Gardening

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

Gardeners can take a rest from any garden chores during the month of February, or they can use this month to plan and prepare for spring. Here is a list of jobs for your to-do list for the month to get a jump-start on the growing season. • Check... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

You may remember when fencerows existed between fields and along country roads to keep farm animals enclosed. Today, few farmers own stock and the fences were removed years ago. However, when there were fences, it was a common sight to see bittersweet... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

The first time I ever saw espaliered trees was when I visited George Washington's Mt. Vernon kitchen garden on his plantation on the banks of the Potomac River. Peter Thevenot saw his first espaliered tree at Mt. Vernon, too. The fanciful trees caught... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

When I was young, I lived in the country among farm fields and woodland, my nearest playmate a mile away by bicycle. One way of amusement during summer was butterfly watching. Since I wasn't old enough to identify the "flutterbys" I spied, I imagined... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

So you're feeling a little guilty about your garden? You say, the weeds are getting out of control and you just want to take a siesta with a good book and a glass of lemonade? That feeling to get away from the garden and escape to Canada is natural. I'm... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

Okay, so it's that time of summer when the annuals you planted with such grandiose hopes last spring, that looked so gorgeous when they were newly planted, are now beginning to bear the brunt of "summer stress" - extremes in heat, typical Ohio winds and... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

Insects and weeds - that's what you will hear gardeners discussing this time of the year. Here are a few tips about both topics. Japanese beetles The Japanese beetle is a brilliantly colored metallic green beetle with bronze wings. About one-half inch... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

In previous columns, I've written about moonlit gardens - gardens planted with all white or silver plants that can literally "glow in the dark." Recently, I wrote about "mellow yellow" flowers. I recall reading many years ago that an all-white garden... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

"There are fairies at the bottom of our garden! It's not so very, very far away; You pass the gardener's shed and you just keep straight ahead - I do so hope they've really come to stay." Rose Fyleman's sweet poem about fairies was included in my... Full story

Twigs from my garden

Nancie Leffler Cochensparger

Not since the Beatles sang about living in a yellow submarine or Donovan crooned, "I'm just wild about Saffron ... " has the color yellow been so hot! At least in the garden and nursery scene. In case you doubt me, let me titillate your tendrils. (By... Full story

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