Zen Seeing Zen Drawing – Frederick Franck

The book Zen Seeing Zen Drawing is about the enhaced view of life that comes from unfiltered seeing and meditative drawing. It is a practic that demands of people that they truly see, as opposed to mere looking.  

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw

1 “It was Old Bess, the Wise Woman of the village, who first suspected that the baby at her daughter’s house was a changeling. “For a time she held her peace. Many babies were ill- favored, she told herself. Many babies cried with what seemed fury against the world—though this littleSaaski had not done so…

Alice Walker Short Story The Flowers

Alice Walker The Flowers Alice Walker is the author of the powerful novel Color Purple, which became one of my favorite movies, but she also wrote a short story titled The Flowers. The Flowers By Alice Walker “It seemed to Myop as she skipped lightly from hen house to pigpen to smokehouse that the days had never…

Scarlet Runner Beans — Like Red Orchids Streaking Across My Summer Sky

Scarlet Runner Beans in Jacki Kellum’s Cottage Garden For years, I have grown Scarlet Runner Beans in my cottage gardens. I’ve said many times before, but allow me to repeat myself: The earliest cottage gardeners were peasants who had very little land, and much of their cottage and/or kitchen gardens were grown vertically. I subscribe…

Learn Embroidery Stitch by Stitch

When I was a tiny child, my mother and my grandmother taught me how to embroider. The highlight of my week was when I would get to go to the dimestore and pick up my design to embroider for the week. Embroidery is still the core of my textile art. The images that you see…

In the South, April Showers Bring April Flowers

In the South, April Showers Bring April Flowers. As I’ve watched this allium mature and bloom in my garden–in the midst of this stand of bachelor buttons, I’ve been thinking about this expression all month. In essence, Thomas Tusser wrote “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” “…sweet April showers, do spring May flowers”  – Thomas Tusser…

Comparing Types of Green Bean Plants: How Many Days for Each to Mature

In previous years, I have grown two types of green bean plants: Kentucky Wonder and Scarlet Running Beans. Both of these are climbing pole beans. This year, I am growing Contender Bush Green Beans, too–as well as Rattlesnake Beans. I hope to plant all these different beans this week–before the rains, and I thought I’d take…

Identifying Some of the Lichen in My Yard

Jacki Kellum – Lichen on a Water Oak Limb Normally, I am into more traditional gardening, but I am fascinated by a network of lichens that have attached themselves to my neighbor’s water oak tree. Look Closely! I see a smorgasbord of lichens. Usnea strigosa Image Credit: Ohio Moss & Lichen Association “Usnea strigosa, also…

Focus on Bearded Iris – Listed by Height

Absolute Treasure Image Credit: American Meadows Height: 36-48″ tall Fragrant Pallida Image Credit: Wikipedia Height: up to 40″ Fragrant Señor Jinx Image Credit: American Meadows Height 39″ Mango Image Credit: American Meadows Height 38″   Magical Image Credit: American Meadows Height 37″ Sugar Blues Reblooming Image Credit: American Meadows Height 36″ Fragramt Off Topic Image Credit:…

Sages I Am Growing in My Garden – All Sages Are Not Created Equal

Garden Sage [Salvia officinalis] Image Credit: Gardener’s Path Height: 18″ – 36″ I love purple accents in my garden, and I like the lavender blooms on common garden sage. In addition, the smell of this plant returns me to my childhood Thanksgiving feasts. Garden sage smells of turkey and dressing, mom, and brisk November nights….