How 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…

How 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…

Knowledge 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…

“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…

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…

As 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…

Last 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…

Six 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. …

Despite 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. …