Think gardening is all sweat, back pain and Latin names? Join Robin as she finds the fun in creating an exuberant garden lifestyle. See Robin’s growing garden at BumblebeeBlog.com or email gardeningexaminer@gmail.com.

More Articles
Topics

Thanksgiving conversation: It's time to talk about food policy

Bring all those poinsettias to market

Your holiday guide to poinsettia care

Mums and poinsettias: Not everyone loves them

Garden glove review: Pallina Vegan Glove

products and resources

Gardens and Gardeners

RNC

Examiner Feeds

These websites were picked by the Gardening Examiner as useful resources.

View: All Sources

Birds In My Garden

May Dream Gardens - 2 hrs 11 mins ago

Get Your Keen Gardening Friends Right Here

Garden Rant - 5 hrs ago

Squirrelhaven's 1st Snowfall*

Mr. McGregor's Daughter - 8 hrs ago

Garden Writers Discussion Board

Garden Rant - 9 hrs ago

RHS Says No to Compost

Garden Rant - 9 hrs ago

Gardening Organization Tips

Garden Humor

Growing Tips

Gardening Opinion

Garden Ideas

Garden Products

Garden Book Resources

Chelsea Green

Tools and Calculators

Plant Information

Diseases and Pests

Regional Resources

Organic Lawn Care

Garden Mentoring

Worldwide Directory of Garden Mentors

National and International Gardening Groups

Major Flower and Garden Shows

Favorite Links

National Examiners

Angele Sionna
Early Childhood Parenting Examiner
Most Recent Post
DVD Review: Dr Seuss' Horton Hears A Who

Steve Sharp
Sports Betting Examiner
Most Recent Post
Pick of the day: Tues. Dec. 2

Chelsey Delaney
Web Examiner
Most Recent Post
D-I-Y X-M-A-S with CraftStylish

Brian Louie
Soccer Examiner
Most Recent Post
League leaders fail to capitalize and another player wrapped around a WAG's finger

Doctor Lissa
Health Care Examiner
Most Recent Post
12 ways to health from the CDC

Send us your topic suggestions

The Weather Outside is...Dry: Check the Drought Monitor

2 comments

July 21, 3:29 PM

by Robin Wedewer, Gardening Examiner

The U.S. Drought Monitor allows you to see current
and past drought conditions and to drill down to your
local area.

It feels dry here. Really dry. The grass is brown and crunchy. The ground is hard and unyielding when I walk on it with my bare feet.

So imagine my surprise that the U.S. Drought Monitor shows no indication of a drought for Southern Maryland. Now, the western part of North Carolina, northern South Carolina, parts of Texas and the four corners where Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico shake hands are in extreme or exceptional drought conditions.

"Exceptional" is the most severe drought level. This is one case in which I prefer not to be exceptional.

I'll try to remember that we're not having a drought when I gaze out at the brown lawn and haul my hoses out to the vegetable garden to hand water...again.

And my thoughts go out to all of you in those exceptional locations where there actually IS a drought.

You can reach Robin, the Gardening Examiner, at gardeningexaminer@gmail.com. Get notice of new garden columns by clicking on SUBSCRIBE below.

To visit Robin's personal blog go to Bumblebee.

Topics: products and resources

Feed

Comments

Thanksgiving conversation: It's time to talk about food policy

1 comment

November 28, 11:48 AM

As we continue the Thanksgiving food-fest, let’s add one more important topic to the dinner table conversation—where and how we’ll be getting our food in the future.Most of us take for granted the abundance and safety of the food... Read More
Topics: opinion , News and Interviews

Bring all those poinsettias to market

Add a Comment

November 19, 6:16 PM

Those poinsettias we see at the grocery store, nursery, Target and the local convenience store don’t just sprout there. Growing poinsettias is a huge—and sometimes risky—proposition. Homestead Gardens, one of the U.S.’s largest... Read More
Topics: growing tips , gardening tips , products and resources

Your holiday guide to poinsettia care

1 comment

November 11, 6:36 PM

Despite my griping about poinsettias everywhere I go, I will admit that I also buy them to decorate my home for the holidays. To ensure they fit in with my home’s décor, I always remove the foil wrapping and put them into a decorative... Read More
Topics: gardening tips

Mums and poinsettias: Not everyone loves them

1 comment

November 7, 5:29 PM

I realize that what I’m about to say will be heresy to some of you. I HATE mums and poinsettias. Fall and winter are trying times for gardeners. I’m not talking about the fact that for most of us gardening... Read More
Topics: opinion

Garden glove review: Pallina Vegan Glove

Add a Comment

October 31, 4:51 PM

I'm sure you're wondering what makes the Pallina Vegan Gloves vegan. Unfortunately, the Pallina website doesn't provide us with a clue. Maybe it's because these gloves don't eat meat or dairy products. But maybe they are only meant to be... Read More
Topics: garden products

Grow your own gourmet salad in winter

1 comment

October 27, 4:03 PM

It might be winter outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow gourmet salad greens, also known as microgreens, right on your own windowsill.Microgreens, even smaller than baby lettuces, are all the rage at high-end restaurants because... Read More
Topics: growing tips , gardening tips

Get skinny while gardening

1 comment

October 16, 7:16 PM

If the lure of the great outdoors, the fabulous fresh food you can produce and the added value you can add to your home with a fine looking yard weren’t enough, here’s another reason to garden. You can get skinny.Okay, I might not totally... Read More
Topics: gardening tips

Reduce weeding, save time with mass planted annuals

4 comments

October 14, 9:56 AM

There are many garden chores I prefer over weeding. In fact, I would prefer to sit around sipping iced tea in the garden to digging weeds out of my garden beds. Over the years I have learned to reduce my weeding chores dramatically by mass planting... Read More
Topics: gardening tips

Plan now for the best flower and garden shows

5 comments

October 7, 10:57 AM

I truly hate crowds. I finish my holiday gift shopping early not because I’m organized but because I can’t stand the stores when the masses arrive. You couldn’t tie me up and drag me to a parade. Go to a party? Is it a small one?I make... Read More
Topics: gardening , garden style , News and Interviews