Class dismissed; the Dude abides, fishing for whatever
As I sit fishing on the side of the road of what locals call the South Slang, between bites…
Community Roundup: April 3
Know the health risks when raising backyard birds As warmer weather and peeping baby chicks mark the springtime return…
Carl Linnaeus: Father of taxonomy
Rudbeckia hirta. Solanum lycopersicum. Acer saccharum. Have you ever seen these names on plant tags or seed packets and…
Charlotte to celebrate the Earth for whole month of April
As spring awakens from winter in April, much of the world is getting ready to celebrate Earth Day, but…
Using a plant stand for indoor gardening
Each winter, gardeners bid farewell to their outdoor growing spaces and turn their attention to other ways to occupy…
Grow herbs indoors to add flavor and fragrance to home
Winter weather may be on the wane, but it will still be a while before we can get outdoors…
Look for spring when primroses, or Primula, bloom
Among the many sought after signs of spring, a not so common one is the budding and blooming of…
Early sunny day and thoughts of nature’s balance
On the first warm sunny day of the month, my heart calls me to step outside and breathe in…
In spite of the polar vortex, looking ahead to spring
My garden journal features sporadic entries over the decades, usually after a spectacular success (tastiest cantaloupe ever!) or disasters,…
Increasing vegetable plant diversity with seeds
Choosing seeds and starting your own transplants are among the most empowering ways to garden. Why grow the same vegetable…
Knotweed removal effort seems successful
Non-native invasive plant species have long threatened the health of ecosystems, wildlife habitat and populations of native plants in…
Get ready for spring with a garden party
By this time of the year, it may seem like winter will never end. Many of us are eager…
Wait for growing season with a good gardening book
Whenever someone asks for a recommendation for a gardening book to offer as a gift, especially for a beginner,…
Winter should not interrupt your composting
Compost, the dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material produced by natural decomposers, provides many benefits to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Converting…
Bewitching witch hazel tree
You may be familiar with its name from the bottle of astringent found in your home medicine cabinet or…
Use frigid winter time for planning a new garden bed
The middle of winter with snow covering brick-hard, frozen ground may seem like an odd time to plan a…
When it’s cold enough for playing hooky with real hooks
Some people say I’m a bit crazy, but I’ll argue that passion is frequently misunderstood as such. Take, for…
Growing citrus trees as houseplants
Imagine having sunny orange, bright yellow and luscious green fruit growing in your home, especially during this gray, cold…
Putney Mountain Hawkwatch reports ‘best year ever’ for sightings
Theresa Armata remembers the scene atop Putney Mountain the first time she came to join her local hawk-watching crew…
Trail group works for safe bike trails for commuting
Imagine a commute without the worry of traffic jams, potholes or detours, a path to town that’s nearby, maintained…