Practical advice & moral support for the small-scale gardener
Mid-May is a great time to stand back and admire the progress our gardens have made since the start of spring, even if it hasn’t felt like spring. The month kicked off with a week of rain and highs in the 50s! On my balcony and around the region, many plants are behind schedule due…
I know I sound crazy. Spring has barely sprung and I’m already suggesting you plan your fall garden? Listen, I’m not advocating against being present for the miracle that is springtime. On the contrary, we should all revel in it! But just as we take steps in the autumn months to prepare for spring (like…
Happy Vernal Equinox! This has been a historically wet and chilly winter in the Bay Area, and it looks like more clouds and showers are in store. But, at least I know that from tomorrow, March 20 until the summer solstice, every day will be longer than the last. I never fully appreciated spring until I started appreciating plants;…
My first attempt last year at growing spring bulbs in a pot failed miserably. I purchased ten tulip bulbs from the hardware store, dutifully followed instructions (or so I thought), and they all withered and died almost as soon as they’d sprouted. What did I do wrong? I had a few theories and tried to…
When you’re gardening in a small space, it can be tempting to buy all your colorful annuals at the nursery. After all, you don’t need a huge quantity and the pretty store-bought plants offer instant gratification. I get it! I love shopping for plants and am all for indulging in the occasional nursery splurge if…