From Flower to Fruit: The Mysteries of Apple Pollination

From Flower to Fruit: The Mysteries of Apple Pollination

Apple trees are great additions to any yard or garden, providing a source of food for bees, birds, wildlife and us! There’s nothing like the joy of watching your tree bloom in the spring, expectantly waiting for the fruit to ripen, and finally eating an apple freshly picked off your tree. The topic of pollination, however, can be confusing, so let’s review the basics.

How To Grow Peas

How To Grow Peas

Peas are always one of the first vegetables I plant in the spring. As soon as there's a sunny day in late February or March, I bundle up and head out to the garden to sow snap and shelling peas along trellises in my raised beds.

Vegetable Gardening with Kids

Vegetable Gardening with Kids

Edible plants are a great way to introduce your kids to the wonderful world of gardening. They’re colorful, fast growing, and delicious! It’s exciting for kids to see fruits and vegetables sprout and grow in their own garden (some, like Brussels sprouts, look very different in the garden than on the dinner plate!) I’ve also noticed that kids are often more adventurous about trying a new vegetable when they have grown it themselves. Here are a few tips to make creating an edible garden a fun and successful family endeavor!

Doghobble & Pigsqueak: A Compendium of Curious Plant Names

Doghobble & Pigsqueak: A Compendium of Curious Plant Names

Winter is generally a time for gardeners to rest, reset and plan for the next season (i.e., lust over seed catalogs and online garden photo sites). It's also time for pondering gardening's Big Questions such as, "Where did all those odd and funny common plant names come from?"