Features

An African violet was started from seed about four years ago provides some spring cheer on April 4, 2021, at the home of the Kachemak Gardener in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Oops: Getting complacent at latitude 59.5 degrees N

I’m in a pickle. I’ve allowed myself to become complacent here at latitude 59.5 degrees north. What a mistake. Not only do we never have… Continue reading

 

"The perfect pink of the epiphytic cactus that I picked up at the grocery store years ago reliably blooms two or three times a year," the Kachemak Gardener said of this flower blooming on Sunday, March 21, at her Homer home. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: It’s difficult to believe spring is here

Tea and toast comfort while spring equinox serves snow bulbs cuddle below - Debi Poore March 21, first day of spring— although I’m finding it… Continue reading

 

Wheat grass offers a bright spot of green in an otherwise very snowy March on March 5, 2021, in the Kachemak Gardener's home in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Keep watering and rotating those seedlings

Let’s take a look at your seedlings. Do they have enough light? Good. I like to turn mine every day as they tend to bend… Continue reading

 

Red twig dogwood doing what it does best on a sunny afternoon on Feb. 17, 2021, at the Kachemak Gardener's home in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Advice on starting seedlings (even if you should just buy them)

This is an awkward column. Seed starting will be addressed but, in truth, I want you to buy your seedlings from one of our excellent… Continue reading

Red twig dogwood doing what it does best on a sunny afternoon on Feb. 17, 2021, at the Kachemak Gardener's home in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
"These primulas were not to be resisted," the Kachemak Gardener says of these flowers blooming in her Homer, Alaska, home on Feb. 2, 2021. "They will enhance the dining room table and then, come spring, find a home in the East Garden." (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Now’s the time to prepare for gardening season

Pre-season checklist: clean tools, prepare pots, and gather manure and compost

"These primulas were not to be resisted," the Kachemak Gardener says of these flowers blooming in her Homer, Alaska, home on Feb. 2, 2021. "They will enhance the dining room table and then, come spring, find a home in the East Garden." (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Pips bloom on Jan. 4, 2021, in the home of the Kachemak Gardener in Homer, Alaska. Of the plant, Rosemary Fitzpatrick said, "Carri Thurman had the foresight to dig up the pips. We stored them in our respective refrigerators until the end of November. We were inspired after watching The Victorian Kitchen Garden." (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrck)

Kachemak Gardener: Of hellebores and honeysuckle and onions

The Kachemak Gardener has been graced by a startling degree of gardening tolerance

Pips bloom on Jan. 4, 2021, in the home of the Kachemak Gardener in Homer, Alaska. Of the plant, Rosemary Fitzpatrick said, "Carri Thurman had the foresight to dig up the pips. We stored them in our respective refrigerators until the end of November. We were inspired after watching The Victorian Kitchen Garden." (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrck)
Now is that time to clean and sharpen garden tools to get them ready for next season, as seen here on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in the Kachemak Gardener's shed. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Admitting to mistakes leads to joy of correcting them

If a shrub is in the wrong place, don’t be afraid to move it

Now is that time to clean and sharpen garden tools to get them ready for next season, as seen here on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in the Kachemak Gardener's shed. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Foxgloves and snapdragons offering much needed color to the fall garden as seen here on Oct. 9, 2020, in the Kachemak Gardener's garden in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Get started on fall chores

The fall won’t last forever so don’t get complacent in the garden

Foxgloves and snapdragons offering much needed color to the fall garden as seen here on Oct. 9, 2020, in the Kachemak Gardener's garden in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Kachemak Gardener: Of bears and bulbs

Kachemak Gardener: Of bears and bulbs

The very first topic at hand is the black bear(s) roaming around Mountain View, Elderberry, Bayview. There was a sow with a cub in the… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Of bears and bulbs
Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the season isn’t over

Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the season isn’t over

Harvesting continues for root crops

Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the season isn’t over
Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the end is near but not yet here

Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the end is near but not yet here

I kissed a rose. There are three blooms left on the Theresa Bugnet and the season is fast passing. I truly love that rose and… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Keep gardening; the end is near but not yet here
Kachemak Gardener: Warm temperatures bring a great garden

Kachemak Gardener: Warm temperatures bring a great garden

This weather is garnering excellent results in the vegetable garden. Granted I’m writing this Sunday night and there is no telling what will be happening… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Warm temperatures bring a great garden
Kachemak Gardener: Savor every second of color as summer winds down

Kachemak Gardener: Savor every second of color as summer winds down

It’s 7:30 in the morning, I step out to survey our realm and am greeted by the twin moose calves that were born in the… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Savor every second of color as summer winds down
Kachemak Gardener: On wasps and rain

Kachemak Gardener: On wasps and rain

I’m writing this Sunday night, its been raining all day. We actually got the wood stove going this afternoon to ease the damp chill. Excellent.… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: On wasps and rain
Kachemak Gardener: Gardening and birds go hand in glove

Kachemak Gardener: Gardening and birds go hand in glove

There are nine lilacs on this one-third acre and they are blooming in sequence. I actually thought about that — me, who does zero garden… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Gardening and birds go hand in glove
Kachemak Gardener: ‘Plant camassia’ and other garden advice

Kachemak Gardener: ‘Plant camassia’ and other garden advice

Bear with me people: I have a thought running around in my head that needs to be released. Ready? Of all the great minds out… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: ‘Plant camassia’ and other garden advice
Kachemak Gardener: Pondering the mystery of a suffering vegetable garden

Kachemak Gardener: Pondering the mystery of a suffering vegetable garden

The vegetable garden is suffering and I don’t know why. You would think that with over 45 years of gardening experience here in the Far… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Pondering the mystery of a suffering vegetable garden
Kachemak Gardener: Be bold but prudent in pruning

Kachemak Gardener: Be bold but prudent in pruning

There is a rosa rubrifolia/glauca in the corner of the East Garden that puts on an excellent show mid-summer. The blooms are understated but the… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Be bold but prudent in pruning
Kachemak Gardener: Stay at home with weeding, cultivating and bird song

Kachemak Gardener: Stay at home with weeding, cultivating and bird song

Tall, sturdy fences, in the land of moose, are something to be grateful for. There is a new subdivision behind the high school that has… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Stay at home with weeding, cultivating and bird song
Kachemak Gardener: Spring is definite, and full of promise

Kachemak Gardener: Spring is definite, and full of promise

There certainly isn’t anything subtle about this year’s spring. Granted, here in the Far North spring is a remarkably short season but this one is… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Spring is definite, and full of promise
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