January settles over the garden like a deep, peaceful breath. The beds lie quietly beneath their blanket of snow or Winter mulch, the trees stand bare and unhurried, and even the most enthusiastic perennials retreat into stillness. It’s a month when the garden asks nothing of us except to pause. And yet, in this gentle dormancy, something comforting stirs—a reminder that rest is not an ending but a necessary beginning.   READ MORE 

Every January I start seeds in my laundry-room window while the thermometer outside pretends it’s the North Pole. My 2026 resolution is to add a cold frame so I can harden off seedlings earlier and give my pollinator plants—coneflowers, bee balm, and milkweed—a jump-start.  READ MORE 

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive elbow-deep into the soil, because we're about to embark on a veggie adventure like no other! Picture this: your garden, a thriving utopia where tomatoes tower like skyscrapers and carrots sparkle like buried treasure.  READ MORE 

Think about this much and it’s a downright creepy question. I mean, consider what we do to plants. We prune them, mow them, cage them, tie them to poles and fences, pick parts of them and eat them, and uproot them and toss them on the compost pile.  READ MORE 

Before I get to this week’s Exciting Episode, I have to brag about my tomatoes. Almost everyone I spoke with said that this past year’s tomato harvest was awful. Mine was so good I had to go down into the basement.  READ MORE 

Heavens to Betsy! Eat your Brussels sprouts!” my mother would demand. “You don’t want to fall behind other kids while growing up, do you?” The implication was that not eating the green vegetables kids make sour faces at could stunt your growth!  READ MORE 

My poinsettia is cheerily blooming at last, its tissue-paper white and red contrasting nicely with the green June grass. So what if it’s 80° in the shade, and there are geraniums (also red and white) in full bloom next to it?  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel   Listen Now: hey say every gardener should keep a detailed record book. I don’t. If I did and anyone looked into it for the month of February and March, I’m afraid they’d title it, “The Confessions of a Serial Seedling Killer.” I imagine the courtroom where I’d be…  READ MORE 

January settles over the world like a heavy wool blanket, muffling sound and slowing time. This morning, the snow is falling again in that steady, unbothered way that makes everything feel suspended—gentle, quiet, and somehow expectant.  READ MORE 

When Gail and I arrived at Alexandro’s farm in the rolling hills of Tuscany, we were greeted not by a basket of wine or a wheel of cheese, but by a bouquet of herbs so fragrant it felt as if the entire countryside had leaned in to say “Benvenuti!”  READ MORE 

Gail and I had the pleasure of going to an olive-oil tasting on a recent trip to Tuscany, and let me tell you—what we thought we knew about olive oil barely scratched the surface. Our guide welcomed us with rows of cobalt-blue cups (Apparently, blue glass keeps you from judging oil by color alone.)   READ MORE 

It happened on a sun-dappled afternoon in the Tuscan countryside. Gail and I had stopped for lunch at a small farmhouse trattoria perched on a hillside surrounded by rows of olive trees and orderly gardens bursting with Spring vegetables.   READ MORE 

It was a cold January day when I stumbled upon the “Winter Blues Cure” series—free gardening workshops at my local nursery. As soon as I mentioned it to my 8-year-old daughter, Tanna, her eyes sparkled with excitement. We signed up for the first session on growing roses, and that Saturday, bundled up in our warmest coats, we set off for an adventure.  READ MORE 

Sustainability has always been close to my heart, and my garden reflects this passion. What started as a small experiment—repurposing plastic waste into pots for growing herbs and medicinal plants—has blossomed into a fulfilling and eco-friendly venture.  READ MORE 

When I graduated with a broadcasting degree in 1970, life took an unexpected detour. An all-expenses-paid trip to the Vietnam War wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned, but by 1972, I returned home, determined to find my way. Unfortunately, the broadcasting world wasn’t impressed by my resume of farming, storytelling, and serving as an Army medic.  READ MORE 

“On Meadowview Street,” a charming children’s book, is about Caroline’s family moving into a neighborhood devoid of meadows. Undeterred, Caroline plants wildflowers that eventually take over the lawn, prompting her dad to sell his power mower.  READ MORE 

Garden journaling is best left to gardeners who are far more methodical than I. I’m sure the meticulous records they keep serve some practical purpose, but I can’t imagine how I’d use them. Sure, I forget where I’ve planted bulbs—who doesn’t? And yes, I lose track of color schemes and plant pairings.  READ MORE 

“Mom, did you really get Sister’s permission for us to take a day off school?” Six curious voices filled the chilly pre-dawn air as we piled into the car, clutching our scarves and mittens. It was 1961, and our mother had handwritten six notes to our teachers, plus one to the principal.   READ MORE 

Long, long ago—thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of years ago—dandelions were known to be sacred and magical. The first humans on Mother Earth called them the “universe flower” because of their remarkable resemblance to celestial wonders. In bloom, they shone as bright as the sun.  READ MORE 

I’d been feeling a little blue, and losing the lucky frog didn’t help. It happened when I cleaned out the bird bath. The lucky frog sits on a broken paver in the middle of the bird bath, and I’d set it down or dropped it somewhere when I scrubbed the green slime from inside the bath, switching out the paver for a fresh stone for the birds to perch on.  READ MORE 

I'm excited to share with you the joys and wonders of raised bed gardening, a technique that has been a game-changer for countless green thumbs across America. Now, I must confess, this article is not just about the nitty-gritty of soil and bed construction.  READ MORE 

Welcome to "Garden to Table Journeys: Southern Garden to Table Recipe Collection." This collection is more than just a compilation of recipes; it's a generational American experience passed down through the Nicholas family.   READ MORE 

Once upon a time in the heart of California, there lived a culinary wizard named Nick. Born in the South, he had brought the soul of Southern cuisine to the West Coast, where he opened his own restaurant. Legend had it that Nick possessed a secret recipe for Southern fried chicken that could outshine even the mighty Colonel Sanders' creations.   READ MORE 

Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Kentucky and the heartland of Tennessee, there lived a family with a passion for cornbread. This family, known for their love of spice and all things Southern, traced their culinary roots back to the Native Americans who first introduced them to the magic of corn.  READ MORE 

Now, there are some folks who think that once the chicken is done, the cast-iron skillet is ready to be cleaned. Not my southern chef of a father. Oh no, the story doesn't end with the crispy perfection of the chicken. It merely takes an intermission before the grand finale – Nick's Fried Chicken Gravy.  READ MORE 

Once upon a time, in the heart of Houston, Texas, I found myself in a new office building, surrounded by the tantalizing aromas of southern cuisine. Despite growing up with southern-rooted parents and a chef for a father, I had somehow missed out on the culinary delight that is black-eyed peas.   READ MORE 

Once upon a sun-drenched day in the heart of California, our lucky gardener and culinary enthusiast inherited a cherished family recipe – the classic southern macaroni and cheese. However, being the creative soul that he is, our hero decided to elevate this comfort food to a new level of freshness and flavor.   READ MORE 

Once upon a time in the heart of the Sacramento Valley, there was a garden that could rival the most enchanting stories of abundance and flavor. This was my father's garden, a patch of earthly delight where the sun seemed to linger a little longer, and the soil cradled the promise of culinary magic.  READ MORE