What should you be doing in the garden in autumn? Autumn or fall? Which word I choose depends on the context. Fall might be misunderstood sometimes since it could mean other things. Autumn sounds too grandiose sometimes. Regardless, there are some important gardening things to know about fall. It is prime time for some activities. […]
Everyone’s Garden Looks Great Except Mine
Does that photo tell the whole story? Great photos of well tended gardens can sooth the soul or create despair. Sometimes it seems that everyone’s garden looks great except our own. Is it true or is it an illusion? Let’s start with these facts and questions. You don’t tend to see the problems in other […]
My Backyard Weeds – Wild Buckwheat Poses as Bindweed
Fairly boring wild buckwheat When is bindweed not bindweed? When it’s wild buckwheat! When wild buckwheat is vining up through your desirable plants, it is fairly mature and can look a lot like bindweed. However, take heart, there are some crucial differences. For one thing, wild buckwheat is MUCH easier to pull up by the […]
What is That Rock in My Backyard
How are rocks like musical instruments? Rocks are like musical instruments: They are just dead weight in the hands of people who don’t know what to do with them. The Owyhee Gem and Mineral Society (OGMS) and the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History know what to do with rocks and gems. I know […]
How to Grow Tomatoes that Ripen Before the First Frost
The basics about growing tomatoes If you want actually get yummy red tomatoes to eat before winter, there are some things you need to know. It’s not a lot of information and it is not complicated, so don’t be discouraged. Just a little knowledge of factors affecting when tomatoes will ripen will help you a […]