A huge hydrangea bush is any gardener's dream, as is mine. Read More
Wasp stings are something you shouldn't ignore. Read More
Snowdrops, hyacinths, daffodils and tulips are blooming in the spring and then just disappear. Later, when I dig into the flower beds, for weeding or for planting summer flowers, I always find some bulbs. Read More
I didn't like hot peppers much and only tasted maybe a bite, once or twice a year. But that was before I had a garden, where I can grow my own chili. All species are good, but the Christmas bell peppers are so cute! Read More
A friend asked me for some of my irises and I was just about to dig out some rhizomes. But there they were, already dug out, waiting for me in the garden. How did they get there and who dug them out? Read More
Some want it gone, yet I really wanted my mimosa tree up and thriving. It took me a few years, but I have finally figured out what to do. Read More
It was almost August when my cabbage seedlings were big enough to be divided and planted into the cabbage patch. But wait, what are those black spots on their leaves? Oh, no, those are the turnip flea beetles! Read More
I remember seeing this yellow thread, wrapped around some plants, out in the field. Later I saw it on a TV show about plants, where they were warning people about what a bad, parasitic plant cuscuta is. Read More
I love all dogs - or any animals and I want the best for them. I'm sure most of the people think alike, yet some think at their own interest, forgetting about nature or about the animals and insects which are living out there. Read More
Store shelves are filled with all kinds of vegetable cans, from tomato juice to pickles. Any canned vegetable I'd like to buy, it's there! Yet, every fall, I'm canning the usual pickles I've been preserving for years and, further more, I make other cans which I never did before. Am I crazy or what? Do I like to tire myself out just for fun? Obviously not and I have my reasons to do that - the most important, is my family's health. Read More
Every time I eat a cucumber, I cut the end and put it on my forehead. You may think it's silly, but my grandma always said it's for the headache. And I think it's cute and fun! Read More
If you find your ditch lilies crushed and flattened to the ground, into a small crate, then you should know it was your dog searching for a cool place! My Minnie showed me this new use of the ditch lilies, which I have never thought about. And I call myself a gardener! Read More
An old Romanian proverb says 'Small children, small worries - big children, big worries' - it is the same with the fruit trees. Read More
When my husband told me that I should dig the lawn out and sow it again, I was horrified! Read More
Ever since I was a little girl, I heard about the redroot pigweed used as a food for the ducks. But, also, that it is a bad weed. Which is it then? Read More
Two years ago, a friend asked me if I wanted some fresh dill from his garden. He had dill growing like a weed, all over his vegetable garden and it almost covered his corn patch. I said yes, so he asked me to come over to his place to pick it up myself. Well, don't worry friend, I'll pick up all your dill, because it isn't a weed, but a very precious herb! Read More
Kitty is my cat and I adore her - and she adores me back! But I also adore my plants - and I think they adore me back too - so, what should I do when Kitty decides to use the pots instead of her litter box? Read More
It's March, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, snowdrops are popping out from under the thawing snow. But don't be too confident, the weather can be very tricky on this particular month. So, watch out, the Old Broads are coming! Read More
There is nothing better than eating a hot, delicious soup, in a freezing day! Not only meat can give good taste to a soup, but also vegetables. The more vegetables you put in a soup, the more delicious it is. Read More
Although it's March, I'm already thinking about Christmas. Are you asking why? Well, because I need to prune my poinsettias and, as you know, they are a symbol of Christmas. Now is the right time to get my poinsettias started for next Christmas, so they can have enough time to grow bushy and beautiful until the colored bracts will appear and make them the stars of Christmas. Read More