Nancy Taylor Robson

Fall Planting: The Glory Days

There are really good reasons to plant in fall, like a second wind for those of us who thought the drought would never end.

The “Stem” Project

This time of year, many gardeners start to clear-cut the seed heads and dead stems in their gardens. There is a compelling case to be made for NOT.

In Uncertain Times, The Tough Plant

Victory Gardens. They embody our nation’s pulling together during wartime, and sharing with and supporting our allies. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Or in this case, gardeners double down.

Organic Gardening in Small Spaces

First, full disclosure: I serve with author Christy Wilhelmi on the Sustainability Committee of GardenComm, the international garden communicators’ association, but even without that connection, I’d be happy to review High Yield, Small Space Organic Gardening: Practical Tips for Growing Your Own Food. First published in 2013, the book’s been updated to include more recentContinue reading “Organic Gardening in Small Spaces”

Calling All First-Time Gardeners

A book for every newly gardener

Land/Water Quality Connection

Gardening might seem an odd thing to find in Chesapeake Bay Magazine, which was for many years focused solely on Chesapeake boating — sailing, fishing, boatbuilding, and all things boats and water. It’s not. Here’s why:

Homegrown National Parks

Yard by yard, property by property, Dr. Doug Tallamy, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology professor at University of Delaware, believes it’s possible to reverse the damage that wanton, unthinking ‘development’ has wrought. He believes it because he’s seen it on his own property. When he and wife Cindy moved into a house on a swathe ofContinue reading “Homegrown National Parks”

Book Review:The Vegetable Garden Pest Book by Susan Mulvihill

Let me start off by saying I really like this book. Although the info sheet that accompanies The Vegetable Garden Pest Bookby Susan Mulvihill talks about climate change and newly invasive pests that attack edibles, most of what’s inside are the same pests and the same problems I’ve been dealing with in my Mid-Atlantic vegetable garden for decades. But that’s a quibble with the info sheet rather than the book itself, which is a terrific tool for almost anyone who works to produce food from their little bit of earth.

HELPING FAILING FRIENDS

We had dinner last night with friends who live on their own and are in their late eighties — active, smart, irritating and kind friends, who are like family since they have been part of my husband’s landscape since he was a kid. They are failing, rather suddenly, both physically and mentally. They are, essentially,Continue reading “HELPING FAILING FRIENDS”

Falling Friends and Prevention

For several days I’ve had a bookmark on a post that I’d read but had not linked to (from sheer laziness primarily, but also a little bit of clearing out, so I’m not a complete slug). Then a friend had a fall, ended up in the hospital and as of yesterday, had a new hipContinue reading “Falling Friends and Prevention”