Expert Advice on Home Improvement

I wonder if they’ve ever tasted the mulberries from this tree?

This morning, I’d like to be pondering the many ways that gardening increases our sense of beauty, harmony, and self-sufficiency—especially as we move into the quiet starkness of winter—except that my thoughts are completely blasted to bits by the three (yes, three) backpack leaf-blowers hard at work in the neighbor’s yard. And after they finish relocating every leaf, twig, and gnat within a half-mile radius; they’ll come back with a truckload of store-bought, triple-ground, hardwood mulch to spread underneath all those now-chilly trees and shrubs.

Oh, wait. Now, the three leaf-blowers are standing in a circle, aiming a cloud of leaves at a huge riding lawn mower, which is spinning in circles (shredding and vacuuming the leaves, I guess) like a dancing elephant in a tutu made of greenhouse gases. Sorry, I’m entranced – or rather, assaulted – by this display, not to mention the noise. The only thing that could make this better is if, after they’re finished, they all go to the gym to work out those muscles that could have been used to pull a rake.

I’m not a totally unplugged gardener—at least, not yet—although I’m happiest with tools that don’t scare away the birds. But it’s so easy to get caught up in chores and tasks and forget our actual purpose, to let our desire for things to be “just right” distract us from the rightness of things just as they are.

In the fall, the leaf crusade is only the beginning. In just a few weeks, the holiday season will kick into high gear, inviting us—if we’re not careful—to work ourselves silly while completely missing the point.

Thankfully, nature reminds us of our purpose with quite a sense of humor, if we just get outdoors and look around. In fact, nature is laughing right now, in the form of a breeze that is fluttering bright yellow mulberry leaves down onto that perfect green lawn next door.

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.”

With the end of daylight saving time this weekend, the idea of “precious sunshine” really hit home as I set out for an evening walk and found that it was already pitch-dark outside! Thankfully, the route is so familiar that I don’t need to see the low-slung tree branches in order to duck under them.

This is the time of year when the days are so bright and crisp you can’t stand to be inside, then evening arrives like a light switch to remind you to savor the sunshine while you can. This dark evening, I didn’t waste any time – I piled the logs on the fireplace to fill the house with warmth and light, my own tiny little sun to chase away the cold.

It’s not quite the same, but if you add in some hot cider and wool socks, it’s not a bad trade. If the sun’s out, you’ll find me outside, and if I can’t be outside, at least I’ll be cozy.

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Around my house, fall means pumpkin carving time! Last weekend, we visited a local pumpkin patch and lugged home a carful of pumpkins for an evening of friends, mulled cider, pumpkin carving, and – of course – pumpkin cheesecake! Check out these scary guys – I’m sure they’ll keep away any Halloween goblins (and possibly frighten the mailman).

Those nifty little pumpkin-carving kits are a far cry from my childhood memories of butcher knives and triangle-eyes! The tiny little saws are much safer and make more detailed shapes, turning even reluctant artists into Picassos. The kits come with templates and ideas, or you can use the tools to create your own wicked design. Don’t forget a little biodegradable Pumpkin Fresh spray-on preserver to help your pumpkin last longer.

There are just so many things fun about pumpkin carving, whether you’re five or ninety-five. It’s creative, whimsical, and reminds us to stay young. It’s a perfect reason for friends and family to get together and play, and it’s a great way to celebrate the first chilly nights of fall. And best of all, it’s unabashed permission to make a tremendous and glorious mess. So spread out some plastic and just let the pumpkin seeds fly, and enjoy some pure old-fashioned fun. I think we could all use a little more of that!

While you’re at it, try saving and roasting the pumpkin seeds for a fireside treat. Here’s how:

• As you’re scooping out your pumpkins, separate the seeds into a bowl.
• Rinse the seeds to remove all the stringy goo, then spread them out on a towel to dry overnight.
• Toss the seeds in a bowl with a little melted butter and salt.
• Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees, stirring occasionally, until they’re a nice golden brown (about 20-30 minutes, but keep an eye on them).
• For variety, you can spice them up with garlic, red pepper, or Worcestershire sauce, or stay in the holiday spirit with a little cinnamon and sugar.

For more information, check out PumpkinCarving101.com.

Permalink | Leave a Comment

The first frost of the season always makes me reflective.

This morning, more or less on schedule, my garden was visited by the first frost of the season. It left everything glittering and gave the last of the summer annuals their “Uh, oh” look. Can it really be time for cold weather again?

Fall is the season for taking stock, putting things away, simplifying after a summer of lush abundance, with the first frost sounding the closing bell. And as I look back on my summer, it’s been by far the strangest one I’ve ever encountered! Between being sidelined with an Achilles injury and putting my house on the market, my normal (usually messy and strenuous and not-quite-finished) projects haven’t stood a chance! It’s been a summer of things around my house being . . . well, neat. Spotless. Untouched. Perfect. And where’s the fun in that?

