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The Plight of the Monarchs

The Plight of the Monarchs Repost(5)

Growing up in rural West Virginia I never gave butterflies much thought as they flittered across the landscape. Discovering a Monarch chrysalis was always a big deal. Milkweed, the primary food source of the Monarchs, grew unfettered along the road sides and creek banks. I’m certain if I could travel back through time to search […]

Clean Up Seed Starting Equipment

Seed Equipment Cleanup 2 Cropped 475

In our gardening endeavors we economize where we can. Obtaining an adequate supply of plastic pots and trays for seed-starting can be an expensive annual event, but we have reduced the cash outlay through reuse. Yes, we clean those flimsy plastic pots, store them, return them to the lineup early the next year or even […]

Coleuses in the Water Garden

Coleus in Pond 6 Cropped 475

Following Hurricane Fran’s destructive visit to Raleigh in 1995 we found ourselves with open spaces in our lawn where trees once stood, and we turned those fresh canvases into new garden portraits. We planned for a pond beside the patio and read up on the design, installation, and maintenance of water features. Research is as […]

Guidance in the Garden

JC Raulston Gate Cropped 475

Left to themselves my plants often create a tangled mess. A stem weighed down with blossoms or fruit may not be strong enough to support the load, and I may find the entire structure lying on the ground especially after a heavy rain. A torrential downpour can leave the garden looking like someone with a […]

The Mystery of Garden Sprouts

Sprout 4 475

Here at Paths of Hope the sun’s arc has shifted northward so that it shines into the vegetable section of the back gardens for six or more hours per day. That opportunity will stay with us until late-August when we will begin the return to predominately shade. Three whole months to grow stuff we can […]

The Cure for Springtime Garden Busyness

Flowering Almond Spring 2022 (2)

Spring! Warmer temperatures. Liberating sunshine. Buds waiting off stage to burst forth in elegance. Sprouts determined to push through the winter’s debris to make their entrance. Colors overwhelming our vision. Of course we have pollen showers from surrounding trees covering the porch and patio with a yellow haze. Garden cleanup awaits. Tools require sharpening. The […]