How to Control Lemon Balm and Keep It From Taking Over

A pothos at Patch Plants

THIRTY-SOMETHING YEARS into life as a vegetarian, I have consumed more potatoes than I can even imagine, and eat them several times or more a week. So how to make them different, and special? Memories of a favorite Greek restaurant I frequented decades ago sent me looking for a recipe for patates riganates, roasted potatoes with the flavors of lemon, garlic and oregano. Here’s how I make it, and some variations:

I’M PRETTY SURE I CAN pack enough summer into jars to get me through the dark days, or at least I’m trying. What’s your tactic for pretending the days aren’t getting shorter fast? (Thanks to dear Andre Jordan for his wealth of garden doodles.)

Eliminate hiding places. Wilted or slightly decaying foliage left in the garden can provide perfect hiding places, as it often bends to touch the ground. This week, now that things have dried a bit so I can get into the beds, a more ruthless approach to cutbacks than normal is scheduled, since the extreme rains caused so much excess, often floppy, growth.Don’t over-mulch. One to perhaps 2½ inches of mulch is desirable; layering on thicker amounts than about 3 inches just invites damp conditions that slugs love, plus it provides a great place to hide.Set out safe baits or traps. There are self-described “nontoxic” slug baits these days (though research institutions like Cornell use the term “low-toxicity,” which is probably

IMUST GO TO MY ROOM, WITHOUT SUPPER OR FURTHER DELAY. Right now—to my room.

Besides the free love among the wood frogs, there was cross-species peace and harmony–like the thing-to-thigh giant male bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and much smaller female green frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans), above, neither of whom seemed aware that he could swallow her in one froggy bite. At one point–though it is far too early for him to be ready for any action–one of the four big bulls who spent the winter in my little backyard pool actually mustered a round of sex talk, as if he was in the mood for love. Ribbit!Click on the first thumbnail below, then toggle from slide to slide using your keyboard arrows or the arrows beside each caption. Enjoy.Categoriesfrogboys slideshows

Many companies ship extra-early, based on rough frost-date estimates for each area that may not be exactly what’s going on at your place, but is that really when I want the starts to arrive? I asked for advice from Alley Swiss of Filaree Farm, a longtime certified-organic farmer in Okanogan, Washington, whose main crops—garlic, shallots and potatoes—are favorites in my garden, too.(You might recall the popular garlic-growing Q&A Alley and I did together, and our later garlic-growing piece in my column in “The New York Times.” I’ve learned a lot from our ongoing conversations–including that it’s OK to wait a little while for the seed potatoes to arrive.)how to grow potatoes, with alley swissQ. When is the right time to plant—is there a cue in nature to remind us, or a

As much as we love the coastal grandmother design trend, it’s time for another family member to take center stage: grandpa chic. Think of grandpa chic as the moodier counterpart to coastal grandmother, full of deep hues, quirky decorative accents, and a no-nonsense approach—just like grandpa himself, you could say. “Grandpa chic is a style that can't be formulated or replicated—it's a unique mix of nostalgia and sophistication,” Chris Jovanelly, senior interior designer at Est Est Interior Design says. “Grandpa chic is not delicate, flashy, or vibrant—think bold and timeless.” 

Growing ginger at home can be a rewarding experience, and with this amazing trick, you can grow unlimitedGinger Plants without spending much this growing season.

When you spot its ethereal plumes swaying in the wind, it’s clear why pampas grass has rocketed to the top of everyone’s wish list.I nearly passed out when I saw how much a couple of dried stal

I find much of my garden design inspiration in the natural beauty of the chaparral ecosystem that once flourished in my area.By planting native species like white sag

Learn How to Grow String of Pearls From Cuttings and enjoy the lush green pearls cascading from delicate stems in no time. Let us get started.