As February approaches, and my coffee table fills with seed catalogs, I feel the intense anticipation to get into the garden. Whether you’re newly exploring the world of seed starting or just preparing for another season, the meticulous planning involved adds an extra layer to the excitement. But before delving into start dates, stratification, direct […]
Botany Basics: What Exactly Is A Seed? Read More »
BotanyUsing dichotomous keys and observing physical characteristics to make a successful ID A few years ago, I found myself becoming captivated by trees—their age, growth habits, evolutionary history, and the way they weave into our stories, movies, video games, and daily life. This fascination with growing trees has become a true passion of mine and
Branching Out: Self-Education Resources and Secrets to Tree ID Skills Read More »
Guide, WinterYears ago, before I tumbled down the rabbit hole of plant growth and tree biology, I supposed I thought that all growth just stopped during the winter months—as if the cold weather froze everything right in place. That couldn’t be further from the truth, because there’s a world of activity happening beneath the soil, in
A winter gardener’s to-do list for healthy plant growth Read More »
Garden Tasks, WinterThe hot days of summer are behind us and I’ve even rested from the fatigue that a long and productive summer of gardening can bring on. The fall days are often filled with soft sunlight, but rain, cold, and even early frosts are nipping at our heels. Warm fall colors blanket the ground as deciduous
October: Sowing cool season crops and preparing for winter Read More »
Fall, Garden TasksLast July was one of the hottest recorded in Philly in the last 151 years, and it brought a unique set of challenges to the garden with scorching temperatures and high humidity. Safety became essential for routine tasks like pruning tomato plants, weeding, and turning compost. Despite the extreme conditions, my tomato season was the
Heat, humidity, and harvest. My best tomato season yet. Read More »
Observations, Summer