Give new life to your garden tools Garden tool restoration is a pursuit that is both valuable and satisfying to those of us leaning toward DIY, slow-living or self-sufficiency philosophies. Most of the time, the steps involved in restoring basic hand tools are pretty simple, the supplies are relatively inexpensive, and the results are often… Read More
Remarkable Rosemary Rosemary is one of my favorite plants to grow and use. I love the way it smells, I love the texture, and I love the taste. It’s a powerful plant; not just in looks and scent, but in its historical and cultural associations. Rosemary has many benefits. It looks great in the garden, has… Read More
Mistaken Identity What a sad case. Poor goldenrod is merely trying to make the world a more beautiful place, and feed a few lucky butterflies and bees. Suddenly a case of mistaken identity has this good plant on the defensive…and seemingly losing ground! It all started when someone got the sniffles. It wasn’t a cold,… Read More
Fixing an eyesore For a while, I subscribed to a pretty narrow gardening plan: if I can’t eat it, I won’t grow it. I dove into all things edible; vegetables, fruit, nuts, herbs and even the occasional flower. I planted trees for shade, and cut the grass because it was there. While that strategy allowed… Read More
Autumn Joy Sedum For a hot and sunny location, succulents are a great choice. Sedum (also known as stonecrop) is a genus of hardy succulents that “thrive on neglect,” a trait that marginal gardeners such as I require. My favorite thing in the gardening world is finding a plant that can be installed and forgotten… Read More