gardening

Officially, Earth Day 2009 has come and gone. But it's something I observe 365 days a year.
Although we have not been very good stewards of the resources Mother Nature has bestowed upon us, I believe many of us are working harder than ever to correct the errors of our ways.

"Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there." -- Thomas Fuller

Gardens can come in many shapes and sizes. They can be contained or sprawling, big or small.

In the home landscape, there was a time when the quality of a good design seemed to focus primarily on which yard had the most flower color. Thankfully, classic design ignores this fad.

That quaint metal object you thought good only for holding silk flowers needs to be taken down from its decorative shelf.
The watering can: It is now one of your most efficient allies in the fight to save your plants during drought, able to deliver a reviving gulp of water to plants in greatest need.

It's not the economy that is going to keep people home this summer. It's the stylish sanctuaries they can create in their back yard that will have them hesitating to hit the road.
This year, great design, comfort and durability have made the annual migration from showrooms to living rooms to great outdoor rooms.

Call me crazy, but I just love the smell of horse manure.
In fact, I've been up to my dark brown eyeballs in manure all my life.

It doesn't seem logical that in order to stimulate a plant to grow, it needs to be cut back, sometimes way back. Why would you cut something back that may look perfectly healthy?

Whether driven by the economy, the desire for fresh and untainted food, or the need to minimize your environmental footprint, beginning a vegetable garden can be a daunting task.

Believe it or not, creating a first vegetable garden is like furnishing your house. For interiors you may go to showrooms filled with a vast array of brands, styles and sizes made by contemporary manufacturers. Or perhaps you spend your time perusing antique and second hand stores for vintage finds.

As I write this article, the sound of a neighbor's lawn mower fills the air. But as I look to identify the source of the noise, my suspicion is confirmed. He's using the bag attached to the mower to collect his clippings. Yet this comes as no surprise to me.