sunlight bathes large patches of the carpeted floor creating the ideal spot for Mugsy, our...
Boxwood wreath a lovely do-it-yourself touch for the holidays
More homes are decorated for Christmas than any other holiday. This year is no different, although the sluggish economy has created renewed interest in inexpensive ways to celebrate the season....
‘Tis the season to plant garlic
Strolling down a street in Boston, my wife and I were hit by the unmistakable, wonderful aroma of sauteing garlic wafting from an Italian restaurant. Our first impulse, naturally, was...
Key to sanity during winter: Cheerful, easy-to-care-for flowers
With winter approaching, most of us anticipate the psychological hardships of the cold season: more darkness, more time cooped up indoors and precious few signs of herbaceous life to lift...
The chores of November: Taking care of soil and roots
As much as I love the cool, crisp weather that accompanies fall, it doesn't take long for me to get fed up with some of the garden chores that come...
Fall is perfect time to seed a new lawn
The arrival of fall brings not only cooler temperatures but also more rain. The combination of warm days and cool nights with adequate moisture in the ground creates ideal growing...
Preserving summer’s garden bounty for cold days ahead
Some years, it seems that the nicest weather arrives in late summer and early fall. Warm days are followed by cool nights, and humidity levels drop into comfortable ranges. In...