Archives by: Donna Hessel
About the author
Donna Hessel is the author of our Gardening Sweet Spots blog and has been working in gardens for as long as she can remember, pulling weeds and planting beans and radishes in her grandfather’s garden. A recent move to a smaller home and very small garden restricted to “containers only” has presented gardening challenges as well as new opportunities. She enjoys the camaraderie and benefits of belonging to the Emerald Necklace Garden Club, which is open to new members and encourages guests to attend its monthly meetings. To learn more, go to emeraldnecklacegardenclub.org.
Donna Hessel Posts
You’ve probably grown a variety of herbs in containers or in your garden this summer and clipped them as needed for recipes. Now is the time to harvest your herbs and preserve them so you can have “fresh” herbs through the winter months, too. Read about methods of preserving herbs and some tips that will facilitate the process in this month’s Gardening Sweet Spots blog. ...
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Why can't a rose just be a rose? Wouldn’t it be easier to just call a petunia a petunia or a purple salvia a purple salvia? Why add all those unpronounceable Latin appendages to every plant? There’s a good reason why, and a fairly simple way to decipher those complicated add-ons. Read on... ...
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It happens every once in a while to everyone — a frustrating day at work or a day at home when nothing goes right. What to do? What to do? Head out to your garden for some restorative “garden therapy!” Kneel down in a shady spot next to your garden and grab a handful of soil, squeeze and crumble. Mmmm. Feels good, releases tension and helps aerate the soil. But that's just the beginning. Garden blogger Donna Hessel has much more to share about the healing powers of your garden retreat. ...
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Fireflies or lightning bugs? Whatever you call them, they create magic in the summer night's sky. Blogger Donna Hessel tells us more about the different species that light up our nights in Northeast Ohio. Along the way, you'll learn how fireflies are great for your garden, too! ...
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It never occurred to me to deliberately grow or search out flowers specifically to use in a recipe. But that’s exactly what is trending! So here’s a brief guide to some flowers that are edible and how to use them; and a few caveats to keep in mind before you make a selection. ...
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Many of us are taking a new look at backyard vegetable gardens because grocery shopping has gotten more complicated as the pandemic drags on. Growing your own food isn't hard, it's just hard work — at least in the beginning. One key: getting pests under control. Our garden blogger has a few tips to battle unwanted visitors. ...
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Having the right tools for the job can turn a gardening chore into a gardening joy. A little investment up front will reward you with many happy, productive, rewarding days out in the garden. These essential gardening tools will get your gardening off to a good start and keep your gardens beautiful and growing. ...
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If you need something to celebrate, why not revive May Day? Provide a surprise and a little love to a friend or neighbor with a lovely May Basket (and also plant the seeds of thoughtfulness and caring for others in your children or grandchildren). Happy May Day! ...
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