Author Archive: Annie Plowman
How I Ruined Christmas
I’ve always comforted myself with the impression that I am an excellent mother. Sometimes I slip up but, most of the times, I’m right on the money – spot-on, Cracker Jack, all-that-and-a-bag-o’-chips. Perhaps my most shining moment was the year I ruined Christmas. My son Max was a brilliant 8-year-old. He was known in the neighborhood as little [...]
Tips On Tipping
The holidays are upon us and we are all feeling a little bit pinched in the wallet, no? We are all looking for ways to save. Good. A little frugality never hurt anyone. But let’s not save at the cost of etiquette. Recently I was out at a local sports bar with a friend and [...]
Brilliant Fall Color
Oh Goody! The leaves are turning—pretty pretty pretty. Or if you prefer (like one of my grower friends) the chlorophyll is leaving the foliage, thus revealing the various colors. Brilliant! People rave about the fall colors of New England. Truth be told, there are many wonderful trees with brilliant fall color that don’t require the [...]
Not Your Sweet Baby
I looked straight into the doctor’s eyes and I told him, “I don’t think I’m going to make it through this.” He looked back at me with a warm assured smile and said, “Yes you will, we’re going to do all the work.” My daughter was born that evening. She was out like a rocket, [...]
Once Upon Your Garden, The Little Villains Must Die
Once upon a time… in some unsuspecting chick’s backyard, there lived a Very Very Hungry Caterpillar…. What’s eating your precious plants in the garden? Chances are, this time of year, it’s caterpillars. Those boogers are out with a vengeance. The leaves look like Swiss cheese, or worse yet, they’ve been stripped to the stem. Caterpillars [...]
Girls “Embrace” Their Inner Beauty
Sometimes we get to meet a young person who is truly inspirational and making a difference. At only 18, Hannah Joseph is just such a young lady. She is a visionary young artist, photographer and role model. She recently gathered a group of young women, and a few of their moms, for a unique, [...]
Strong Enough to Sway
A tree that sways without breaking often grows to be the strongest. Then it is a sight to behold. Nature can teach us lessons about ourselves and our lives. When I learned to properly stake a tree, I was struck by the parallels to life. The stakes must not rest against the trunk, but against the [...]
Greedy Little Blood Suckers
Mosquitoes suck! OK, that was a cheap remark. Seriously, mosquitoes are not just a nuisance; they can be a danger. Not only can the scratched bites become infected, but West Nile Virus is still a concern even though it’s not quite fresh news anymore. If you’re like me, you have a few bites driving you [...]
Recycling for Flowers
Here’s a little newsflash for you. What are you doing with all those used black containers from your landscape projects? You can turn them in to flowers! Belmont Nursery in Fresno is currently looking for your used containers and will give nursery credit on good used containers in 5g and 15g. You can take that nursery [...]
Cut Your Losses And Get Interesting
One of the keys to a beautiful garden is to know when to cut your losses, literally. Some things simply won’t bloom where they are planted. Other times they just look sad, sickly, or straight up die. I think we’ve all done it. We’ve set our sights on something that we saw growing beautifully for [...]
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