August settles into the garden like an old friend who no longer feels the need to knock. By now, we know each other well. I know which tomato plants need an extra stake, which cucumber vine is hiding fruit just out of sight, and exactly where the chipmunk thinks he's getting away with nibbling my beans. The garden, in turn, seems to know me, greeting me each morning with another handful of surprises  READ MORE 

If you’ve bought tomatoes lately, you may have noticed something alarming happening in the produce aisle. The humble tomato — once the dependable sidekick of salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta sauces, and BLTs — has suddenly become a bit of a luxury item.  READ MORE 

I've always found joy in the rhythms of the seasons. While some may think gardening is a summer affair, those in the know understand that the fun doesn’t stop when the temperatures start to cool.   READ MORE 

In a glass case in Hatfield House, England, is a pair of garden gloves worn by Queen Elizabeth I. The gloves are made of cream-yellow leather; the wrists are finished with embroidered gauntlets, and the knuckles are set with tiny mirrors, which must have made the queen sparkle in the sun as she strolled among her hedges.   READ MORE 

It was driving us crazy—an extremely narsty odor that seemed to be on the move—first from place to place in the dining room and then from room to room. Inspection of nearby wastebaskets confirmed that the kids had not repeated their Louis Pasteur homage of covering overripe peach leavings and organic chicken dog casings  READ MORE 

If there were an award for the most refreshing vegetable in the garden, the cucumber would win hands down. Crisp, cool, and incredibly satisfying on a hot Summer afternoon, cucumbers have earned a permanent place in salads, sandwiches, pickles, and pitchers of ice water.   READ MORE 

Being British by birth (though now Pennsylvanian by marriage), every Summer afternoon I take a garden tea—on our screened porch. The air may be steamy, but it is a drowsily beautiful place. From there I can not only watch the bees, but hear them  READ MORE 

I recently read a label on a box of naturally decaffeinated teabags explaining that, unlike some decaffeinated tea, this brand “naturally removes caffeine by using ingredients found in nature.”  READ MORE 

By August, I like to pretend that I am still in charge of my garden. This is adorable. Back in May, I walked outside with my packets of seeds, my carefully drawn garden map, and the confidence of someone who truly believed plants would respect boundaries. The tomatoes would grow here. The cucumbers would neatly climb there.   READ MORE 

There are certain gardening realities that arrive every August like clockwork. Tomatoes begin stacking up on kitchen counters. Zucchini mysteriously multiplies overnight. And somewhere across America, gardeners stand in their backyards staring at enormous watermelons thinking: “What exactly was I planning to do with all of these?”  READ MORE 

There are some plants that become part of your personal history whether you plan for it or not. For me, mums have followed me through life like cheerful old friends who always knew when to arrive.  READ MORE 

Every August, somewhere between harvesting tomatoes and wondering what on earth I’m going to do with another zucchini, I begin thinking about Thanksgiving stuffing. Not just the stuffing itself — although I do admit to having strong opinions on sage, thyme, and rosemary proportions   READ MORE 

My grandparents were master composters before compost was cool. Grandma would sprinkle coffee grounds around her flowers and declare, “Coffee makes the flowers sing, dearie.” Grandpa, never one to be outdone, would wink and say, “And the worms love it, too. Just don’t take all of ‘em when you’re digging for fish bait—we’ve got plant roots to protect.”  READ MORE 

The early dawn carried a Spring chill, mist still drifting over the creek as I stepped into my wellies and went to water in a few transplants for a new flower bed. The bed sloped toward a shallow ditch, the perfect spot for flowers to tame a patch of weeds I had never been able to mow.  READ MORE 

I found them on a Sunday. The kitchen felt hollow without her presence, the house thick with the scent of dust and lingering memories. I had come to tidy up, to sort through what remained. Then I opened the pantry.  READ MORE 

