Yesterday, as I finished up a piece for Fiskars on forced bulbs (bulbs coaxed to bloom indoors during winter) Non-Gardening Best Friend, Aimee, called. Because I was working on an article, we talked of amaryllis, paperwhites and hyacinths. I asked her if I planted an amaryllis for her, would she want it? I am always trying to spread the love of gardening around, and amaryllis are super easy. In her answer, she said something very revealing. Paperwhites, probably 'Ziva' before I knew better. First, she said yes, and then asked, "Do they stink?" I told her No, most don't have any scent. "I don't want any more paperwhites," she said, "I grew those once. They stunk." "Not all paperwhites stink," I said, and it sparked a great discussion about Narcissus ssp papyraceus 'Ziva,' otherwise known as "Her Stinkiness" and her cousins. 'Ziva' is the most common paperwhite daffodil sold in commerce,...

Oklahoma gardening is complicated. The climate is classified as part of the central south, USDA Zones 6a to 8a, but anyone who lives here would tell you there's much more to the story. We are hills and plains, forested and bare. The sun scalds our land in summer, yet we have cold stretches in winter that try our souls.There are times I wish Oklahoma was the true south, all magnolias, camellias and mint juleps sipped upon the front porch. Then, I consider the high cost of all that humidity for my hair and rose foliage. Other times, I wish I lived near my friend, Layanee, so I could walk with her along a wintry path. I'd have snow cover to support rose roots to alleviate the heaving that surely comes every winter during our freeze/thaw cycles, but, then I shiver thinking about how cold it is. Rosa 'White Meidiland,' a...

Really why? Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?: 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants is Andrew Keys' new book, and when I read the title, I was intrigued. Andrew is a friend, a smart one, and I figured anything he wrote would be good. I'm pleased to say, it's better than good. It's excellent. After interviewing Andrew for this post, I realize how much time and thought he put into his work. In the interest of full disclosure, Timber Press sent me Andrew's book for review. Andrew is a lifelong gardener, and he blogs at Garden Smackdown. He also does a "little" podcast for Fine Gardening magazine called Garden Confidential plus a bunch of other stuff. Instead of boring you with more of my chatter, here's our email discussion of some of the plants Andrew suggests you can grow here, and one I wish didn't. 1. I'm excited about...

Not my kitchen window, but instead, one from a home in Tucson. So peaceful isn't it? That's what I want for you this holiday season. Peace. Hum along with me . . . and, so this is Thanksgiving . . . . My apologies to John Lennon for putting my own words in his famous song, but every year, this is what I think about our most American holiday. While other people's excitement builds, I'm trying to figure out the best way not to get sick. It's not easy to coast through the holidays with food intolerances and allergies. However, I have good news. You have more options than ever to eat this starch and dairy-filled meal and remain healthy. I've written about the challenges before in 2008, 2009, 2011. In 2010, I simply wrote about gratitude which probably shows a change in my feelings about my disease. In 2009, my mom's dressing...