John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote “With a Little Help from My Friends” for Ringo Starr. Cool, huh? friend stuff. Enter more friend stuff. The song’s real success came when Joe Cocker changed it from 4/4 time to 3/4 time which completely changed the feel of the song, and it gives us the opportunity to … Read more
Wonderful, beautiful people, things and moments come into our lives, and poof, before we know it, they’re gone. These two lovelies need to be on the “remember me list” for the dark, dreary days of winter. It’s a beautiful day, one to be stored in my memory and brought out when I need them. Have … Read more
This past week was one of those weeks. You know the kind I mean. You have so much to do that you feel like you’re going in every direction AND you just aren’t feeling well to boot. Of course you do, we all do. I have a spider flower that grows along the walkway entering … Read more
This is the “in between time” in my garden. The beauty of many of the summer blooms are gone but the burst of fall colors haven’t yet arrived. It’s similar to one of those days that none of us enjoy, ho-hum. Thank goodness for my zinnias, the Joymaker’s space. Those colorful flowers are still making … Read more
Where did this summer go? Tomorrow is September 1 – really? The kids are back in school, days are shorter, and plants are dying back. Simultaneously, some are so full they resemble children in the back seat of a car trying to claim their own space, “he’s touching me”. I fondly remember those days. So … Read more
Let’s talk about purple today…or is it violet….or is it lilac…or is it lavender…or maybe orchid? Whatever you call it; it certainly is beautiful and eye catching in the garden. Everyone has a different word to describe this color that’s simultaneously warm and cool. It’s the most intuitive of all colors. It can be rich … Read more
This is the time of summer in the garden when not much is happening. Nothing new is popping up. I’m getting a tomato here, a tomato there, nothing major, not much at all. We haven’t had any rain, and my flowers as well as myself have been in a holding pattern, ho-hum. There’s always next week. I … Read more
If you go to South Park on a Tuesday afternoon you’ll find volunteers working in a demonstration garden who can answer your questions about flowers that do well in our area – even with deer; who knew. These folks are members of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County and they are testing these … Read more
I have been going to the farmers’ market since I was a small child, as long as I can remember. I get so excited every time pulling into the parking lot. I love the smells, seeing the new purveyors, reassured when I see the old standbys, waiting for the horn to blow, and most of … Read more
After weeks of rain, rain, rain, we finally had a week filled with sunshine. I wonder if people who don’t have rainy day after rainy day can fully appreciate the feeling of warmth and happiness of the sun shining on their face. Hmm, I wonder; I know I can. Anyway, I loved all that sunshine this … Read more