“My garden is my greatest joy,” Helen Keller shared in a 1930 interview with Hazel Kinscella for Better Homes and Gardens. “I feel that I am in the seventh heaven when among my plants. I feel the little heads pop up to look at me
Some say it’s one of the holy grails of the botanical world. But in our world, in Kodiak, Alaska, Himalayan blue poppies simply love to make a scene, especially for
Every major holiday has its classic color scheme. For example, Halloween decorations are generally orange and black. As for Christmas,
One day, during the Christmas season, I was pondering the act of gift-giving. I reached out to a friend. “Do you and Jim exchange Christmas gifts?”
Sunday morning, the day after Christmas, I poured a cup of coffee and glanced over at the weather station unit sitting on the kitchen counter by the fruit bowl. “Check this out, Marty,” I said,
I first hit the ski slopes when I was five years old. Well, sort of. It was common back then to spend a year or two on the Bunny Slopes. More like hanging onto the rope for dear life in order to
If plants could talk, the Peace Rose could tell a tale as gripping as a World War II spy novel.
YAY! It’s summertime in Alaska! We can joyfully open our windows and doors. Uh oh. A bumblebee flew through the open window and is now trapped inside the house. Here’s a simple trick I use to free a trapped bumblebee from
Today is a gloriously sunny day in Kodiak, Alaska. We endure snappy winters for days like this. And as much as I don’t like to…
It was in the mid-1980s when I ordered seeds for the first time. What a mess! I was totally overwhelmed by all the confusing terms and…
When it comes to comfort food, the potato holds the top spot. But there’s more to the potato than meets the fry…
Before I go any further… Hot Wheels is a paraplegic rabbit. And for eight days, he was left in our care while…
Last Tuesday, Cindy and Bob (not their real names) participated in an event they call ‘Tackle Tuesday’ where they select a room and clean it from top to bottom. They both love to hike…
Did you know that pound for pound, the leaves of most trees contain twice as many minerals as manure? Another icon of autumn is time, as in the passage of time. We become keenly aware of…
Finding a perfect zucchini was a pleasant surprise, what with our wacky-weather summer. As I leaned in closer, feeling a little proud. That’s when I saw it, the gray color, not normal for
For many gardeners, the end of the gardening season is bittersweet. It’s hard to say goodbye to all your carefully-tended plant friends. On the other hand, there is plenty of good about this seasonal transition. In Kodiak, it means vibrant colors, the start of northern lights viewing, and silver salmon fishing. One more thing… Autumn
When we turn the calendar page from August to September, it’s easy to fall into thinking that gardening is all but over. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the fall, harvesting is part of