Author Archives: Benjamin

About Benjamin

Gardening, Raising a Family, Hobby Photography, Reading & Philoso-phizing...not necessarily in that order.

September’s Warm Embrace

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Benjamin

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. ~Helen Hunt Jackson If April is the cruelest month, as T.S.Eliot suggested, September may be the kindest. And September in Kentucky … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged autumn, backyard, bees, birding, birdwatching, Brussels sprouts, Cincinnati, compost, coneflower, farming, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom tomato, Helen Hunt Jackson, Kentucky, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, perennial, photography, September, Suburban garden, suburbia, summer, T.S.Eliot, tomato, vegetable, vegetable garden, Winter, Winter Landscape | 29 Comments

Tips for Tastier Tomatoes

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Benjamin

We have limited space in the suburban garden that is the Squirrels’ Nest so tomatoes are awarded prime real estate. Most every other plant is incidental, and subservient to the placement of the tomato plants. “Watermelon this year?” Ms. Professor may … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, black krim, eat local, farming, garden, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom, heirloom tomato, Kentucky, locavore, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, suburban gardening, tomato, vegetable garden | 30 Comments

What Kind of Sandwich?!?

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Benjamin

We’re in the heat of tomato harvesting. And eating. BLTs, Caprese Salads, Fresh Salsa, Omelets, etc etc. I’m not saying I’m tired of fresh homegrown tomatoes. I’m just saying I’m looking for a little variety…spice of life, and all that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged appalachia, backyard, black krim, garden, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom tomato, Kentucky, nostalgia, Ohio River Valley, peanut butter, recipes, summer, tomato | 51 Comments

And the Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down.

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Benjamin

July showed up wet and topical here in our part of the Ohio River Valley. Brief but angry thunderstorms. Long, gentle rains. Soakers and Sprinkles. Gully Washers and Frog Stranglers. And when it’s not raining, it may as well be, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged backyard, bees, coneflower, daisies, daisy, farming, flower, flower gardening, flowers, garden, gardening, gardening tips, Kentucky, landscape, organic gardening, photography, rain, roses, summer, vegetable, vegetable garden, Winter | 52 Comments

We Are All Made of Stars

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Benjamin

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Muse.” What greater muse than nature? What finer inspiration than the natural world? I have to remind myself daily to take a few moments and consider all the purposeful little cogs of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, bees, beneficial insect, flower garden, flower gardening, gardening, lavender, photography, stars, summer, sustainability | 23 Comments

Granny’s Bonnet and the Summer Solstice

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Benjamin

We’re currently being drenched under the watery weight of Tropical Depression Bill as he expends his energy over the Ohio River Valley. And although we’ve had our share of rain this week, all the denizens of the garden could use … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged aquilegia, beauty, bees, beneficial insect, birdwatching, columbine, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, gardening, granny's bonnet, Kentucky, Kentucky urban farming, nature, Ohio River Valley, photography, spring, summer, sustainability, urban gardening | 25 Comments

Bees & the Future of It All

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Benjamin

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Vivid.” The vivid hues of this thistle let’s the honeybee know the kettle’s on. When I was a boy growing up on a farm in the Ohio River Valley, going barefoot … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, beekeeping, bees, beneficial insect, bugs, colony collapse disorder, coneflower, flower gardening, gardening, honeybee, integrated pest management, Kentucky, Ohio River Valley, organic farming, organic gardening, photography, pollination, pollinators, summer, thistle | 43 Comments

Columbine (or Granny’s Bonnet) – Wordless Wednesday

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Benjamin

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, columbine, daddy blog, flower garden, flower gardening, garden, gardening, horticulture, Kentucky, Ohio River Valley, photography, spring, summer | 18 Comments

Broken, but still beautiful.

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Benjamin

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken.” ~Leo Tolstoy In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Broken.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, broken, daddy blog, daisy, flower garden, flower gardening, garden, gardening, Kentucky, Ohio River Valley, Painted Daisy, photography, tolstoy | 11 Comments

Sharing the Garden-Passing Along Love & Blisters

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Benjamin

I often think about gardening with my mom and grandmother when I was young. Time has softened the experience now, but the (hard) time spent in the garden as a wayward youth was usually as punishment. Failure to do chores? … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, beneficial insect, birding, birdwatching, bugs, corn, daddy blog, English Peas, family, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, garden, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom, kids, onion, parenting, Peas, photography, spring, sugar snap peas, summer, sweet corn, tomato, vegetable, vegetable garden | 28 Comments