Category: Uncategorized
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A Garden Giveaway!
It is midsummer, and my garden is definitely in need of a refresh. The heat and humidity have taken their toll on the spring plantings, and I spent the morning guerilla gardening. I pulled weeds—a ton of weeds—and cut back overgrown plants. I harvested at least 70 pounds of pumpkins that were ripe on the…
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In Praise of Figs
Have you ever feasted upon a fresh fig? Those that have partaken develop an almost cult-like adoration for them. I must confess that I never tasted a fresh fig until I picked the first one from our own tree a year or so ago. A fresh, ripe fig tastes nothing like a Fig Newton, so…
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Spicy Pickled Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of my favorite plants to grow during the heat of summer. A member of the mallow family, okra has large leaves and lovely flowers that resemble hibiscus. Here in the south, it can grow eight or nine feet tall, and in a few weeks, I’ll need a ladder to harvest…
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Midtown Tavern: Atlanta’s Foodie Secret
In the heart of Atlanta, an unassuming little place called Midtown Tavern has its share of regulars. Out-of-towners might miss it as they drive past after a concert or game at the Civic Center, which is just up the road on Piedmont Avenue. The regulars show up to hang out at the bar, shoot pool…
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In My Vegetable Garden: Chinese Red Long Beans
Chinese Red Long Beans (Vigna unguiculata for the horticulturalists) are one of my favorite crops in the vegetable garden this year. Chinese Red Long Beans are a member of the cowpea family versus the common green bean family, which explains why they do so well here in the heat and humidity of a Southern summer.…
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Noontime in the Garden of Good
May was an exciting month, starting with Garden2Blog, where I met up with fellow garden writers from all over the country. It was extra special to spend time with a few of my closest friends, Shawna Coronado, Christopher Tidrick and Michael Nolan. We have been communicating for a couple of years, but for me at…
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Hydrangeas in the Rain
Sometimes the world is heartbreaking in its beauty, and I just wish I could share it with you. Here are a few photos of my hydrangeas in a rainstorm this afternoon. I shot them on the front porch of this old cottage.
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P Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog, Part IV
An important part of our visit to P. Allen Smith’s garden home, Moss Mountain Farm, was participating in the educational presentations given by the Garden2Blog sponsors. One of my favorite presentations was, of course, in the one-acre organic vegetable garden with Bonnie Plants. Bonnie plants is a family-owned company that is a national wholesaler with…