Spitzenberg apple watercolor

ONE OF THE GREATEST APPLES

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Esopus Spitzenberg is a very old, very delectable, apple that, though it originated a mere stone’s throw from my farmden, was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite. Also a favorite of mine. More of the Spitz story in my latest blog post, here:
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Cover crops and brussels sprouts

NO NEED FOR A MELANCHOLY EXIT

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No need for the garden to look melancholy through the coming months. Tidy things up is good for the garden, but don’t go overboard: 
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Fruit of true quince

THREE BEAUTIFUL QUINCES

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If you’ve been intrigued by fruits ripening on quince bushes that were a riot of salmon red flowers in spring, don’t take bite. They’re rock hard and astringent, although with enough cooking and sweetening can be made edible. Much tastier is the true quince which . . . but I’m divulging too much. To know the plants and see the photos, check out my latest blog post here:
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Compost, before and after

FEAR NOT, COMPOST MAKER

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Don’t let anyone scare you away from making compost. Read what I have to say about directives such as “don’t add disease plants to your compost pile” and other compost lore. Composting is for everyone. Read here:
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Sculpture of human reclining under tree and half underground

WHY NOT PLANT

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I like planting trees and shrubs this time of year. This time of year!! Yup, planting now is good for plants — and me — for a number of reasons. I list these reasons, plus a couple of caveats in my latest blog post:
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Harvested chufa, clump with leaves

TIGER NUTS

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Grow chufa, aka tiger nuts, earth almonds, and zulu nuts, to take you back to your primal roots. Despite its long history of cultivation, today’s chufa is pretty much the same nutty, sweet chufa eaten thousands of years ago! Learn more about chufa in my latest blog post:
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My "tiny folio" book of USDA watercolor illustrations painted between 1887 and 1942

IT’S RED BUT IS IT “DELICIOUS?”

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Over 150 years ago, a nursery offered a prize for the best-tasting apple. What variety won? Red Delicious, submitted under another name but then deemed to have earned at the name  "Delicious." What happened (tastewise)? Read about it -- guess where? -- in my latest blog post:
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Tulipa kaufmanniana, Waterlily tulip

(MOST) TULIPS ARE (NOT) FOREVER

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It’s bulb planting season. Before you reach for bulbs in the tulip bin at your local hardware store or garden center, think about what you want. Colors? Petal shaps? But be aware that most tulips peter out after a few years. Learn what varieties and species tulips you can plant now to return with colorful blossoms each spring year after year. In my latest blog post, of course.
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Ephraim Bull

THANK YOU EPHRAIM

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The world is divided on their views of Concord, the grape. It’s been around for over 150 years and is noted for distinct “foxy” flavor, also found in other American grapes. In this blog post I delve into grape “foxiness,” the origin and lineage of Concord, and peoples’ view of this variety.
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