By Vanessa Richins

The summer garden season is in full swing.

The plants are huge and lush, and you collect produce daily.

You wish the summer wouldn’t come to an end so your garden could keep thriving.

Never fear! It’s actually time to start planting seeds for your fall vegetable garden.

That’s right – you can still grow some vegetables even into the autumn months. The key is to choose the right ones.

Vegetables are divided into two different categories – cool season and warm season. Warm season vegetables are ones that grow best during Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

Plants really are amazing and versatile.

My friend Andy sent me links about the creations of French botanist Patric Blanc. He specializes in creating vertical wall gardens.

The results are beautiful.

The website for Echo Studio states that “These growing tapestries provide insulation, help filter rainwater that flows across its surface, create a cooling effect, and lend an often surprising visual interest in places one wouldn’t expect to see plants.”

Take a look at his website. I wondered how they were able to grow them so well vertically. For the Musée du Quai Branly, they used a combination of felt and plastic layers as anchors for the plants. These are layered on top of a metal frame, which provides some breathing room Read the rest of this entry »

By Cinday Naas

What did you feed your tomatoes today?

How about your corn? Did you remember to give your rhododendron a nice cup of tea?

There are things you eat and drink every day which are really good for using in your garden.

Here are some tips to feed your garden as well as perhaps reducing the amount of trash you throw away, too.

• Eggshells: These are good for enriching the soil near tomatoes. Crush them by hand, or whirl them in a blender with a little water, and pour over the soil under the tomato plants. The extra calcium will help to keep the soil rich for years to come.

• Coffee grounds and tea leaves – acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons and azaleas love to be treated to coffee or tea occasionally. I spread Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

The sweet fragrance of lavender on a hot summer afternoon is one of my favorite scents of summer.

I have lavender plants tucked into nooks and crannies all over my garden because of the perfume this herb gives off.

Because it can be used in cooking, herbal medicine and in perfuming the home, lavender will always be a must-have in my urban garden.

Growing: Lavender requires full sun and very well drained soil. It is not a heavy feeder and will do poorly in soil which stays too damp. Mine is grown throughout my rock garden instead of with the other herbs, and it benefits from being surrounded by the warm rocks as well as from the gritty soil.

Harvesting: Lavender blooms are used in Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

As gas prices soar, raising the cost of food along the way, a new breed of enthusiasts has been born.

Dubbed ‘localvores,” these people strive to only eat food that has been grown or produced locally.

Where can you get local food?

Obviously, the first place you could try is your own backyard or patio. If you have the space, this is the absolute best way! You know exactly how your produce was grown.

If you don’t have the space, try your local farmers’ markets and stands. You could also try a CSA – a Community Supported Agriculture organization.

I belong to a food co-op. Once a month, I place an order for shares of food. For example, I can pay $23 and get 4 different kinds of Read the rest of this entry »