Articles by Jules Ivan Garay

From Seeds to Savings

From Seeds to Savings

Gardening is something I always admired from a distance—largely because I had a knack for turning green things brown. Once, I even managed to kill a cactus. Despite my lack  
Green Thumbs and Family Ties

Green Thumbs and Family Ties

My Italian mother-in-law, more feisty than a jalapeño and as mellow as honey, sat in the shade of the pergola in full bloom and shouted at me. "Why do they  
Lydia’s Marigold Mission

Lydia’s Marigold Mission

Every Spring, Lydia eagerly anticipated her favorite gardening ritual: starting her marigold seeds. In late March, she would gather 10 small pots and fill them with a fragrant mix of  
The Mystical Garden Chronicles

The Mystical Garden Chronicles

One year, I am sorry to report, the females in my family backed into the sides of our garage on three separate occasions, causing damage not only to car doors  
The Seventh Fish

The Seventh Fish

In the world of Ardagh Eco-Gardens, 2019 will forever be remembered as the Summer of the pond. My gardening-obsessed husband, Brendan, decided it was high time to fulfill his long-desired  
From Irish to Italian: A Culinary Love Story

From Irish to Italian: A Culinary Love Story

Growing up in a 100 percent first-generation Irish household, my mother's idea of spaghetti sauce was simple: three cans of Contadina paste mixed with water and a packet of "Spatini"  
The Old Watering Can

The Old Watering Can

In ratty flannel shirts and stained jeans, my mother would patrol the perimeter of her little garden, beaming with undivided pride and happiness. She would bend down, plucking weeds and  
Why Am I an Onion, Why Not a Tomato?

Why Am I an Onion, Why Not a Tomato?

In the lush, green expanse of Mrs. Green's garden, rows of vegetables stood tall and proud. The tomatoes, with their vibrant red fruit, gleamed in the sunlight, while the onions,  
Max, Mia, and the Mischief of Sunflowers

Max, Mia, and the Mischief of Sunflowers

One bright afternoon, my daughter Mia and I embarked on what we thought would be a straightforward mission: planting sunflowers. Armed with a packet of seeds, a couple of trowels,