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As spring days grow warmer and flowers burst into bloom, botanical gardens and arboretums inspire us with grand ideas for our own yards and garden beds. A half day walk through a garden followed by a visit to a great garden center is a dreamy day trip for anyone who aspires to be a great… Continue reading Day trips from northeast Ohio: botanical gardens, arboretums and garden centers
Those who care for someone with Dementia know that each new day presents new challenges. Even the most mundane tasks -- things that people would consider simple or routine, become filled with difficulty and stress. My 82 year-old mother had an 11 a.m. appointment at the Wal-Mart vision center. Mom had lost her glasses (or… Continue reading Dealing With Dementia: The Eye Exam
My Mom is 82 years old and has developed dementia. I don't know if it's Alzheimers or some other form. I'm not sure it really matters. Dementia in all its forms is a devastating condition for both those who suffer from it and those who love them. My Mom's condition came on suddenly. Or maybe… Continue reading Dealing with Dementia: Flip a Coin
This mini-series of articles is intended to give the reader information about the process I am going through to become an Ohio State University Master Garden Volunteer. While programs will likely vary from state to state, I hope reading about the process as I go through it, will give others the confidence to join the… Continue reading Becoming a Master Gardener Part 2: Studies Begin
Everybody wants a bargain. My gardening friends tell their gardening friends where they found the best price on vegetable and flower seeds. Social media gardeners discuss the cheapest place to buy everything from strawberry plants to decorative clay pots. Before the season of gardening frenzy goes into full swing, I’d like to wave a red… Continue reading Real Gardeners Don’t Dig Cheap Dirt: Saving the Garden Center
Featured Photo by Brandon Frie on Unsplash As Covid threatens to screw up another summer of travel, a road trip focused on seeing the sights of Mother Nature can satisfy the desire to get away while avoiding planes and other modes of tight-space transportation. If you live within practical driving distance, Skyline Drive and the… Continue reading Road Trip: Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Winter days can be cold and stormy with treacherous, ice-covered roads. The last thing I want to do on such a day is leave my house. Better to stay inside by the fire and leave the roads to the snowplow and salt truck drivers. Before winter rears its ugly head or -- depending on your… Continue reading Fast Fix Cupboard Chili
The garden has always been my domain. When I met my husband, his definition of gardening was to mow the lawn on Saturday. A foundation planting consisted of a few shrubs surrounded by a bed of mulch covered black plastic. Anything that grew between the shrubs, or in his lawn, was a weed to be… Continue reading The Surprise Gardener
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