We just got back from a road trip. Nearly 50 years ago the madman’s cross country road trip passed through Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. He wanted to revisit and couldn’t get in touch with Jeff, so he took me instead. Wow! I am…
We are eating good this summer. The madman says there is something to be said for this garden to table thing. We were complaining just as much as everyone else during the cold spring when the madman couldn’t plant his peas. And then the rains came – we continued to complain. But we…
Let’s talk about pests. Pests come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are a major problem. Some are just a nuisance. The madman’s definition of a pest is an organism that cramps his style or causes his plants harm. The Gray Catbird Take the Gray catbird for example. This year, according…
The Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) is blooming, much to the madman’s surprise – with the moving of the cactus garden he didn’t expect any blooms this year. But, its yellow blossom signals, “Summer is here!” Time to focus on the garden at the lake. Short Season Container Gardening The garden at the lake is a totally…
The madman goes on a bog walk! When he told me he had signed us up for a bog walk, I just smiled. He has always been fascinated with bogs, wetlands and bodies of water. Probably because of the fascinating plants that inhabit these areas. The Last Wet Area As the date approached, I grew…
The summer solstice is fast approaching and Mother Nature is not cooperating. The weather here has been on the cool side – some might say downright cold. The other morning the temperatures were in the high 40˚s. Come on, it’s June. Enough of this complaining. The madman’s peas look GREAT. In fact we’re glad we…
“Ornaments are the backbone of the garden,” says the madman. I’m not sure if that’s original, but I know he didn’t always feel that way. In fact, at one time, he agreed with my grandfather who said, “If you can’t eat it, don’t plant it.” Over the years, the madman has mellowed. Not…
Memorial Day weekend. Parades, barbecues, traffic jams – a day set aside to remember those who died in service to our country. It also signals the start of the summer season. It is okay to wear white clothes and straw hats. But, more importantly, this weekend is seen as the start of the summer gardening…
In the processes of moving the cactus garden the madman made an unpleasant discovery. Invasive plants were sneaking into the area surrounding the former cactus bed. I saw him walking towards me with a handful of greens. He didn’t look very happy. As he got closer, I noticed the orange roots – Bittersweet! Then I…