While not the coldest winter, these past few months have created some challenges in our yard.   The heavy snow in December splayed the limbs of a lot of evergreen trees. Many have popped back to their original form, while others have stayed bent. If you have...

Your Garden Tells A Story (whether you know it or not) I enjoy antique motorcycles.  I take pleasure in studying their mechanical details in museums in pristine showroom condition.  But what I truly love are old bikes that their owners have made their...

What is leaf mold? Leaf mold is decomposed leaves. Think of a forest floor with years of fallen leaves decaying over time to produce a loamy black soil.  Benefits of adding leaf mold to our soil for gardening and landscaping?  By changing the structure of...

A little while back I was out of town, and I called my wife one afternoon to say hi. Asking her how her day was, she responded "I got terrible new this morning, and I am having a great day!" (Insert head tilt, as that's what I did before she could explain.) ...

Tale of the Too Tall Tree A few years back, seven to be precise, a young couple having just purchased their first home headed to the nursery to buy the perfect tree. They both fell in love with a beautiful flowering tree, and took it home to plant.  Wanting to...

We create gardens for numerous reasons. Sometimes we enjoy the visual excitement of an explosion of color, or maybe to watch the wildlife our gardens attract. Oftentimes it’s a means to escape and relax. Creating a relaxing or meditation garden is not difficult, but...

Be Inspired by Memories I lost my knife this past weekend. I carried it with me daily for 26 years. My father-in-law gave it to me the first time we met which was about a week after I married his daughter.  While being very utilitarian, it has also served as a...