This post was originally published as a guest post on The Art of Manliness on April 5, 2013. It refers to warm weather, but it is never to early to start planning the garden. With warm weather upon us and summer just around the corner, it’s time to think about gardening. “Gardening?” you say. Yes, gardening. If the mention of it has you thinking of … Continue reading 7 Reasons to Become a Gentleman Gardener
As we continue to look at trends in gardening, we see that there is a growing trend in approaching gardening in a more ethical, or conscientious, way. The intent is not just to reduce environmental impacts, but to garden for the benefit of both the land and the gardener (and those affected by the garden). It is a look at growing good food all the … Continue reading Garden Trend: Gardening with a Conscience
One of my goals for the new year is to spend more time on creative pursuits. One of those is origami. I also plan to spend some time on stained glass when it is warm enough to get into my workshop/shed. Here’s my latest project. It is called Five Intersecting Tetrahedra. I’m not sure if it was as relaxing as I think origami should be…more … Continue reading Hobbies other than gardening: origami
I’ve heard for many years that many of the skills our parents and grandparents grew up with — such as gardening, canning and crocheting — are dying arts, since the younger generations aren’t interested in them. There would be little hope for our society when it loses its ability to feed and produce for itself. Fortunately, though, that no longer may be the case, especially … Continue reading Gardeners trending younger, more diversified
These go right along with a majority of my goals (not resolutions) for the new year. I think we all need to “take more time,” for lots of things – ourselves, others, our interests. Let 2015 be the year that you “make time.” Continue reading 18 Things Everyone Should Start Making Time For Again
As all of the din, excitement and exhaustion from Christmas winds down (though technically there are still several of the 12 days of Christmas left to go), we turn our attention to the next year. As the old Welsh Christmas/Yule/New Year carol exclaims, “fast away the old year passes … hail the new, ye lads and lasses!” Of course, the end of the year means … Continue reading Looking forward to 2015 Garden Trends
Let’s take a few minutes now to talk about some last-minute details about the holidays. Of course, many people work themselves into a frenzy around the holidays. But that’s not what the holidays are really about. They are about simplicity, about family and friends, about reflection and, for many, religious observance.
Now, there is more than one holiday this time of year. Christmas, of course, plays the lead. But there’s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, solstice and Yule. People even celebrate the imaginary Festivus, created for an episode of “Seinfeld.” Continue reading A gardener’s holiday gift list
Where does this tradition of giving someone an innocent (or not-so-innocent) peck on the cheek whenever you find yourselves beneath the mistletoe come from? And just what is mistletoe anyway? Continue reading Norse Legend Leads to Christmas Tradition
A cactus, of all things, is one of those plants that have come to represent the holidays. But, my friends, it seems that there has been an insidious marketing campaign to confuse consumers. For the cactus you buy in the store labeled “Christmas cactus” is an impostor. It is, in fact, a Thanksgiving cactus. Now this wouldn’t be such a big deal, except that there … Continue reading Is your Christmas cactus an impostor?
This article was originally published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail on Dec 8, 2013. Perhaps the most widespread symbol of the celebration of the Christmas holidays is the Christmas tree. Storied with lore, both ancient and modern, the Christmas tree finds itself in homes, stores, offices, churches and public squares. How did an evergreen tree become the center of attention for a religious holiday? And … Continue reading TBT: Christmas trees (real ones) have tradition, lore
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