Category: Gazette-Mail

Gazette-Mail, history

Happy National Poinsettia Day: There’s more than meets the eye in your Christmas poinsettia

The chill of early December gives way to winter cold. Mornings are filled with the sparkle and glint of the play of sunrise on frost. And many homes, shops and offices are bedecked with the finery of the holidays as the season of celebration approaches. More often than not, you’ll find poinsettias — hopefully real ones — among the decorations of the holiday. This plant … Continue reading Happy National Poinsettia Day: There’s more than meets the eye in your Christmas poinsettia

Unknown's avatarJohn Porter2 Comments
food, Gazette-Mail, history

Local gardeners grow cranberries “the size of quarters”

Cranberry salad … cranberry sauce … cranberry relish … cranberry juice … cranberry cocktails — aah, the holidays are upon us. There are many ways to enjoy this tart native fruit during the holidays and the whole year-round that don’t include cutting off a slice from a jiggling cylinder of cranberry goo. You can even grow your own cranberries at home, no bog required! Vaccinium … Continue reading Local gardeners grow cranberries “the size of quarters”

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food, Gazette-Mail

Thanksgiving flavor from ancient herbs

Family and friends are gathered ’round the table. The dog sits patiently below, waiting for a morsel dropped by accident or on purpose. Platters and bowls fill the table, a reminder of the bounty that sustained our forebears when they first arrived on this continent — and a current testament to overabundance and gluttony. My mom gets so excited about Thanksgiving dinner that she can’t … Continue reading Thanksgiving flavor from ancient herbs

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flowers, Gazette-Mail, landscape

Fall bulbs for a colorful spring

The mercury (or red-dyed alcohol) creeps farther down the thermometer. Glimmering morning frost that highlights the world around us gives way to a bone-chilling freeze. Autumn colors fade from the hillside, leaving shivering, naked trees in their wake. Fall slowly gives way to the winter creeping up behind it. As temperatures dip, many gardeners find time for one last activity, a celebration of a gardening … Continue reading Fall bulbs for a colorful spring

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Gazette-Mail, soil

A microcosm of microbes underfoot

This past week, as I harvested the last of my fall green beans and pulled up the vines (and put them in the compost), I saw something that made me think about the great big web of life that we rarely see and hardly think about. There’s a huge microcosm of life underfoot, namely fungi and bacteria that have evolved over millions of years to … Continue reading A microcosm of microbes underfoot

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Gazette-Mail, vegetable gardening

The dreaded ‘pughetti’ makes its appearance

As my regular readers know, sometimes my gardening articles are inspired by the things that happen to me in real life. For example, I wrote about water conservation after traveling to the New Mexico desert, and about produce competitions during my week at the state fair. Sometimes, though, the inspiration comes from a totally unplanned source. Picture this: A Sunday afternoon trip to a large … Continue reading The dreaded ‘pughetti’ makes its appearance

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Gazette-Mail, organic

Organic growing takes attention

More and more gardeners are interested in growing organically. This is especially true for gardeners growing fruits, vegetables and even grains. Reasons include concern over pesticide use, human health, preservation of beneficial insects and microbes and reducing input costs. Part of growing organically is eliminating pesticide use or using organic pesticides derived from natural materials such as minerals, fungi, plant extracts and more. The other … Continue reading Organic growing takes attention

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DIY, Gazette-Mail, history, perennial vegetable

Onions deserve a little respect

Let’s face it: When it comes to crops for the vegetable garden, onions are one of the least sexy things you can grow. Garlic, it seems, is the most vivacious and interesting member of the allium family. Nobody gets excited about the lowly onion like they do their heirloom tomatoes or half-runner beans. There aren’t boards on Pinterest dedicated to favorite onion recipes or pretty … Continue reading Onions deserve a little respect

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composting, Gazette-Mail, landscape, lawn, planning, sustainable agriculture, vegetable gardening

Fall tasks are at hand

As we progress further into the cool, crisp days of autumn, it is time to turn our attention to preparing the garden for the winter to come and even look forward to next year’s garden. By preparing, you can conserve resources and energy for next year’s gardening season. This week, I’ll talk about a few things you can do to enjoy the garden in the … Continue reading Fall tasks are at hand

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DIY, Gazette-Mail, season extension, vegetable gardening

Extending the garden season

Even though the temperature may be quickly dropping, even as the fall colors illuminate the mountains, and even as chrysanthemums pop up on front porches and in gardens, there’s still plenty of life left in the vegetable. To keep your garden growing into the fall and winter, just remember that you need to use protection. Using season extension techniques, it can be possible to add … Continue reading Extending the garden season

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