Monthly Archives: June 2010

Basil: Growing, Harvesting, and Avoiding Downy Mildew

June 30, 2010 2

by Susan Harris

It’s amazing what you can learn about growing herbs just by doing a little reading.  That’s something I didn’t do in my first year of growing basil but this year – because …

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Are you pruning your tomatoes? And do you even need to?

June 28, 2010 4

by Susan Harris


Newbie tomato-growers are subject to confusion, and that includes this newbie.  Recently, I saw this advice from Fine Gardening about pruning tomatoes and was ready to run …

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Time to take down those old tree stakes

June 26, 2010 1

By Gene Sumi

One way that I try to get more exercise is to walk my daughter’s Boston terrier when my wife and I are asked to be dogsitters.  I also enjoy these …

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All-Time Grilling…day or night

June 24, 2010 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Kitchen Gardener Cook

Hopefully, by now, your grill is prepped, fired up and ready to grill every course. My grill doesn’t sit still for long as with June having …

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Blight Killing Branches on Flowering Cherry Trees

June 23, 2010 3

By Gene Sumi

Flowering cherry trees, especially the late-blooming Kwanzan variety, have been hit with widespread dieback of branches and stems on their flowering cherry trees.  The branch tips die back, leaving clusters …

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Dena’s Custom Containers

June 22, 2010 1

by Susan Harris
In the cute little shed surrounded by annuals at the Davidsonville location, you’ll find container-designer Dena Cameron creating some wild-looking designs, if you ask me, using some plants I’ve never seen before.  So naturally I …

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Mike McGrath on Gardening for Wildlife

June 19, 2010 4

by Susan Harris
The famous gardening guru Mike McGrath came to  Homestead recently to talk about gardening with wildlife, and here’s my report.  It’s been okayed by Mike himself.  

Ladybugs and …

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Those Chilling Drinks of Summer at Homestead Gardens

June 17, 2010 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Kitchen Gardener Cook

It’s not just the drinks…all of the bounty at Homestead Gardens says celebrate with ‘summertime when the living is easy’. In the winter, I go and …

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Trends in Gardening with John Peter Thompson

June 16, 2010 0

by Susan Harris
John Peter Thompson is a fourth-generation nurseryman who’s also in the thick of things in the gardening world nationally.   His blog describes him as a “gardening speaker, invasive species program …

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Succession Planting Explained

June 14, 2010 1

by Susan Harris
Succession planting seems so esoteric, so advanced (to this newbie veg gardener) that I’ve been intimidated by the very notion of sowing vegetable seed throughout the season.  So I’m exploring the best …

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Charles Village Garden Walk

June 12, 2010 1

by Susan Harris
Charles Village is a real Baltimore neighborhood, one that knows how to put on a Garden Walk.  A tour by another name, ”walk” seems more casual, and this one certainly was.  It …

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More Little Green Lessons

June 10, 2010 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Kitchen Gardener Cook

Last week we began our quest to appreciate the premier greens of early summer. This week we move on to conquer kale, kale and more kale. …

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What I’m really doing in my garden in June

June 8, 2010 4

by Gardening Coach Susan Harris

Instead of those loooong lists of chores you could/should be doing this month, here’s what I’m really doing.  It’s a much shorter list.

Ornamental Plants

Cutting …

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Have a Perennial Affair at Homestead – this Weekend

June 7, 2010 0

Check out the outstanding (and mostly free) hot-topic workshops and talks at Homestead’s Davidsonville store this weekend:

Saturday, June 12

10am: “Kids Club: Aquatic Life Up Close” with Water Gardening Specialist Dave Kemon (Fee: …

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The Street Gardens of Annapolis

June 6, 2010 0

by Susan Harris

There’s some mighty nice landscaping going on in downtown Annapolis these days, like this collection of summer bloomers that knock our socks off yet require minimal care.   Lots of great plant …

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Little Green Lessons-Garlic’s First Act

June 2, 2010 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Kitchen Gardener Cook

Food Newsy Notes

Who is Will Allen?  He is the father of the food justice movement, recipient of the 2008 MacArthur Genius Award for his pioneering …

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It’s Summer Drought-Time. Are you watering?

June 2, 2010 9

by Gardening Coach Susan Harris

Suddenly I’m noticing signs of death-by-drought appearing all over my neighborhood.    Not just wilting, but some dead stems, too.  And I notice that some newly planted perennials have already turned …

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