Gardeners are naturally obsessive by nature. We can justify anything – plants or garden art. The key is to recognize our weakness before it takes over. Decorating the garden this time of year can be both dangerous and also uplifting. It is one way to bridge the gap between spring and mud season, and is a safer bet than buying plants.
Garden Arts
“Always keep something beautiful in your mind” — Pascal Gardens produce memories, and what I place in my garden is usually sentimental as well as beautiful. Whether you are following the latest European garden trends to discover just the right blue-green color to paint the patio furniture, or the latest on ceramic fairy houses, garden […]
Winter Gardens at Colonial Williamsburg
Next to my desk is a cork board filled with photos and postcards, and while some items come and go, one image has remained in place for close to a decade: a photo of the herb garden at the Benjamin Powell House at Colonial Williamsburg. It was the source of inspiration for my own four […]
Jr Iron Chef
It’s not often that I am asked to be a food judge, so I jumped at the chance to evaluate dishes prepared by students at the Jr Iron Chef VT held in Essex, Vermont. Hosted by The Burlington School Food Project and Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED) a Farm to School program run as […]
Better Home Made: Mustard
Like most people, I adore condiments. All kinds, and have a pretty good collection of open jars on the ‘fridge door. Most condiments last forever, while others disappear quickly. I was hankering for a melted cheddar sandwich the other day, when I discovered that I had completely run out of mustard. Rather than rush to […]
Sketchbook for Ideas
This time of year, I am grateful that I take time to keep a garden journal. It’s not always easy to do, especially during mid-summer when everything seems a blur of activity, but when I start the planning process all over again, it is a helpful to remember what to repeat or not. In my […]
Soil for School Gardens
There’s lots of talk about growing food these days, yet many of us don’t stop to think about how soil fits into the mix. What is truly going on underground? Why is soil the most important component in how food grows and how food tastes? Soil is a living, breathing organism and provides the ultimate […]
