Gardening

There’s nothing worse than putting out a fresh feeder full of birdseed and, moments later, looking up to see this guy staring back at you. What was supposed to be …

When the end of winter is in sight, it’s time to bring out your multi-year collection of garden seeds and start planning for an abundant new season. But are those …

Ask any self-respecting houseplant aficionado if they have a kill list, and they’ll likely admit to having put a few leafy friends to rest. It happens; you learn; you move …

It appears we can thank the French for taking the headache out of growing indeterminate tomatoes. I’ve expressed my annoyance with their annual habit of taking over the garden at …

If you’re one of the millions of plant parents driving the current houseplant trend, you’ve probably read your fair share of articles pushing the benefits of owning them. (Pfft, as …

If you’ve read any of Cheryl’s great articles about no-dig gardening, you’ve probably wondered if this way of gardening would work with your existing raised beds. And the answer is …

Look, normally, I would draw you in with a funny story or quaint anecdote, but today I’m not messing around; we’ll get straight to the point. Should you grow spicebush? …

We’ve watched over the past couple of decades as the popularity of the ‘internet hack’ grew. Lifehacks, money hacks, cooking hacks – social media is brimming with hacks to make …

When it rains, it pours. So much so that heavy rainfall flows quickly off of roofs and onto some form of paved surface, occasionally with unintended consequences. With the installation …

Fittonia (also known as the nerve plant) is one of those houseplants that is both a looker and easy to find for sale (not a small feat in the world …

The transition from crisp and colorful autumn leaves to crumbly and dark leaf mold is – normally – a very slow process. Do nothing more than rake your leaves into …

When you start bringing plants into your home, you’re automatically enrolled in a crash course on all the nemeses you’ll be facing. Whether it’s aphids, thrips, gnats or root rot, …

Setting up suet feeders is a great way to attract birds to your backyard. With their high metabolic rates, these tiny creatures need high-fat food content. Think of how quickly …

If I showed you my six-year-old kalanchoe plant, you’d be hard-pressed to identify what it actually is. It looks part succulent, part weird sculpture and part mythical tree straight out …

For years I kept a lovely pot of African violet leaves. I say leaves because the violets never showed up, so it was a pot of lovely emerald-green leaves. It …

Ready, set, wait. Just because you are ready to close your garden down for winter doesn’t mean that nature is willing and ready. And so it happened that in early …

It seems there are two types of Christmas cactus owners – those with large plants that bloom consistently every year and those who are frustrated with their stunted little plant …

Dang it! It’s a phrase heard at least once or twice a year when I’m handling a plant in a terracotta pot. It’s usually uttered moments after a loud crash. …

Have you ever heard of a pickle plant? (No, it’s not a neverending gherkin vine, as delicious as that may sound.) I hadn’t heard either until one beckoned to me …

There was a time when birdwatching was a hobby strictly for our grandparents and the serious ornithologist. But, like many things, the pandemic changed all that. While we were stuck …

A raised garden bed, freshly filled up with healthy soil for the first time, is a wonderful thing. The soil mix is fluffy and porous and an absolute delight to …

As a backyard bird enthusiast, I’m sure you’ve stood at your window, watching a handful of birds nibbling away at your feeder, only to see them scatter when a squawking …

Right about this time of year, when we’re getting ready to pull the Christmas decorations out of storage, my family faces a seasonal dilemma. Should we continue to use the …

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’ve recently received a shock. You found out your treasured Christmas cactus is, in fact, a Thanksgiving cactus. So, you spent some time in …