We plant them in the spring, water them all summer, and then it’s fall harvest time. The joys I’m experiencing are cucumbers, Swiss chard parsley, mint, carrots, kale, kale, and more kale. A few green beans. Here’s a report: The carrots are fantastic. Mona, my Ph.D. botanist daughter, reminded me... Read more →

It’s fun to grow organic vegetables. My mom usually had a huge garden when we lived on apple ranches. The fresh corn and strawberries were amazing. My dad took over the gardening when they retired. The garden was smaller behind their home in the city. The zucchinis were amazing. My... Read more →

On Sunday, I attended the Olympia Harbor Days celebration. After I enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and taking photos, I participated in another Labor Day typical activity – shopping. Although I didn’t find any bargains, it was fun to get out and walk along the waterfront, an area local activists... Read more →

Like many people, I’m beginning to notice signs of summer fading and fall approaching. Unfortunately. I’m not a fan of winter. September marks the end of summer. Sales are already underway for Labor Day. September is a great month to shop, meaning you don't have to wait until Black Friday... Read more →

My daughter Mona is a Ph.D. botanist. When she was in the ninth grade she said she was going to study horticulture and be a botanist. Mona loves plants. Whenever we go on vacation, she “botanizes,” checking out the plants, bushes, and tree and identifying them. When she was in the middle of doing her doctoral thesis on cape ivy, we took a trip to Spain and Portugal. Read more →

August marks the beginning of the end of summer, as well as a new school year for many people. Because of that, it may not seem like a good time for shopping anything other than pencils, notebooks, and backpacks. However, August has much more than back to school deals and... Read more →

My daughter Mona is great at making salads. As part of a large farm family, she’s used to cooking for crowds. When she comes to visit, as she did for my July Fourth party, she always asks me to get out the large bowls. Then she peruses her vegetarian cookbooks, which she brings with her, and prepares her latest salad success. Read more →

Although I’m used to the fact that customer service these days is abysmal, my experiences on a hot day Monday about made my head explode. I’m shopping for a new garden shed. I don’t have a very big space so I’m looking for a metal shed 4 feet by 6 feet. I like blue, so after lots of research, I headed off to Lowe’s with my contractor. Read more →

For some reason, the people I bought my house from planted 40 rhododendrons and 12 azaleas. Did they like them? Were they trying to make their yard look good for the sale? When I moved in during the 1990s, they were small, like when you buy them in pots at the garden or hardware store. About 15 years later, they were giants. Read more →

In the era of climate change, so much needs to be done, it makes your head spin. However, on Earth Day this year, I’d like to give a shout out to leaders and groups who have been working for decades make a difference for the earth. A recent example is PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. They’re used in a wide range of consumer products. Read more →