The practice of protecting plants is not new. Over the years, many reliable methods have been devised. New materials are lending the gardener still other weapons in his fight against Old Man Winter. Factors of Winter Injury Many factors cause winter injury. First in importance is the loss of moisture from any part of the … Read more
Gardening is one exciting adventure with many side trips along the way. One of my favorite trips was made with a cardoon plant. The 18-month sojourn began when I saw dried cardoon flowers used in an interesting arrangement. Discovering The Cardoon Vegetable Checking with an encyclopedia, I discovered that the cardoon is a vegetable. I … Read more
Mrs. David Holmes’ garden work in Williamsburg, Virginia, requires a green thumb, a working knowledge of botany, birds, history, and architecture – and a comfortable pair of shoes. A lecturer and hostess with Colonial Williamsburg, the non-profit organization restoring Williamsburg to its 18th-century splendor as the capital of the Virginia colony, her specialty is a … Read more
Many gardeners think that herbs are something that only the elect should grow. They find old herbals and new books on planning knot gardens equally delightful reading, and they dream of having a real herb garden sometime when they have both the necessary knowledge and the proper location. Still, they never progress beyond this dream … Read more
There are three good reasons for sowing herb seeds in the late fall. First and foremost, strictly fresh seed can be obtained from special sources since, by then, the “Seed harvest has been completed. The advantage of obtaining fresh seed cannot be overemphasized because it gives such a high percentage of germination that success is … Read more
When I was a child, one of the regular rituals of spring was the search for asparagus. Balmy days in May would find us peering among the weeds along the fence rows at the edge of the garden, pasture, or road, looking for those elusive little green spears. A thick patch of house lilies grew … Read more
The heated controversy over organic versus inorganic gardening, which a few years ago raged up and down and across the land in horticultural circles and garden clubs, has largely subsided. As is usual in such fiery debates, it is doubtful if the heat generated had much effect in melting down the resistance of either side … Read more
Many who have reached retirement age feel they have come to the end of their trail. The future seems dark and uncertain. When they are suddenly released from a job that has occupied 30 or 50 years of their lives, they are like a ship with anchors dragging and engines dead. Some have a hobby … Read more
Once upon a time, it was my happy fortune to be active in the world of song. This usually creates a gorgeous picture of glamor, exciting travel, and general adulation. But the hours of relaxation are few and far between. Despite tire plaudits and the enthusiasm of public acclaim, a career because of its many … Read more
Some 20 years ago, the idea came to me that strawberries planted in the fall might be the secret of greater production, especially when the matted row system grew the crop. The matted row system means that the mother plants are usually set from 18″ to 30″ inches apart in the row, with rows from … Read more