Jill M. Nicolaus
Better known as "Critter" on DG, Jill lives in Frederick, MD, where she tries to fit as many plants as possible into a suburban back yard. The birds are mobbing our feeders lately, so Sunshine Girl and I have a job keeping the Flyby Cafe' open for business! This year, we put out a special feeder just for the squirrels, filled with a seed & corn blend. We still see them acrobatically snatching food from the other feeders, but at least now they let the birds get a beak in edgewise! (Images in my articles are from my photos, unless otherwise credited.)
Pressure Canning Phobia - Don't be afraid!
Pressure canning makes people nervous. The steam, the rattling noise, the fear that the whole thing will blow up and redecorate your kitchen. Read More
Protecting Pollinators: Encouraging Bees and Other Beneficial Insects in Your Garden
You can attract and protect honeybees and other important pollinators in your garden. Feed them. Shelter them. Don't kill them. Sound simple? It really is! Read More
Lavender Wands: Make Magical Scented Decorations for your Home
Bring the sweet scent of lavender into your home by making decorative, magical lavender wands! Read More
Farmers' markets celebrate the summer harvest
Whether you grow more vegetables than you can eat and just need a little goat cheese to accompany your heirloom tomatoes or whether you're desperate for fresh produce by the bushel, your local farmers' market could have just what you need! Read More
Take the Plunge, It's Iris Sale Time!
Whether you're new to irises or have beds filled with hundreds of carefully labeled varieties, this is an exciting time of year! Mid to late summer is the time when growers and gardeners alike take a look at their beds and decide to divide overcrowded iris clumps for better growth and bloom. That's great news for gardeners looking for a good deal on beautiful irises! Read More
Free Plants from Cuttings: Propagating Pelargoniums and other Woody Herbs
Summer won't last forever, and if you're like me you have more containers of tender scented geraniums and other perennials than you have sunny window space inside. Do you shrug and tell yourself you'll buy new ones next year? Read More
Hypertufa 101: Mixing, Molding, and Making Your Container
Ready, Set and GO! Let's make some hypertufa! Read More
Creeping Thymes Make Wonderful Borders for Garden Beds, Paths, and Patios
Creeping thymes are a wonderful way to add different textures and fragrances to your landscape. They're easy to propagate, so you can turn a couple of plants into a nice border for a sunny bed. Read More
Making Cherry Pie from Your Own Cherry Tree
"Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?" You bet she can! And you can, too! From your own tree? Even better... Read More
Polymer Moisture Crystals: Magic for Your Garden and Your Containers
Friends see the lush green plantings at our house and exclaim, "Oh, you have such a green thumb! What's your secret?" I say, "I water them," and they look at me in disbelief. But watering not watering enough, or watering so much that plant roots get soggy may be the biggest issue for those who think their thumbs are black. Fortunately, it's often an easy problem to solve. Polymer moisture crystals are one of the best watering aids I've found. Read More
Watering African Violets 101: Different Strokes for Different Folks
How to water, when to water, how much to water Watering might be the most discussed topic in African violet care. While there is no "one true way," a look at several common techniques might help you figure out how to keep your African violets happier and healthier. Read More
Edible Landscaping: Basil Varieties for Containers, Beds, and Borders
It's hard to beat a pot of basil by the kitchen door, where its fresh flavor can be added to sauces and salads all summer long. But basil's possibilities don't end there. With so many varieties and cultivars available, Basil is one of the best edible ornamentals around! Read More
African Violets 101: Make More Plants by Propagating African Violets from Leaf Cuttings
Does a friend have an African violet you've admired for years? Would you like to swap African violet varieties with other enthusiasts? Propagating from leaf cuttings is the way to get new African violets that are just like the parent plants. There's nothing tricky about it, but it does take patience as you wait for the leaves to root and produce little plantlets. Read More
Seed Starting 101: Sowing & Transplanting Tips for Strong Seedlings
How do you turn that packet of tiny basil seeds into pots of lovely herbs for your garden? Starting plants from seed seems like a magical process, but there's no great mystery to it. A few tips and pointers will help you on your way Read More
Will the Real Cinnamon Please Stand Up?
Imagine my surprise a few years back to discover that the cinnamon I'd been sprinkling on toast and cookies for years wasn't the real deal! Both cinnamons are derived from tree bark, but "true cinnamon" or Ceylon Cinnamon is a different species than the cinnamon most of us know in the U.S. I'm glad I found out about the real deal cinnamon, as it's another wonderful choice for baking and cooking! Read More
Lessons from a lavender farm: Growing, harvesting and using lavender blooms
I love lavender! The color of the blooms, the wonderful scent, the lovely silvery-green of the foliage, all combine to make it one of my very favorite plants. Recently, I had the remarkable experience of visiting a lavender farm in Washington State, where I picked up some great tips for harvesting and using lavender Read More
The Petrified Forest National Park: Frozen Forever in Sparkling Stone.
One of the stranger things found in nature, petrified wood has all the texture of bark and splinters, and all the color and shimmer of a display at the Museum of Gems and Minerals. Read More
Queen of the Night
Some blooms are worth the wait... ? Read More
Shake down your plants for free seed: an introduction to collecting seeds
Collecting your own seeds is a great way to save money. If you trade seeds with others, you can end up with a great variety of seeds for only the cost of postage. If you need flats of ground covers or other plants, starting from seed is a good way to economize. Not having to buy the seed is better yet! But first you have to get out into the garden and find the seeds Read More
Beautiful Bubbler Bogs are Easy to Build
The tranquil sound of trickling water, the colorful shimmer of wet rocks, the cool green of reeds A bubbler bog could be the perfect water feature for your garden! Read on for inspiration and step by step photos. Read More
