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Weather’s Bad – What’s a Gardener To Do?
Gardeners always want to be outdoors. Here are some things to do when the weather is not cooperating.
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Playbook for Tailgating Safety
This article examines methods for keeping your tailgating party safe and fun for you and your guests.
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Sun Worshipers (Ground Covers for Sun Gardens)
Sun-loving ground covers add interest to the garden with their many shades of green, some of them are native, and a few of them bloom.
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The New USDA Hardiness Zone Map Is Out
A discussion of the purpose of the zone maps, their usefulness, and where to find your zone.
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Shady Characters: Ground Covers for Shade
Sometimes there are spots under a tree or in the yard where grass simply will not grow. Those are the places for ground covers. Here we will explore the variety of ground covers for shade.
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Planning for Color in Fall and Winter Gardens
When fall colors fade away, winter can be colorful, too. All it takes is a little planning.
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Shady Characters (Flowering Shrubs for Shade)
These are just a few of the shade-loving flowering shrubs that can beautify your garden.
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Hurricane Cuts on Palms — Don't Do It
This article describes the damage that can happen to palms that receive this drastic measure that was intended to help them.
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Palms: When to Prune? When Not to Prune?
There are best and worst times to prune palms. This article describes those times and explains the best ways to do it.
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Gardening Terms: Common and Not So Common
Familiarize yourself, if needed, with some of the most common gardening terms, and a few that are not so common.
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Sun Worshipers (Flowering Shrubs for Sun)
There are many sun-loving shrubs. Many grow quite large and can serve as a privacy screen. Others will be specimen plants. All will add natural beauty to your sun garden.
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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies: Basic Recipe for Any Festivity
This is an old recipe that has been in my family for at least three generations. They can be made for any holiday, season, or occasion such as a football party, birthday party, or just because.
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Sun Worshipers (Sun-Loving Annuals)
There are so many sun-loving annuals, and they are loved by pollinators. Here are some of them to beautify your sun garden, and help increase the food supply at the same time.
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Banana Nut Bread Recipe
Delicious banana bread recipe developed by Maria Logan Montgomery of The Gardener & The Cook.
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Sun Worshipers (Perennial Flowers for Sun Gardens)
There are so many sun-loving flowers, both annuals and perennials. They are loved by pollinators. Here are some popular perennials to beautify your sun garden and help increase the food supply at the same time.
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Christmas in July
It’s never too early to think about holiday plans, and this article includes a curated list of recipes, holiday plant info, and food safety information
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Maria's Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
This article shares the author’s first attempt at replicating her grandmother’s popular recipe.
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Maria's Pecan Pie Recipe
Here is the best pecan pie recipe for your holiday desserts, or for any time you want a treat.
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Shady Characters (Foliage Plants for Shade)
Some of the most beautiful gardens are shade gardens. Some are flower gardens, but many are multi-colored foliage gardens. Here we will explore the variety of beautiful foliage plants.
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Shady Characters (Flowers for Shade Gardens)
Some of the most beautiful gardens are shade gardens. While some shade gardens are all about foliage, many are colorful flower gardens. Here we will explore shade-loving flowers.
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Important News for Crepe Myrtle Lovers: Bark Scale
This article describes the author’s research findings on a new problem for crepe myrtle lovers.
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How to Grow Okra
Here is everything you need to know to grow okra.
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How to Grow Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)
This article provides information on growing a favorite springtime perennial, its needs, growing habits, and whether it is poisonous.
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Growing Variegated Ginger
Learn the needs and growth habits of this beautiful evergreen tropical plant in this article that breaks down how to grow variegated ginger. Its leaves and tiny orchid-like flowers will enhance your garden.
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Bearded Iris and How to Plant Them
This article describes the needs of the bearded iris and how to plant its rhizomes.
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Thick, Hearty Chili With Optional Ground Turkey
An easy chili recipe that can be meatless or not. It's delicious either way.
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Peppermint Bark Recipe
The Gardener and the Cook share their favorite candy recipe for the Christmas holidays, and some changes they made this year.
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Poinsettia Are Not Poisonous -- a Myth Debunked by Research
This article provides information about the mildly toxic, but non-poisonous poinsettia plant.
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Bo's Gluten-Free (or Not) Brownie Recipe
After Maria decided to reduce gluten in her diet, Maria's husband, Bo, changed his scratch brownie recipe to make it gluten-free. Here's his recipe.
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Semi-Sweet French Onion Soup Recipe
I created this French onion soup recipe after being unable to find one as good as the one I enjoyed on a trip.
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Maria's Red Velvet Cake Recipe
A tried and true recipe for a delicious cake has been modernized to reduce the fat and sugar, but you'd never guess. It is delicious.