They were calling. Oh yes, they were! The bell peppers out in the garden were practically screaming to come inside. Their red siblings, growing plump and content in hydroponic tanks, were safe from the relentless Louisiana heat and humidity.   READ MORE 

Maria thought she was just planting sunflowers. She didn’t realize she was planting a lesson. When she and her six-year-old son, Ben, moved into their small rental house, she needed something steady in her life—something that would grow exactly the way it was supposed to. So, she turned to the one thing that had always followed the rules: seeds.  READ MORE 

“Kathy,” I whispered into the receiver, “please stay on the phone with me. Someone is looking through the living room window—and I’m all alone.” Flat on my belly, I inched across the floor like I was auditioning for a spy movie. With every heartbeat thudding in my ears, I feared the front door had been left unlocked in my parents’ haste to leave.  READ MORE 

I have long been in love with The Gardener’s Year, that most beautiful of garden reads. (Indeed, I first ran an excerpt from it back in GP#4!) How odd its existence! The author was a Czechoslovakian playwright and science fiction writer—he invented the word “robot”!  READ MORE 

No more pesticide-laden food for us. That became our mantra when our first son was born. It was time to start a garden, grow our own earth-friendly food, and cook everything from scratch.   READ MORE 

I bought two flats of ice plant today. Ice plant was a sensible choice. Extremely drought-and salt-tolerant, it thrives in the poorest soil, forming a ground-hugging mat of succulent foliage covered with fringed flowers.  READ MORE 

As a parent of five children, I have become accustomed to settling arguments. Teaching Carla (13), Michelle (12), Christopher (10), Shawn (8), and Norma (5) how to work out disputes has been an ongoing battle.  READ MORE 

The Blossoms & Blunders: 31 Absurdly Funny Gardening Tales Story Collection is a carefully curated bouquet of the best-of-the-worst gardening humor.   READ MORE 

One of my favorite things about Summer is that it gives us every excuse to slow down, gather with friends and family, and enjoy something cool in hand. Whether you're relaxing on the porch after tending the garden, hosting a backyard barbecue, lounging by the pool, or simply escaping the afternoon heat  READ MORE 

The Blackberry-Thyme Sparkler came to life during one of my experimental evenings with our Berry-Basil Puree. I had this gorgeous batch of blackberries that were almost too pretty to blend, but I'm so glad I did! The way they work with the thyme creates this sophisticated drink that's worlds away from your typical fruity mocktail.  READ MORE 

You haven't lived until you've tried making your own Cucumber-Lime Refresher! I stumbled upon this combination while experimenting in my kitchen one hot afternoon, and now I can't imagine my summer drink collection without it. There's something absolutely magical about the way cucumber and lime play together  READ MORE 

Fresh homemade lemonade just sings of summer. In the U.S., we most often serve it plain, or with a fruit garnish such as strawberries or raspberries. But in many other cultures, they make lemonade even more refreshing by adding herbs such as dill, mint, rosemary, or a combination.  READ MORE 

As spring days warm toward summer, my thoughts often turn to fresh-squeezed lemonade. I’ve been growing a Meyer lemon tree indoors with plenty of TLC. Once I have a few ripe lemons, I think I’ll make a pitcher of this luscious lavender lemonade with ingredients fresh from my garden.  READ MORE 

Strawberries are one of the most luscious fruits of summer. They’re sweet and juicy, with a delicate red flesh that is perfectly suited for eating raw. Strawberries also make excellent drinks, particularly in cocktails. Since they are so delicious raw, it’s not hard to find ways to use strawberries in drinks when they are in season - especially this alcoholic Strawberry Cordial recipe.  READ MORE 

Get ready for the most refreshing drink you'll ever make - Watermelon-Mint Juice! Every summer, when those huge watermelons start showing up at the farmers' market, I can't wait to whip up a batch. There's something almost magical about transforming a big chunk of watermelon into this gorgeous pink elixir that just screams "perfect summer day."  READ MORE