People of the Key Peninsula love their orchards, as evidenced by the apple trees growing everywhere. Historically, most apples on the Key Peninsula were grown for private use. Tim Kezele grew up … more

Drought is the natural summer state on the Key Peninsula. The Pacific Northwest has a Mediterranean climate, with most rain falling in the winter when plants don’t necessarily need it, and dry … more

There is something about fuchsias, especially the upright hardy varieties. more

It’s summertime and berry season is upon us. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. more

Tomatoes. For some, the memory of the first bite of a garden-grown vine-ripened tomato ranks right up there with a first kiss. Or the birth of a child. more

For many a practical Key Peninsula gardener, this is the time to focus on the vegetable garden —planting seeds, nurturing starts — but this is also a time when the more fanciful aspects … more

In these times of polarization, when it comes to weeds, Key Peninsula gardeners exhibit a refreshingly cheerful agree-to-disagree attitude. Weeds are the bane of many a gardener’s existence. … more

In the dead of winter, at least for some homeowners, thoughts turn to pruning. Deciduous trees have shed their leaves, making it easier to see their structure, and growth is dormant. If you are Tim Kezele, though, you think about pruning all the time. more

By January gardens are put to rest. Beds are cleared, mulch is spread. In the comfort of winter life spent indoors, people begin to dream and plan for the coming spring. It is a time to cozy up with what, for an avid gardener, may be better than a good novel. more

This year has not been easy. A pandemic. Unprecedented partisan divisions. And now a holiday season, already fraught for many, made more complicated by COVID-related restrictions. Not to mention that the Pacific Northwest is deep in the dark days of winter. None of this bodes well for mental health. more

The list of plants that can harm you, your child or your pet is enough to strike terror into any heart. Hemlock was famously used to execute Socrates. Deadly nightshade, mistaken for edible berries, … more

Using science to limit slug damage. Slugs are different things to different people: a gardener’s nightmare, a forest worker breaking down decomposing forest vegetation, … more

The novel coronavirus is inspiring more people to grow their own fresh veggies this spring. Square foot … more

Springtime comes to the peninsula. The soil warms and bird songs light up the mornings. In the forest you no longer tramp recklessly … more