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Flowers for Friday
If you’ve eaten okra but never seen it grow, you probably have no idea that those sometimes prickly pods have such beautiful origins. This time of year, morning walks always include picking pods and checking out the bumble bees in the okra blossoms. Last year I saved seeds from my burgundy okra using pantyhose and paint bush to prevent cross…
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Boys and the “Wild”
Living in downtown Raleigh, there isn’t much “wild” to be found. My ultimate wilderness escape includes tall trees, cool air and a mountain stream, but when not the mountains, I prefer my wild to be manicured and safe for letting two small boys run around and explore. This makes the J.C. Raulston Arboretum one of my favorite urban escapes. This…
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Meet Jolly. Jolly, meet Everyone.
We haven’t seen any traces of Itsy Bitsy in weeks. However, as I was scouring the “Italian Trombetta” squash vines for pests, I was greeted by this green spider, whom I’ve named Jolly. I don’t know if he has a web or not. I’ve only seen him hanging out on the same cluster of leaves for several days now. He…
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When to Scrap a Veggie Plant
SCRAPPED. Seasonal vegetable plants in the kitchen garden are typically annuals that experience a time of peak production before tapering off for the season. Occasionally, I’ve had plants take a mid-season break before having a second burst of production, which this makes me hesitant to scrap my plants before they are clearly dead. However, as I’ve learned to extend the…
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Reflections on Consumption
I don’t regard myself as driven by consumption. I like to think I spend modestly and responsibly. However, I get antsy during the week if several days pass without a trip to the grocery, big box store or nursery. I begin to invent reasons why I need to shop. As I sit to reflect on my motivation and assess that…
