Welcome to August, when the Summer sun is in full force and the garden is bursting with color, flavor, and surprises. This is the time when harvests hit their peak, weeds test your patience, and your sunhat becomes a daily necessity. Whether you're picking tomatoes straight from the vine, battling squash bugs, or simply admiring the beauty of late-Summer blooms, August offers a little bit of everything.  READ MORE 

When you think about what Americans eat the most, images of cheeseburgers and soda might come to mind—but hold on to your harvest basket! The real heavy hitters in the American diet are fruits and vegetables, and they show up in the most delightful (and often surprising) ways.  READ MORE 

Every summer brings that familiar itch to identify every bloom I spot and mentally catalog them for next year's garden expansion. Maybe you do the same?   READ MORE 

Let’s talk about plant names. It turns out that there’s a lot more to them than just daisy or dandelion or tomato. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet’s most-quoted line is, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” She meant that names are irrelevant.  READ MORE 

The best sweet corn I ever grew was in my very first or second real garden (I don't remember if I grew sweet corn that first year, but definitely at least by the second. Maybe the first. I dunno. What you think? [And have you seen my ginkgo?]).  READ MORE 

You’ve likely tossed a tomato slice on a sandwich or simmered them into a sauce. But have you ever stopped to think about how this vibrant red fruit—yes, fruit!—might be doing much more than just adding flavor to your meals?  READ MORE 

One year my children came home from summer camp excited about tie-dyeing. Although I was, of course, delighted that they had learned a craft and wanted to spend their time creatively, by the time it was all over my feelings were mixed. It's one thing to have happy children make lovely things in a large space far away from home.  READ MORE 

"Let's open up the bidding at 800. Who'll give me 8? gimme 8, gimme 8. C'mon, look at that udder, fellas. Looks like milk in the ring. 800. 8 and 1-half, now half, now half. 75. 75. 75 now 9! Lot of power in this cow. There's a can a day in this one. 9. Gimme 9."  READ MORE 

There’s something about August that feels like the garden’s grand finale before Fall starts tapping on the shoulder. It's hot, a little chaotic, and honestly, I’m never quite sure if I’m winning or losing the battle with the weeds. But every year, like clockwork, I dive into the madness with my trusty sun hat, a half-full watering can, and the kind of determination usually reserved for Olympic athletes.  READ MORE 

Let’s be honest: when a home gardener plucks that first vine-ripened beefsteak tomato, it’s not just a harvest—it’s an event. Whether it’s destined for a classic BLT, a Caprese salad, or a juicy burger topping, there’s something momentous about slicing into a beefsteak. The weight in your hand.  READ MORE 

Before its magic was sprinkled on pizza and pasta, oregano was the pride of the Mediterranean. Ancient Greeks believed it was a gift from Aphrodite herself, the goddess of love and beauty. They crowned newlyweds with oregano garlands, convinced it brought joy and peace.  READ MORE 

Once upon a time—well, more like the early 1800s—a curious, barefoot man wearing a tin pot on his head wandered across the American frontier, tossing apple seeds with joyful abandon. His name? John Chapman, better known to us all as Johnny Appleseed.  READ MORE 

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 of gardening skills, my mother’s lush flower beds and vibrant vegetable garden always fascinated me.  READ MORE 

They say beans are the "musical fruit," and well, we all know how that tune goes. Who could forget the iconic “Blazing Saddles” campfire scene where a group of cowboys turns a simple bean meal into an impromptu orchestra?  READ MORE 

Early every Spring, Dad would drive my Uncle Clarence to the Red Mile racetrack to collect a trunkload of manure. Clarence didn’t live out in the country. He was smack in the middle of a Lexington subdivision, so his neighbors weren’t enthused about the smell. But Clarence cared little for the regard of his neighbors. They were a nuisance to be endured.  READ MORE 

One fine morning, I was on a mission, banana peel in hand, ready to toss it into the compost box. Simple enough, right? But as fate would have it, a few wet grass clippings decided to hitch a ride on my shoe. Suddenly, my quick trip turned into a full-scale garden inspection.  READ MORE 

When I was 10 years old, television was still a novelty in our home. Our family delighted in the weekly viewing of “The Jimmy Durante Show”, with its catchy signature tune, “Inka Dinka Doo.”   READ MORE 

Nearly every plant in the garden reveals evidence of bees. Honeybees, long-horned bees, and cranky wasps walk across the faces of sunflowers. Semicircle-shaped holes in leaves indicate that a leafcutter bee built a nest nearby. Later, I watch her wiggle her bottom, collecting pollen from sweet peas in the hair that lines the underside of her torso.   READ MORE 

They say people and their dogs tend to resemble each other, sharing not just looks but quirky traits and habits, too. A stroll through the dog park often makes you wonder, "Who’s paired with that goofy golden retriever splashing in the puddle? And who’s the match for that serious-minded, steady bullmastiff?"  READ MORE 

My birdbath is like the hot new spa in town. Every day, it's packed with birds splashing, chirping, and fluffing their feathers in what can only be described as "avian revelry." Naturally, I keep my binoculars at the ready on the kitchen counter, not wanting to miss any of the action.  READ MORE 

“How will you grow a garden and take care of two little children?” my mother asked, just days before I gave birth to my second child. It was a fair question, especially since my parents had juggled raising three kids, full-time jobs, and a sprawling, grassy backyard.   READ MORE 

I heard them before I saw her—my mother’s determined size-five footsteps slapping across the kitchen linoleum. I already knew she’d be wearing her red-and-white kerchief, tied with military precision. She stopped at the top of the double steps and struck her signature power pose, hands planted firmly on her hips, waiting for us to acknowledge her.  READ MORE 

If you’ve ever caught yourself talking to your tomato plants or throwing a garden party in honor of your first bell pepper harvest, then Top Ten Plants We Love is your kind of story collection. These are not just tales of seeds and soil—they’re heartfelt, humorous, and wholly relatable tributes to the plants that have worked their way into our gardens and our lives.  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel   Listen Now: Greetings, dear readers! As I explore the culinary wonders within these pages, I'm transported to the vineyards of Italy, the aromatic kitchens of Tuscany, and the flavorful cliffs of the south. Join me on a whimsical journey across this enchanting country where recipes unfold like chapters,…  READ MORE 

Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Italy, where vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see, and nonnas ruled the kitchen with wooden spoons as scepters, the tale of Italian Wedding Soup was born.  READ MORE 

The sun hung low in the Tuscan sky, casting a warm golden glow over the sprawling landscape. Nestled among the rolling hills was Il Giardino Segreto, an enchanting Italian country-style restaurant renowned for its commitment to farm-to-table dining.  READ MORE 

As the golden sun began its gentle ascent over the cliffs of Positano, casting a warm glow on the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, I found myself perched on the terrace of a charming hotel.  READ MORE 

Once upon a time, in the heart of Tuscany, I found myself falling head over heels for a dish that seemed to be chasing me across continents.  READ MORE 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the cliffs and the sparkling Mediterranean below, I found myself winding along the narrow roads of southern Italy.  READ MORE