Monthly Archives: May 2011

More Drought-Tolerant Perennials: Amsonia, Black-Eyed Susans and Russian Sage

May 30, 2011 1

With Homestead’s Perennial Affair coming up soon – June 11 and 12 – I can’t stop showing off my favorites.   Here are three more that can really take the heat and drought.

Amsonia hubrichtii …

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Fire Up the Grilling Season!

May 27, 2011 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Local Cook

Fire It Up season is here-big time! We had a grand time with the theme when we fired up the grill on the …

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Stop and Smell the Roses

May 26, 2011 0

Written by: Tim Hamilton and Ann-Marie Sedor | Photos by: Melanie McCabe

“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
-Romeo and …

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Gail Gee’s “peony garden”

May 25, 2011 1


Gail Gee’s garden in Fulton, Maryland was open to the public last weekend as a fund-raising event for Brookside Gardens, and boy, am I glad I saw it!  See, it …

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Favorite drought-tolerant perennials – Salvia and Lamb’s Ears

May 23, 2011 1

When the summer drought comes we’ll all be wishing we had more drought-tolerant plants in our garden – at least I know I will.  Not that all my plants have to be succulents, mind you, …

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Little Bits of Incredible Farm Food

May 20, 2011 0

 

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Local Cook

Rain or shine (I put on my muckers), I was excited to see how Great Kids Farm, Catonsville, MD had spread their good food word …

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Flying Jewels

May 18, 2011 0

Written by: Ann-Marie Sedor | Photos by: Melanie McCabe

The blink-and-you-might-miss-them qualities of hummingbirds are also their most endearing. These tiny, energetic birds are a visual pleasure in the garden, made …

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Chanticleer Garden in Mid-May

May 17, 2011 1

At the entrance to Chanticleer Garden, in Wayne, PA, this dramatic combination lets you know you’re in for a treat.    Notice there are edibles included?  And for vertical accents there’s nothing …

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Some Glorious Vines, right in the Neighborhood

May 16, 2011 0

Ya gotta love this stunning Crossvine that I see every day, blooming its heart out on my next-door neighbor’s deck.   This is the view from my own deck and I absolutely had to get closer, …

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Local Soft Shells Are Here-Crabs, that is

May 13, 2011 0

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Local Cook
The Soft Shells Are Coming!

Last week in my excitement I checked on the availability of our local soft shells and found only …

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About Kate’s bouquet, and Prince Charles’s campaign for sustainable farming

May 12, 2011 0

A recent visitor to my garden stopped and gasped when she saw a mass of Solomon’s seal, declaring it to be the very plant that Kate Middleton carried with her down the …

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Create your Space

May 11, 2011 0

Photos by : Melanie McCabe

Comfy furniture, colorful container gardens, glowing candles, elegant statuary, bubbling fountains, musical wind chimes, lush tropical plants all come together as the perfect outdoor room.

Relax in …

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Time to prune your old azaleas

May 10, 2011 2

Once the flowers have faded is the perfect time to prune those old azaleas that have been needing some serious pruning attention for years.   Chances are you have some of them, …

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River Farm in May

May 9, 2011 0

by Susan Harris
Last month we introduced you to a local photographer who’s enamored by River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society on the Potomac.   He visits often to …

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A Mother’s Day Brunch Feast

May 6, 2011 3

Seasonal Cooking with Rita Calvert~The Local Cook

Baked Eggs in Croissant ‘Nests’ with Balsamic Sauce
Roasted Asparagus and Maple Bacon Batons
Berries and Orange on Yogurt Pound …

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The Perfect Gifts for Mom

May 5, 2011 0

Written by: Ann-Marie Sedor | Photos by: Melanie McCabe
This Sunday, millions of moms will be presented with a bouquet of cut flowers. But why give the predictable when there …

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Sumi on Gardening in May, and all about Weeds

May 4, 2011 0

by Susan Harrris
Homestead’s Gardening Guru Gene Sumi’s talk to the Golden Spades this month was on the subject of weeds, but first, he recapped for us what we should be doing …

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You know what’s a darn good Mother’s Day gift? Endless Summer Hydrangea

May 4, 2011 0

by Susan Harris
Here they are in blue, but also available with pink blooms.  Gorgeous in a pot and even better after a while in the garden.

So IF I were someone to …

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The Tiny Honey Bee Packs a Big Punch

May 3, 2011 1

Written by: Ann-Marie Sedor | Photos by: Melanie McCabe

Watching brightly-colored bees flutter from flower to flower is one of the delights of spring after months of cold weather, but the …

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To prevent flopping, start pruning your perennials now

May 2, 2011 2

by Susan Harris
One of the best-selling garden books of all time introduced us to the notion of pruning perennials. The book is The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy …

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