Published inChange Your Mind Change Your Life·Just nowMember-onlyThe Remarkable Health Benefits of Forest BathingHow to experience the relaxing and stress-relieving effects of this easy activity — During the COVID-19 pandemic, I looked for parks in Fairfax County, VA, to do one of the few things permitted to do outside the home: walking around the neighborhood. I rediscovered Huntley Meadows Park, located five minutes from my house. …Self-awareness5 min readSelf-awareness5 min read
Published inWoodworkers of the World Unite!!!·2 days agoMember-onlyWard Off Houseplant Pests and Diseases With 5 Simple HabitsHow to prevent and manage issues to keep plants thriving all year — While indoor plants can thrive in controlled environments like homes and greenhouses, they may suffer from pests and diseases. Last week, I found mealybugs in one of my begonia plants. I had treated it about six weeks earlier when it only had white dots (eggs) on the back of the…Gardening4 min readGardening4 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·6 days agoMember-onlyWhen Your Life Is in the Backpack of a Stranger for 8 HrsHow this experience changed my behavior and taught me gratitude — My husband dropped his niece, Alex, and me at the Yellow Line Huntington Metro Station on a sunny Thursday morning for a day of touring around the Washington D.C. monuments. With the echo of the train wheels clattering in the background, Alex was fascinated watching the various apartment buildings as…Anxiety6 min readAnxiety6 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Nov 29Member-onlyBest Practices for Caring for Potted Plants in The FallKnowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. Anton Chekhov Every year, I bring some potted plants that aren’t cold-hardy indoors when the summer ends. The “bad” angel tells me, “Why bother? You can buy new plants next year like all the others do.” The “good” angel…Gardening3 min readGardening3 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Nov 16Member-onlyHow to Clean and Store Gardening Tools for a Winter Rest“Ideally, garden tools should be cleaned after every use to remove soil. It is most important to give every tool a thorough cleaning and inspection at the end of the growing season before storing it.” — the Spruce: Make Your Best Home. The shed had been in place for years…Gardening6 min readGardening6 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Nov 7Member-onlyThe Great Leaf Migration: Witness the Drama of the Fall Cleanup!Tips to make the cleanup more eco-friendly. — “Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” — Delia Owens, “Where the Crawdads Sing” As the leaves change colors and the air turns crisper, autumn has arrived. This season offers a perfect opportunity to not only revel in…Gardening4 min readGardening4 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Nov 3Member-onlyChoose Stunning Native Plants for Your Awesome Fall GardenAs the vibrant colors of summer begin to fade, it’s time to turn our attention to the autumn garden. Planting native species in the fall not only celebrates the beauty of the season but also supports local ecosystems. I went on hunting expeditions to nurseries and native plant sales in…Gardening3 min readGardening3 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Oct 31Member-onlyTwo Encounters of The Halloween KindLast Saturday afternoon, I drove around the streets in my neighborhood searching for houses with Halloween displays to send photos to my fellow writers and readers from the Medium Galaxy. I was looking for the witches, skeletons, ghosts, scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, bats, and other monsters people use to decorate their yards…Gardening4 min readGardening4 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Oct 30Member-onlyWhy and How We Should Remove the English Ivy From Our YardsSix steps to remove it. — What is that dark green waxy vine invading my yard and hugging my trees? For years, I have been removing the vine that comes from my neighbor’s yard. I frequently heard the above and many similar questions and complaints. They refer to the English ivy (Hedera helix) in home yards. …Gardening4 min readGardening4 min read
Published inThe Green Thumb·Oct 28Member-only3 Things You Need to Know About the Wonderful Eastern Carpenter BeesDespite their reputation, they display good manners in the yards. — Here is one of the busiest creatures in my garden this morning. This Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) jumps from one marigold (Tagetes) to the next. The X. virginica extends through the eastern United States and into Canada. They stay quiet as I take them photos. …Gardening3 min readGardening3 min read