happy halloween

happy halloween!

weekend gardening events

there is much to do this weekend in the garden and out, coast to coast.

Coastal Growers' Market Saunderstown, RI

Saturday, May 14, 2011 — Saturday, October 29, 2011

Designing with California Friendly Plants Irvine, CA

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Knowing Native Plants: Trees of BHWP New Hope, PA

Saturday, October 29, 2011

2011 Green Industry Conference Louisville, KY

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 — Saturday, October 29, 2011

today's problem: stink bugs

yes: they are trying to get inside your house now! the dreaded brown marmorated stink bugs are feeling the chill, and they want to come in doors to lay an egg! i am not big on killing things-especially with pesticides-but the horrible stink bug needs to go! i find myself hunting them down from the mini blinds, crushing them in tissues, and finally, flushing them down the toilet: yuch! this year, both maryland and virginia received special permission to chemically treat peach and apple crops from this dreaded beast: bad news for fruit lovers! but, this is what they did to my tomatoes this year.

brookside gardens

today you can feel fall in the air.

the leaves are just beginning to get color and the wind is blowing them off of the trees and swirling them around the streets.

one of my favorite places to visit during this season is brookside gardens.

this public garden has so many lovely plantings set in wonderful vignettes which showcase all the beauty of autumn.

bird feeder

i found this super bird feeder at cb2 and i couldnt be happier! it is made of enameled metal so it is easy to clean and the squirrels just slide right off! 

what to do with too much basil?

the vegetables and herbs i planted in containers are still overflowing with stuff even though it is mid-october. i have so much basil right now and no time to cook stuff: i dont want to waste it so what should i do? 

well, apparently, you can freeze it semi-processed and use it later!

so, i picked it, washed it, pulsed it in the food processor with olive oil, and stored it in air-tight containers: problem solved!

maryland home and garden show

the show is on...and you can get discounted tickets here.

foodscapes

lovely and fantastic fantasy world from artist carl warner.

monach butterfly

temperatures may have dropped, but autumn hasn't set in yet and everything hasn't migrated south. not only did i see all kinds of bees today, but the dragonflies were on the move and this lovely monarch was on one of my buddleia...such a relief after four weeks of overcast skies!