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Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping Recipe
This is an old family recipe that has been modernized to meet our needs for healthier foods. It is not fat-free, but is lower in fat and sugar than the original.
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Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers, and Those 3 Little Numbers
This article explains the meaning of the three numbers on the bags and bottles of fertilizer, and describes the chemical components of synthetic fertilizer. Also included is a list of organic sources of fertilizer for each of the components.
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Letters, I Get Letters From Gardeners
A master gardener answers questions she receives from gardeners worldwide.
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Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe
Maria shares her experience in making strawberry jam, a few tips she learned along the way, and of course, the recipe.
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Authentic English Scones With Currants
An American's effort at creating his own recipe for English scones.
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Welcome to the Autumnal Equinox
A tribute to the seasons and planting time, as the writer tries to decide which season is her favorite.
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The Wedding Night Nightmare: a Poem
A debut poem inspired by counseling with abused women. There is joy to be found in the future.
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Quick and Easy Vegetable Soup
A warm and hearty vegetable soup with easy-to-follow instructions from The Gardener & The Cook. This soup can be meatless or not—your choice.
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Tortilla Black Bean Soup
A warm, hearty, and creamy soup with easy-to-follow instructions from The Gardener & The Cook. Also: how to reduce bean-related gas problems!
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Creamy Split Pea Soup: A Warm and Hearty Recipe
A warm, hearty, and creamy soup with easy-to-follow instructions from The Gardener & The Cook.
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Puppy's First Week in New Home
Max, the Maltese puppy, tells of his first week in his new forever home, his first visit to the vet, and how he feels about his new humans.
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Goldenrod: Weed or Wildflower?
Now known not to be the cause of seasonal allergies, we can appreciate the beauty of this prolific wildflower. Learn how to incorporate this lovely pollinator into your garden.
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Growing and Caring for Poinsettia
This article details how to grow and care for the beloved poinsettia and contains great information about this popular shrub, even a little history.
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Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive After the Holidays
This article includes valuable and user-friendly information to ensure your poinsettia survives the indoor climate during winter holidays.
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The Best and Worst Mulch for Your Garden
A master gardener's advice on the best and worst mulch for your garden beds, and one type of mulch that gardeners may not know is putting beloved trees at risk of extinction.
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How to Prune Variegated Ginger
Learn how to prune, grow, and enjoy this beautiful evergreen tropical plant. Both its leaves and tiny orchid-like flowers contribute to gorgeous flower arrangements.
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Tales From a Master Gardener
A master gardener shares a funny story and some of the most frequent questions received by her group of master gardeners. She also got a taste of male chauvinism from one man who wanted to ask about turf grass.
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Cool Season Veggies to Plant in Autumn for a Spring Harvest
This article lists vegetables that can be grown in cooler weather, even in winter in some areas. It contains detailed photos of those veggies, and information about each of them.
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Cool Season Greens For Planting in Autumn or Late Winter
This article lists greens that can be grown in cooler weather, even in winter in some areas. It contains detailed photos of those greens, and information about each of them. A separate article will discuss cool season vegetables.
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Bo's Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
The Gardener & The Cook share one of their favorite comfort food recipes. It is especially good on a cold day, but it's delicious anytime.
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Maria's Key Lime Pie
This sweet, tart Key lime pie recipe is by The Gardener and The Cook, Bo & Maria Montgomery.
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7 Food Safety Myths Debunked
There are many commonly accepted myths about food safety, and keeping a safe and healthy kitchen. This public health educator debunks some of them.
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Chocolate Truffle Pie With Chocolate Cookie Crumb Crust
This rich, creamy desert is a chocolate lover's delight. It is similar to a flourless chocolate cake, but even better.
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Gluten-Free Protein Bars That Are Truly Delicious
If you think gluten-free and dairy-free snacks can't be delicious, think again. You will be amazed at these flavorful protein bars.
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The Joy of Growing Caladiums
This article provides information on how to grow caladiums, those spectacular foliage plants that add bright spots to any shade gardens.
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Chewy, Crunchy Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies
Delicious chocolate chip and pecan cookie recipe developed by Bo Montgomery of The Gardener & The Cook.
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Simple Steps to Create a Night Garden
This article defines what a night garden is and provides a list of some of the many flowers used in night gardens — with lots of photos.
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Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese Icing Recipe (That Tastes Amazing)
Just one of many variations on the classic recipe for cream cheese icing.
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The Actual 12 Days of Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas, also known as the season of "Christmastide" are the 12 days from December 25 to Epiphany which begins on January 6.
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Peonies: An All-Time Favorite
This article offers a brief description of the needs of peonies and the care required for successfully growing them.
