Early summer mornings in the garden often begin with quiet joy—coffee in hand, sunlight catching on dew-kissed leaves, and the promise of tomatoes ripening on the vine… until you notice a chewed leaf, a trail of droppings, or a wilted squash plant. Friend, I’ve been there. The first time I discovered hornworms on my heirloom…
Keep your squash patch happy, healthy, and bug-free—with natural, proven strategies that really work. If you’ve ever walked out to check on your squash and found wilted leaves and creepy gray bugs lurking under the foliage, you’ve met the infamous squash bug. These pests are relentless in warm climates like Zone 9, and if you…
Summer in Zone 9 can feel like a gardener’s final exam—blazing heat, relentless pests, and soil so dry it practically turns to dust. But don’t let that scare you! I’ve learned that a little strategic planning can make summer gardening not only manageable but also rewarding. Whether you’re looking to keep things green through the…
So, you’ve started your garden journal—or maybe you’ve been meaning to. You know the why behind journaling (we covered that in The Importance of Garden Journaling and How to Start Your Own), but now you might be wondering, “How do I actually keep this up? How can I make it more useful, and maybe even……
I didn’t always keep a garden journal—I thought I could just remember when I planted my tomatoes or when my peppers first sprouted. 
But after a few seasons of forgetting frost dates, losing track of what worked, and re-buying the same seeds, I realized something: garden journaling is a game-changer! Now, I jot down…
I know firsthand how rewarding it is to step outside and harvest fresh vegetables from the garden. But I also know the frustration of watching once-thriving plants struggle with yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or mysterious spots. Over the years, I’ve learned that catching these problems early makes all the difference. Whether it’s a pest invasion,…
