Embrace the return of summer
I don’t know if there is anything more glorious than the early days of summer. This year, this summer, feels particularly sweet, especially after over a year of navigating a worldwide pandemic that turned our world upside-down. Summer has always been my favorite...
Oak Leaf Hydrangea perfect for region
Oakleaf Hydrangeas are beautiful native shrubs that thrive in full sun to part shade and rich, slightly acidic, moist but well drained soils found in many Mid-Shore gardens. There are some varieties that can grow up to 10-12 feet tall to form wonderful summer privacy...
Don’t be a stranger to your garden
June can be a busy month in the garden. Dry weather brings the need to water plants more. Wet weather brings scouting tasks for disease and other pests. Plants need to be fed to keep growing and that lawn just won’t quit, either. Whatever the conditions, there is...
Look. … Lift. … Turn!
Sizzling Meals Made for Summer
Dogwood trees worth the extra work
Dogwood trees can at times feel like caring for a young child. A favorite of Southerners, the trees are a bit picky about where they’re put, getting cranky in too much sun, moisture or dryness or when their environment changes quickly. But their inspiring beauty and...
Try tomatoes that don’t bite back
The second Sunday in May is set aside for celebrating moms, grandmoms, and others who have lovingly nurtured us. But it also marks the unofficial start of outdoor planting season for gardeners who’ve lovingly tended tomato plants...
Brothers are history detectors
If you have ever spotted someone ambling along in a field, slowly swinging a metal detector to and fro with each careful step, and wondered, “What could they possibly be finding out there?”, the answer might surprise you. The Mid-Shore is rife with history and...
Plant pairing sites prepare combo platter
As a former editor of The Mid-Atlantic Grower newspaper for horticulture and a garden club member, I get lots of e-mails about gardening. Recently an e-mail from Proven Winners announced the launch of a new, free “Perfect Plant Pairings” tool which was developed to...
Growing ‘forgotten fruit’
If you could choose any fruit tree to grow, which would you pick?. Today’s iconic standby, the apple, would likely be the most popular answer. But some area growers with a taste for adventure are branching out, helping to carve a new niche for forgotten native...
