Is there anything quite like July in the garden? Everything is just a little wild and unruly as the plants soak in the full glory of the summer sun. You never know what you're going to get each day. Will it be in the 90s and so blisteringly hot that you're popping up umbrellas to protect your garden? Or will it be a day of rain that the plant roots thirstily drink in with a little smile of satisfaction?  READ MORE 

If you’ve noticed more zucchinis than usual showing up on your neighbor’s doorstep lately, you’re not alone—and you’re witnessing something wonderful.  READ MORE 

Let me tell you a secret about how I accidentally became a flower person. For years, I was strictly a vegetable gardener - the kind who smugly insisted that if you couldn’t eat it, why bother growing it? Marigolds in the tomato bed? Sure, they keep pests away. Nasturtiums? Edible flowers, totally counts.   READ MORE 

Two years ago this month, Randy-my husband-and I bought my grandfather's house. The house is in northern Vermont, on the shores of Lake Champlain, within spitting distance of Canada: driving north, you take the last exit before the border.  READ MORE 

Shortly after we decided to stop being city mice and moved to our rural location, we quickly attempted to learn about mysteries like “septic tanks,” “deep and shallow wells,” and “What do you mean, there’s no sewer??!”  READ MORE 

In the 1930s, thanks to a misplaced decimal point in a scientific paper, spinach was erroneously believed to contain 10 times more iron than it actually did. Enter Popeye, with his spinach-fueled biceps and can-crushing forearms, and suddenly this humble leafy green was elevated to superhero status.  READ MORE 

There is an assumption amongst gardeners that Spring was really created either by us or (at the least) for us. Others might have a vague appreciation of it-they do ordinary things like falling in love, cleaning their houses, getting new wardrobes-but unless you're out there digging and raking, sniffing the soil, frantically planting and admiring, you're not really in tune with it all.  READ MORE 

The other week I helped my sister move from Paris, Virginia to Atlanta, Georgia, from a rural farm to a small white house in the city. Not just any urban house, the one my parents lived in, the one that has stood empty since they died.  READ MORE 

Every July, my garden transforms from a neat little patch of soil into a glorious, sun-drenched jungle. It’s as if my plants throw a party the moment I turn my back—vines cartwheel over the trellis, sunflowers grow tall enough to apply for their own zip codes, and tomatoes ripen faster than I can say “caprese.”  READ MORE 

It was a Sunday morning in the early 1980s, and I had swung by my dad’s house as I often did on the weekends. He was semi-retired by then, having stepped back from the whirlwind life of a full-time professional chef. But make no mistake—Dad hadn’t lost his edge.   READ MORE 

If herbs were characters at a garden party, chives would be the witty guest with a subtle flair—never the loudest in the room, but always the one everyone remembers. With their bright green stalks and charming purple pom-pom flowers, chives bring elegance, flavor, and fun to both the garden and the kitchen.  READ MORE 

Yellow squash, also affectionately known as crookneck or straightneck squash, is the cheerful, sun-kissed cousin in the Summer squash family. Native to the Americas and cultivated by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, this vibrant veggie made its way into colonial gardens and has been a staple ever since.  READ MORE 

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, with their earthy brown skins, nestled humbly in the soil.  READ MORE 

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" spice. She'd fry up some hamburger and toss it in, and for years, we assumed this was how Italians dined every night. Meatballs? Never heard of them.  READ MORE 

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 dream of a wildlife garden pond. With a kitchen extension looming on the horizon, completing the pond before construction commenced became our top priority.   READ MORE 

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 and side mirrors but to the structure as well. In our defense, we had recently moved from a house with a generous carport to a new residence with narrow garage bays.   READ MORE 

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 call it a 'green thumb'? What does it mean?"  READ MORE 

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 gushing over the latest sprout. That little garden was her baby, her grandest treasure.  READ MORE 

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 soil and compost. She loved pressing the soft, damp soil with her fingers and making a small hole in each pot.   READ MORE 

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, and an overabundance of ambition, we dug into the soil, imagining a parade of sunflowers standing tall and proud, saluting us with their golden faces. Simple, right?  READ MORE 

If you’re looking to transform your garden into a vibrant, living ecosystem—and have a whole lot of fun doing it—Pollinator Gardening in America is the essential guidebook you didn’t know you needed.   READ MORE 

Ah, the warmth of summer in New England—a time when the air carries the scent of adventure and the promise of culinary delights. As the executive publisher of the GreenPrints Garden Club, I find myself enveloped in the joy and gratitude that this season brings.  READ MORE 

Once upon a time in the land of perpetual sunshine, a Californian soul embarked on a culinary adventure, seeking the epitome of East Coast bliss—the perfect lobster roll. Born and raised on the West Coast, and having embraced the salty air of New England for almost four decades, the quest for the ultimate lobster roll had become a delicious obsession.  READ MORE 

Let me take you on a delightful journey into the world of homemade Cape Cod potato chips. It all started when I moved to New England, and the idea of crafting my own crispy, golden chips became an unexpected adventure in my kitchen.  READ MORE 

As a Californian, my culinary journey often revolved around avocados, tacos, and the abundance of fresh produce available year-round. Little did I know that a visit to the charming island of Nantucket would introduce me to a centuries-old New England native dish that would forever change my perception of corn—the delightful and refreshing corn salad.  READ MORE 

On a sunny Summer day, the air filled with the salty breeze from Buzzards Bay, my wife Gail and I embarked on our ritual journey back from the Kingman marina, our trunk laden with the treasures of the sea. Lobsters, clams, and the promise of a seafood-powered Sunday feast for both of us and our lucky neighbors.  READ MORE 

Once upon a sun-kissed Summer, in our family kitchen, my father, a culinary maestro, unveiled his masterpiece–a dessert that embodied the essence of the season. With fresh strawberries straight from our strawberry patch and a dollop of culinary magic, he crafted a dish that would leave an indelible mark on our taste buds.  READ MORE