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Interesting Discovery About Breast Cancer Risk Factors
A few years ago, another risk factor for breast cancer in women discovered. It was an increase in skirt size. Does this mean that a decrease in skirt size reduces the risk? Further studies may answer this question.
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Rubella Is Still Out There
More questions have been in the news media recently about the dangers posed to the general population by children whose parents refuse to vaccinate them. One vaccine-preventable disease that, historically, emerged every spring, was in the news a lot over last few years. That disease is rubella,...
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How to Grow and Care for Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea vines are rapid growers and climbers, as well as prolific bloomers, but watch out: they will grow into your home's soffit and gutters.
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Laws and Guidelines for Civilians Displaying the American Flag
More and more people in this country honor our troops and veterans by flying our flag and by celebrating ts history. Are you displaying your flag properly?
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How to Create a French Country Floral Arrangement
Save money by making your own beautiful floral arrangements. Here's how I re-created a country French arrangement after seeing it in furniture stores.
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How to Get a Second Bloom Cycle on Crepe Myrtles
Wouldn't you love to have a second bloom cycle on your crepe myrtles? Here's how you can: simply cut off the old bloom heads after they have finished blooming, but before they go to seed.
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Multiple Ways to Use Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is often dismissed as plain, boring, even ugly. Used appropriately, it can be quite attractive and useful. Here are some examples of lovely garter stitched items.
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Make Your Own Cloth Napkins
Cloth napkins are one of the easiest sewing projects you can attempt. If you have an iron, and a sewing machine, you're in business.
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6 Fun and Easy Ways to Cook Okra
In the United States, okra is a traditional Southern staple. Here are a few of the many ways to prepare and enjoy this vegetable.
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How to Make Pinch-Pleated Drapery From Rod Pocket Curtains
Making your own pinch-pleat drapery is easy with drapery tape. Follow these simple instructions. Then add a fashionable valance or drapery topper to hide the pleats.
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5 Versions of the Lord's Prayer
Did you know there are many variations of The Lord's Prayer? Each translation of the Bible has a slightly different version, and the Catholic version is shorter than the Protestant version. Who knew?
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Bo's Chicken Marsala
A delicious recipe for a very flavorful chicken marsala. this is definitely not one of those bland versions available in many chain restaurants.
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World Day of Prayer Is Celebrated Annually on the First Friday in March
Each year, the 1st Friday in March is celebrated by Christians worldwide as a day of prayer, unity, and cooperation. Join us as we pray for peace, tolerance, and unity.
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How to Raise and Divide Irises
Bearded irises are an old-time favorite still popular today. Learn how to plant them, grow them, and divide them.
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Free Simple Afghan Pattern for Beginning Knitters
Knitting can be challenging for beginners. This is a free pattern for an easy-to-knit afghan that is perfect for a beginning knitter.
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February Is Heart Month
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer of Americans. On National Wear Red Day, the first Friday in February, millions of women wear red to celebrate heart disease awareness for women.
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Proper Pruning of Crepe Myrtles
How do you prune crepe myrtle trees and when do you prune them? These are just two of the questions answered in this article about this popular ornamental tree.
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How to Prevent Red Tear Stains on a White or Light-Colored Dog
After trying many things, I finally learned how to prevent red tear stains on my little Maltese. You can, too.
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Blount County, Alabama's Covered Bridges
Most of America's covered bridges have vanished due to neglect, vandalism, and arson. Many, if not all, are now on the National Register of Historic Places. I have visited 3 of those in Alabama.
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Excellent Hearing a Blessing and a Curse
If you find movies and concerts, even church too loud, you are not alone.
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Knitted Cotton and Microfiber Dishcloths
Dishcloths are one of the easiest knitting projects around. They're great for beginners, and they are fantastic dishcloths. Their sizes can be adjusted to your needs.
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How to Create an Effective Mission Statement
Learning to write a concise and accurate mission statement is one of the most important tasks when forming a new organization, or revamping an existing one.
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How to Create a French Country Kitchen on a Budget
French Country decor is one of the most popular home decorating styles around. It can be extremely casual to more formal. Putting a touch of France in your home and lifestyle couldn't be easier.
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The Greatest Football Rivalry in the U.S.
The strongest football rivalry in the United States. Where else could it be but in the football capital of the south, the state of Alabama.
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Living With and Caring For a Maltese Dog
Small dogs are not for everyone. This article covers the joys of owning a Maltese, their delicate bones, genetic health problems, and how small children can be dangerous for small dogs.
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Starting a Private Non-Profit Cooperation
Starting a private-non-profit organization can extremely rewarding, but is a herculean task. It will require more of your time and effort than you may be aware. Be prepared to be very, very busy.