Basil: The Season of All Seasons
Once a symbol of death and mourning in ancient Greece, a means of wedding engagement in Romania, a holistic remedy around the world, this spicy herb has earned its global reputation as king of the herb garden. And it’s delicious. Garnished atop pasta, the star ingredient in pesto, and a spicy treat for marinades, it would be an injustice not to enjoy its almighty flavors year-round. Here's how:
The Country Gentleman
No Leaf Left Behind: 7 Yard-Prepping Tips for the Season
As the growing season comes to a close, there are still a few more chores that call the gardener to action. Mowing, watering, pruning, and cleaning continue to beckon. But it’s important to prepare your yard for the upcoming season. Here are seven ways to make sure your yard doesn't "fall" apart.
Composting: What Every Gardener Should Know
Autumn frosts usually means lots of clean up around the yard and garden. Why not turn that yard waste into treasure?
Picking the Pumpkin
Johnny wants a jack-o'-lantern; Mama wants a pie. Here's how to pick and preserve the perfect pumpkins for your fall festivities.
Fall Family Gardens
Fall has arrived, and the kids are back in school. What better time to provide your children or grandchildren with a lesson in edible fall gardens. The whole family will enjoy planting (and eventually eating) fresh vegetables from your own backyard.
Following the Sun
At this time of year, sunflowers are at their most glorious, crowning gardens with colors ranging from pale yellow to red, bronze, burgundy, chestnut, mahogany, and white. Sunflower growers now have some 2,000 varieties to choose from, from the tallest to the newer dwarf varieties such as Sunspot and Teddy Bear that grow approximately 12 to 18 inches.
The New Fishing: Hook, Line, and Sonar
Fishing has changed monumentally since the days when standard fare was a bamboo pole with a worm-baited line tossed into the water, “a jerk on one end of the line waiting for a jerk on the other,” as the sport has been playfully described.
Notes from the Field
Anyone with a green thumb knows that mulching your beds is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy garden. An eco-friendly (and dollar-savvy) way to do so is to mulch with autumn leaves such as oak and maple.
Build a Classic Border Fence
This decorative garden element constructed from treated lumber can serve as a handsome backdrop for a flower border, a trellis for vining plants like honeysuckle or clematis, or a screen from unsightly objects. Each 8-foot, 10-inch section stands 6 feet 8 inches high. Add as many sections as you need to line a border or to define part of a patio or secret garden. The distinctive tops on the posts are easily cut using a circular saw.
Everlasting Flowers
Flowers are out in force in late summer and fall, and this is the perfect time to preserve some of that color and beauty to brighten your home in winter.
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