Every winter, we are the lucky recipients of a bounty of citrus from both family and neighbors. My fruit bowls and pantry are full of blood oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. Citrus generally ripens during the winter and the cold snap…

The temperatures outside are not just chilly - they are COLD (21 degrees outside yesterday morning in my garden).   You may recall that I wrote about picking the green tomatoes off my vines a few weeks before the first frost appeared.…

The cold weather has arrived in my neck of the woods with even colder temperatures on their way later this week.   When temperatures dip below 32 degrees, you will find me wearing warm socks, slippers, a sweater, and cardigan when I'm…

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! I just finished watching the Rose Parade with my mother.  It's a tradition in our family and reminds me of when my grandparents took me when I was a child. We didn't have tickets to the parade, so my grandfather…

The gifts are wrapped and the house is decorated for Christmas. I do still have to clean my house and start baking goodies for Christmas Eve dinner.  My mother-in-law is bringing her famous lasagna, so I only have to focus on side dishes…

This morning, I spent some time outside in one of my vegetable gardens with my granddaughter, Lily. While I worked, she had fun with the plants in my containers.   cool-season containers My cool-season containers are…

The other day, my son Kai asked me what mistletoe was.  I explained that it was a little plant that grew on trees that people hung over doorways during the holidays.  At this point, he looked a little puzzled at why people would want…

You'll never guess what I made this Christmas tree out of... A tomato cage, mini-white Christmas lights and a hair band is all that it took to create this festive Christmas tree. I brought out my tomato cages and grabbed some…

Most of my job as a horticulturist and garden writer is fun.   But sometimes, I have to be the bearer of bad news. Last week, I was called to a home where the homeowners were worried about one of their citrus trees.  Although…