Summersweet / Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra) Very aptly named, this shrub will impress you with its sweet scent in the middle of summer when fewer fragrant plants are flowering. Flowers are white or pink spires that are highly attractive to bees,…
With the local strawberry season coming to a close, we are trying to get our fill of these delicious Summer berries before they’re gone until next season. However, while local pick-your-own farms and farmers markets are dwindling on strawberry availability,…
As we turn more and more soil for gardens at the farmhouse, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that we have great soil quality here. At our old home, we had builder-grade, lackluster, red clay soil that needed attention…
There is a new fuzzy, funky Gomphrena on the block. Gomphrena ‘Pink Zazzle’ has it all! This attention grabber has 3” bright pink blooms that range from pink to fuchsia and fade to a soft pink and eventually end up…
Does it really matter what you call your decorating style? My answer is “maybe,” if only because it can make things easier if you want to tell someone about your home. I have often been asked how my home is…
What are the secrets to great gardens? Find out on June 27-28 by attending The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Garden Dialogues in the Washington, DC, Metro Area. The settings are intimate—generally no more than 24-30 people; relaxed—most run 90 minutes, providing…
Last spring I had an Epiphany: as much as I truly love fresh fruit, I tend to eat many more vegetables. A factor in this is the fact that I’ve gotten comfortable growing pretty much only what we consider vegetables…
If you had asked me on the first day of Spring if I was ready for the next season, I likely would have without hesitation said yes. I took a trip with Grayson to Behnke’s in March to pick out…
Do you grow larkspur, cockscomb, yarrow, strawflowers, or globe amaranth in your garden? Not only are all of these flower varieties beautiful as cut flowers when placed in a compatible container filled with water…they can provide twice the beauty because…
The past few weeks have been filled with several significant milestones: my twins turned 25, my husband celebrated his 65th birthday and June marks our 30th wedding anniversary. We could say “where have the years gone” or “my, haven’t the…
One of my favorite herbs is basil, it’s fresh and distinct, but also an herb that appeals to the masses. I demonstrated two ways to use this versatile herb- Basil, Parsley and Walnut Pesto, and Basil and Edamame Hummus.
My grandson Aaron loves tractors! As soon as he comes over to visit, after hello hugs, the first thing he asks his Granddad is: “Can we drive the BIG tractor?”