Dirt-y Secrets: Spring has (mostly) arrived
By Ranel Hanson Reader Columnist “It is one of those April days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” —...
Tagged: garden column
Dirt-y Secrets: Pre-fall routines for healthy plants and animals
By Ranel Hanson Reader Columnist The light has changed and the nights have cooled. It is a glorious time of transition. Summer is winding down but we still have lots of warm days to...
Dirt-y Secrets: Summer is a busy season in the garden
By Ranel Hanson Reader Columnist “Hot fun in the summertime!” — Sly Stone If you are a gardener, you live for summer. I am speaking for myself and anyone who loves to get in...
Dirt-y secrets: an introductory column on gardening
By Ranel Hansen Reader Columnist I am Ranel Hanson. You might know me from my years as the owner of Zany Zebra or from my previous years as an admissions/marketing consultant for special purpose...
Gardening with Laurie: Seed saving
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist Some gardeners at some point want to save seeds from their favorite varieties, be they vegetables or ornamentals. There are several reasons for doing this: You can save money....
Gardening with Laurie: Woody perennial herbs
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist Herbs can be some of the easiest plants to grow for the home food garden. They add interest to meals or tea, and some are quite pretty. Some of...
Gardening with Laurie: Spring at last!
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist After a several false starts, spring is finally really here. The cottonwoods went from bare to leafed out in about three days. The dandelions are blooming. The air feels...
Gardening with Laurie: Fall Garden Savings
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist The garden is a great way to save money on vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers. It’s even better when you can save money on the garden, too. Autumn is...
Gardening with Laurie: Contrast in the garden
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist Contrast is useful in any garden design. Contrast draws the eye. It’s dynamic. It grabs the attention, and brings certain areas into focus. It can be created using many...
Gardening with Laurie: Color for later in summer
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist The spikes of iris, billows of lupins, and even the glorious blooms of the peonies are done for the year — peonies done by the Fourth of July! —...
