When Life Gives You Downy Mildew…
Make Pesto! Yes, once again our Italian basil is rapidly moving from robust growth to a premature death due to basil downy mildew. (Read all about this at this excellent site from Cornell.) We’ve danced with downy mildew in the past, and it seems that...
Grandma’s Favorite Annuals
I once read that when you see a plant described as “Grandma’s Favorite!” in a catalog or on a seed packet, you should know that what this really means is “The plant grandma liked before she discovered the more productive and easy to care for...
I Love Rudbeckia triloba
Name: Rudbeckia triloba Type of Plant: A tall, biennial, or short-lived perennial black-eyed Susan with small, cheerful flowers. This plant may only live and flower one or two years, but it self-seeds so that once you have it you always have it. Why I love this: I...
A Beautiful Veggie Garden? You Can Grow That!
As I wandered through the vegetable garden at Tower Hill Botanical Garden last night, I was thinking about how satisfying it is to be in a lovely kitchen garden. These veggie plots are not only functional but are emotionally and visually pleasing. So what makes a...
Mixed Greens Pesto Pizza
In the summer vegetable season there are so many possibilities when you go into garden and ask, “What’s for dinner?” One of my favorites is to make a mixed greens pesto. It can be tossed onto steamed veggies, pasta, salad or spread onto a pizza. You...
What is Deadheading?
How do I deadhead my plants? And why? I discussed deadheading last week on The Garden Lady and later in the program a caller remarked that it was suddenly clear to her how, and why, this garden task should be done. This listener isn’t alone in wondering why the...
Nasturtium Martini
Looking for a beverage that celebrates the summer garden? (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic.) Have I got a drink for you! Ingredients – Alcoholic 12 Nasturtium flowers plus a couple extra for garnish 2 oz Gin (I used The Botonist because, well, it’s the obvious...
I Love Tithonia Rotundifolia – Mexican Sunflower
Name: Tithonia rotundifolia aka Mexican sunflower Type of Plant: An annual for full sun that grows four to six feet high. Why I love this: I love orange flowers, and this one has orange-red blooms in spades. It’s a plant that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and...
Proven Winners Porch Update
Here is a photo to show how my front porch, planted this year with annuals courtesy of Proven Winners, is flowering. Every year I try something a bit different, and this year I decided to go with a regional theme with green/blue pots and chairs. Note that these pots...