One might argue that a low-key summer was just what the doctor ordered (literally and figuratively), but it lends a certain resistance to the approach of autumn. The season is telling me to wind things down, but I never really got wound up! Now, we both know I’m exaggerating – this past spring was a frenzy of epic proportions; and man, keeping things tidy is much harder than making a mess! But nonetheless, that’s the feeling on this frosty morning. As I curl up with hot cider by the first fire of the season, it’s doesn’t feel quite as well-deserved, you know?

Thankfully, the beauty of fall lies in its ability to change, sometimes in the blink of an eye. As I write this, the sunshine has burned up the glitter, leaving behind an absolutely perfect, irresistible, brisk fall day. Last week’s rain gave the lawn a growth spurt and a dusting of fallen leaves, and I can look out the window and come up with all sorts of reasons to get outside. Just when I finish reflecting on things winding down, it’s time to head outdoors and earn my cider!

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Every night for the past two weeks, a large orb-weaver has spun an enormous web stretching from my house all the way over to the property line. I like to think of it as a banner advertising the arrival of autumn, but I usually think of that only after I’ve crashed through it for the umpteenth time.

I get some task on my mind and go charging around to the basement, and next thing you know I’m batting spider silk out of my eyes and grumbling about why the spider can’t learn to be more considerate. Which is really pretty ridiculous, considering my so-called superior intellect can’t seem to learn to look out for spider webs that show up in the same place, at the same time, every single day.

Fall is the active season for some of the larger species of garden spiders, which is why we see larger, more elaborate webs this time of year. Spiders are beneficial garden predators, helping keep insect infestations under control. Contrary to popular myths, most garden spiders are completely harmless and aren’t the least bit interested in humans, and if you can get over your Hollywood-inspired arachnophobia, many of them are quite beautiful.

This fall, make peace with the spiders in your yard. Sit outside one evening and watch an orb-weaver spin an architectural masterpiece. Stare down a funnel-weaver and see if you can watch it disappear (bet you can’t, they’re too fast). Look for the sparkling gossamer silk of baby spiders traveling on an autumn breeze. And if you must disturb a spider web, gently relocate the spider to a spot you can share and settle into a peaceful coexistence.

Further Information

• Spider Myths (Burke Museum of Natural History)
• Spider Silk (BackyardNature.net)

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Seems pretty tame, except I just pruned her a couple of days ago.

In Growing a Lady Banks Rose, I told how I planted a Lady Banks on my porch column last summer. It’s been a full year old now, and I thought I’d provide an update, in case any of you are considering doing the same.

My Lady Banks rose is planted in mostly full sun, with a southern exposure tempered by some tall trees. It’s smack-dab under the gutter downspout, so I only water it in extreme drought. I haven’t really done anything to it—it’s had no pests or diseases, no fertilizer, and the spring blooms were heavenly, simply heavenly.

It’s perfect – EXCEPT, good grief, is this thing a fast grower! It’s growing faster than I can keep up with it! By midsummer, it was growing up the gable, reaching for the peak of the porch roof. Every morning, new tentacles reach out and grab me as I walk past – it’s like living with a hungry octopus on the porch.

I’m always going out there to remove entangled wind chimes or houseguests. I prune it at least once a week, and sometimes twice, and it just seems to speed up! I don’t regret planting it near the house, but it certainly could possibly be better put to use to quickly conceal an ugly barn, or as a substitute for the proverbial beanstalk.

All in all, I think this is one of the most perfect plants ever. The foliage is really pretty by itself, and the blooms will simply make your heart melt with joy. It’s tough, disease-resistant, evergreen, thornless, and carefree – except for the occasional wrestling match (I mean, pruning).

Plant a Lady Banks where she can go wild, then just sit back and watch her grow!

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Labor Day is a holiday meant to celebrate the working-folk by giving us a day off. But for those of us who love the outdoors, Labor Day marks the beginning of a glorious time of year where work and play ramp up to a level worthy of the wonderfully cool weather.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel conflicted this time of year. On any given sunny, perfect Saturday, how on earth do I find time to:

• work in the garden
• have coffee on the porch
• plant grass seed
• spread some mulch
• plant, divide, and transplant
• ride my bike
• enjoy a campfire
• go swimming
• take a walk with my camera
• wash the car
• have a cookout
• take a nap in the sun

And the list goes on . . . .

After a languid summer that’s too hot to move very fast, Labor Day marks an almost startling shift in pace, where each day becomes a challenge in time management. Or, should I say, “breeze management,” because we all know that the season is short, and each breeze must be savored before it gives way to cold winter winds.

