Gardening Tips: Asparagus and More

I mentioned previously that growing asparagus requires more time and effort than many other plantings. I just learned this from the helpful folks at the ranch and farm supply center. You don’t just plant asparagus and then start picking the delicious, healthy, green vegetables soon thereafter. It actually requires over a year to get them going and about three years before you’ll have anything to pick. You begin as you would with other starter plants, but the seeds will become “crowns.” These crowns must be nurtured for about a year before they can be transplanted into the ground. Once transplanted, … Continue reading

Garden Tips–Tools and Weeds

Recently, I provided tips for the beginner gardener in hopes it would motivate self-described “brown-thumbers” to give planting a try. If you think that you don’t have time to cultivate a garden, think again. You could enlist help from your spouse or children and make it a family affair. Or, you can participate in some rigorous weeding and consider it part of your daily exercise routine—spend less time on the cardio machines in the gym and more time in the garden. Convinced yet? If so, I have a few more gardening tips to share with you. Hopefully, they will come … Continue reading

10 Tips For The Beginner Gardener

Summer’s bountiful crops have served as the inspiration for many of my recent blogs. But, today it dawned on me that some of you might not have a garden. Or, perhaps, you really have no desire to grow one. I would hope that this is not the case. But, if it is, consider this blog an attempt to persuade you to think otherwise. Believe me, a few years ago I would have been considered the ultimate reluctant gardener, but once you see (and eat) the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor, I guarantee you will be hooked. If you have … Continue reading

Save Money with Gardening

Summer is almost here and there is no better time to start a garden as a tool to save money. Not only will growing your own food save you money on your grocery bills, it is also a great stress reliever. Working in a garden is good for your body and soul. You do not even need to have a big backyard. Even a patio with pots will work fine. All you need is a place outside and some soil. Even a windowsill will function as a mini herb garden. Be creative and you can find a way to grow … Continue reading

Gardening With Children – Plants of Their Own

Today I took the boys to a local greenhouse and nursery. I told them they each could pick out a plant to take care of this summer. They were actually excited about the chance to pick out a plant of their own. Around our neighborhood we are just seeing signs of spring. We have a few crab apple trees blooming, and the trees are leafing out. At the greenhouse though – wow – everything was green, and growing, and blooming, and a rainbow of beautiful colors. We browsed through ten different kinds of tomatoes, many herbs and vegetables, and all … Continue reading

Get Your Vitamin G

Haven’t heard of vitamin G? This is what experts call time spent outside, in green spaces. Outdoors time can help reduce stress, improve school and work performance, reduce ADD and ADHD symptoms, ease depression, promote healing, and increase life expectancy! A Japanese study of time spent outside found that interaction with the great outdoors can increase your odds of survival by as much as 15% over five years. The bad news: the average American spends way too much time stuck inside according to studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kids are spending 7 more hours per week on … Continue reading

Creative Gardening

Beautifully landscaped gardens don’t come cheap… or do they? Yesterday I popped into our local Garden Exchange to pick out a Father’s Day gift for my uncle who is an avid gardener. Boy, some of the items in there cost a fortune… and I was just looking at the plants and flowers. A person could go bankrupt filling his garden with all of the gorgeous options that are blooming in gardening centers. I left empty-handed, but determined. I figured there had to be ways to add to or create a stunning garden without having to rob a bank to do … Continue reading

A “Green” Way To Get Rid Of Garden Pests

It was a balmy 73 degrees today. (Seventy-three degrees in March in Wisconsin—that’s something to brag about.) Our family took advantage of the beautiful weather by visiting a local wildlife sanctuary. After I got a good look at the critters there I came home and surveyed our yard and garden. Lo and behold, not five minutes into my inspection, a big fat fly landed on my arm. (Ah, the welcoming committee doesn’t miss a beat.) With the spring thaw in progress it won’t be long before I am battling bugs and other garden-loving pests. In previous blogs I’ve written about … Continue reading

Winter Gardening

We just got pounded by a major winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on our front lawn. It certainly dashed our hopes of an early spring. But, it did nothing to dampen the spirits of our neighbor who spent about 20 minutes today telling me all about the delicious herbs and vegetables she was growing in her year-round garden (this as we both shoveled paths from the sidewalk to our respective front doors.) Honestly, it never dawned on me to relocate my outdoor plants indoors. The idea of digging up, potting plants, and hoping they flourish … Continue reading

Picking The Right Flowers For Valentine’s Day—The Day I Bought Flowers For A Boy

Roses are Red Some Orchids are Green I Love You A Lot Despite the Miles In Between That was a poem I wrote in 1991 to my then boyfriend (we lived 500 miles apart at the time). I know. I’m not much of a poet, but to make up for my less than stellar prose I also sent him flowers. Sending flowers… it was a bold move on my part. I had never even dreamt of sending flowers to a guy before meeting Roger. But, I was in college and thought it was time to venture out of my comfort … Continue reading