Wildlife Gardening: Seeing the Payoff
The tree form of serviceberry (likely Amelanchier ‘Autumn Brilliance’) lines a path. It has a graceful habit, early bloom, delicious edible berries that birds also love, and it’s drought-tolerant [...]
Evelyn Hadden, Ranter Emeritus
Seeing the garden through windows – I’m fixing the views!
As part of a home renovation project, I’m having a few windows replaced. It’s a great time to be thinking about windows because my new garden is still in its [...]
Home-Canned Tomatoes: A Tantalizing Taste of Nature in Winter
Yellow pear and Black Krim varieties grew well in my garden last year. Both were delicious eaten fresh and also contributed their flavors to this winter's stewed tomatoes. [...]
Fleeting Moments of Communion in the Garden
The ephemeral flight of hot air balloons over my garden just after sunrise provides a sense of place. (Boise is a ballooning hot spot.) During this season of [...]
Protein from my Garden
Annual edible kale (this is 'Lacinato') planted next to a walkway for easy grazing also contributes texture and color to a landscape. If you’re wanting to cut meat [...]
Six Ways to Use Fallen Leaves in Your Garden
My Boise front garden this summer, two years after smothering the lawn with leaves. Got leaves? Use them to boost your garden’s soil and plant health, facilitate the [...]
Herbal Baths: My New Favorite Cold-Weather Treat
My recipe: pour one gallon of boiling water over 4 branches each of lemon balm and peppermint, a handful of roundleaf horehound, and several sprigs of lavender leaves. Steep [...]
A Satisfying Stack of Stones
Fresh from a class on dry (mortarless) stacked stone wall building, I am appreciating anew the many contributions of stone to a garden. Of course, I’ve already incorporated two stone [...]
Please Take Care of My Hummingbird
Female rufous hummingbird on hummingbird mint (Agastache rupestris 'Acapulco Orange') in my Boise garden My garden right now is a sensory feast. This morning, I cut the peppermint back from the [...]
At Night, Finding Solace in the Garden
This week I have been mourning the passing of a friend who lost her battle with cancer. On learning the news yesterday evening, I went out into my garden and [...]
Canning for Ultra-Beginners
Refrigerator pickles: my first solo canning project I’m by no means a whiz in the kitchen, and honestly, I prefer to eat my garden veggies raw when possible. [...]
Planting for Hummingbirds
A hummingbird visits a patch of sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris) in my courtyard garden. One of the big perks of moving to the west has been an increase [...]