Picture this. You’re ill, in the hospital, and the nurse’s face shows concern. She reviews your lab report, which shows an abnormal pH. She informs your physician, who then determines a treatment plan, and then he calls upon the pharmacist to formulate the response. Huh? Your normal pH is 7.4 (7.35-7.45) on a scale of 1 to…
I believe 2026 will be full of flowers because I am planting them. The work we put in today will show in spring and summertime, so here are some things you can do to get your garden ready while we are still dreaming of warmer weather. February is a great time to get your seeds…
Valentine’s Day has a funny way of sneaking into the garden. It arrives when most flower beds are still bare, the soil is cold, and gardeners are pacing the yard like impatient parents waiting for spring to wake up. But for those who love plants as much as people, February 14 is less about roses…
As the weather gets cooler we know that winter will be just around the corner. Now is the time to start making plans for the winter months ahead. Here are some suggestions: Pine straw helps provide favorable growing conditions and stimulates healthy plant development by insulating tender roots, conserving soil moisture, eliminating erosion and protecting…
As our beautiful trees finally become mature, it can be challenging trying to get something to grow under the shade of their canopy. We’ve probably tried various grasses and shade tolerant plants but they aren’t as tolerant as they use to be. So what do we do now? Groundcover! Groundcover can be the answer to…
“If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?” One peck is the correct answer, which is a quarter of a bushel or approximately 12 pounds and that would be perfect for a family of four to enjoy during the growing season. Peppers are one of my…
Mature size:Height: 6-9 inches(15-23 cm)Spread:6-9 inches(15-23 cm)Colors: white, pink, deep purple, maroon, blueSite: Bright, indirect light for 12-16 hours/dayNorth or east facing window or fluorescent or LED lightsSoil: soilless mixWhen to plant: anytime indoors African violets originated in East Africa and are colorful and attractive houseplants that come in a variety of colors. Known to…
Tower gardening? No, it’s not like Jack’s Beanstalk, but tower gardening can come with many advantages. Tower gardens are: You’ll find many other advantages to having a tower garden of your own. There are a variety of towers available to purchase. I purchased two: one with 30 pockets (each with a 10-inch depth) and one…
One of my favorite summer memories growing up in the Midwest, was eating delicious vine-ripened tomatoes! Absolutely delightful! I assumed everyone could easily enjoy this treat every summer. Then my husband and I moved to Oregon…ah! We would jokingly say summer never truly arrived until July. I would start my tomatoes from seed in February,…
One of the best ways to control weeds in the home garden is by mulching—covering the soil surface around plants so that no bare soil shows. The major benefits of mulching are 1) It greatly reduces the soil moisture that is lost through evaporation and 2) It suppresses the growth of weeds in your garden….