As October arrives and the leaves turn to fiery reds, golds, and oranges, we find ourselves in one of the most magical times of year in the garden. There’s a crispness in the air that reminds us change is coming, but for now, the garden is still ablaze with late-season blooms, the last flush of vegetables, and the peaceful, rhythmic dance of falling leaves. READ MORE
October 2024
At The Gate
Club Notes
The Rise of the Compost Connoisseurs
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round and let me regale you with a tale of modern alchemy. No, we’re not turning lead into gold here—something far more practical, I assure you. I’m talking about the humble, yet transformative, act of composting. READ MORE
Vine to Oven: Growing the Perfect Pumpkins for Roasting Seeds
A journey through the seasons as we cultivate pumpkins, harvest their bounty, and transform their seeds into savory Autumn treats, with practical advice on selecting the best varieties and crafting enticing spice blends for the perfect roasted seed. READ MORE
Bomb-Sniffing Spinach, Nickel-Mining Cabbage, and Vegetable Lambs
While plants – the common garden variety, the stuff of everybody’s backyards – are universally loved, we’ve also got a soft spot for the outlandish. READ MORE
Filching Fruit in France
I knew I would get into trouble when I agreed to lead a tour through the south of France this past summer, and I thought I had already achieved my goal when my wife left her hairbrush behind. READ MORE
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
In the heartwarming glow of Autumn, there's hardly a figure more iconic than the Great Pumpkin from the beloved TV special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" This classic piece of animation not only captures the essence of Fall but also echoes the anticipation and delight that comes with the season. READ MORE
Fallen Apples
My brother's birthday is in the autumn. He celebrates it with first visits to the beach, anticipation of summer, delight in spring. The children, he tells me, are looking forward to the long, hot holidays and their traditional Christmas barbecue. READ MORE
Growing Points
Shep Ogden, the fellow who started The Cook’s Garden seed company, happened to drop by last Summer, the day after the neighbor’s cows broke through the fence and chomped all my two-foot corn plants down to three-inch ones. I was, at the time, definitely not a happy gardener. READ MORE
A Perfect Fall Day
Growing up, my great-aunt owned an apple orchard. To me, it was a place of magic and wonder. The gnarled apple trees, stretching as far as the eye could see, looked like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. But there were no wicked witches there, although there was a scarecrow or two. READ MORE
PLANTS WE LOVE
The Humble Peanut
Peanuts, or groundnuts, have a story richer than the creamiest peanut butter. Originating in South America over 3,500 years ago, they traveled to North America via early Spanish explorers. READ MORE
Garlic: The Tiny Bulb with Big Flavor
Once upon a time, in a little village nestled in the heart of Italy, there was a gardener named Giuseppe who had a peculiar obsession with garlic. His garden was filled with rows upon rows of garlic, their green shoots reaching for the sky and their bulbs growing plump beneath the earth. READ MORE
The Tale of the Great Pumpkin
Once upon a time, in the fertile fields of the Americas, there grew a plant that would become the centerpiece of Fall festivities, the delight of pies, and the guardian of Halloween porches everywhere: the humble pumpkin. READ MORE
STORIES FROM THE GARDEN
The Blue Devil’s Garden
Burt Freeman was positively potty about plants. He'd been a plantsman all his life, and now retired, he could spend his time following his favorite horticultural pursuits. Burt liked to run a tight ship in the garden. READ MORE
Roses and Spirits: A Gardener’s Tale
In the heart of a tranquil graveyard, Ivy, the dedicated gardener, tended to her beloved roses, adorning the resting place of the departed with bursts of vibrant colors. READ MORE
Glowing Guardians of the Night: The Wolf Spider Spectacle
Darkness had draped its cloak over the land as my friend Russell ventured across the dry October grass in his backyard. With a pan of hamburger grease in hand, destined for the edge of the woods, he sported a caving light affixed to his forehead. READ MORE
The Mischievous Garlic
Garlic possesses a certain slyness. At first glance, it appears innocent enough—a mere bulb, unassuming and straightforward. Yet, beneath its unpretentious exterior lies a mischievous nature. READ MORE
A Tale of Rosie, the Dog of Destruction
“How?” I exclaimed, surveying the aftermath as I opened my garden gate. Tomatillos split in half, flowers broken, and the notorious dog of destruction was mysteriously absent. READ MORE
Mossy Magic: A Tale of Michael’s Moss Garden
Once upon a time in Michael's Moss Garden...
