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“I didn’t know that it would kill the honeybees.” That’s what homeowners often tell me after using an insecticide in the garden and seeing dead honeybees all over the ground. […]

Though they look tropical and taste exotic, figs grow fine in the long corridor of western Oregon, where the climate offers not-too-cold winters and hot-enough summers. “I get a lot […]

Though the first half of July was determinedly unlike summer, saving water is a keystone to responsible gardening no matter the weather. “We have a role to play in preserving […]

Fragile, beautiful and fascinating, butterflies flutter their way into our gardens and seem to just as quickly wing their way out. It isn’t because they necessarily want to leave, said […]

As we settle in at the groaning table of summer’s harvest, savvy gardeners pause long enough to consider the coming season. “Most folks are familiar with and love summer vegetables, […]

Even in summer when there’s plenty of sustenance from plants and insects, birds welcome the variety of seeds and nuts offered in bird feeders. When putting out a banquet of […]

Pests of all kinds plague plants relentlessly throughout the summer season. Many gardeners would rather not turn to chemicals as a solution. One option is soil solarization — a fancy […]

Grabbing a shovel, rolling out the wheelbarrow and digging into a mile-high pile of mulch can put gardeners into avoidance mode, but the effort pays off with less labor for […]

“Up, down and all around.” That’s a phrase I often hear at clinics where people are talking about fertilizers for home gardeners. It’s an easy way for consumers to remember […]

Though not strutting the runway or preening in front of mirrors, plants make a splash every year just like the latest fashions. And like clothes, plants need cache to capture […]