The Savvy Sage

 I love all birds, but hummingbirds are up there on my favorites list. They are amazing creatures and such a joy to observe. The frequency at which they flap their wings and the speed at which they can fly is mind-boggling. Their strong pectoral muscles make this possible. A hummingbird’s pectoral…

Question: What is “wabi-sabi gardening”? Answer: The Japanese tea master Rikiu (1522-1591), once chided his son Shoan for not properly preparing the path to the teahouse. When Shoan showed how he had swept the path completely clean of leaves, Rikiu replied, “That is not how a garden path should look,…

Question: I have an overabundance of both vegetables and fruit this year? Are there ways to donate it? Answer: Neighborhood sharing is, of course, a good place to start. I assume you are the one who’s neighbors pull the blinds when they see you walking up the street with yet another box of zucchini…

 If you started brassica seeds in late July, you may have some seedlings that look ready to transplant in late August, but temperatures can be searingly hot, so deciding when to transplant brassica seedlings, such as broccoli and cabbage, into vegetable beds will always be a judgement call dependent on…

 The summer this year has been a mix of seasonally expected highs with periods of cooler weather. As gardeners we appreciate moderate summer weather for ourselves and our gardens. We do need to continue to avoid overdoing our personal strength and energy supply. Working early mornings, staying hydrated,…