Weather-wise everything has been strange this year. Copious Spring rains caused farmers to plant their crops later than usual. A mild summer, with more rain, brought more challenges. In my world, the roses were unhappy; the coneflowers were late, and

 … finish reading Just in Time

I’m so glad I don’t live where you garden twelve months of the year. Although . . . one benefit might be that Fall clean-up would never occur. And quite possible Spring preparations wouldn’t be a special event either.

But

 … finish reading Garden Wind Down

They go by many names: June bugs, fireflies, lightning bugs, glow worms, and – officially – photuris pensylvanica.  But my childhood remembers them as June bugs because they always appeared in June no matter where I lived. They found me

 … finish reading June Bugs

This spring was marked by deluges of rain to the point where farmers had difficulty planting their crops. But in the last couple weeks, summer decided to show up in full force. Heat, humidity, and long days when the sun

 … finish reading Water

How’s this for an algebraic equation? Mulch to flowerbeds equals make-up to faces.

That is, mulch covers a wide surface and hides a variety of blemishes while resisting weeds and other unwanted things just as foundation make-up covers a surface

 … finish reading Mulch

This season I am growing basil and cilantro from seed. This should probably have been started inside in mid-Spring, but I missed that boat. I’m in the one where the crops will be late summer bloomers.

I sprinkled the packets

 … finish reading Basil and Cilantro