Lifestyle
The first time I realized just how determined a cat could be, I watched my tuxedo cat, Juniper, scale a narrow curtain rod to bat at a dangling pothos vine. That was my crash course in feline physics and plant safety. It’s not enough to tuck a plant on
Lifestyle
Forget everything you’ve read about “easy citrus” and let’s get real: growing citron (Citrus medica) is a hands-on, heart-in project that rewards the devoted with something truly rare. I still remember my first taste of candied citron peel—aromatic, bright, utterly different from lemon or orange. It was
Lifestyle
Azaleas are one of those plants that people love to overthink. If you Google “are azaleas indoor or outdoor plants?” you’ll drown in charts, fancy terminology, warnings about pH levels, and a slew of “expert” advice that will have you convinced it’s easier to keep a circus elephant
Lifestyle
If you’ve ever tiptoed around your living room in the early morning, only to spot your cat mid-chomp on a new plant, you know the jolt of panic that follows. “Wait—was that leaf supposed to be safe?” Most pet parents have been there. But here’s what almost
Lifestyle
No plant is “safe.” Yup, you read that right. Here’s my hot take, fueled by more than a decade of untangling pets from garden beds and rescuing chomped blooms from toddlers: the mainstream obsession with “is this plant poisonous?” actually misses the more slippery truth about living with greenery.
Lifestyle
Standing in the greenhouse at 6:30 a.m., coffee in one hand and hose in the other, I’ve observed for years how certain plants in coco-lined baskets outperformed those in solid containers—sometimes dramatically. But I’ve also witnessed plenty of “what went wrong?” moments that garden centers
.jpg)
Lifestyle
Botanical Candle Making Master Class: From First Pour to Artisan Perfection Most people stumble into botanical candle making because they love flowers, crave a creative outlet, or want to craft a thoughtful gift. But if you’ve ever watched petals float up and scorch on the first burn—or seen
Lifestyle
Coffee grounds and squash plants—now there’s a pairing that’s sparked endless debates at local garden club meetings. After over a decade running side-by-side experiments in both my home test beds and community plots, I can tell you: the success with coffee grounds comes down to precision, timing,
Lifestyle
On a brisk April morning in 2021, I knelt beside a row of newly tilled soil, hands half-numb from the cold, holding three different blue potato seed tubers. Adirondack Blue looked like a chunk of lapis lazuli; Purple Majesty almost black in the overcast light; All Blue had streaks that
Lifestyle
In the world of wild plants, few inspire as much debate—or require as much nuanced handling—as bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). This is not just another woodland backdrop or a “background weed.” Bracken is a global phenomenon, both vilified and valued, admired for its resilience and adaptability but feared
Lifestyle
Let’s get something out of the way: seed plants are all heterosporous—no fine print, no secret exceptions lurking in the undergrowth. But if you’re like most students (and, frankly, even some grad students I’ve tutored), this is one of those classic concepts that seems almost too
Lifestyle
If there’s one genus that has genuinely earned my lifelong loyalty, it’s Aglaonema—the Chinese Evergreen. Welcome to the master class! Whether you’re eyeing your very first baby plant or prepping to lead an office-wide Aglaonema revival, I’m rolling out every technique, secret, and unexpected hack