All year-long, my husband and I wait for the day it’s warm enough to leave our doors and windows open and enjoy the summer sunshine. Without screens, however, our house quickly becomes mosquito-infested. Rather than spraying ourselves down in toxic bug spray or lighting noxious insect-repellant candles, we opt for a more natural method around our home: bats and birds.
Hyacinth is a member of the family Liliaceae or Lily family of the genus Hyacinthus L. or hyacinth P containing one species Hyacinthus orientalis L. or garden hyacinth P. The plant is native to Asia Minor, which is the Asian region of Turkey, and its nomenclature originated from an ancient language spoken approximately 4,000 years ago known as “Thracopelasgian.”
Freesia is a member of the family Iridaceae or Iris family of the genus Freesia Eckl. ex Klatt or freesia P. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not list this genus containing species.
Mints are easy-to-grow perennials that are a beautiful and (usually) lovely-smelling addition to your garden—even if your garden is limited to a balcony, like mine is. They do well at sea level. They do well at mountainous elevations. They can hack cool, damp summers or hot, intense summers. They are fine being buried in snow and will be there waiting for you in the spring. While mints generally prefer rich and well-drained soil, I’ve grown them in heavy clay soils.
Whoever said that summers were not a loving time for a garden hasn’t quite planted a produce-happy summer garden. While winter vegetables are more heart-warming than a summer bounty, summer vegetables still have a lot going for them.
Daffodils are a member of the family Liliaceae, also known as the Lily family of the genus Narcissus L. or daffodil P, containing eleven species. The plant is native to Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa, and was cultivated into the present flower on the Iberian Peninsula. The flower then found its way throughout the Mediterranean basin and the pioneers brought the plant to North America.
Did you know the flowers and vegetation you're growing might be invasive species? Native plants often get overlooked when people design their gardens and lawns, instead opting for popular plants from other regions. This is unfortunate, considering native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions which means they require far less water.
Rambutan is a member of the family Sapindaceae or Soapberry family of the genus Nephelium L. or nephelium P. There are 124 listed species of which four are accepted but are not listed in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) classification.
As you plan your garden for this year, consider what type of gardener you are—or want to be. Some folks love spending meditative hours in the garden, pruning and weeding and maintaining plants. Others (like me, this year) may prefer to “sow and go”—to set seeds and watch the magic happen without extensive investment of time and energy.
As the main canner and preserver in my family, I spend a few days in the autumn preserving as much of our harvest as I can. I usually end up with about 30 jars of pickled cucumbers, pickled beets, canned tomatoes, and pickled dill beans.