Sweet corn is one of the most delicious and rewarding crops you can grow in your front yard. Nothing beats the taste of fresh, juicy corn on the cob that you harvested from your own garden. Plus, growing sweet corn is not as difficult as you might think, as long as you follow some simple steps and tips. In this article, you will learn how to grow sweet corn in your front yard, from choosing the right variety and planting the seeds, to caring for and harvesting the ears. You will also learn some benefits and challenges of growing sweet corn, and some common questions and answers about this crop ..read more

If you have a patio and some indoor houseplants, you can create a beautiful and relaxing outdoor space by moving your plants outside for the summer. Not only will your plants enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, but you will also add some color and life to your patio. Here are some tips on how to set up a patio with indoor houseplants in pots. Choose the Right Plants Not all indoor houseplants are suitable for outdoor conditions. Some plants, such as cacti, succulents, ponytail palm, croton, hoya, amaryllis, ficus, coleus, caladiums, and begonias can tolerate or even thrive outdoors in the summer ..read more

Indoor potted plants can enjoy some fresh air and sunshine in the spring, but they need to be moved outside carefully and gradually to avoid shock and stress. Moving indoor potted plants outside can also help them grow more vigorously, flower more profusely, and prevent pest infestations. Here are some steps to follow when moving your indoor potted plants outside in the spring: Check the Temperature Indoor potted plants are usually tropical or subtropical species that don’t like the cold. So don’t move them outside until the nighttime low temperature is consistently above 55°F (13°C) in your ..read more

Winter’s on its way and the daylight hours are fading fast. Kinda SAD, isn’t it? What’s really sad is that SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder – is more than a punny joke for nearly 10 million people. It can run the range of feeling a mild case of the blues to a debilitating bout of depression. There’s no substitution for a doctor’s care, especially when it’s severe; but you may find that what’s in your garden can help you feel so much better. If you want to skip past the science-y stuff, click here; otherwise, read on to learn about seasonal affective disorder (SAD) players and how what you gro ..read more

Winter’s on it’s way and the daylight hours are fading fast. Kinda SAD, isn’t it? For some 10 million folks, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more than a punny joke. It can run the range of feeling a mild case of the blues to a debilitating bout of depression. There’s no substitution for a doctor’s care, especially for the latter, but there are things you’ve grown or will grow in the winter months can help. If you want to skip past the sciency stuff, click here. Otherwise, let’s take a look at SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder 101 See the full list of symptoms in this brief from the Nation ..read more

Just days ago, I noted that the long-term forecast didn’t show much signs of winter – zero snow; and then Monday happened. Very pretty, wasn’t it? Unless you were among the many who got trapped in traffic. After enjoying the view and the silence comes clean-up time. We were treated to a nice and fluffy snow – a little wetter today. Shoveling is one thing, rescuing shrubs and trees requires a more delicate touch. Check out this Facebook post from the Maryland Information Center on how to safely remove snow from your trees, to their benefit and yours. Enjoy the snow – more is coming – and be saf ..read more

When it turned so cold last week, I thought a bowl of soup would be ideal. Unfortunately, I never actually got in the kitchen long enough to do more than heat water for tea. A week later and it’s cold again and, after a 3am inventory of the freezers and kitchen, I had two day’s worth of menus with soup featured. Time to get in the kitchen. How many soups did your garden grow? Did you freeze, can, or dry your harvest? Here are two suggestions for souping your garden harvest. Vegetable Soup peas green beans carrot corn potato garlic salt pepper rosemary Variations on a theme – add more herbs ..read more

Winter’s on it’s way and the daylight hours are fading fast. Kinda SAD, isn’t it? For some 10 million folks, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more than a punny joke. It can run the range of feeling a mild case of the blues to a debilitating bout of depression. There’s no substitution for a doctor’s care, especially for the latter, but there are things you’ve grown or will grow in the winter months can help. If you want to skip past the sciency stuff, click here. Otherwise, let’s take a look at SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder 101 See the full list of symptoms in this brief from the Nation ..read more

Skin so dry that it looks like a dried riverbed at high noon? Welcome to winter. Although these cold temperatures bring relief from many allergies, the risk of heat stroke, and clammy skin, they also reduce the amount of moisture in the air. For many, this causes a season of misery as dry skin chafes, splits, cracks, and skin that just hurts. SKIN 101 Sure, everyone knows what skin is. It’s – skin. It covers everything but our eyeballs and nails. First, a few facts about this most basic part of us. It is an organ. Yes, an organ; a self-contained organism that plays a vital function. It’s ..read more

This is a public service announcement of sorts. I saw something about this a couple of months ago, but a new post by Smithsonian magazine just caught my attention. Of serious concern, birds in the Mid-Atlantic, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana are dying and scientists aren’t sure why. Songbirds like Common Grackles European Starlings Blue Jays American robin Northern Cardinal House Finch House Sparrow Eastern Bluebird Red-bellied Woodpecker Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren April Brought Sorrow In April, reports of birds with swollen, crusted eyes experiencing difficulty with balance, coordination ..read more