Tag Archives: backyard

As Summer Slips Away

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Benjamin

Summer loosens her grip on us reluctantly in our part of Kentucky, snug on the southern shores of the Ohio River Valley. The heat and humidity claw at us through the month of August and well into September. Occasionally, though, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, bees, beneficial insect, bugs, compost, cucumber, daisy, Eleanor Perenyi, Ernest Dowson, fall, farming, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, garden, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom, heirloom tomato, Kentucky, lemon cucumber, Ohio, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, photography, propagate, straw bale gardening, summer, sunflower, sustainability, tomato, tomatoes, vegetable, vegetable garden, zinnia | 28 Comments

Summer Sweetness

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Benjamin

There are lots of sensory delights this time of year An icy cold beer after mowing the lawn. Strawberry shortcake, not that manufactured spongy stuff, but real shortcake, More like a Cat Head Biscuit, smothered with lots of real whipped … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, farming, flower garden, flower gardening, food, foodie, fruit, garden, gardening, gardening tips, heirloom, Kentucky, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, peach, peaches, photography, summer | 32 Comments

Cherry Blossoms & Blackberry Winter

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Benjamin

Our Weeping Cherry is waking the bees from their winter slumber and tempting us into the garden. A string of warm days sends us, pell-mell, to the the garden store, for (at least) a little window shopping And although we’re sorely … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, Blackberry Winter, cherry blossom, farming, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, garden, garden store, gardening, gardening tips, Kentucky, Ohio, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, photography, seed catalogs, spring, vegetable, vegetable garden, Winter | 36 Comments

Spring Foreshadows

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Benjamin

Slowly we’re shaking off the effects of our winter hibernation, walking outside to sniff the air to see if we can detect any signs of spring. Some days it feels like yes. Some days, no. That’s part of the joy … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backyard, farming, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, garden, gardening, gardening tips, Kentucky, Kentucky urban farming, Ohio, Ohio River Valley, organic gardening, photography, spring, Suburban garden, suburban gardening, urban gardening, vegetable garden, weather | 25 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – Prepping for Winter

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Benjamin

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged autumn, backyard, bees, beneficial insect, bugs, coneflower, echinacea, flower gardening, garden, gardening, gardening tips, nature, photography, purple coneflower, Winter | 16 Comments

In A Vase…err…Pumpkin On Monday

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Benjamin

And so Monday arrives with all the baggage she brings. The weekend is in the rear-view mirror, the work week begins. Five long days to slog through on our way to another glorious October weekend. Five more long days ’til … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged autumn, backyard, bees, celosia, cockscomb, fall, flower, flower garden, flower gardening, flowers, gardening, gardening tips, in a vase on monday, photography, pumpkin, sustainability, Winter | 19 Comments

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