Get the latest scoop on the Oprah.com staff's adventures in gardening with our blog—The Dirt! From planting to harvest, bookmark and follow along behind the scenes with our staff in our backyards as we grow our own foods and flowers. Will there be enough to feed the whole office?
The Radish Revolution Like much of the country, Chicago's summer has sputtered through a cool June and into a cool July. That hasn't stopped my garden! Check out these photos.
It's Happening Two weeks before the final frost date—May 15 in Chicago—and we've got a few things already in the ground. Take a look at these photos from the weekend.
Cherry Oh Baby Just checked on the cherry tomatoes in the flower box yesterday. The three healthy plants—one suffered a broken vine a few weeks ago, but it has a flower or two on it and I just haven't brought myself to chop it down—just went absolutely berserk.
Mid-June Nobody tells you how pretty string bean flowers are. They are reminiscient of orchids on a miniature scale. Read more from this garden report.
More in the Ground It's go time! Check out these 13 photos from our big day of planting.
Raised Bed Project It was so beautiful in Chicago over the weekend, that my wife and I started—and nearly finished—our first garden project of the spring, raising the garden beds. Some raised beds are helpful for creating gardening space in places without ground-level soil, such as on top of a deck, gravel path or concrete slab. We don't have that problem.
The Dirt Visits the Chicago Flower and Garden Show Last week, Mrs. The Dirt and I visited the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, which took place about a mile off the coast of Chicago at Navy Pier. Take a look at the gallery of photos I took at the exhibition!
Too Much Chard Once the sun really started heating up, though, the Swiss chard turned into a jungle. By the end of July, the leaves were big and sturdy enough that I could use them to fan our cats—in an approximation of the treatment they would have received if they were one of those snooty, deified cats owned by ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
Winter Break I have a confession to make. When autumn turned to winter, I completely abandoned my garden. I didn't plant any ground cover. I didn't break down the bean stalk tripod. I didn't bring my terra-cotta or wooden pots inside. I didn't even have the common decency to give the remains of the plants their proper disposal.
Fickle Herb The results were definitely mixed. The radishes were tiny but delicious. The basil was wonderful until the leaves started getting small and tough. I learned the hard way that cilantro is a fickle, easily killed herb—but the marinade I made with it may have been worth the homicide.
A Garden Begins It's been the harshest, snowiest winter in two decades in Chicago. And despite a brief breakout of sun and over-freezing temperatures, it's bound to turn shockingly cold once again. Which is exactly why it's the perfect time to think about this year's garden.
The Radish Revolution
It's Happening
More in the Ground
Raised Bed Project
The Dirt Visits the Chicago Flower and Garden Show
Strawberry Dreams
Soiling Away
Too Much Chard
Winter Break
Fickle Herb
A Garden Begins