Seasons

They happen every day – mostly by the ill-informed, mis-informed, careless or just plain malevolent, and it’s the latter I have a problem with. I witnessed such a crime this Sunday in my own neighborhood, and I felt truly sickened yet helpless. For some unknown reason, this homeowner decided to…

I like the idea of “native” plants and landscapes and absolutely love wildflowers; however, native doesn’t always mean easier, insect free or even desirable.   In fact, there are some widely held misconceptions that I’d like to dispel and some rules to follow when considering native plants and gardens.  All in…

Because Spring sprung so early for us in the Midwest, with consistent warm temperatures, we wanted to bring to your attention some of the potential issues you could experience with your lawns and gardens this season: Leaf spots appear in spring as small olive-green lesions on the upper and lower…

Just like inside your home, color can create a sense of tranquility or excitement; it can make a large space feel intimate or a small space feel vast; warm colors are exciting and stimulate our senses while cool colors are calming and help us relax. Your garden is no different;…

Spring has officially arrived, even though it feels suspiciously like summer.  As I look out the window, I would swear it was May if I didn’t own a calendar.  The grass is greening up, tulips and daffodils are in full bloom, distant trees are either beginning to bud or bloom…

I am happy to report that I survived another daylight savings time, but it wasn’t pretty, and I am still reeling from its effects. My whole Sunday was completely arrhythmic, and Monday morning arrived with lightning speed. This year seems worse. Perhaps the unseasonable weather is exacerbating my out-of-step condition….

So far, March has come in like a lamb, keeping consistent with the peculiar winter we’ve had so far.  I suspect she’ll leave as a platypus – a mixed bag, so to speak. This mild, aforementioned peculiar weather, although agreeable to most, is actually causing havoc with people’s allergies.  That…

Landscaping, as defined by Bing is “the enhancement of the appearance of land, especially around buildings, by altering its contours and planting trees, shrubs, and flowers” But landscaping is so much more!  Sure, it’s beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but did you know it’s an important part of your home’s security? …

I believe weather to be cyclical. In other words, I don’t believe in “Global Warming” now referred to as “Climate Change”. Have you pondered, just for a moment, the ridiculousness of the name “climate change”? Climate is always changing, and I believe it happens in cycles. For example, we’re experiencing a…

If you read my last post, you may have thought I’d forgotten to mention yet another well-loved February institution. Well, I didn’t entirely forget. I just chose not to include it – the Super Bowl. In my defense, it sometimes falls in January, its date not fixed like Valentine’s Day…

As February coasts in, cloaking itself in spring like temperatures, the holidays finally and totally behind us, my thoughts turn to Girl Scout cookies, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.   Two of the greatest men to ever hold the office of president in this greatest country on God’s green earth were…

Perhaps it’s just me, but I haven’t seen a lot of birds around lately. In fact, our neighbors who diligently fill their bird feeders are suffering a stunning lack of birds. It has attracted more squirrels than our winged friends. Why? Partly because it’s winter and partly because natural food…