Like a lot of you, my tomatoes and peppers are slow to ripen this year. The cause? Smoke from wildfires. The atmosphere may not look smoky, but the UV blocking layer is several ...
Blog
What’s that white stuff on my plants?
Let’s talk about garden phlox (P. paniculata), toadlily (Tricyrtis spp.), hardy mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), and bee balm (Monarda spp.) What do these perennials have in common this ...
Is that plant real or is it AI?
When I look at images (formerly known as photos) on social media, I wonder if what I’m seeing are the real things or are they artificial intelligence, or AI as it’s referred to ...
Avoid heat illness
Gardeners need to be mindful of the various stages of heat illness. Our bodies need to maintain and regulate certain temperatures and when it gets too hot, our health is at risk. ...
Aphids on plants and what to do about them
In a quick read of my emails and many gardening social media sites, you’ll see dozens of references to aphids on plants in the Indiana landscape. Aphids have appeared on many ...
The Working Hungry need more than food
If you’re like me, you probably thought the only thing people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from just needed access to food. That is not wrong, but it’s not ...
Is my plant dead or alive: April’s big reveal
The onset of Winter 2022 delivered a holiday surprise few gardeners embrace – a quick drop in temperatures after a slow, mild fall. A lot of the damage to plants is showing ...
Nine trees and shrubs that bees like best
We always think of perennials and annuals when it comes to supporting bees and other pollinators. But trees and shrubs have a role to play, too. Thanks to the good work at the ...
Dos and don’ts of mulching
It’s March, so let’s talk about mulch madness. There’s a tiny bit of controversy among some gardeners about whether to cover the soil with wood products, fueled by the thinking ...
How knowing 14 garden terms can help you grow
Just the other day, someone on a Facebook gardening page mentioned she was hardening off her seedlings on warm, cloudy days. Another person asked what hardening off ...