Features

Strawberries and raspberries picked at their peak of perfection, popped into the freezer to be savored throughout the long, dark winter months. What better reason to garden? (Photo by Cecilia Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: You can garden. Be fearless.

I’ve been having some very intense thoughts about you — specifically, those of you who either don’t garden or have tried and failed. The most… Continue reading

Strawberries and raspberries picked at their peak of perfection, popped into the freezer to be savored throughout the long, dark winter months. What better reason to garden? (Photo by Cecilia Fitzpatrick)
African violet seedlings have been started from leaf cuttings, as seen at Rosemary Fitzpatrick’s home in Homer, Alaska, on Jan. 27, 2019. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Time to tend houseplants

Houseplants. There are those of you who have oodles of these lovelies, of all different types and sizes and colors. I would hazard a guess… Continue reading

African violet seedlings have been started from leaf cuttings, as seen at Rosemary Fitzpatrick’s home in Homer, Alaska, on Jan. 27, 2019. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Until next year

Rosemary Fitzpatrick is a longtime Homer gardener and has been writing Kachemak Gardener since 1990.… Continue reading

Bravo! Lynn Temple gets the job of moose protection done sooner rather than later in this photo taken Oct. 21, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. Be thinking about this; the moose are in evidence in this neighborhood, having been missing most of the summer. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: There’s still time to finish garden chores

Oh my, where to start? This mellow fall is luxurious as far as time enough to do everything that needs to be done before the… Continue reading

Bravo! Lynn Temple gets the job of moose protection done sooner rather than later in this photo taken Oct. 21, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. Be thinking about this; the moose are in evidence in this neighborhood, having been missing most of the summer. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Jade Cross Brussels sprouts at their peak of perfection. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: It’s been a fall to remember

Well now, isn’t this a fall to remember. The colors are lovely but, not to be pessimistic, it doesn’t smell like fall. There isn’t a… Continue reading

Jade Cross Brussels sprouts at their peak of perfection. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Karen Berger at Homer Brewing stands by her appealing application of pallets on Sept. 21, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: End of season time to assess mistakes

Now is an excellent time to note the mistakes you have been avoiding addressing. Although I have stressed more than once that this garden has… Continue reading

Karen Berger at Homer Brewing stands by her appealing application of pallets on Sept. 21, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Working through the denial punch list

I am ignoring the inevitable. I don’t want to disconnect the hose from the house. I do want John to mow with the blade down… Continue reading

Kachemak Gardener: Jade the Dog inspires garden innovations

Jade the Dog, at 9 years old, has been bypassing one of the stone paths through the perennial gardens in front of the house for… Continue reading

Jane Wiebe appreciating the part of her freshened up garden that she views from the kitchen window on Aug. 10, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: There really is more to the gardening season

This little house is surrounded by garden, thus I needed a way to designate where in the garden I would be if someone were attempting… Continue reading

Jane Wiebe appreciating the part of her freshened up garden that she views from the kitchen window on Aug. 10, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Judy Flora, Marcee Gray and Andrea Fitzpatrick Vallee enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon on July 29, 2018. Note the Black Knight delphinium making a decent showing in its second year. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: Now’s the time for strategic garden planning

There are so many things to talk about. This is the time in the growing season when the garden is exploding and to keep up… Continue reading

Judy Flora, Marcee Gray and Andrea Fitzpatrick Vallee enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon on July 29, 2018. Note the Black Knight delphinium making a decent showing in its second year. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Flower beds in terraces frame a view of the Homer Spit at Joan Splinter’s garden on Reber Road off West Hill Road on July 30, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. Her garden was featured in the Homer Garden Club’s 2017 Summer Garden Tours. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

12th Annual Gardeners Weekend is back

The 12th annual Homer Gardeners Weekend, held July 28 and 29, features talks on July 28 and a tour of five gardens on July 29.… Continue reading

Flower beds in terraces frame a view of the Homer Spit at Joan Splinter’s garden on Reber Road off West Hill Road on July 30, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. Her garden was featured in the Homer Garden Club’s 2017 Summer Garden Tours. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Theresa Bugnet rose flourishing in spite of heavy rains. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener: On spinach, alliums and hummingbirds

I’ve been hearing a lot of dissatisfaction with spinach performance. There are those of you who are dismayed that your spinach is going to seed.… Continue reading

Theresa Bugnet rose flourishing in spite of heavy rains. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Judy Flora stands among columbine in Homer, Alaska, on June 29, 2018, her penchant for the flowers realized. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Keep gardens manageable

Now this is a truly beautiful Sunday night. Peaceful, soft breeze, bird song and a garden that will bloom sooner rather than later. Garden parties… Continue reading

Judy Flora stands among columbine in Homer, Alaska, on June 29, 2018, her penchant for the flowers realized. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)
Forget-me-nots add a welcome burst of blue. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Perennials are the stars of the show

In this little garden herbaceous plants are the stars of the show. These are the soft-stemmed perennials that die back every fall, hang out underground… Continue reading

Forget-me-nots add a welcome burst of blue. (Photo by Rosemary Fitzpatrick)

Kachemak Gardener

You noticed. I know you did. I have faith in you. May 17th the leaves unfurled, the air smelled like spring, the ground said “go… Continue reading

Think about trees in gardening

Trees. They are somewhat problematic. Their size, the years it takes to reach maturity, placement. They take thought and, to some extent, money. You don’t… Continue reading

Keep weeding even though it’s chilly

This would be an ideal time for you to pick out a spot on your lawn and turn it into a vegetable patch. Seriously. Now.… Continue reading

Area greenhouses offer broad, beautiful selection

What a stunning day. We three friends did a commercial greenhouse tour and really, why does anyone start plants from seed? The offerings were gorgeous;… Continue reading

Take time to smell the roses – but also manage them

I stepped out the door this afternoon and the air was thrumming. The sound was somewhat like a chorus toning. It took a few minutes… Continue reading

Cranes and porcupines invade

Sandhill crane mayhem. There they are, flinging seedlings over their shoulders, digging potatoes and drilling them full of holes with their powerful beaks. All with… Continue reading

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