summer

As your garden plan evolves this spring…or as you continue to sow…or at whatever stage your garden is, be sure to leave some room for a few beautiful, edible garnishes! There are dozens of edible flowers you could sow, and not only are they beautiful, but they add a vibrant pop of color to any summer dish – sweet or savory. Also, adding flowers to your garden – vegetable or not – is helpful to attract and support pollinator populations.

May tends to be a pretty cool month because it’s not really “cool” at all. That’s right! It’s time to rejoice in the fact that warm sunshine is basically going to be a thing now—at least for the next five months. (Did I mention I live in California?)

With the days warming up and summer around the corner, our dreams of dinner fare turn towards salads. Yet, we can only eat so many lettuce-based salads as we yearn for something exotic, tasty and fun.

Green papaya salad makes a wonderful meal for a warm evening meal. When we talk about papayas, we often visualize a gorgeous orange-fleshed fruit that is very sweet, silky and tropical tasting. Green papayas are not a different species of papaya; they are just an immature papaya. And green papayas pack a wallop of nutrients.

Bees are vital to the world around us. They pollinate our flowers, as well as our food supply. In fact, 75 percent of our food relies on the pollination of bees. We love what bees do for us, but we don't always love the outcome of coming into close contact with them. If you spend anytime outdoors, chances are at least once in your life you will experience a bee sting. Sadly, this often can end the bee's life and leaves you with a nasty sting. Unfortunately, you can't do anything for the bee, but you can soothe your wound.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, when the world shakes to life again, breathing into beautiful young colors and fresh, full scents of revival. And, amidst all the new life popping forth, one can also find some tasty wild plants, if you know where to look…or smell!

Garden planning can be exciting, fun, and challenging all at the same time. It requires us to map out and strategize the what, where, when and how of our garden.  When done correctly, the process can help us yield an awesome harvest. Whether you are designing a simple flowerbed or a complex veggie garden, here are 10 important tips that will help make your garden planning a little easier.

It’s getting colder, and comfort foods seem to be everywhere. Those comfort foods that are full of sodium and/or loaded with pounds of sugar are staring you down; what do you do? I’ll tell ya what you do—you get out of that situation, as fast as you can. I know it can be difficult, but you don’t have to succumb to those temptations that are lurking at every corner. I’m not just saying that, either. For me, there are two food groups—sweet and salty. Whenever I eat something savory, it has to be promptly followed by something sweet. You wouldn’t want me to feel imbalanced, would you?

The season is changing, and so are the recipes. Fall brings a bounty of pumpkins, cranberries, apples, and a whole variety of new flavors. Soon the days of ripe red tomatoes, corn roasting on the grill, and juicy watermelon will turn to comforting, hearty meals. Before you embrace the new bounty of nature, give summer a bon voyage with this panzanella salad.

In all honesty, September always gives me mixed emotions. Let’s face it; it’s a strange month. We’re all too focused on savoring every last bit of that familiar summer breeze before we part ways, until next year. Yet, at the same time, we’re pinning all things “pumpkin spice” on Pinterest, and already shopping for Halloween decorations.

Sustainable gardening is a green-gardening practice that is quickly increasing in modern popularity. The whole concept wrapped around the idea of sustainable gardening is eco-harmony. Sustainable gardening means working with nature and the environment, and not against it. By being conscious of how you impact the environment and preserve our earth’s resources when gardening, you are greatly contributing to the harmony and balance of this planet.