June in the garden feels a bit like falling in love with the world all over again. The frantic seed-starting days of Spring have softened into something slower, greener, and wonderfully alive. Every morning, I wander outside with my coffee “just to check on things,” only to lose myself among the climbing beans, swelling tomatoes, and sunflowers that seem to grow an inch overnight.  READ MORE 

There’s a moment in every June garden when things shift. It’s subtle at first—a flicker of movement near a squash blossom, the low hum of a bee that seems just a little more purposeful than it did in May. Then suddenly, almost overnight, your garden is no longer just a garden.  READ MORE 

Let me tell you about my love affair with mulch—it's the unsung hero that transformed my garden from stressed to blessed!   READ MORE 

Last week, while driving home from the library at four o’clock in the afternoon, I blocked the driveway of our local Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant. I didn’t mean to block the Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant.  READ MORE 

This may or may not be my final column for GreenPrints, but it is the one where I owe you all the Great Reveal. I spent a lot of 2025 in and out of the hospital for what was originally termed pneumonia. Well, it turns out that pneumonia is generally not a primary diagnosis; it’s something that strikes when you’re already compromised. In my case the actual cause is emphysema, despite my never being a smoker.  READ MORE 

The phrase "like planting blueberries in the desert" is a curious expression that captures the essence of attempting the impossible, highlighting an act so quixotic and fruitless that it makes me laugh!  READ MORE 

My houseplants, like me, are longing to go out to the garden. When I brought them inside at the end of the Summer, they were green and lush, washed clean by Summer rain, nursed by the sun. The insects had the whole garden to eat and didn't seem interested in houseplants.   READ MORE 

Trowel out a hole … grab a root ball … set the plant in … tamp the dirt back in … water it all in … One. It’s a wet, cloudy evening. A soft mist condenses in the air. Perfect weather for transplanting—if I can beat traffic, rain, and darkness. Cramming the car in the garage, I rush past the house—dodging chores and children—and go straight to the garden.  READ MORE 

June is the month when my garden stops feeling like a hopeful idea and starts feeling alive. Every morning, before the coffee has fully worked its magic, I slip outside in my old garden shoes to make my rounds. The air is still cool, carrying the scent of damp soil, cut grass, and whatever flowers decided to open overnight.  READ MORE 

Growing up in Sacramento, dinner at our house began the same way for most of the year. Not predictably—but reliably. My father, a professional chef with a deep respect for fresh ingredients and a flair for making the ordinary feel special, would lead off the meal with a salad. And at the heart of that salad—night after night, season after season—was iceberg lettuce.  READ MORE 

Some plants you choose. Others seem to choose you. I was still a kid the first time I met a pomegranate tree, and I can tell you with complete honesty—I had no idea what I was looking at.  READ MORE 

A few small yellow tomato blossoms and perhaps one or two ripening tomatoes add warmth and promise, while the basil’s rich green leaves look abundant and aromatic. The lighting is warm and golden—late afternoon or early evening—casting a soft glow that enhances the sense of connection and harmony.  READ MORE 

Little Benjy couldn’t say “Benjy” yet. He called himself “Bee.” And before long, that’s what we all called him, too, until the day he decided that the real bees in the garden actually were his friends.  READ MORE 

“Do you see it, Nancy? Do you see it?” I whisper to my best friend in the passenger seat, our headlights dimmed to a quiet glow. It’s 3 a.m. on Route 123, and after eight hours on the road from Philly to Maine, we’re finally nearing our destination. But one beloved ritual must come first—the flower cart.  READ MORE 

It all started on a rainy day with low clouds outside and equally low emotions inside. I stood at the window with a warm cup of tea and muttered, “I wish I could bottle peace.”  READ MORE 

The first time I looked at my apartment’s small balcony, it felt like a nice enough place to park a folding chair and maybe a potted plant or two. It never struck me as fertile ground, figuratively or literally. But a few seasons later, that humble patch transformed into a lush, edible garden that supplies me with herbs, vegetables, and unexpected joy every single day.  READ MORE 

No, I’m not talking about that kind of evolution—you know, the apple tree, the serpent, the scandal. I’m talking about the kind of evolution that happens when you carve your home out of a pine forest and start from the humblest beginnings. I’m talking about dirt, sweat, and soul.  READ MORE 

I didn’t plan to keep the plant alive. It was a sickly thing—a tomato seedling in a peat pot, a “free gift” from a farmers market I hardly wanted to visit. My thumb wasn’t green; it was barely beige. Plants and I had an unspoken agreement: I didn’t mess with them, and they died quietly on their own terms.  READ MORE 

Young lady, take Grandpa out to the garden and let him tinker around out there,” my mother called from the basement laundry room.  READ MORE 

As an author, I often wonder what impact my years of research and writing will have. My wife has observed that it seems to take about 30 years for the world to see what I see.   READ MORE 

It all started with Iris. For some years now, I’d notice her each May—just one fan of leaves and two or three stalks of flowers, poking up amid the roadside weeds at the edge of a field near my home.  READ MORE 

I open my eyes to discover Bodie, the smaller of my two dogs, with his head on my pillow. I don’t move quickly enough to avoid his good-morning kiss, so I get puppy tongue up my nose.  READ MORE 

Once upon a time, there was an enchanted fairy garden in the middle of a glen. It was a place of dreams and wishes, entirely fabricated out of necessity.  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   When I was growing up in Sacramento, California, I thought every American kid had access to stuffed grape leaves, garlicky hummus, and flaky baklava just like they had peanut butter sandwiches. That’s because my dad—an endlessly creative and professionally trained chef—surrounded himself with friends from…  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   Greek antipasto is all about balance: the bright acidity of marinated vegetables, the saltiness of olives and feta, and the garden crunch of cucumbers and tomatoes. My father often assembled antipasto from whatever we had in the fridge and garden—making every version a unique, edible…  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   When I was a kid, I was fascinated by how these tiny leaf parcels held so much flavor. Watching my dad roll them with surgeon-like precision taught me the importance of care in cooking. These dolmades are the edible equivalent of a handwritten note—personal and…  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   This is comfort food the Greek way: structured, creamy, and deeply flavorful. When I tasted it at a seaside taverna in Thessaloniki, it reminded me of my dad’s baked pasta dishes back home—with just a touch more sunshine and thyme.   READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   Nothing says celebration like grilled souvlaki. I remember my first taste of it at a Greek church festival near our home. My dad marveled at the herb marinade. I marveled at how quickly I could eat three skewers. This is backyard grilling at its flavorful…  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   The first time I saw baklava, I thought it was too pretty to eat. The first time I tasted it, I knew one piece would never be enough. My father’s Greek friend, Andreas, made it every Easter—and now, I make it whenever I need to…  READ MORE 

Read by Brian Lupin   Listen Now:   As our five-course Greek garden-to-table celebration draws to a close, it’s time to think about how to bring all the flavors and memories together in one unforgettable evening. Below are serving tips, beverage pairings, and a few parting thoughts to make your feast feel as…  READ MORE