What's your go-to favorite plant? Is it a majestic tree, a vibrant flower, or maybe something tall and striking? READ MORE
Autumn Garden Tales: Harvesting Joy with Grandkids
Ah, the warmth of October's sun in eastern North Carolina, where Fall is just a whisper and the joy is as abundant as the laughter of grandchildren. Join me on a delightful journey through my daughter Sarah's garden, where the soil is rich, the sun is gentle, and the stories unfold like petals in the breeze. READ MORE
Long-Legged Beauty
Preparing for the first storm of the season, I readied myself to stow away the lawnmower and garden tools in the storage container—an inheritance from a former boyfriend who had found it on Craigslist. The backend of an old U-Haul truck, it housed an assortment of seasonal items. READ MORE
They Call Me Mr. Stan
After thirty years in law enforcement, retirement didn't mean hanging up my boots. Unexpectedly, my best post-retirement gig turned out to be a garden, where I became the volunteer gardener. READ MORE
Bees in the Barn
From the moment we laid eyes on our quirky 1800s farmhouse with its sprawling barn and picturesque five-acre property, my husband Henry and I knew we were in for an adventure. Little did we anticipate that our journey would involve unexpected bee tenants and a charming twist of fate. READ MORE
Autumn Delights
You sense that familiar chill in the air, a gentle reminder that the seasons are shifting. Leaves cascade down in a vibrant display, painting the ground with hues of gold and crimson. Despite the lingering warmth of sunny days, there's a quiet acknowledgment in our hearts that our cherished growing season is drawing to a close. READ MORE
GARDEN TO TABLE JOURNEYS
A Warm Welcome to Our October 2024 Garden-to-Table Journey!
Greetings, fellow culinary adventurers! I'm Don Nicholas, your executive publisher and passionate gardener. It brings me immense joy to introduce you to our latest recipe collection: the Hungarian Recipe Collection. READ MORE
A Culinary Journey Down the Danube
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the rippling Danube, my wife Gail and I found ourselves aboard a charming riverboat, slowly gliding toward Budapest. The air was filled with the promise of a magical evening, and the anticipation of a five-course Hungarian feast for two that would make our journey truly unforgettable. READ MORE
Hungarian Goulash and Herb Dumplings
It was a splendid Midsummer evening in Budapest, where my friend Marguerite treated Gail and me to an unforgettable dinner overlooking the majestic Danube. Marguerite, an Irish soul with a passion for Hungarian agriculture, had become a beloved figure in Budapest. READ MORE
Hungarian Cucumber Salad
>Once upon a sun-drenched summer day, my wife Gail and I embarked on a delightful adventure through the picturesque countryside of hungry. Our destination: a local farm with an inviting restaurant that promised farm-to-table delights. READ MORE
A Sweet Symphony of Hungarian Creams
As the sun dipped below the historic skyline of Budapest, my wife Gail and I found ourselves on the enchanting streets of this vibrant city, on a mission to discover the delightful world of Hungarian creams. Our evenings became a magical journey filled with laughter, warmth, and the exquisite taste of these heavenly desserts. READ MORE
A Gastronomic Journey Through Hungarian Wines
Ah, the memories of our enchanting visit to the Faust Wine Cellar in Budapest still linger like the notes of a fine Hungarian wine. The atmosphere was nothing short of magical, nestled beneath the Budapest Hilton and the ancient walls of the Buddha Castle. READ MORE
Letters to GreenPrints
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