Self-Respect In January’s column on “Respect,” I concluded that having respect for others cannot be legislated or mandated, but rather requires cultivation from within. … not an easy task! And, to the extent we were not shown how by our parents and teachers in our formative years, the task is that much more difficult. The … Continue reading Thoughts on Spirit – March 2018
Respect A 65-year-old comedienne from Brooklyn recently riffed on “sexual harassment,” “When I was a girl just starting out, we called it ‘going to work.’” The audience roared. It’s a quip chock-full of the history of gender relations, which gives us all much to consider. We are living in a time of seismic power shifts. … Continue reading Thoughts on Spirit – January 2018
Grouchy About Gratitude It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I woke up this morning realizing that I’ve been feeling kinda grouchy… at least since Thursday. I wanna blame it on the turkey, which was even a little drier than usual, despite having been cooked by Whole Foods for close to the cost of my first house. … Continue reading Thoughts on Spirit – December 2017
A Positive Perspective Helps Maintaining a positive perspective on current national and world events is difficult at best. There is much to concern us. But it seems important to me to strive to develop a healthy, positive perspective in the face of our concerns. A gloomy, doomsday-helpless view sours our whole life and mires us … Continue reading Thoughts on Spirit – November 2017
Welcome to spring. March came in like a lion and he is still roaring. After four storms, we will be very happy to say hello to April and hope for better days. I have a patch of heather by my front door and it has been blooming since February, even under the snow. The daffodils … Continue reading April 2018
I hope this finds you in good spirits and good health. I have a short column this month. If you plan to have a live Christmas tree, it is very important to have the stem with a fresh cut – no more than 6 hours old. The solution that works best is seltzer and bottled … Continue reading December 2017
Hope you have enjoyed the warm days so far into the fall. I think the plants are confused, too! We just received a much needed rainfall. The rain will help trees and bushes survive better going into winter. For December blooms, start paper white bulbs now. Place bulbs pointy end up in a shallow container … Continue reading November 2017
Hope all of you are enjoying the last of the summer flowers. My fall asters are in full bloom – taller than ever from all the CO2 in the air. My Korean mums are full of buds. I have pink, rust and yellow. My rose hedge is giving its last burst of bloom. I cut … Continue reading Gardening by the Sea – October 2017
I have good news to report on monarch butterflies. Previously, I told you that I had about 40 milkweed plants in my old vegetable garden. Now I have more monarchs than ever before. The moms lay up to 500 eggs in a week and then the mom dies. The larvae munch on the milkweed leaves … Continue reading Gardening by the Sea – September 2017
Hope you are able to stay cool. I have been melting when I go outside to water. If I can stress anything at this time, it is to keep watering. Pots dry out overnight. Deadhead perennials, roses and annuals to encourage continued blooming. Clean birdbaths and change water daily to discourage breeding mosquitoes. Take in bird … Continue reading Gardening by the Sea – August 2017
