It’s one of my favorite times of year: the mostly blank slate garden.
Deciding what to grow this year and seeing what lived through the winter.
My habit is to way, way, way overplant tomatoes, such that my tomato bed turns into a jungle from which it is difficult to extract any actual edible tomatoes before they split, mold, or become otherwise unappetizing. I am going to do my best to avoid that this year–and yes, I say this every year. Maybe if I declare in advance of plant shopping that I will grow one heirloom, one purple/orange/or yellow, one cherry, and one early variety then I will stick to that plan. Okay, so already know I won’t because I want a Purple Cherokee and I want a Lemon Boy, and I want a Supersweet 100 and a Sun Gold…Keep reading
I used to buy a primrose every year in January or February and then plant it in the yard in the spring.
I first began doing this the year my mother died to honor her memory, and then continued doing it after that because it brought me comfort.
After a while, I had quite a beautiful primrose garden going. When we moved to a new house, though, I suddenly had trouble finding primroses that looked good at the time that I wanted them, and slowly my practice died off.
This year, I was just running into Hannaford to grab some groceries quick and there they were. All those pretty little primrose faces looking up at me, waiting for me. A beautiful yellow one came home with me.Keep reading
I was doing my almost-every-day-garden check this morning, minding my own business, when I encountered some drama in the form of an unexpected and unwanted intruder.
I was looking for red tomatoes and for any damaged leaves. I found some of the latter and as I reached down to remove them, I saw a particularly thick branch. Upon closer inspection, I realized, that was no branch!! It was the dreaded tomato hornworm!
I am showing you a photo of the tomatoes, not of the perp! Because, focus on that which you do want!
Hornworms have destroyed my tomato plants in the past so this time, I am determined to keep the upper hand. I researched a bit online and found some useful information here:
If you are also dealing with this issue, I hope the video helps you!Keep reading
Many years ago, when my son was starting kindergarten, we lived far enough away from school that he needed to ride the bus to get there. My husband and I took turns walking with him to and from the bus stop.
While I drank coffee and watched Anthony, my husband struck up a friendship with the West Indian woman whose house was on the corner.
Her name was Cecily. She was often out working in her beautiful garden, and my husband was also a gardener, so they had this in common. They often traded plants back and forth (e.g. dug things up and gave them to each other).
Cicely had a giant, mature Japanese Maple tree that covered a third of her corner lot.Keep reading
I am showing you a photo of the tomatoes, not of the perp! Because, focus on that which you do want!
Karen Creamer