Colors get a little brighter, fall perennials start their show, the air gets a little crisper, and anything’s worth doing as long as it’s outside. I hope you have time this Labor Day to rest a little, play a little, and work a little on projects you enjoy. And I hope that no matter what you’re doing, you’re cooled by a nice soft breeze!

Permalink | Leave a Comment

At least they went out in style!

OK, perhaps I divulge too much, but what can I be if not honest? In a perfect convergence of circumstances, my recent love-fest with seasonal fresh peaches provided—in addition to sweet peachy bliss—a perfect laboratory for trying out a homemade gnat trap.

I prefer not to refrigerate my fruits and vegetables, which means that from time to time I encounter gnats and fruit flies. It happens. This particular evening, the culprit was the last lonely peach in the bowl, and the invasion was bad enough that simply throwing away the peach wasn’t enough to get rid of the flies.

I don’t know about you, but that just wouldn’t do. Fruit flies might unlock the secrets of genetics, but I don’t want them in my kitchen. So, I put out a homemade trap of white vinegar, with a few drops of dish soap stirred in. The vinegar attracts the flies, and the soap alters the surface tension and keeps them from flying back out.

As you can see, the trap worked like a charm! The flies were all over the glass within seconds. Within an hour, there were ten or so dead ones, and by morning there was not a fruit fly left standing.

This is a great indoor/outdoor solution for getting rid of fruit flies, fungus gnats, and other tiny insects that buzz around decaying plant matter. As an added bonus, vinegar is a natural deodorizer, so you cleanse the air of both the bugs and the smell of whatever attracted them in the first place.

Permalink | Leave a Comment

Mmmm, peaches – the ultimate taste of summer! My favorite way to eat a peach is outside on the porch, leaning over the edge, with peach juice running off my elbows. And after I’ve had my fill of fresh peaches, I might be willing to lend a few to the ice cream machine, the smoothie blender, the pie crust, or perhaps my secret-recipe peach salsa.

As peaches come into season this year, I’ve been thinking about the recent movement toward “organic, local, seasonal” fruits and vegetables. Maybe it’s just been overused, but the phrase sounds so dry to me – it throws me back to childhood “eat your vegetables” lectures and has all the excitement of a symposium on the recreational habits of snails. I think it would be much more effective to stand on the street corner and hand out fresh peaches. All that talk can be reduced to “Here, eat this” – one taste of a peach that’s still warm from the orchard sunshine, and you’ll never buy imported rubber peaches from the supermarket again!

Mid- to late-summer is the best time to find plump, tree-ripened peaches at your local farmer’s market or roadside stand. First come the cling peaches, followed by the semi-freestone, and finally the freestone peaches, giving us a nice long harvest with subtle differences in flavor and texture.

Here’s how to choose the best peaches:

• Look for fruits that give a little when lightly squeezed. If they feel hard like apples, they’re not ripe, and if they feel mushy, they’ve gone too far.
• Ripe peaches smell like peaches! Sniff out the yummiest ones.
• Ripe peaches also have a nice creamy color, with no green on the skin. The red “blush” doesn’t have much to do with ripeness; the background color is more important.
• Peaches are often harvested just before peak ripeness, so they’ll be firm enough to withstand transport. They’ll continue to ripen in a paper bag at room temperature, and they’ll stop ripening if you put them in the fridge.

Permalink | Leave a Comment

This summer has been an unusual one for me. Normally, my natural states of being include “working,” “sleeping,” and “sometimes some other stuff.” This summer, however, I’ve got a cast on my foot, which means I’m spending a good deal of time in a chair on the porch with nothing to do but redefine myself. I’ve been forced to change the pace, and it’s giving me some wonderful insights about my own little patch of earth.

For instance, I had no idea just how many animals live in my yard – birds, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, ‘possums, buzzing bees and butterflies. Once I stopped my constant mowing, chopping, clipping, hauling, and digging, they immediately brought their daily party out into the open. I was also surprised to learn that my cat is a long-standing, peaceable member of the club – turns out I was the only one not invited.

Okay, so the animals like it better when I work less in the garden, but what about the plants? Well, the new shrubs are settled in and growing like crazy, the flowers are blooming like gangbusters, the lawn is full and green, the trees are happy . . . frankly, the whole place seems relieved that the micromanager has finally taken a breather!

And, I must admit, the micromanager herself has enjoyed learning to sit back and relax. I can’t get enough of garden-watching this summer – in other parts of life, I’m about one thistle-seed’s breadth away from going stark raving mad, but in my chair, on the porch, I’m having the best summer ever.

Permalink | Read Comments (1)