John Makley, Columnist

Coming of age in the 60s & 70s, the music of The Kinks was part of my soundtrack. I owned none of their music so their significance in my development was probably minimal, but still they were on the radio. And it never dawned on me, until the other day at the garden center when […]

Okay, when your boss at the garden center tells you to dump the veggies and you still haven’t planted your tomatoes, you know you’re a little late. At least, I won’t have to worry about a late frost I thought, but is it too late to get any fruit from my labor? “No,” says Don […]

As I write, the rain is falling yet again, and today it seems as if spring has literally melted into summer. Of course, I have no recollection of what the weather last year this time was like, but it always seems different. Is there such a thing as an average spring? Or an average winter? […]

“Weeds, weeds, inglorious weeds! We pull you. We dig you. We spray you, yet there you doth remain.” As this little known quote from some unknown 17th century writer says, we spend a lot of time battling weeds in our gardens but the war seems never won. In this last installment of my series on […]

Most of the diseases that afflict our gardens are caused by fungi, although there are some that are caused by bacteria and viruses. Fungi are found in every nook and cranny in the world. It is a microscopic world, but they often manifest themselves in very visible ways. Mushrooms are one, and diseases in our […]

The Plant of the Week takes top billing this month because it stands right outside my back door, and is just filled with blooms. Beautybush or Kolkwitzia amabilis is one old-fashioned shrub the plant marketeers haven’t got a hold of, yet.  Perhaps, it’s because they feel like Michael Dirr, author of the Manual of Woody […]

NOTES FROM A DIRTY OLD GARDENER They’re back. Those pesky creatures that ensure our gardens will never be Eden. I was reminded of that last weekend when two people showed me holes in the leaves of their roses, and asked me what to spray. Bugs are unfortunately a reality in our gardens, but it is […]

Working in a garden center has been a new experience for me. It has been a good one. The people I work with are great, and helping customers is both fun and educational. Often though my “Can I help you”, is answered by “No, just getting some ideas.” The other day I realized that essentially […]

Mulching Time Ah, the fragrance of freshly laid mulch! A definite sign of spring, and a smell only a gardener could love. I would advise scheduling your mulching at least a week before your outdoor graduation party unless all the attendees are landscapers. Mulching has certainly become a springtime ritual, and for good reason. It […]

Is it dead yet? My winter casualty list last week brought some questions about “how long do I wait to pronounce my “such and such” dead?” From boxwoods to roses to dogwood trees people are wondering. I guess my answer would be don’t bring out the chainsaws and chippers just yet. With boxwoods, if it’s […]