Photos & garden strolls

25 Mar
2013
snow covering the outlaw garden

Garden stroll #16: More snow!!?? Good grief.

According to the calendar, we’re nearly a week into spring. Here in Virginia, this usually means we’re looking at sprouting peas and potatoes, blooming fruit trees and bright, warm days with temperatures in the 60s. Of course, the weather varies from year-to-year. Sometimes it varies a lot. After spoiling us ...

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18 Mar
2013
snow-covered mantis egg case

Garden stroll #15: Snow!?

I published my last weekly garden stroll on August 22, 2012. That’s, uh, well, a long time ago. Time to bring that tradition back. It snowed today, but I’m not letting that stop me. In fact, that’ll be today’s theme. It needs to be; there’s not much else going on ...

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26 Feb
2013
first peas of the spring

Here comes spring!

I know. I know. It’s still February. Some of you are digging out from yet another snowstorm, while others are already enjoying homegrown harvests from your year-round gardens. And then, of course, it’s high summer for you Southern Hemisphere types. But, here in the United States, in USDA Zone 7a, ...

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22 Aug
2012
garlic chive in bloom

Garden stroll #14: August showers bring…

Here in northern Virginia, we’re accustomed to hot hot hot and dry-yet-humid summers interspersed with dramatic bursts of intense rain and lightning. That’s standard for this region. Complaining about the lack of rain is a regular summertime conversation-starter for farmers and gardeners in these parts. But, seasonal dryness and actual ...

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3 Aug
2012
'Siam Queen' basil

Good morning, ‘Siam Queen’ basil

The ‘Siam Queen’ basil is just starting to send up its flower heads. Such a pretty sight. I love this basil, both for its looks and its taste (hello, Thai chicken). What are your favorite basils for dressing up the garden and spicing up your dinners? ...

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1 Aug
2012
a handful of ripe and nearly-ripe 'Blush' tomatoes

Garden stroll #13: Moving beyond the doldrums

Last week, I admitted to a bad case of the midsummer doldrums. It’s a common enough condition for gardeners, and comes (for me) just about as regularly as the spring and fall equinoxes. After visiting with the doldrums for a few days, I’m moving on. The purple-podded ‘Royal Burgundy’ bush ...

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25 Jul
2012
squash plant wilts following a squash vine borer assault

Garden stroll #12: Midsummer doldrums

It’s the last full week of July, and the midsummer doldrums have stopped by for their annual visit. Never mind the fact that I never issued an invitation. The midsummer doldrums are the gardener’s version of what-if mingled with goddamnit and I-knew-better. Like memories of some past love turned stale, ...

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17 Jul
2012
red cabbage

Weekly garden stroll #11

Ohmygodmosquitoes! Seriously, where do they all come from? I’d been enjoying a perfectly fine — albeit insanely crazy-making hot — summer, and then, bam! Or, rather, slap! Because, that’s what I’ve been doing in the garden lately. A whole lot of slapping of mosquitoes. Frankly, it’s beginning to get a ...

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15 Jul
2012
blush tomato

At first blush (tomato)

It looks like I am just about ready to harvest my first ‘Blush’ tomato of the year. Isn’t it pretty? If you’re unfamiliar with this variety, there’s good reason for that. It’s only been around for a couple years, and is offered by just a tiny handful of seed companies. ...

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10 Jul
2012
sweet potato flowers add to the ornamental quality of this lovely edible

Monday morning garden stroll #10

Yeah, yeah, yeah… It’s Tuesday. Rather than focusing on the lateness of this garden stroll, let’s focus on this: It’s Tuesday, and the heat wave is gone! So long 100°F temperatures, and hello 80°F temperatures. It’s amazing how, well, amazing 80°F can feel after 11 days of temperatures in the 90s ...

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