This year was my first to grow potatoes, and I started thinking about grains. Is it possible to grow grains in your own city yard? …
Seasons
Dividing Peonies
Fall is the best time to divide peonies. Sept/Oct actually, but I got to these this past week. It should be plenty of time for …
Happy Halloween!
This is the forest pumpkin and below is the kitty pumpkin. Both are from a farm stand in Wisconsin. I saved a few seeds to …
Mums
Mums are a fall classic, little puff balls of color, but they don’t necessarily need to be purchased every year. To keep them around year …
Parasitic Wasp Kills a Cutworm
Looks like we had a pest and a parasitic wasp laid eggs on him and killed him. Ahhhh nature, kinda gross.
Let the Birds Forage
The first frost hasn’t come yet, and with today’s temperature in the 60s, the garden is still blooming and producing. Instead of deadheading this last …
Drying Herbs
Drying herbs is easy! Tender Herbs Pick tender herbs like basil, oregano, mint, and lemon balm with a gentle hand as to not bruise the …
List of To-Dos Before the First Frost
It seems the cold is on its way to Chicago with a pretty low temperature Thursday night of about 36 degrees. Cut a nice bouquet …
Full Moon and Gardening
Just as the moon pulls on our oceans, it also effects our soil. Some may consider phases of the moon and gardening to be folklore, …
Cardinal Climber or Cypress Vine
This little vine, Ipomoea quamoclit, is related to morning glory. In our zone 5 Chicago garden, it has reseeded itself from last year, and I …